Comparison

X/Y PAL vs VS

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

Head to head
About

X/Y PAL

This app serves as an X/Y pad MIDI controller, allowing users to manage up to 8 parameters per pad. Customize MIDI channels, control change messages, value ranges, colors, and names for each parameter. Visualize CC value changes with on-screen bars.

Highlights
  • X/Y pad MIDI controller
  • Control up to 8 parameters per pad
  • Customizable MIDI channel and CC messages
  • Configurable CC value range
  • Parameter naming and coloring
  • MIDI output device selection
  • Visualized CC value changes
Features
Read full description

X/Y PAL is your handsome X/Y pad MIDI controller. Control up to 8 parameters per pad. Each parameter can be configured: - set MIDI Channel and control change message, - set the CC value range, - set a color and a name - pick the MIDI output device and - inverse the CC value mapping. On the iPad up to 4 pads can be visible in landscape mode and up to 2 in portrait mode. On the iPhone there can be 2 pads visible and controlled at once. Pick CC value mappings from a list of predefined devices to help create your custom pads. CC value change is visualized using bars on the side of each pad. ** CONFIGURE PARAMETERS ** - configure the X/Y Pads in the settings section - configure each of the 8 parameters by clicking on the sidebar in the settings section - pick from a predefined list of devices to easily set the CC value and name or just set some custom name and CC value - set the color of the parameter by clicking on the color button - inverse the CC value mapping by selecting the inverse button for the parameter - select the MIDI output for each parameter - configure the CC value range for each parameter.

About

VS

Generate dynamic, audio-reactive visuals for your music projects. This app offers extensive customization with layers, shaders, images, and video, allowing you to perform visuals live or record them for your tracks. Integrate seamlessly with DAWs and external displays.

Highlights
  • 8 polyphonic visual layers
  • Shader, image, and video materials
  • Modulation matrix
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Live performance output
  • Built-in video recorder
  • Custom shader editor
Features
Read full description

VS provides a creative way to generate beautiful graphical representations of your music projects. Driven by both audio and MIDI data, VS is the visual equivalent of a traditional synthesizer. VS takes the concept of music visualisation to a whole new level of customisation and expression, putting you in control and giving you the power to perform however you want. VS is powered by 8 flexible layers which can use shaders, images or videos, allowing you to create generative graphics that you can interact with and layer on top of each other to create complex evolving visuals. With customizable parameters, a modulation matrix and an array of blend modes, use your audio and/or MIDI to trigger and manipulate your layers accordingly with your music. You can even import and create your own shaders to give your visuals a more personal feeling. As the name suggests, VS - Visual Synthesizer can be played live like an audio synthesizer; use your MIDI keyboard to make each layer come alive with the concept of ‘polyphonic visual voices’. As well as a standalone app, VS includes an AUv3 plugin version, so you can run it directly inside your favourite iOS DAW programs like AUM, Drambo, BAM, Cubasis, Loopy Pro, Groove Rider 2, Logic Pro etc. You can now give your existing projects a visual touch of creativity. Simply route the MIDI and audio of your tracks and watch the magic happen. You can connect your mobile device to an external screen or projector for a live visual performance. If you prefer to create a video for your music, the built-in recorder lets you capture both visuals and audio. Record in landscape or portrait mode, with multiple output resolutions available. We partnered with new media artist ‘Perplex On’ to bring you a factory preset bank full of amazing interactive visuals you can start using right away to create dazzling animations and make your music move in a whole new medium. With an ever growing collection of expansions, you can further augment your visual arsenal with preset packs created by handpicked new media art talents. Features: - 8 Polyphonic visual layers (with blend modes) - 4 voices per layer - 32 built-in material effects - Layer material can be a shader, image or a video - Background layer with solid color/image/video - 4 LFO’s with SIN, SQR, TRI, SAW, S&H and filtered S&H - 2 EG’s with ADSR controls - 4 Dual-mode Audio Modulators (envelope and frequency band detection) - Modulation matrix - Full Screen mode - HDMI output for external screen/projector - NDI output - Built-in audio player with MIDI support - Built-in video recorder - Built-in material code editor for custom material creation - Exclusive factory presets by Perplex On

Screenshots

X/Y PAL2 screens
VS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: X/Y PAL at $1.99 against VS's $24.99. X/Y PAL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.1). VS's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (125 vs 9). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support 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

X/Y PAL costs $1.99 and VS $24.99 up front. VS sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. X/Y PAL asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for X/Y PAL against 4.6 for VS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VS has 125 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 80% and 80% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, VS every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
X/Y PAL versus VS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterX/Y PALVS
Price$1.99 — better$24.99
Rating4.6 (9 ratings) — better4.6 (125 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews80.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9125 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.3 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB787 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperDANIEL BRUEGGEImaginando Lda

Customer experience

X/Y PAL

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

VS

All ratings125 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral1.6%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative15.7%

Bugs and requests

X/Y PAL

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

VS

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • No elegant way to get live synchronized video out
  • Popout to external displays only in standalone app, which can’t run in background
  • Video record export issue: videos are 30+ minutes when recorded for shorter duration
  • NDI stream not working
  • App crashes frequently
Show 10 more
  • Cannot cope with 'large' MP3 files (around 10MB)
  • No way to seek to anywhere but the beginning of audio files
  • Does not support .aiff files (only .aif)
  • Missing Bluetooth MIDI support
  • App is not smooth and freezes
  • No MP3 support
  • Jaggy and slow performance with video file background and one material layer
  • Unresponsive interface and frame rate drops with HD video
  • In-app help does not work
  • AUv3 mode displays AUM stuff and app menus, destroying aesthetics

Requested features

20 requests
  • Integrate an audio tool for Spotify/other audio sources
  • Allow using any graphic or photo content as a layer
  • Hope for Metal rendering for super performance shaders
  • More ways to interact between layers (displacement, feedback)
  • Post-processing effects (luma key, feedback, kaleidoscope, mirror)
Show 15 more
  • Option to load videos and images in layers other than B layer
  • More flexible/bigger choice of MIDI controllable artifacts
  • Use MIDI to trigger pre-programmed words
  • Ability to change font size in materials code editor
  • Pause and resume feature for audio playback
  • Ability to set play cursor anywhere in the middle of the file
  • iCloud file sharing
  • HDMI output for live use
  • Save audio file with the patch in standalone mode
  • Deeper mutating possibilities for items
  • Other textural possibilities with imported images
  • More mod sources for audio reactivity, device tilt, camera brightness, gestures
  • Option to create own materials from scratch (shader coding)
  • Cover the whole display in AUv3 mode (e.g., two-finger double tap)
  • Add shaders to the library

In-app purchases

None

X/Y PAL

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

VS

One-time6
  • Retina Refill Preset Pack$17.99
  • Textural Memories Preset Pack$17.99
  • Cyber Spells Preset Pack$17.99
Show 3 more
  • Retro Riot Preset Pack$17.99
  • Raw Reflections Preset Pack$17.99
  • Noir Cuts Preset Packs$17.99

Questions

Is X/Y PAL free?
X/Y PAL costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VS free?
VS costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, X/Y PAL or VS?
X/Y PAL is rated higher. X/Y PAL averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while VS averages 4.6 from 125 ratings.
Do X/Y PAL or VS have ads?
Neither X/Y PAL nor VS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, X/Y PAL or VS?
X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, and VS every 6 weeks. Most recently, X/Y PAL was updated on November 4, 2026 and VS on November 3, 2026.

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