Comparison

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin vs TB Compressor

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

Head to head
About

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin

Enhance your audio mixes by adding clarity and edge to sounds. This plugin synthesizes additional harmonics to make instruments cut through, simulate saturation, and achieve a more pleasing tonal content than traditional EQ.

Highlights
  • Adds clarity and edge to audio
  • Synthesizes additional harmonics
  • Simulates valve/transistor saturation
  • Visualizes incoming audio spectrum
  • Adjustable harmonic sliders
  • Phase manipulation
Read full description

Harmonic Exciter is an AUv3 Compatible plugin for your favourite DAW such as Cubasis, Auria, AUM, Meteor, BM3 or GarageBand etc. The main purpose of a Harmonic Exciter is to help instruments cut through a mix and give some edge and clarity to a sound by adding additional harmonics. It can even be used to simulate valve / transister based saturation or overdriven harmonic distortion. How it works: Every sound under the sun can be constructed by a series of sine waves, the root sine wave denotes the fundamental percieved frequency or the series of waves. By adding additional harmonics which are simply multiples of the fundamental frequency you can turn say a simple sine wave into a square or sawtooth wave. For those who know anything about synthesis you will know these complex waves pack more punch and brightness for the same volume level. So by adding additional harmonics we can lift a sound and make it appear louder, brighter and stand our in our mix. It can also be used to saturate say a bass frequency range boosting bass without needing additional EQ which simple boosts existing harmonics and oftern requires compression to keep under control. This makes the harmonic exciter a great tool for that perfect mix and a nifty trick audio engineers have been using for decades. In Practice: The 4Pockets Harmonic Exciter allows you to visually see the incoming audio spectrum broken down into frequency bands so that you can immediately see any deficiencies in the mix. You can select a frequency range (whether bass, mid, high or even say a kick drum) and use the 10 harmonic sliders to dynamically synthesize of additional harmonics and phase manipulation. Generally it's the 'odd' harmonics that effect a mix in a more melodic way (1st, 3rd, 5th etc.), while even harmonics (2nd, 4th, 6th etc.) tend to be a little discordant or can be used to mimmic distortion of valve amps etc. When adding saturation in this way you can create simulate pleasing overdriven valve/transistor type amplification (transistor amps generally only apply odd harmonics). Why is a Harmonic Exciter better than EQ: While you can boost EQ using a Graphic or Parametric EQ, this only boosts existing harmonics which soon requires compression to avoid clipping. The Harmonic Exciter changes the tonal content of a sound to saturate without adding the same boost in volume. The result is more punch and an ability to cut through the mix without levels getting out of control. You can often get a more natural and aurally pleasing saturation from this kind of effect than using a dedicated oversdrive effects. If your DAW supports MIDI based effects you can also control certain features via CC controllers or using the pitch bend and mod wheel (or CC's 20, 21 and 22 to control the exciter window, gain and size).

About

TB Compressor

This professional audio plugin offers mastering-grade compression and dynamics processing for iOS devices. It features advanced controls like soft knee, parallel, upward/downward, and band-limited compression, with real-time visual feedback and an interactive interface.

Highlights
  • Mastering-grade compression
  • Upward and downward compression
  • External side-chain input
  • Band-limited and spatially selective compression
  • Real-time interactive display
  • Audition function for compressor and side chain
  • Integrated spectrum analyzer
Read full description

Say Hi! to your new favourite iOS compressor AUv3 plugin! ToneBoosters Compressor is an AUv3 plugin for professional, mastering-grade compression and dynamics processing. This flexible plug-in has all the features you will ever need, such as: - Soft knee compression - Parallel compression - Upward and downward compression - External side-chain input (if supported by the host) - Band-limited compression - Spatially selective compression This compressor is suitable for every compression task and beyond: - Track compression - Bus and master bus compression - De-essing and de-harshing using the band-limited compression feature The user interface shows compression in action, with a real-time and interactive display of levels, gains and curves. Assisted sliders provide guidance to accurately adjust threshold, makeup and range parameters. Want to hear what signal elements are affected by compression? Hit the audition button and listen to everything that is changed by the compressor in isolation. The side-chain editor allows you to adjust the frequency response of the side chain, and has an integrated spectrum analyzer. You can select which channels the side chain listens to, including selection of mid or side channels. Obviously we have provided an audition button for the side chain as well! Imagine you could just compress the mid or side channel, and apply compression to a specific frequency range only. Dynamically make space for elements without having to compress the full mix; de-ess those sibilant vocals in the mid channel; soothe those harsh frequencies; the possibilities are endless. This is all possible with the compression zone feature. The ToneBoosters Compressor app captures the microphone (or external sound card) input and processes the signals in real time. To use it as a plug-in, use an AUv3-compatible host app such as Steinberg Cubasis, Apple Garageband, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, Auria, AUM, or others. ToneBoosters Compressor will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins. Key features: - The same professional sound as the acclaimed desktop version - Ultra-low harmonic distortion, even with very short attack and release times (THD less than -100dB at 1kHz, depending on the selected compression mode) - Full-fledged side-chain equalizer - Audition function for compressor and side chain - Integrated spectrum analyzer for output and side chain - Variable release curve shape and release time - Upward and downward compression - Signal-adaptive release - Auto make up - Range parameter to limit the amount of compression - Dry/wet (amount) control for parallel compression - Zero latency (for live use) or lookahead mode (for studio use) - Interactive user interface with assisted sliders, curve and gain visualization - Undo/redo, and A/B comparison - Color themes for the user interface - Max screen support in Garageband - Optimised for iPad and compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.

Screenshots

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin2 screens
TB Compressor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TB Compressor at 4.8 against Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin's 3.4. TB Compressor also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 50%) and ratings volume (24 vs 8). Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.0). 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

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin costs $8.99 and TB Compressor $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TB Compressor holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin's written reviews are positive against 82% of TB Compressor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin ships an update every 9 days, TB Compressor every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin versus TB Compressor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHarmonic Exciter AUv3 PluginTB Compressor
Price$8.99$8.99
Rating3.4 (8 ratings)4.8 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews82.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings824 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comToneBoosters

Customer experience

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

TB Compressor

All ratings24 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

In-app purchases

None

Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

TB Compressor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin free?
Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TB Compressor free?
TB Compressor costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin or TB Compressor?
TB Compressor is rated higher. Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin averages 3.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while TB Compressor averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.
Do Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin or TB Compressor have ads?
Neither Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin nor TB Compressor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin or TB Compressor?
Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin ships an update every 9 days, and TB Compressor every 2 months. Most recently, Harmonic Exciter AUv3 Plugin was updated on November 3, 2026 and TB Compressor on November 11, 2026.

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