Comparison

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO vs VB3

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

Head to head
About

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO

Enhance your acoustic piano experience with digital features for practice, recording, and sharing. Control your VARIO digital system or extend other digital pianos with new sounds and smart functions. Features include a convenient recorder, metronome, and real-time 3D graphics.

Highlights
  • Convenient piano playing recorder
  • Easy music sharing with friends
  • Advanced metronome with accentuation
  • Full control of VARIO digital system
  • Real-time 3D graphics
  • Extends digital pianos with new sounds
Read full description

The VARIO App is the perfect companion for pianos with a VARIO digital system and expands your acoustic instrument with many practical features for practicing, recording and sharing music! The VARIO App also gives you full control over your C. BECHSTEIN VARIO*. And it extends any digital pianos as well as silent / hybrid models from other manufacturers** with new sounds and many smart functions. • Convenient recorder: record your piano playing with a tap! • Easily share your music with friends • Large metronome with free accentuation for each beat • Full control of the new VARIO digital system And more: • For beginners as well as for professionals: innovative, uncluttered, extremely easy to use • Practical sharing and workflow integration (AirDrop, Files, Mail, iMessage and more) • Impressive real-time 3D graphics based on Apple's GPU-accelerated Metal framework. This app feels like a part of your piano! New in Version 2 Support for the new VARIO duet* New piano sound for VARIO classic owners (Model 2012) Numerous detail improvements The C. Bechstein VARIO digital system VARIO is an installation option for acoustic pianos and grand pianos by C. Bechstein, W. Hoffmann and Zimmermann. VARIO combines the acoustic instrument with numerous advantages, known from premium digital pianos and allows an uncomplicated connection to apps on smartphones, tablets and PCs via Bluetooth or USB-C. The VARIO is the ideal solution for the acoustic piano. * Extensive control of all parameters of the VARIO duet (fall 2019); also compatible with older versions of the VARIO (model 2012 and earlier), providing adapted functionality. ** Connection to many instruments from other manufacturers via Bluetooth-MIDI or USB. Some optional accessories (e.g. USB to Apple Lightning) or other adapters may be required. Please note: the app requires an iPad or iPhone with 64-bit support (recommended: devices built in 2015 or later, e.g. iPad Air 2). The Apple USB Camera Connection Kit is required for USB-MIDI connection via Lightning (available as an option).

About

VB3

This app emulates a classic tonewheel organ, offering advanced sound modeling and effects. It includes a session recorder, audio player for backing tracks, and extensive MIDI control for live performance and production.

Highlights
  • Tonewheel engine and rotary simulator
  • Ring Modulator and Delay effects
  • Session Recorder (MIDI & WAV)
  • Built-in Audio Player
  • Extensive MIDI control and mapping
  • Touch-friendly interface with drawbar views
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Released in 2023, this is the second version of GSi's most famous product: VB3-II Tonewheel Organ emulator. This marks 20 years of research and development of this instrument. New VB3-II 2023 edition features: - Added both the tonewheel engine and the rotary simulator from VB3 v.1.4 - The V1 rotary simulator features 3 variations, for a total of 4 different amplifiers - Added 1 new tonewheel generator - Added Ring Modulator and Delay effects (pre) - Added FET Limiter (post) - Sub-Presets for Rotary effect and Digital reverb sections - Session Recorder: silently records everything is played and imports/exports standard Midi Files and renders to WAV files - Built-in Audio Player plays the most common audio formats to add a backing track to your music - Octave transposers for upper and lower separately - New Program browser shows full list with move, swap, delete functions along with import/export of banks and single Programs - Built-in function to import/export from/to VB3-II 2018 (and Crumar Mojo Desktop) Program and Bank formats - New Midi Map with reverse, latch and lock functions for each parameter - Quick Midi Learn for main screen/performance controls, normal Midi Learn for all other parameters - New advanced Midi Javascript processor for custom event transformations (supports SysEx and RPN/NRPN) - Multiple outputs (Main + Organ Only) - Separate plugin for remote Audio and Midi input - includes the exclusive VoMidiCoder - New bigger touch-friendly interface - Four different drawbar view styles - On-screen keyboards with two different viewing styles - Random program generator - Added rotary effect speed control from Channel Aftertouch - Supports Midi Output, can send whole "snapshots" when loading and when changing Programs - Supports different curves for the Swell Pedal - Built-in Midi Monitor for monitoring incoming Midi messages - Free Cloud service for sharing Programs, Midi Maps and Midi Processor Scripts with other users Features already present in the 2018 edition: - Full polyphony (61 upper + 61 lower + 25 pedals = 147 notes) - 91 modeled tonewheels with accurate phase synchronization - Adjustable leakage noise and cross modulation between tonewheels - A total of 22 different tonewheel generators to choose from - Generator shaping for a total of 154 generator combinations - Adjustable global tuning from 430 to 450 Hz - Foldback on 16" deactivatable - Complex wheels - Resistor wiring with multiple options - Realistic "run" motor wow and flutter - Busbars and 9 key contact simulation - Two separate sets of drawbars per manual - Full "inverted octave" presets - String Bass with adjustable release time - Loudness "robbing" effect - Single triggered percussion with natural capacitor discharge/recharge - Adjustable Percussion Level and Decay - Vibrato/Chorus virtual scanner - Adjustable Vibrato Scanner depth and mix - Separated Upper and Lower V/C tablets with smooth switching - Dynamic tube overdrive simulation - Spring Reverb (pre) and Digital stereo reverb (post) - Rotary speaker simulation with virtual microphone positioning, tube overdrive, tube feedback - Rotors "Front Stop" brake position with adjustable preferred position - Very low CPU consumption - Advanced MIDI Learn function with import/export of custom mappings - Upper and Lower manuals SPLIT with adjustable split point - Supports pedal sustain - Custom programmer with import/export of Programs and Banks Available for iPad as standalone App with IAA support or AUv3 plugin, compatible with all plugin hosts.

Screenshots

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VB3 at 3.7 against C. BECHSTEIN VARIO's 1.0. VB3 also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). C. BECHSTEIN VARIO's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and device support. On price, review sentiment 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

Both are free to download. VB3 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. C. BECHSTEIN VARIO asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VB3 holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VB3 has 17 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO versus VB3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterC. BECHSTEIN VARIOVB3
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings)3.7 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings217 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — better—
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size322 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperC. Bechstein Digital GmbHGenuine Soundware

Customer experience

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

VB3

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

VB3

One-time2
  • Log-in to your GSi account$0.99
  • Unlock All Pro Features$99.99

Questions

Is C. BECHSTEIN VARIO free?
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VB3 free?
VB3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, C. BECHSTEIN VARIO or VB3?
VB3 is rated higher. C. BECHSTEIN VARIO averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while VB3 averages 3.7 from 17 ratings.

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