Comparison

Warm Distortion vs GainX2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Warm Distortion

This app provides a real-time distortion audio effect designed for instruments like guitars and drums. It offers unique algorithms for a natural tube sound, clearing hiss and adding artificial feedback. It functions as an Audio Unit plugin or a standalone effect.

Highlights
  • Unique distortion algorithms
  • Natural tube sound emulation
  • Hiss clearing slider
  • Master reverb
  • Camera-controlled feedback
  • Built-in noise gate
Features
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Warm Distortion is real time distortion audio effect. It is a non linear distortion that works great with guitars, drums and other instruments. It clears the “hiss” sounds just like real tube amplifier. All algorithms are unique, created and designed for nice distortion effect. The app works as an Audio Unit plugin and can also be used as stand alone real time effect via the device microphone or using iRig or similar device. Features: - Unique distortion algorithms with natural tube sound - Gain - Level - Smoothie (hiss clearing magic slider) - Reverb (master reverb) + Camera controlled artificial feedback in standalone mode and built in noise gate. Just move your hand over the front camera to create feedback If you play acoustic instrument you can use headphones without a mic and put the phone close to your instrument so the app will work as realtime effect.

About

GainX2

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GainX2 Dual Gain Utility Plugin (AUv3) GainX2 is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Overview GainX2 is a gain utility primarily designed for use during live performances within an AU host controlled via MIDI CC (*). You can use GainX2 as a "helping hand" to mute or unmute channels, smoothly fade between them, or add additional switchable gain before a guitar amp sim. You could even use GainX2 to automate a one minute fade out at the end of a performance! GainX2 also includes a master volume with variable taper and optional damping. This feature is useful when controlling volume via a MIDI controller in your host, and avoids the "stepping" effect that you sometimes get when mapping MIDI CCs to a volume parameter. NOTE: If all this talk of MIDI CCs isn't making sense, or you primarily make music in a more traditional DAW such as GarageBand or Logic, then you probably won't find GainX2 very useful. Alternatively, if you like to perform live with an iPad and use something like AUM or Loopy Pro, then you might be glad of a "helping hand" to control gain dynamically and smoothly via MIDI. (*) Please note that GainX2 does not have a "MIDI learn" function of its own, so your host needs to support the mapping of plugin parameters to incoming MIDI CC messages. A B Indicators Above the view selector are indicators to show which gain setting is active, and these will be animated according to the fade time so you can see the transition between the two settings. Please note these are not interactive buttons that you click on. Controls Gain - Switch between Gain A and Gain B. Typically, you would map this parameter in your host to a MIDI CC switch (0 or 127) in your host. Note that at start up, GainX2 will default to the A setting, so you should think of this as the default state that you want. Gain A/B - Set the level of A or B. At minimum setting, this is essentially silence which is useful for fade or mute type applications. Please note that GainX2 can boost the incoming signal up to 12dB which could result in clipping, so please monitor, and be careful with your levels. Fade - Sets a linear (Lin) or exponential (Exp) fade between A and B. Exponential typically works best for a more natural sounding attack or decay. Time - Sets the time to Fade between Gain A and B. Volume - Sets the master volume. Typically you would map this parameter in your host to a MIDI CC (0 - 127). Taper - Sets the taper of the volume smoothing to linear (Lin) or exponential (Exp). Sometimes exponential will work better for CCs that are being controlled via MIDI expression pedals. Damping - Sets a variable damping or smoothing time to the volume control. This is useful if you hear "stepping" or sudden jumps when the Volume parameter is being controlled via MIDI. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson

Screenshots

Warm Distortion2 screens
GainX24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GainX2 at every 5 days against Warm Distortion's every 6 months. Warm Distortion's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Warm Distortion costs $1.99 and GainX2 $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Warm Distortion ships an update every 6 months, GainX2 every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Warm Distortion versus GainX2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWarm DistortionGainX2
Price$1.99$1.99
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandar MlazevRob Jackson

In-app purchases

None

Warm Distortion

No in-app purchases

None

GainX2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Warm Distortion free?
Warm Distortion costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GainX2 free?
GainX2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Warm Distortion or GainX2 have ads?
Neither Warm Distortion nor GainX2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Warm Distortion or GainX2?
Warm Distortion ships an update every 6 months, and GainX2 every 5 days. Most recently, Warm Distortion was updated on October 14, 2026 and GainX2 on October 24, 2026.

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