Comparison

Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs ANALOGyXS

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

ANALOGyXS

This compact virtual analog synthesizer offers an 8-voice polyphonic sound with a retro feel. It's designed for quick sound dialing and to be less intimidating than complex synths, suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • 8-voice polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer
  • Retro sound design
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Standalone operation
  • MIDI device input
  • Simplified parameter interface
Read full description

ANALOGyXS Mini Poly Synth (AUv3) ANALOGyXS is a virtual instrument plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Please note that the standalone version does not include a built-in keyboard - you need to connect a suitable MIDI device to play the synth. Overview ANALOGyXS (analog-ee ex ess) is a compact virtual analog 8-voice polyphonic synthesiser with a retro vibe. The synth might be "extra small" in terms of features, but it's capable of producing some fairly complex sounds normally associated with plugins with dozens of parameters. That's because there's actually quite a lot going on "under the hood" of ANALOGyXS. So why make something so simple? I wanted to create something that would allow me to quickly dial-in some of my all-time favourite synth sounds. I also wanted to create something for music-makers who might feel intimidated or overwhelmed with synth plugins with dozens of parameters and 100's of presets. Alternatively, more experienced musicians might like to drop ANALOGyXS into a track just to get something going with a view to replacing it with something more fancy further down the line. I hope that wherever you are in your musical journey, you find ANALOGyXS useful and inspiring! www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson

Screenshots

Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens
ANALOGyXS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ANALOGyXS at 4.9 against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's 3.8. ANALOGyXS also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 67 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 ANALOGyXS $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ANALOGyXS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's written reviews are positive against 100% of ANALOGyXS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, ANALOGyXS every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sidechain Compressor Plugin versus ANALOGyXS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidechain Compressor PluginANALOGyXS
Price$5.99$2.99 — better
Rating3.8 (6 ratings)4.9 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings616 — better
Update frequencyEvery 67 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comRob Jackson

Customer experience

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

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

ANALOGyXS

All ratings16 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

ANALOGyXS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ANALOGyXS free?
ANALOGyXS costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or ANALOGyXS?
ANALOGyXS is rated higher. Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while ANALOGyXS averages 4.9 from 16 ratings.
Do Sidechain Compressor Plugin or ANALOGyXS have ads?
Neither Sidechain Compressor Plugin nor ANALOGyXS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or ANALOGyXS?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, and ANALOGyXS every 8 days. Most recently, Sidechain Compressor Plugin was updated on October 1, 2026 and ANALOGyXS on August 14, 2026.

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