Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs LevLr
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.
LevLr
This audio effect plugin offers simple compression and limiting for music production. It features two modes and two intuitive controls, making it easy to achieve desired dynamics without complex settings. Presets are included for quick adjustments.
- Compressor and Limiter modes
- Two intuitive controls (In/Out)
- Simple presets
- AUv3 compatible
- Standalone operation
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LevLr Compressor / limiter Plugin (AUv3) LevLr is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic or GarageBand. Overview The LevLr "leveller" is a super simple dynamics processor with just two modes and two controls. If you find tinkering with compression ratios, makeup gain and attack / decay times, confusing or time-consuming, you might like to give LevLr a try, especially as it's free! Parameters Active - Toggles the effect On or Off. Mode - Changes between Comp (compressor) and Limit (limiter) mode. Typically you would use Comp on an individual track, and Limit on a master output. In - Determines how hard you drive the compression "circuit". As you increase the gain, the compression effect will become more obvious, with an overall increase in perceived volume and "weight". Out - Allows you to reduce the output in cases where you have the desired amount of compression, but the track is now too dominant in your mix. You generally don't need to adjust this unless your In setting is more than about 6dB. With so few controls, it's pretty easy to dial-in LevLr to taste, but it also has three very simple presets to get you going: Default - a general-purpose Comp setting that can help a track sit in the mix a bit better. Track Compressor - this is heavier / more obvious compression, with a little gain compensation. Master Limiter - this can work well on a master bus and makes everything seem LOUDER! That's pretty much all there is to it, but for the technically minded... The In value is basically the compression threshold, so for example 6dB means compression will kick-in somewhere around the -6dB level. The compression ratios used are 4:1 and 12:1 for Comp and Limit mode respectively. Automatic gain compensation is applied internally depending on the threshold and ratio. The attack time is extremely fast (close to 0ms) meaning that LevLr should handle just about anything you can throw at it without exceeding 0dB at its output. Please do take a look at my other AudioUnits on the App Store if you can spare the time. Supporting paid apps allows me to release free ones as a little thankyou from time to time. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LevLr at Free against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's $5.99. LevLr also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (daily vs every 67 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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
LevLr 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.
LevLr holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 5 respectively.
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, LevLr daily. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sidechain Compressor Plugin | LevLr |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 67 months | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 4Pockets.com | Rob Jackson |
Customer experience
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
LevLr
In-app purchases
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
No in-app purchases
LevLr
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Is LevLr free?
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