Comparison

Mix Bus Compressor vs FAC Smash

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

Head to head
About

Mix Bus Compressor

This audio plugin offers ultra-transparent compression with exceptionally low harmonic distortion. Its unique design provides immediate response without adding latency or phase distortion, making it ideal for real-time audio processing. The scalable interface ensures a clear visual experience on all iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Ultra-low harmonic distortion
  • Unique envelope follower
  • Immediate response time
  • No added latency
  • No phase distortion
  • Scalable user interface
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This compressor has the lowest total harmonic distortion of any plugin we have seen, including desktop units. At the heart of it is a unique envelope follower design that makes it possible to compress the signal without creating distortion harmonics. On the spectrum of compressor tone that ranges from "vintage analog" to "pristine digital", this plugin sits at the extreme end of low-noise digital clarity, but it is different from other low-noise digital designs because it doesn't use digital look-ahead. Therefore its response time is immediate, it adds no extra delay to the signal chain, and it works great for processing real-time performance effects. It uses no oversampling so there is no phase distortion or loss of high-frequency energy from anti-aliasing filters. It also uses no digital-style filters (FIR filters) and no digital look-ahead, so it adds no additional latency to the signal chain. Although it is not a model of an existing piece analog hardware, every component of its signal path is realizable in the analog domain. We think of it as a digital model of our ideal analog compressor: it could exist as an analog circuit but would be very expensive to build with physical analog electronic parts. The user interface is 100% scalable, designed specifically for iOS, so it looks beautiful at any screen size or orientation, from tiny portrait views in AUM on iPhone to the largest full-screen views on iPad Pro.

About

FAC Smash

This app offers powerful sound shaping with extreme compression and unique features to refine audio. It provides multi-band processing, a creative noise gate, and parallel compression with a visual waveform display for effortless adjustments.

Highlights
  • Extreme compression with analog nuances
  • Unique 'flatten' feature for dynamics
  • Multi-band processing with steep filter slopes
  • Creative noise gate
  • Parallel compression and brickwall limiter
  • Waveform display
  • Portrait and landscape views
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

• Loud, Aggressive, and Powerful Sound Shaping • Extreme compression, capturing vintage analog nuances and colors • Unique 'flatten' feature to preserve character while restoring dynamics • Fast sound refining with impact and sustain controls • Single or multi-band, with filter slopes ranging from 6dB to an impressive 192dB • Creative noise gate: smoothly blend from single to multi-band • Parallel compression and optional master Brickwall limiter • Intuitive workflow for effortless adjustments • Low latency, waveform display of the pre and post signal • Advanced Responsive Design, portrait and landscape views | Light/Dark Theme • Universal Purchase: AUv3 for iOS (iPad/iPhone), macOS and Vision Pro FAC Smash is all about generating explosive energy for your beats and instruments! Squash, squeeze... SMASH your sound, or simply get that magical gentle touch when you seek refinement and finesse. Behind its unconventional and flashy appearance lies a series of boosted upward compressors meticulously designed to include the specific nuances and colors of vintage analog devices. The plugin can operate on either one or three frequency bands and provides a couple of filter slopes ranging from a subtle and transparent 6dB to an impressive 192dB! The workflow is optimized for simplicity and intuitiveness, enabling effortless transitions between subtle adjustments and complete alterations with its up to 120dB of upwards compression. Yes!, FAC Smash can push the sound to its extreme limits, potentially creating a "sausage-like" signal. But fear not — the 'flatten' feature steps in to restore dynamics while preserving the aggressive character, giving you the best of both worlds. The built-in noise gate circuit at the input adds yet another layer of sonic sculpting possibilities. Whether acting on the entire signal or individual frequency bands, this circuit can transform your sound, expanding your creative possibilities. But the magic doesn't stop there; FAC Smash offers parallel compression, an optional master Brickwall limiter, and a waveform view of both the pre and post signal! You'll have a clear visual representation of your audio as you sculpt it to perfection. The documentation is available at fredantoncorvest.com/FAC_Smash.html

Screenshots

Mix Bus Compressor4 screens
FAC Smash3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mix Bus Compressor at none against FAC Smash's 3. Mix Bus Compressor also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months) and price ($5.99 vs $9.99). FAC Smash's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.9). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads 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

Mix Bus Compressor costs $5.99 and FAC Smash $9.99 up front. FAC Smash sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Mix Bus Compressor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FAC Smash holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Mix Bus Compressor's written reviews are positive against 80% of FAC Smash's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mix Bus Compressor ships an update every 6 weeks, FAC Smash every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Mix Bus Compressor versus FAC Smash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMix Bus CompressorFAC Smash
Price$5.99 — better$9.99
Rating3.9 (8 ratings)4.3 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#194#176 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS10.2 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Mangoo Consulting Company LimitedFrederic Corvest

Customer experience

Mix Bus Compressor

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

FAC Smash

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mix Bus Compressor

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

FAC Smash

One-time3
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$14.99

Questions

Is Mix Bus Compressor free?
Mix Bus Compressor costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FAC Smash free?
FAC Smash costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mix Bus Compressor or FAC Smash?
FAC Smash is rated higher. Mix Bus Compressor averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while FAC Smash averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.
Do Mix Bus Compressor or FAC Smash have ads?
Neither Mix Bus Compressor nor FAC Smash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mix Bus Compressor or FAC Smash?
Mix Bus Compressor ships an update every 6 weeks, and FAC Smash every 7 months. Most recently, Mix Bus Compressor was updated on September 11, 2026 and FAC Smash on September 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, Mix Bus Compressor or FAC Smash?
Mix Bus Compressor currently peaks at #194 in the App Store charts, and FAC Smash at #176. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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