Pumphouse vs Needlepoint
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pumphouse
This app provides a sidechain pumping effect for iOS DAWs lacking native support. It combines a compressor with a step sequencer to drive an envelope generator, allowing for sidechain compression without external inputs. Achieve a popular audio effect easily with its intuitive interface.
- Sidechain pumping effect
- Integrated compressor
- Step sequencer
- Envelope generator
- Easy-to-understand interface
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What do you do when you need the sidechain pumping effect in an iOS DAW that doesn't have sidechaining? Pumphouse to the rescue! Pumphouse is a simple and excellent compressor (taken straight from our RoughRider 2 codebase) coupled with a step sequencer driving an envelope generator. In this manner, you can sidechain-compress your pads or bassline against a 1-measure pattern, no other inputs required. With an easy-to-understand interface, Pumphouse is a quick method for getting That Sound. Pumphouse requires transport information to work. Please note that some iOS AUv3 hosts do not have a transport. (At this time, Auria Pro that we're aware of.) There is an Inter-App Audio version supplied, but it also requires transport info. We have tested and approve the AUv3 with AudioBus 3, Cubasis, GarageBand, AUM, ModStep, Zmors Modular, and Beatmaker 3.
Needlepoint
This app simulates the warm, fuzzy sound of vinyl records using advanced physical modeling. It generates realistic turntable noises and artifacts, offering creative control over warped sounds and tempo-synced playback. Additional effects like a compressor and glitchy looper enhance the audio.
- Physical modeling for realistic vinyl sounds
- Synthesized record detritus and distress
- Tempo-syncable turntable speed
- Single-knob compressor with multiple algorithms
- Broken record looper mode
- Vinyl spindown and start effect
- Granular pitch shifter
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Unfiltered Audio's Needlepoint is now available on iOS as a Standalone app or AUv3 plugin! Unfiltered Audio raises the bar (and lowers the tonearm) with Needlepoint: a revolution in vinyl simulation. Continuing the retro themes of their smashed-up hit lo-fi-af, Needlepoint presents a full platter of advanced physical modeling to dive deep into the warm, fuzzy sound of turntable noises and artifacts beloved by many. Of course, since this is an Unfiltered Audio plugin, you can push the needle far past realism and dive into some seriously warped sounds. While many vinyl plugins are content to use looping samples of noise, Needlepoint uses physical modeling to achieve its incredible sound. Needlepoint synthesizes all sorts and sizes of detritus and distress on a record: hair, dust mites, scratches, warping, etc. These are not randomly modeled, but rather accurately distributed onto a rotating, algorithmic platter. Changing the speed of the record can greatly change the nature of Needlepoint's impact on your sound. While you may be used to vinyl RPMs like 33 1/3, 45, and 78, have you ever wondered what it would sound like to tempo sync a turntable to your DAW? Now you can! Beyond noise, ambience, and tone, Needlepoint includes other effects to fully etch out your vibe. A single knob compressor (inspired by lo-fi-af's PRESS knob with six additional algorithms) can be added before or after the signal chain. This compressor can emulate algorithms from famous hardware samplers associated with vinyl, or even mimic the sound of analog distortion introduced by the vinyl pressing process. A BROKEN mode emulates a broken record a broken record a broken record a broken... Where were we? Oh right, a BROKEN mode acts as an unpredictable looper by jumping the grooves on your recent audio. You can automate the mode's toggle to create all sorts of cut-up and glitchy phrases. No vinyl plugin would be complete without a SPINDOWN button that creates that classic vinyl stop (and start!) sound. Here you can control the rate of the spindown to better fit the effect into your mixes. Finally, at the end of the processing chain, Needlepoint features a granular pitch shifter to help you achieve that chopped up vibe without needing to manually change the speed of your tracks. Despite all of these features, Needlepoint is incredibly easy to use. With a beautiful interface and an extensive set of presets, Needlepoint will help you itch that nostalgic scratch that your tracks need. As an AUv3 plugin, Needlepoint has been tested to work perfectly with Garageband, Drambo, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Loopy Pro, and more! Additionally, with its clear layout and smart resizing, Needlepoint can be used on tablets and phones with ease. (Note for Drambo users: Drambo does not yet have automatic Plugin Delay Compensation for managing plugins with latency. As a result, tracks with Needlepoint will not line up properly with other tracks. An upcoming patch for Drambo will add this feature in.)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Pumphouse at $0.99 against Needlepoint's $9.99. Pumphouse also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). Needlepoint's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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
Pumphouse costs $0.99 and Needlepoint $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Needlepoint holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 14 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Pumphouse's written reviews are positive against 50% of Needlepoint's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Pumphouse ships an update every 4 months, Needlepoint fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pumphouse | Needlepoint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) | 4.8 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Audio Damage, Inc. | Unfiltered Audio |
Customer experience
Pumphouse
Needlepoint
In-app purchases
Pumphouse
No in-app purchases
Needlepoint
No in-app purchases









