Comparison

Lo vs ChStrip

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

Head to head
About

Lo

This audio utility plugin adds character and "dirt" to your sound with various emulation modes. Save custom presets for easy recall of your desired sonic textures. It functions as an AUv3 effect for compatible hosts.

Highlights
  • Multiple emulation modes (Default, 60, 404, 1200, 8 Bit, SK-5)
  • Adds saturation, compression, and bit reduction
  • Low-pass and high-pass filtering options
  • Vinyl simulation
  • Preset saving and recall
  • Wet/dry mix control
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

An audio coloration utility plugin featuring individual modes for classic emulation of some iconic music production tools. This tool is meant to bring character, or "dirt" to your incoming audio signals. Save your own presets for instance recall of the sound you've created to find the "sweet spot" in your instruments and/or mixes. Lo-Fly Dirt installs as an Audio Unit effect for hosts that support the format such as Audio Bus, Beatmaker 3, Garage Band, Cubasis, AUM, etc. Default Mode: Adds subtle character of the input sound. Simple saturation and light, preset compression are added to the overall sound bringing out unique tones & textures of your source audio. The wet/dry knob at the 100 or full position would leave source audio "warmed up." 60 Mode: This preset mode is based on some of our favorite characteristics of an iconic drum machine. Activating this button should invite you to 12 bit nostalgia immediately boasting tasteful saturation, small amounts of compression, and a more rounded high end. Great on drums. 404 Mode [Green Light]: One of our favorites, this mode is the only mode that should add subtle low-pass filtering to the input signal. This mode will apply low pass filtering at 12db per octave around 11.6Khz. The wet/dry knob will continue to filter the sound to no more than 200Hz. The signal will benefit from some additional signal boosting with minimal make-up gain and small amounts of bit rate reduction, or "dirt." 404 Mode [Orange Light]: This mode brings the coveted vinyl simulation to Lo-Fly Dirt. Mix knob will tastefully add intensity to your track with it. Try using this mode on an aux/bus channel and send select sounds through it. Very cool stuff! 1200 Mode: Also built around our love for another iconic drum machine, this mode brings great punch, character, and dirt to any signal it treats. Especially useful for drums and percussion based audio. more punchier variation of the 60 mode. Enjoy 12 bit goodness by default, but additionally a boost the signals character by our dirt and boost in the low-mid frequencies. 8 Bit Mode: Simply put, this mode brings back the classic sound of a legendary game console. We've added a bit of punch to the incoming signal and you're able to blend it with great 8 bit artifacts that will allow for some brand new creations...and fun! SK- 5 Mode: Also built off the things we love about the classic 8 bit sound, but with a twist...this mode adds HP filtering and punch! Instant dirt is applied when this mode is activated, high pass filtering and punch is applied as you move the signal from dry to wet. The HP filter is set to cutoff at 300Hz.

About

ChStrip

This audio plugin offers a three-band equalizer and a dynamic range compressor for music production. It incorporates analog circuit modeling techniques for a natural sound. Ideal for tracking and mixing, it enhances audio quality with precise control.

Highlights
  • 3-band equalizer
  • Low shelving filter
  • Mid peak/notch filter
  • High shelving filter
  • Stereo dynamic range compressor
  • Feedback topology
  • Side chain high pass filter
Features
Read full description

ChStrip is an AudioUnit Extension channel strip plugin which contains an equalizer and a compressor for tracking and mixing. The equalizer is a three band EQ consists of low shelving filter, mid peak / notch filter and high shelving filter. The compressor is a dynamic range compression module uses feed-back topology for natural and musical sound. Both of the equalizer and compressor are not emulation of the particular hardware, but they are build by incorporating the techniques used for the analog circuit modeling. Features ChStrip (AUv3) Equalizer - 3-band EQ, Low Shelving filter, Mid Peak / Notch filter and High Shelving filter. - This Mid filter is different from the mid filter of the channel equalizer plugin. Bandwidth is wider (1 octave) and gain is reduced (+/- 14 dB) Compressor - Stereo dynamic range compression - Feedback topology (Implemented by delay free feedback loop) - Side chain high pass filter - Soft clip, Peak Limiter - Auto fade in and auto fade out Host Application Host application uses system audio input as an audio source and processed audio signal is routed to the system audio output.

Screenshots

Lo1 screens
ChStrip3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ChStrip at 100% against Lo's 48%. ChStrip also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6). Lo's advantage is ratings volume (94 vs 8) and chart position (#198 vs unranked). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Lo costs $4.99 and ChStrip $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChStrip holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lo has 94 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Lo's written reviews are positive against 100% of ChStrip's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Lo versus ChStrip: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLoChStrip
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating3.6 (94 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings94 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#198 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.5
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMSXII Sound DesignRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Lo

All ratings95 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative33.7%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive48.1%
Neutral7.4%
Negative44.4%

ChStrip

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Lo

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Crashes GarageBand
  • Audio unit extensions failing
  • Plugin crashes DAW
  • Doesn't save between sessions
  • Resets to default preset on sharing/reopening
Show 7 more
  • Extension asks to deactivate or reload
  • Plugin not recognized in GarageBand
  • High-pitched screeching noise in mode 2
  • Not showing up in BeatMaker3
  • Beat stops playing when used as effect
  • Doesn't open on GarageBand
  • Dry/wet knob doesn't allow 100% dry

Requested features

7 requests
  • Update for GarageBand compatibility
  • Fix saving issues between sessions
  • Address crashing bugs
  • Provide a tutorial
  • Dedicated iPhone version
Show 2 more
  • Deeper effect tweaking options
  • Remove white side panels

ChStrip

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Lo

No in-app purchases

None

ChStrip

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lo free?
Lo costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChStrip free?
ChStrip costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lo or ChStrip?
ChStrip is rated higher. Lo averages 3.6 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while ChStrip averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Lo or ChStrip have ads?
Neither Lo nor ChStrip shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lo or ChStrip?
Lo ships an update every 3 months, and ChStrip every 3 months. Most recently, Lo was updated on November 6, 2026 and ChStrip on November 7, 2026.

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