MIDIplay vs VAPolyMk4
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDIplay
This application allows users to play MIDI files with multiple tracks and channels, offering selective control. It features a built-in FM synth and a sound space surface controller, with sliders for tempo and pitch adjustment.
- MIDI file playback
- Multi-track and channel control
- Built-in FM synth
- Sound space surface controller
- Tempo and pitch sliders
- Transposition +/- 6 semi-tones
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An app designed for Audiobus 3 that can also be used stand-alone with a cool built-in FM synth and sound space surface controller. MIDI files can contain multiple tracks and channels, which can be selectively turned on/off. Sliders control tempo and pitch (can be transposed +/- 6 semi-tones). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMm4BkcL28I
VAPolyMk4
This app is a powerful bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer with advanced features like output morphing and a ring modulator. It offers extensive sound design capabilities with multiple oscillators, filters, and envelopes, and can be used standalone or as an AudioUnit Extension.
- Bi-timbral polyphonic synthesis
- Output morphing and ring modulator
- Multiple oscillators, filters, and envelopes
- Standalone and AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
- Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer
- MIDI 2.0 and Ableton Link support
- iCloud Drive for project sharing
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VAPolyMk4 is bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer, which features output morphing, classic ring modulator and global offset parameter control. Each synthesizer consists of three oscillators, resonant low pass and hight pass filter, amplifier, three envelope generators and two LFO. Two synthesizers can be configured as layer or split. VAPolyMk4 operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Bi-timbral Polyphonic Synthesizer. Output morphing. Classic Ring Modulator. Global Offset Parameter Control. Three oscillators featuring hard sync and through zero FM. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Support MIDI 2.0. Support Foot Pedal and Per Note Control. Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Full Factory Preset: 230, Synth CH: 160, Effect: 40 Improvements Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) Support MIDI2.0 Per Note Control Messages MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. UI Color can be selected from black, navy or gray. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. if sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, reduce number of voices. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: VAPolyMk4 at 100% against MIDIplay's 33%. VAPolyMk4 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3). MIDIplay's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $3.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
MIDIplay costs $1.99 and VAPolyMk4 $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VAPolyMk4 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of MIDIplay's written reviews are positive against 100% of VAPolyMk4's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIplay | VAPolyMk4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 2.3 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Carlotto | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
MIDIplay
VAPolyMk4
In-app purchases
MIDIplay
No in-app purchases
VAPolyMk4
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is MIDIplay free?
Is VAPolyMk4 free?
Which has better reviews, MIDIplay or VAPolyMk4?
Do MIDIplay or VAPolyMk4 have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDIplay or VAPolyMk4?
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