# R vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is rating: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave at 4.0 against R's 3.4. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 13%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). R's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. R asks for nothing beyond the download.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave has 132 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of R's written reviews are positive against 51% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

R ships an update every 6 months, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | R | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r-07-remote/id1296112307/reviews) | **[4.0 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **132** |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | **51.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 8 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Roland Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/387333694) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### R

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r-07-remote/id1296112307)

Control your Roland R-07 Hi-Res Audio Recorder remotely via Bluetooth from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Manage recordings, adjust levels, add markers, and select scenes even when the recorder is out of reach.

**Highlights:** Remote record/playback control, Input/output level adjustment, Marker creation and navigation, Scene selection and settings editing, Song selection for playback, Link settings management

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is R free?

R is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, R or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is rated higher. R averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 132 ratings.

### Do R or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; R does not.

### Which is updated more often, R or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

R ships an update every 6 months, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, R was updated on October 14, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on October 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*