Comparison

Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs AUVideoPlayer

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

AUVideoPlayer

This app functions as an Audio Unit v3 instrument plug-in for Digital Audio Workstations, enabling video playback within music production software. It supports various cloud storage and local files, offering sample-accurate synchronization with host transport clocks.

Highlights
  • AUv3 instrument plug-in for DAWs
  • Supports local and cloud storage
  • Sample-accurate sync with host transport
  • Audio output with sample rate conversion
  • Playback of videos without audio tracks
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
Features
Read full description

AUVideoPlayer is a video player that works as an Audio Unit v3 (AUv3) instrument plug-in your favorite DAW host apps such as AUM, Cubasis 3, BeatMaker 2, NanoStudio 2, GarageBand, or Audiobus 3. AUVideoPlayer can open video files stored in local, Photos, iCloud Drive, and other 3rd party cloud storage. AUVideoPlayer can output an audio signal and automatically converts the input sample rate to match the sample rate in the host app. AUVideoPlayer can also playback video files with no audio track. By enabling sync mode, AUVideoPlayer can playback a video file with the transport clock in host app for sample accurate synchronization. By running AUVideoPlayer standalone app and syncing with AUVideoPlayer plug-in in host app, you can play a video in Picture in Picture window even while closing the AUVideoPlayer plug-in window in host app. Supported Formats: MP4, MOV, ..., which Apple's Files app supports You can check the development status by following the Twitter account @AUVideoPlayer. Feel free to send your feedback! Support: https://twitter.com/AUVideoPlayer auvideoplayer@gmail.com

Screenshots

Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens
AUVideoPlayer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AUVideoPlayer at 4.5 against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's 3.8. AUVideoPlayer also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 67 months). Sidechain Compressor Plugin's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, 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

Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99 and AUVideoPlayer $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AUVideoPlayer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's written reviews are positive against 67% of AUVideoPlayer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, AUVideoPlayer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sidechain Compressor Plugin versus AUVideoPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidechain Compressor PluginAUVideoPlayer
Price$5.99$5.99
Rating3.8 (6 ratings)4.5 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings611 — better
Update frequencyEvery 67 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comHiroshi Kajihata

Customer experience

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%

AUVideoPlayer

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

AUVideoPlayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AUVideoPlayer free?
AUVideoPlayer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or AUVideoPlayer?
AUVideoPlayer is rated higher. Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while AUVideoPlayer averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Sidechain Compressor Plugin or AUVideoPlayer have ads?
Neither Sidechain Compressor Plugin nor AUVideoPlayer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or AUVideoPlayer?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, and AUVideoPlayer every 2 months. Most recently, Sidechain Compressor Plugin was updated on September 21, 2026 and AUVideoPlayer on September 4, 2026.

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