Comparison

SWAM Violin vs MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin

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

Head to head
About

SWAM Violin

This virtual instrument uses physical modeling to generate realistic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your playing style. It offers advanced spatial control with a room simulator and can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. Designed for expressive control and inclusivity, it's suitable for various musical styles and users.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling sound generation
  • Real-time expressive control
  • Room Simulator 'Ambiente'
  • Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
  • Intuitive, inclusive interface
  • Customizable sound and micro-tuning
Read full description

SWAM Violin for iOS: Unmatched Realism and Expressive Power in Your Hands Experience the cutting-edge Physical Modeling technology of SWAM Violin for iOS, now featuring the revolutionary Room Simulator "Ambiente"! Unlike sampled libraries, this virtual instrument doesn’t play pre-recorded sounds but generates authentic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your every nuance, just like a real violinist. These instruments are NOT sample libraries. Unlike sampling, which uses recordings to replicate the sound of an instrument, physical modeling doesn’t generate a sound as such but creates the conditions for the system to create it according to an external input (like someone playing on a keyboard). This means every note is unique, and the instrument responds dynamically to your playing style. With SWAM Violin, you can unleash your creativity across any musical style—from classical to modern, film scoring to microtonal music. Whether you're performing live or producing music on the go, SWAM Violin is your ultimate companion. New Features and Key Benefits: Room Simulator "Ambiente": Take advantage of advanced spatial control with the built-in Room Simulator "Ambiente," which allows you to position the instrument in a realistic acoustic space, interact dynamically with other SWAM instruments in the same virtual room, and create truly immersive performances. Additionally, the legacy Reverb, EQ, and Compressor effects are available for fine-tuning your sound. Standalone and AUv3 Plugin: Perform in real time or integrate SWAM Violin seamlessly into your mobile production workflow. Intuitive, Inclusive Interface: Designed for everyone, including blind and visually impaired users. Expressive Control: Play with unmatched expressivity using the exclusive virtual bowing surface, MPE controllers, keyboards, breath controllers, or other MIDI devices. Top Features at a Glance: Access a library of presets, create your own, or import presets from the desktop version. Customize every detail of your sound, including timbre, vibrato, and dynamics. Micro-tune the instrument with the Pitch Manager, supporting devices like MAQAM for advanced tuning systems. Add built-in effects like EQ, and Compressor. Play with different violin bodies to explore unique tonal variations. Use AUv3 to integrate with your mobile DAW (Logic, Cubasis, AUM) or apps like Camelot PRO for live performances. Who is SWAM Violin for iOS Designed For? Wind Controller Players: Looking for a mobile setup to perform live without needing a computer while still achieving an incredible sound. Keyboard Players: Frustrated by the limited expressive capabilities of normal sample-based plugins? SWAM Violin unlocks the full range of expression. Music Producers: Need a mobile setup to produce music from anywhere without carrying around expensive gear? SWAM Violin is the solution. Musicians Seeking Expressivity: Looking for a virtual instrument that allows you to express the full range of your musicality easily on your iPhone or iPad. IMPORTANT To fully harness the expressive power of SWAM Violin, a controller capable of continuous expression (such as a breath controller, expression pedal, MPE device, or wind controller) is required. Just like a bow is essential for a real violinist, SWAM Violin needs expressive input for maximum realism. With SWAM Violin for iOS, you have the freedom to create lifelike string performances on your iPhone or iPad. Redefine your music with unparalleled realism and expressive depth—anytime, anywhere.

About

MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin

This app generates MIDI note data to simulate guitar strumming and picking. It includes a soundfont player, definable chord pads, and a pattern editor for creating custom strumming and picking sequences. You can also chain patterns into songs and apply various audio effects.

Highlights
  • Simulate guitar strumming and picking
  • Generate MIDI note data
  • Import and use soundfonts (.SF2, .DLS)
  • 16 definable chord pads
  • Pattern editor for creating sequences
  • Song mode to chain patterns
  • 6 and 12 string emulation
  • Built-in audio effects
Features
Read full description

