Rutabaga vs VAPolyEnsemble
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rutabaga
This app helps musicians practice music theory consistently across all keys. Create custom exercises for scales, chords, and improvisation, with timers and playlists for structured practice sessions. Internalize music fundamentals efficiently.
- Customizable exercises for keys
- Random root, circle of fourths/fifths
- Timed practice blocks
- Save exercises to playlists
- Practice scales, intervals, chords
- Improvisation drills
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Rutabaga was designed to help musicians practice consistently and evenly in every key. Create exercises that loop through random roots, follow the circle of fourths and fifths, or drill a single root. Each root is an exercise prompt for a configurable period of time, measured in beats, seconds or minutes. Schedule the countdown timer to divide your practice into focused blocks. Try Rutabaga with scales, intervals, chords, inversions, progressions, lines, riffs, runs and improvisation. Save exercises to playlists to create a structured practice routine. Use Rutabaga as part of your regular practice routine to make efficient use of your time while internalizing the fundamentals of music theory, language and technique evenly in every key. The following is an example playlist to demonstrate the diversity of exercises Rutabaga is capable of guiding: Scale Mastery F# at 112 bpm for 10 minutes Triad Inversions 12 beats per random root at 72 bpm for 5 minutes ii-V-I Progressions 4 beats per root around the Circle of Fifths at 60 bpm for 10 minutes Bach BWV 999 80 bpm for 10 minutes Improvisations 2 minutes per random root at 80 bpm for 20 minutes We're continuously working to make Rutabaga the ideal practice tool for musicians. If you have feedback or suggestions, please contact us at the support link.
VAPolyEnsemble
Create rich, detuned synthesizer sounds with a powerful unison oscillator and multiple stereo filters. This app offers a built-in step sequencer, a variety of effects, and extensive MIDI support. It functions as a standalone application or an AudioUnit Extension for music production workflows.
- Unison oscillator with 7 detuned waves per voice
- Stereo resonant low-pass and high-pass filters
- Stereo amplifier
- 3-channel analog-style step sequencer
- Built-in delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor
- Standalone and AUv3 extension support
- Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 support
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VAPolyEnsemble features a unison oscillator that can produce seven detuned saw, pulse, or triangle waves per voice. It is followed by a stereo resonant low-pass filter, a stereo resonant high-pass filter, and a stereo amplifier. VAPolyEnsemble 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 Unison oscillator that can produce seven detuned saw, pulse, or triangle waves per voice. Stereo VCF and Stereo VCA. Low pass Filter is modeled on cascaded OTA -24dB per octave low pass filter circuit. 3 channel analog style step sequencer. - 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 Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. - Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. - Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) - MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. - Selectable UI Color. - Font size for title of controls are adjustable. - Factory Preset 128 - Effects Preset 40 System Requirements - iOS 17.0 or later - Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. - 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. - Sound may be distorted if CPU of the device doesn't have enough power. If it happens reduce number of voices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Rutabaga at Free against VAPolyEnsemble's $14.99. Rutabaga also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.6). On 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
Rutabaga is free to download; VAPolyEnsemble costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Rutabaga | VAPolyEnsemble |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zachary Proffitt | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
Rutabaga
VAPolyEnsemble
In-app purchases
Rutabaga
No in-app purchases
VAPolyEnsemble
No in-app purchases









