Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs NuRack Auv3 FX Processor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
This audio plugin enables side-chain compression for music production, creating rhythmic pumping effects. It offers true side-chaining in compatible DAWs and a unique sudo side-chain method for broader compatibility.
- Standard compressor features
- Real calibrated VU and reduction meters
- Real-time visual graphing
- True sidechain in AUM
- Sudo sidechain with MASTER/SLAVE
- 3 available busses
- Mono/Stereo modes
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This is an AUv3 compatible stereo compressor plugin which is intended for use inside your favourite DAW/HOST such as AUM, Cubasis, Auria, Meteor, AUM or GarageBand etc. So lets start by answering the question what is side chaining? Side chaining is a technique used in a lot of modern dance music which involves using the volume level of one sound source to control another. You can hear plenty of examples of this in modern Trance/Dubstep music where sound engineers use the impact of a bass drum to duck a sustained string sound, creating space in the mix. This can be heard as a rythmic pumping sound which gives your music drive and energy. This compressor is quite unique since it was designed to get around the limitations of AUv3 plugins on iOS and the lack of multi-audio routing inside DAW apps. Until recently it wasn't possible to do true side chaining using AUv3, but now AUM has recently integrated support for multiple inputs and outputs per AUv3 plugin, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. This is great for AUM users, but this still leaves users of other DAW's in the dark. This is where this app has you covered as it provides a method of sudo side-chaining by allowing you to attach two instances of this plugin to multiple sources and route audio between them to achieve a sudo sidechain. This works by ensuring two instances of the plugin are loaded as insert effects, one being the MASTER and the other a SLAVE. The slave sends audio to the master by means of one of 3 available busses. True side chaining can be achieved in AUM. Simple set the SideChain Mode to 'Normal' and install an instance of the plugin on the channel you want to control. Then using the new 'Multiple Audio Unit Instances' option in AUM you can add a redirection of the controlling source to send to the same bus the plugin is listening to. It's that simple. In this case you need to set both instances to either Bus 2 or 3, since Bus 1 is the original audio. Features: ○ Standard Compressor features. ○ Real calibrated VU and reduction meters ○ Real-time visual graphing of parameters. ○ Real sidechain in AUM. ○ Sudo side chain using MASTER and SLAVE for others. ○ 3 available busses. ○ Mono / Stereo modes. ○ Integrated help.
NuRack Auv3 FX Processor
Design custom audio and MIDI effects racks with over 80 building blocks. Route audio in series or parallel and create unique interfaces for your sound processing needs.
- Design custom effects racks
- Over 80 audio and MIDI building blocks
- Full routing control (series/parallel)
- Customizable interface builder
- Seamless effect switching
- 3 independent audio racks mode
- Extensive automation options
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NuRack is an AUv3 based multi-channel audio and MIDI effects processor with a difference, it actually allows you to design your own custom effects using the 80+ building blocks provided. You have full control over routing which allows you to create complex audio paths in series or parallel. You can choose whether to use the stock interface or create your own custom interface using the built in Interface Builder which allows you to concentrate your audio components into a single customized effect. NuRack can run in one of two modes. The first providing 3 customizable effects racks which can be switched (manually or via MIDI), providing seemless switching (i.e. delay trails linger whilst another set of effects are faded in). The second mode allows you to route audio through 3 independent audio racks. A generaous number of over 80 audio and midi building blocks are provided covering 12 different categories of effects. Here are just some of those included in NuRack: Modulation Effects: Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Vocal Doubler, TalkBox, UniVibe, Leslie & Vocoder. Time Based Effects: Stereo Delay, Tape Delay, Reverb and Reverse Delay. Spectral Effects: Parametric EQ, Graphic EQ, PitchShift, Auto-Pan, Bit-Crusher, Tube Overdrive, Distortion, Harmony, Harmonic Exciter and SlowMo. Dynamic Effects: VelocityControl, Compressor, Multi-Band Compressor, Noise Gate, Gate, and Limiter. Filter Effects: MultiFilter, LP/HP Filter, Frequency Splitter, MultiBand Splitter, Classic Filters, Formant Filter, Ring Modulation and Shelf Filter. MIDI Effects: MIDI Harmony, MIDI Velocity, MIDI Randomizer, MIDI Monitor, MIDI Mixer, MIDI Pads, MIDI Control, Strummer, MIDI Recorder, MIDI Modulation, MIDI Remap, CC Monitor, CC Generator, PitchBend, MIDI Time Clock, and ChordToMidi. Generator Modules: Noise, Audio Clip Launcher, SoundFont Player, Virtual Flute, Virtual Clarinet, Virtual Brass, FM Organ, FM Rhodes and Analog Sawtooth Synth. Automation: TouchPad, AutoMate, Pattern Automation, and Visual LFO. You also provide the ability to split and combine audio signal using splitters and mixer modules as well as a number of visual elements such as VU Meters, LED Meters, Scopes, Graphs etc. Some effects such as phaser and flanger are usually controlled by an LFO, but this can be detached and automated remotely. There are a number of modules that allow auomation based on direct touch (X/Y Pads), Visual LFO, Pattern Automation, MIDI input (CC data), or peak/rms level detection. These automation modules can remotely control knobs and sliders throughout your rack. Simply create a new rack and start adding modules to it. These modules are generally wired up automatically but these connections can be manually routed. Once you have your sound as you wish you can use it 'as is', or switch to Interface Builder mode where you can combine all your modules into a single interface. Elements can be dragged, dropped, resized and coloured as required. Add your own labels, image logos and custom backgrounds before saving your custom component. Use the X/Y Pad to control your modulation effects by detaching their LFO's. Use MIDI CC data to automate knobs. Use the velocity of an incoming signal to control the cutoff/resonance of a filter (wah) or volume level of a gain control (swell), as NuRack expands, so do the possibilities. Features: ○ Over 80 categorised modules. ○ 3 Input / Output busses supported. ○ Audio & MIDI effect. ○ Lots of audio & MIDI automation options. ○ Seemless transition between racks. ○ Manual audio path routing. ○ Open in presentation mode (auto hides controls). ○ Interface Builder to customize your rack. ○ AUv3 plugin runs in MIDI and none MIDI mode. ○ Add your own Text/Heading and Image/Logos and backgrounds to your design. ○ Compatibility options for DAW's not supporting multi-channels. ○ Dark/Light Modes Checkout the YouTube channel 'Paul the MusicMan' for demos and tutorials of NuRack.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: NuRack Auv3 FX Processor at 4.7 against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's 3.8. NuRack Auv3 FX Processor also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 67 months) and review sentiment (84% vs 63%). Sidechain Compressor Plugin's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $12.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99 and NuRack Auv3 FX Processor $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NuRack Auv3 FX Processor holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NuRack Auv3 FX Processor has 42 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's written reviews are positive against 84% of NuRack Auv3 FX Processor's.
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, NuRack Auv3 FX Processor every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sidechain Compressor Plugin | NuRack Auv3 FX Processor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (6 ratings) | 4.7 (42 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 84.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 42 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 67 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 4Pockets.com | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
NuRack Auv3 FX Processor
In-app purchases
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
No in-app purchases
NuRack Auv3 FX Processor
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
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Which has better reviews, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or NuRack Auv3 FX Processor?
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Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or NuRack Auv3 FX Processor?
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