Comparison

Session Notes AU vs AUVideoPlayer

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

Head to head
About

Session Notes AU

This app integrates note-taking directly into your music production workflow, allowing you to manage lyrics, mix ideas, and session details within your DAW. Version 2.0 enhances writing tools, navigation, and data safety with features like iCloud sync and backups.

Highlights
  • Integrated DAW workflow
  • Markdown-aware writing
  • Keyboard accessory tools
  • Automatic iCloud sync
  • Backup and restore functionality
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone app
  • Customizable themes and fonts
Read full description

Session Notes AU keeps your lyrics, mix notes, set lists, production reminders, and session notes inside the same DAW workflow where you track, edit, rehearse, and mix. Instead of bouncing out to a separate notes app, you can keep the writing and the work in the same place. Version 2.0 turns Session Notes AU into a more capable production companion with better writing tools, better note navigation, a flexible editor layout, and a safer day-to-day writing flow. Built For Real Session Work - Keep notes inside your DAW workflow instead of breaking focus - Switch quickly between the note browser and the active note - Resize the editor and note list with a drag handle - Use a more polished note browser with clearer active-note focus Brand New Writing Tools In 2.0 - Markdown-aware writing support - Keyboard accessory tools for lists, checklists, links, undo, redo, find, stats, and quick structure helpers - List, checklist, numbered-list, and blockquote continuation - Indent, outdent, and paired insertion helpers - In-note Find with live match highlighting - Live document stats while you write - Autosave for existing notes while you work Safer Session Flow In 2.0 - Automatic iCloud sync across devices - Manual sync when you want more control - Backup to Files App - Restore from backup if needed - Safer handling for note changes across devices Also Included - AUv3 plug-in workflow plus standalone app - Save, Save As New Note, share, delete, and reorder actions - Multiple themes for different studio environments - Separate font and size controls for browser text, title text, and note body text - Comprehensive built-in in-app manual Session Notes AU is designed for musicians, producers, engineers, and performers who want notes to feel like part of the session, not a second app sitting off to the side.

About

AUVideoPlayer

This app functions as an Audio Unit v3 instrument plug-in for Digital Audio Workstations, enabling video playback within music production software. It supports various cloud storage and local files, offering sample-accurate synchronization with host transport clocks.

Highlights
  • AUv3 instrument plug-in for DAWs
  • Supports local and cloud storage
  • Sample-accurate sync with host transport
  • Audio output with sample rate conversion
  • Playback of videos without audio tracks
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
Features
Read full description

AUVideoPlayer is a video player that works as an Audio Unit v3 (AUv3) instrument plug-in your favorite DAW host apps such as AUM, Cubasis 3, BeatMaker 2, NanoStudio 2, GarageBand, or Audiobus 3. AUVideoPlayer can open video files stored in local, Photos, iCloud Drive, and other 3rd party cloud storage. AUVideoPlayer can output an audio signal and automatically converts the input sample rate to match the sample rate in the host app. AUVideoPlayer can also playback video files with no audio track. By enabling sync mode, AUVideoPlayer can playback a video file with the transport clock in host app for sample accurate synchronization. By running AUVideoPlayer standalone app and syncing with AUVideoPlayer plug-in in host app, you can play a video in Picture in Picture window even while closing the AUVideoPlayer plug-in window in host app. Supported Formats: MP4, MOV, ..., which Apple's Files app supports You can check the development status by following the Twitter account @AUVideoPlayer. Feel free to send your feedback! Support: https://twitter.com/AUVideoPlayer auvideoplayer@gmail.com

Screenshots

Session Notes AU4 screens
AUVideoPlayer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AUVideoPlayer at 4.5 against Session Notes AU's 4.1. AUVideoPlayer also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Session Notes AU's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $5.99). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Session Notes AU costs $1.99 and AUVideoPlayer $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AUVideoPlayer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Session Notes AU's written reviews are positive against 67% of AUVideoPlayer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Session Notes AU ships an update every 3 months, AUVideoPlayer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Session Notes AU versus AUVideoPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSession Notes AUAUVideoPlayer
Price$1.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.1 (10 ratings)4.5 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1011 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian ThompsonHiroshi Kajihata

Customer experience

Session Notes AU

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral37.5%
Negative0.0%

AUVideoPlayer

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Session Notes AU

No in-app purchases

None

AUVideoPlayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Session Notes AU free?
Session Notes AU costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AUVideoPlayer free?
AUVideoPlayer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Session Notes AU or AUVideoPlayer?
AUVideoPlayer is rated higher. Session Notes AU averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while AUVideoPlayer averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Session Notes AU or AUVideoPlayer have ads?
Neither Session Notes AU nor AUVideoPlayer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Session Notes AU or AUVideoPlayer?
Session Notes AU ships an update every 3 months, and AUVideoPlayer every 2 months. Most recently, Session Notes AU was updated on September 5, 2026 and AUVideoPlayer on September 4, 2026.

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