Comparison

Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs KNOCK Clipper

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

KNOCK Clipper

This app offers a premium, adjustable hard and soft clipper effect for music production. It's inspired by the signature sound of a popular drum kit series, designed to shape the sonics of modern music.

Highlights
  • User adjustable hard clipper
  • User adjustable soft clipper
  • Premium quality audio effect
  • Inspired by signature drum kit sounds
  • Shapes modern music sonics
Features
Read full description

KNOCK Clipper is a premium quality, user adjustable hard & soft clipper designed by DECAP. It is the CLIP module from his acclaimed plugin, KNOCK. It is inspired by the signature sound of his popular drum kit series DRUMS THAT KNOCK, which has helped shaped the sonics of modern music.

Screenshots

Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens
KNOCK Clipper3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: KNOCK Clipper at Free against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's $5.99. KNOCK Clipper also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and rating (4.2 vs 3.8). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

KNOCK Clipper is free to download; Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KNOCK Clipper holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's written reviews are positive against 100% of KNOCK Clipper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, KNOCK Clipper every 34 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sidechain Compressor Plugin versus KNOCK Clipper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidechain Compressor PluginKNOCK Clipper
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (6 ratings)4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings66
Update frequencyEvery 67 monthsEvery 34 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comPlugins That Knock

Customer experience

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

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

KNOCK Clipper

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

KNOCK Clipper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is KNOCK Clipper free?
KNOCK Clipper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or KNOCK Clipper?
KNOCK Clipper is rated higher. Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while KNOCK Clipper averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do Sidechain Compressor Plugin or KNOCK Clipper have ads?
Neither Sidechain Compressor Plugin nor KNOCK Clipper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or KNOCK Clipper?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, and KNOCK Clipper every 34 months. Most recently, Sidechain Compressor Plugin was updated on September 21, 2026 and KNOCK Clipper on September 11, 2026.

Other comparisons