ShimmerVerb vs TB Compressor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ShimmerVerb
This app creates massive, lustrous reverbs with parallel pitch shifters for ethereal, shimmering soundscapes. It offers advanced feedback control and performance-oriented features like a "Ribbon" macro and "HotSwitch" for dynamic sound shaping.
- Massive lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters
- Infinitely feedbackable signal for cascading reverbs
- Adjustable feedback frequencies via cross-over network
- Playable "Ribbon" performance macro
- Instant parameter switching with "HotSwitch"
- "Freeze" button for smeared textures
- AUv3 plugin and standalone app
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ShimmerVerb combines a massively lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters to add ethereal layers making any signal, well, "shimmer." Oftentimes, producers would achieve the effect by using Eventide pitch shifting hardware such as the H910, H949, or H3000 or other rack mount units in combination with a reverb. This production technique was popularized by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno on U2's The Unforgettable Fire. Now, this iconic sound has been refined and extended with a modern, unified interface that is great for adding dreamy ambiance to guitars, keys, synths, samples, and vocals. In typical Eventide fashion, features have been added such as the ability to infinitely feedback the signal, resulting in cascading reverbs that smear into oblivion. Feedback can be further fine-tuned by specifying which frequencies are fed back through the low/mid/high cross-over network. ShimmerVerb shines via its playable, performance-based parameters. "The Ribbon" is an easy to program performance macro allowing users to morph between two settings with one control. Desktop users can plug in a MIDI keyboard and gain tactile command over this function via the modulation wheel. Ribbon mappings are great for Feedback swells, moving the Pitch knobs, or changing the Size for a massive detuning result. ShimmerVerb also boasts a HotSwitch for calling up another state of parameters inside the same preset. Use this for changing octaves, turning off/on the pitch shifters, or simply turning the Mix up or down while crafting your performance. Finally, the Freeze button allows you to make smeared textures out of single voices, full pads, or percussive elements resulting in metallic "shimmers." Features: - Unique reverb plug-in with parallel pitch shifters on the reverb tail. - Easily pitch with perfect fourths, fifths, and octaves. - Micropitch tuning available around perfect intervals. - Four octaves of pitch shifting (from two octaves down to two octaves up). - Delay pitched signals up to one second or sync them to your DAW's tempo. - Feedback determines how much delayed signal is fed back into the input of the reverb. - Low, Mid, and High cross-over network determines which frequencies are fed back. - FREEZE holds the current state of the reverb in a smeared texture. - The RIBBON allows for real-time modification of several parameters at once. - HOTSWITCH allows for instant switching between two sets of parameters within one preset. - Available as an Audio Units AUv3 plug-in and Standalone App.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TB Compressor at $8.99 against ShimmerVerb's $14.99. TB Compressor also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6). ShimmerVerb's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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
ShimmerVerb costs $14.99 and TB Compressor $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TB Compressor holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of ShimmerVerb's written reviews are positive against 82% of TB Compressor's.
ShimmerVerb ships an update every 6 weeks, TB Compressor every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ShimmerVerb | TB Compressor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $8.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) | 4.8 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | 82.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eventide | ToneBoosters |
Customer experience
ShimmerVerb
TB Compressor
In-app purchases
ShimmerVerb
No in-app purchases
TB Compressor
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ShimmerVerb free?
Is TB Compressor free?
Which has better reviews, ShimmerVerb or TB Compressor?
Do ShimmerVerb or TB Compressor have ads?
Which is updated more often, ShimmerVerb or TB Compressor?
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