Comparison

apeMatrix vs VAPolyQuad

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

Head to head
About

apeMatrix

This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
  • MIDI and audio routing
  • Control Manager for parameter modulation
  • Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting
  • MIDI Patch-bay for routing
  • High-quality audio processing
Features
Read full description

Holding true to the standard of apeSoft, apeMatrix continues to push the limits of possibilities in music creation. Automating almost every aspect of linked control, apeMatrix brings all your creation tools together and links them both in MIDI and audio. Letting you inject all your favorite FX both AU and IAA in a very easy and intuitive way. apeMatrix can also assign its Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). apeMatrix offers 10 slots on each of the three Matrix grids with 2 bus slots on each grid that make it possible to interconnect all 3 Matrix. The MIDI Patch-bay also offers endless possibilities for MIDI routing and control in a similar grid design for both internal and external MIDI control. So you can send and receive MIDI and have ultimate control over where it’s routed. Each Audio Connection on the grid has its own gain control. Just tap on the node and drag will give you the full range of volume control. Or use Mixer to controls the RAU output and automate them using apeSoft’s unique Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). Turn each slot on or off by a control switch on the Matrix or MIDI control. Control output, pan, mute and solo of each slot and Master output of each Matrix with the built in mixer control or MIDI control. Route your sounds through all a series of FX or route multiple sounds through the very some FX. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. FEATURES High quality audio up to 32-bit 96kHz Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio Supports multi-channel inputs/outputs audio interfaces Supports Audio Unit Multi-bus input/output (side-chaining) 3 Matrix Audio 3 MIDI Matrix 10 Open Slots per Matrix (hosts up to 30 plugins) 2 Audio Bus Slots per Matrix 2 MIDI Bus Slots per Matrix MIDI Monitor Multi-Channel Audio Route AudioUnit Audio Send Receive Buses MIDI Scale Filtering, Transpose etc… Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all Built-In Parameters Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins) Presets Manager and Morphing Pad Save Custom AUv3 Presets Session Saving/Load Save/Load View’s Frame in Presets Transport to sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA Integrated and configurable MIDI keyboard with scales Connections output and panning controls Post Dynamic Processor Audiobus and Inter-Audio App (Sender and Fx) Audiobus state saving Ableton Link Precise MIDI Clock In/Out AudioShare Compatible AudioCopy Compatible MIDI Manager: Virtual Midi and Network, 14 bit NRPN controllers File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy etc… Variable Sampling Rate (up to 96 kHz) Variable Buffering Size Variable UI Color Schemes BUILT-IN AUv3 (compatibles with other audio hosts) Configurable Sampler with scrub, playable via MIDI V-Meters Oscilloscope/Spectralscope Sender/Receiver (up to 16 buses) Send MIDI messages with LFO Gain/Pan

About

VAPolyQuad

Create rich, analog-style music with this powerful polyphonic synthesizer. Explore a vast array of sound-shaping tools, including multiple oscillators, filters, and effects. Program intricate melodies and rhythms with the built-in sequencer, and seamlessly share projects across your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer
  • Up to 8 voice polyphony
  • Four oscillators per voice
  • Multiple resonant filters
  • Built-in effects suite
  • 16-bar sequencer with piano roll
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
Features
Read full description

VAPolyQuad is a virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features 8 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Single voice of the synthesizer features four oscillators, two mixers, two resonant high pass filters, two resonant low pass filters, two amplifiers, four ADSR envelopes and four LFOs. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on the Sallen-Key filter circuit and cascaded OTA filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and parameter automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. - Main Features - Virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Four oscillators per voice. Flexible audio signal and control signal routing. Keyboard Control Routing Two type of Lowpass filter, cascaded OTA model and Sallen-key model. Support MIDI 2.0 New User Interface built by SwiftUI for improved performance. Built-in Sequencer. 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 8 clips. Piano Roll and Parameter automation. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. 370 Factory Presets - System Requirements - A13 Fusion or above is 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

apeMatrix4 screens
VAPolyQuad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: apeMatrix at 75% against VAPolyQuad's 0%. apeMatrix also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 22 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

apeMatrix costs $14.99 and VAPolyQuad $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

apeMatrix holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: apeMatrix has 84 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of apeMatrix's written reviews are positive against 0% of VAPolyQuad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

apeMatrix ships an update monthly, VAPolyQuad every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
apeMatrix versus VAPolyQuad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterapeMatrixVAPolyQuad
Price$14.99$14.99
Rating4.7 (84 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings84 — better5
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 22 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftRyo Togawa

Customer experience

apeMatrix

All ratings84 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral9.4%
Negative15.6%

VAPolyQuad

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

apeMatrix

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyQuad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is apeMatrix free?
apeMatrix costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyQuad free?
VAPolyQuad costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, apeMatrix or VAPolyQuad?
apeMatrix is rated higher. apeMatrix averages 4.7 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while VAPolyQuad averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do apeMatrix or VAPolyQuad have ads?
Neither apeMatrix nor VAPolyQuad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, apeMatrix or VAPolyQuad?
apeMatrix ships an update monthly, and VAPolyQuad every 22 months. Most recently, apeMatrix was updated on September 21, 2026 and VAPolyQuad on September 22, 2026.

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