Comparison

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin vs Session Notes AU

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

Head to head
About

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin

This audio plugin emulates the warm, crackly sound of vintage vinyl records and tube amplifiers. Add nostalgic character, warp, dust, and hiss to your music. It's designed to enhance recordings with authentic analog warmth and saturation.

Highlights
  • Vinyl emulation with warp, dust, and scratches
  • Tube amplifier sound simulation
  • Adjustable saturation for harmonic richness
  • Smooth fade-in/out effect
  • Compatible with major DAWs
Read full description

This is an AUv3 compatible plugin which can be used with your favourite DAW such as Cubasis, Auria, Meteor or GarageBand. It does not function as a standalone program. Time Machine is a plugin that allows you to go back to the days of vinyl and tube amplification.  If you still long for those nostalgic days of warped records, worn needles, static laden, crackle ridden vinyl then this plugin is what you've been waiting for. It simulates the sound of early gramophones, radiograms, record players, through to late 80's turntables. You can either select an 'Age' or tweak individual settings to add warp, dust, scratches and good old fashion hiss to your recordings. The tube emulation mimics the old valve driven amplification which can be overdriven to add a nice warm tonal quality to your sound. It even allows you to add additional harmonics using the saturation knob to mimic the effect of tube amplification. It's a subtle but effective way of adding character and punch to thin sounds without changing pushing them in to the realms of distortion. When you turn on the Vinyl emulation you can choose to emulate the needle hitting the record, while the power button smoothly fades the effect in and out. We've all heard those great intros that sound like a blast from the past before diving into an aural onslaught. Well this might just be the tool to help lull your audience into that false sense of security! This is one of those playful fun effects designed to add a bit of spice into your songs and inspire ideas.

About

Session Notes AU

This app integrates note-taking directly into your music production workflow, allowing you to manage lyrics, mix ideas, and session details within your DAW. Version 2.0 enhances writing tools, navigation, and data safety with features like iCloud sync and backups.

Highlights
  • Integrated DAW workflow
  • Markdown-aware writing
  • Keyboard accessory tools
  • Automatic iCloud sync
  • Backup and restore functionality
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone app
  • Customizable themes and fonts
Read full description

Session Notes AU keeps your lyrics, mix notes, set lists, production reminders, and session notes inside the same DAW workflow where you track, edit, rehearse, and mix. Instead of bouncing out to a separate notes app, you can keep the writing and the work in the same place. Version 2.0 turns Session Notes AU into a more capable production companion with better writing tools, better note navigation, a flexible editor layout, and a safer day-to-day writing flow. Built For Real Session Work - Keep notes inside your DAW workflow instead of breaking focus - Switch quickly between the note browser and the active note - Resize the editor and note list with a drag handle - Use a more polished note browser with clearer active-note focus Brand New Writing Tools In 2.0 - Markdown-aware writing support - Keyboard accessory tools for lists, checklists, links, undo, redo, find, stats, and quick structure helpers - List, checklist, numbered-list, and blockquote continuation - Indent, outdent, and paired insertion helpers - In-note Find with live match highlighting - Live document stats while you write - Autosave for existing notes while you work Safer Session Flow In 2.0 - Automatic iCloud sync across devices - Manual sync when you want more control - Backup to Files App - Restore from backup if needed - Safer handling for note changes across devices Also Included - AUv3 plug-in workflow plus standalone app - Save, Save As New Note, share, delete, and reorder actions - Multiple themes for different studio environments - Separate font and size controls for browser text, title text, and note body text - Comprehensive built-in in-app manual Session Notes AU is designed for musicians, producers, engineers, and performers who want notes to feel like part of the session, not a second app sitting off to the side.

Screenshots

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin2 screens
Session Notes AU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Session Notes AU at $1.99 against Time Machine AUv3 Plugin's $9.99. Session Notes AU also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months). Time Machine AUv3 Plugin's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin costs $9.99 and Session Notes AU $1.99 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 — 4.2 for Time Machine AUv3 Plugin against 4.1 for Session Notes AU. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Time Machine AUv3 Plugin's written reviews are positive against 63% of Session Notes AU's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin ships an update every 11 months, Session Notes AU every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Time Machine AUv3 Plugin versus Session Notes AU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTime Machine AUv3 PluginSession Notes AU
Price$9.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.2 (14 ratings) — better4.1 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comChristian Thompson

Customer experience

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin

All ratings14 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Session Notes AU

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral37.5%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Time Machine AUv3 Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

Session Notes AU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Time Machine AUv3 Plugin free?
Time Machine AUv3 Plugin costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Session Notes AU free?
Session Notes AU costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Time Machine AUv3 Plugin or Session Notes AU?
Time Machine AUv3 Plugin is rated higher. Time Machine AUv3 Plugin averages 4.2 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Session Notes AU averages 4.1 from 10 ratings.
Do Time Machine AUv3 Plugin or Session Notes AU have ads?
Neither Time Machine AUv3 Plugin nor Session Notes AU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Time Machine AUv3 Plugin or Session Notes AU?
Time Machine AUv3 Plugin ships an update every 11 months, and Session Notes AU every 3 months. Most recently, Time Machine AUv3 Plugin was updated on October 8, 2026 and Session Notes AU on October 1, 2026.

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