Comparison

Focus Puller vs ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder

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

Head to head
About

Focus Puller

This app provides two focus control solutions for Blackmagic cameras with Bluetooth connectivity. It offers manual focus control with extended focus throw and haptic feedback, as well as LiDAR-based focus control for compatible iOS devices. Both methods allow for remote operation separate from the camera operator.

Highlights
  • Manual focus control with extended throw
  • Optional haptic feedback for focus points
  • LiDAR focus control for compatible devices
  • Remote operation from camera operator
  • Focus markers for precision
Read full description

Control focus on your Blackmagic camera over Bluetooth using LiDAR (for auto-focus) or use a manual control. All of the features can be tested for free for an unlimited time. LiDAR FOCUS CONTROL LiDAR Focus Control is available for iOS devices that have a LiDAR scanner. Simply tap a subject on the iPhone screen, or draw a box around something, and the app will follow it and keep it in focus. REMOTE CONTROL Control LiDAR subject tracking using a second device such as an iPad and see a live video stream and the iOS focus device. Tap to track. MANUAL MODE  Manual Mode will work with any iOS device and solves a common problem when using stills lenses to shoot moving pictures: a limited focus throw. Using this app, the focus throw can be extended, allowing precise control to match that of a lens designed for a movie camera. Markers and optional haptic feedback allow the focus puller to feel when the focus reaches a set point without having to look at the image, making the experience closer to a traditional focus puller. Both of these solutions mean the focus puller can stand and operate separate to the camera operator.

About

ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder

Record high-quality, lossless 1st Order Ambisonics audio and video simultaneously. Decode your recordings for various speaker layouts, including Dolby Atmos. Visualize and listen to your creations with the built-in media player.

Highlights
  • Lossless 1st Order Ambisonics audio recording
  • Simultaneous video recording
  • Decode audio for multiple speaker layouts
  • Built-in media player with visualization
  • Optional GPS tagging
  • Optional dual camera mode
Features
Read full description

'ab Spatial Recorder' is an advanced recorder of 1st Order Ambisonics signals LOSSLESSLY for Spatial Audio. Requires iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max and above! Using your iPhone's built-in microphone array, you can now record Audio in 1OA Ambisonics losslessly. The Ambisonics Audio can later be decoded to any speaker layout in existence: From Stereo all the way to 5.1, or even Dolby Atmos beds! Additionally, 'ab Spatial Recorder' also includes a video recorder that helps you record video WHILE recording Ambisonics audio. That way you can record video and simultaneously have your lossless Ambisonics track. This track is also decoded inside the device and a Stereo audio signal added to the final video. That way, you have your video with stereo audio and your lossless Ambisonics WAV. 'ab Spatial Recorder' comes also with a media player that helps you visualise, and listen to your 1OA recordings in Stereo, so you can watch or listen instantly! Included: - Lossless 1st Order Ambisonics recording, straight from your iPhone's microphone array. - Video recording, with your Ambisonics track decoded to Stereo and added to the video for you. - A built-in player to watch and listen to your 1OA recordings in Stereo, instantly. - Recorded Audio can be 16-bit, 24-bit, or even 32-bit Float at 48kHz. - Video can be all the way from SD, to 1080p and even 4k, at 24, 30, or 60fps. - Recordings can be done in portrait mode, or in landscape mode - the Ambisonics soundfield will adapt to the orientation of your device. - Video Stabiliser can be turned on or off. - Cameras can be flipped together with the Ambisonics soundfield, meaning that you can use your selfie camera as "Front" or your main cameras as "Front" - it all depends on what YOU want! Available as separate add-ons: - GPS Tagging - a GPS tag saved in both your video and your audio files, so you always have the location where the media was recorded. - Dual Camera - record BOTH cameras at once, so you can see what's happening in front of and behind the device, great for tracking audio. Works in PiP mode or in DOUBLE 4K! - Real-Time Audio - decode the audio to Stereo in real time and write it into your video file while you record, for instant results. - Immersive Formats Export - IAMF Audio, to create spatial videos you can upload to YouTube, plus Apple Spatial ASAF. - Advanced Camera Controls - for professional takes (Log, Log2, HDR, P3, manual ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus options, zoom curves - all based on device support). - Soundfield Rotation - rotate your Ambisonics files manually or through head rotation (AirPods).

Screenshots

Focus Puller4 screens
ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Focus Puller at 50% against ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder's 0%. Focus Puller also leads on price (Free vs $5.99) and device support (3 vs 1). ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On 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

Focus Puller is free to download; ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder costs $5.99 up front. Focus Puller sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Puller ships an update every 2 months, ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Focus Puller versus ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus Pullerab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating2.9 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.6 — better26
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert MeakinAlejandro Cabrera Zuniga

Customer experience

Focus Puller

All ratings15 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative37.5%

ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Focus Puller

One-time1
  • Unlock Camera Recording$12.99
3 purchases

ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder

One-time3
  • GPS Tagging Support$3.99
  • Real-Time Audio Support$5.99
  • Dual Camera$6.99

Questions

Is Focus Puller free?
Focus Puller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder free?
ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do Focus Puller or ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder have ads?
Neither Focus Puller nor ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Puller or ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder?
Focus Puller ships an update every 2 months, and ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder every 3 weeks. Most recently, Focus Puller was updated on October 17, 2026 and ab Spatial Ambisonics Recorder on October 25, 2026.

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