MIDI Strummer is an AUv3 plugin designed to simulate guitar strumming and picking techniques. It can used to generate MIDI note data which can be sent to either an external synth of choice or the internal soundfont engine.  The inbuilt soundfont player allows you to import all your favourite .SF2 and .DLS soundfonts and use them as a sound source. MIDI strummer has a set of 16 definable chord pads that can hold a series of chords, which in turn can be triggered remotely via MIDI messages or by tapping the pads. Use the pattern editor to create a series of picking or strumming patterns that can be tranposed to the selected chord pad.  Song mode allows you to chain these chord patterns together to form songs combining both picking and strumming patterns within the same song. Enable 6/12 string on a particular part to emphesize a pert by adding depth. Strummer also features a number of audio effects that can be used to enhance the audio from the soundfont player. These include overdrive, distortion, tremolo, chorus, phaser, graphic EQ, digital delay and reverb. Key Features: • 6 and 12 string emulations. • Simulate strum up/down with variable speeds. • Create patterns up to 64 steps in length. • Load up to 6 pattern variations. • Ramdomize and rotate options. • Songs can be up to 255 steps in length. • Built in ARP function. • Import your own soundfonts. • 8 different effect types (reverb, delay, phaser, chorus, overdrive, distortion, tremelo and EQ). • Paramter Automation from your DAW using MIDI. • Built in Sampler. • Comprehensive Help pages included. Please Note: This version is now compatible with GarageBand running on iOS14.

Screenshots

SWAM Violin4 screens
MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin at $12.99 against SWAM Violin's $29.99. MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin also leads on ratings volume (51 vs 14). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

SWAM Violin costs $29.99 and MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for SWAM Violin against 4.3 for MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 51 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SWAM Violin ships an update every 5 weeks, MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SWAM Violin versus MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSWAM ViolinMIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin
Price$29.99$12.99 — better
Rating4.1 (14 ratings)4.3 (51 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews75.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1451 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB386 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudio Modeling4Pockets.com

Customer experience

SWAM Violin

All ratings14 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%

MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin

All ratings51 ratings
Positive80.4%
Neutral9.8%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral11.5%
Negative13.1%

Bugs and requests

SWAM Violin

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App support is not opening
  • App support website is gone/suspicious
  • App keeps crashing when hosted in AUM
  • Plugin corrupts entire track and makes project impossible to open
  • Crashes constantly when used in AUM
Show 10 more
  • Latest update causes failed to load in IMPC pro 2 and standalone
  • App crashes and help function doesn't work
  • Audio unit extension quit messages
  • Crashes when selecting a preset
  • Soundfonts not working when loaded as an instrument in AUM
  • Sometimes stops all internal sounds
  • Pop up menus not accessible for VoiceOver
  • MIDI channel out returns to default on every startup
  • Chords bug out and change half the chord in latch mode
  • Preset/chords would not save in AUM

Requested features

34 requests
  • Include pattern lengths of 3, 5, 7
  • Piano to guitar chords and manual strumming
  • Offset notes in pattern editor for swing/triplet tempos
  • Add swing/humanize to patterns
  • Functionality for capo or real-time key change with MIDI
Show 29 more
  • Pattern latch function in real-time with MIDI
  • More guitar sounds and strum patterns
  • Optimize for M1 Macs
  • Save and export patterns to MIDI
  • Tap or strum patterns manually and record
  • Interface similar to Helium for saving/exporting MIDI
  • Interface reminiscent of Guitarism
  • Stronger colors for chosen/played chords
  • Modulation in song creation (change key)
  • Access MIDI parameters in Piano to Guitar mode
  • More detailed documentation on chord formation
  • Ability to reorder saved settings
  • MIDI learn for CC messages
  • Add more layers of pads for chords (7ths, sus, etc.)
  • Double size pad page for more chords
  • MIDI in functionality
  • Ability to touch fretboard for custom chords/voicings
  • Construct chords from scratch
  • Control over pedal damping
  • Add open tunings
  • Change chords on every half and quarter beat
  • Display current preset name at the top
  • Add bend of notes and note sustain
  • Improve interface for ARP/strum grid to match guitar tabs
  • Save chord chains, chord pads, and custom strumming patterns separately
  • Include custom chords in future versions
  • More Soundfont files
  • More presets
  • Faster BPM adjustment

In-app purchases

None

SWAM Violin

No in-app purchases

None

MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SWAM Violin free?
SWAM Violin costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin free?
MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SWAM Violin or MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin?
MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin is rated higher. SWAM Violin averages 4.1 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin averages 4.3 from 51 ratings.
Do SWAM Violin or MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin have ads?
Neither SWAM Violin nor MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SWAM Violin or MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin?
SWAM Violin ships an update every 5 weeks, and MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin every 6 weeks. Most recently, SWAM Violin was updated on November 2, 2026 and MIDI Strummer AUv3 Plugin on November 3, 2026.

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