Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs Jazz Improviser
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.
Jazz Improviser
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Create new melodies based on your chosen chord progressions and edit the results in the piano roll. Use the rhythm and melodic contour curves to shape the structure, movement, and variation of your phrases. Features: • Well-known jazz and blues chord progressions • Automatically generated melodies • Control over rhythm and melodic movement • Editable piano roll • Support for different numbers of measures and tempos • Random seeds for creating new variations • Instant playback of melody and harmony
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Jazz Improviser at Free against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's $5.99. Jazz Improviser also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 67 months). Sidechain Compressor Plugin's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On 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
Jazz Improviser 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.
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, Jazz Improviser every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sidechain Compressor Plugin | Jazz Improviser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 67 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 4Pockets.com | Atte Tenkanen |
In-app purchases
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
No in-app purchases
Jazz Improviser
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Is Jazz Improviser free?
Do Sidechain Compressor Plugin or Jazz Improviser have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or Jazz Improviser?
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