Comparison

VB3m vs OB

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

Head to head
About

VB3m

This app is a virtual tonewheel organ emulator, meticulously recreating the sound and functionality of the classic Hammond B3. It offers advanced features like dual manuals, pedalboard, physical modeling, and a versatile rotary speaker effect, all controllable via MIDI.

Highlights
  • Dual manuals and pedalboard
  • Physical modeling engine
  • Rotary speaker effect
  • Tube overdrive simulation
  • MIDI CC mapping
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

GSi VB3m simulates the famous american tonewheel organ better known as the Hammond Organ B3. Main features: - Two manuals plus pedalboard - Two sets of 9 drawbars each for upper and lower manual - Two drawbars for the pedalboard - Physical modeling engine with full polyphony (91 tonewheels) - Rotary speaker effect with two variations plus one static amp - Virtual microphone positioning - Tube overdrive simulation - Two band equalizer - Digital reverb - Program bank with 32 memory locations - On screen keyboard (upper manual only) - Split function - Pedal-to-lower function - Pedal String Bass decay - Global tuning between A=430 Hz and A=450 Hz - Fully customizable Midi CC Mapping with Midi Learn function - Reverse all drawbar CC option - Sustain pedal support for sustaining notes - User selectable Midi channels - Freely assignable Program Change numbers - Low latency Core Audio support - IAA support - AUv3 plugin extension included - Background audio option - Free Cloud service to easily exchange Programs and Midi Maps Please note: to connect a USB-Midi controller, please use Apple's Camera Connection Kit (Lightning to USB-A). Don't connect your recharge cable to a USB host port, that won't transfer Midi data. For better performance, make sure your battery is fully charged or power your device wherever possible. For more details, please read this Q&A article: https://lnx.gsidsp.com/help/knowledgebase.php?article=1

About

OB

This app recreates a classic vintage synthesizer, offering rich, full-bodied tones for electronic music, recordings, and film scores. It features MPE support, an on-screen MIDI keyboard, and high-quality rendering for enhanced music production.

Highlights
  • Oberheim OB-X emulation
  • MPE support
  • On-screen MIDI keyboard
  • High-quality retina rendering
  • AUv3 improvements
  • Preset search with categories
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

OB-Xd is a classic synthesizer that captivates musicians with its rich, full-bodied tones and expansive sound design. Perfect for adding a vintage touch to electronic tracks, live recordings, or film scores, OB-Xd brings unique and expressive qualities to your music. Designed to recreate the Oberheim OB-X, it features enhancements like micro random detuning and unison for a fuller sound. Elevate your studio setup and music production with OB-Xd today. • Full MPE support with configurable pitch bend, aftertouch, timbre, and pressure depth. • On-screen MIDI keyboard with pitch bend and mod wheels (iPad only). • Native iOS popups, dialogs, and text input throughout the interface. • Search Presets with category subfolders and native no-results dialog. • High-quality retina rendering. • AUv3 improvements: async file choosers, host viewport resize, and Bluetooth MIDI access.

Screenshots

VB3m4 screens
OB2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VB3m at $14.99 against OB's $19.99. VB3m also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). 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

VB3m costs $14.99 and OB $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VB3m holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of VB3m's written reviews are positive against 75% of OB's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VB3m ships an update fortnightly, OB every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
VB3m versus OB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVB3mOB
Price$14.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.5 (40 ratings) — better4.2 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews78.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings40 — better16
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#192 — better#194
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB210 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGenuine SoundwareDiscoDSP LLC

Customer experience

VB3m

All ratings40 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive78.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative10.0%

OB

All ratings16 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

VB3m

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Sound gets stuck
  • Non funziona più (stops working)
  • Non riesco più a sentire il suono (no sound after iPad update)
  • Sounds get stuck, developer not responding
  • UI is pixelated and needs a refresh
Show 9 more
  • Graphics are very low res (needs fixing!)
  • Blurry graphics on iPad Pro 12”
  • Problems recording with GarageBand iOS
  • Difficulty connecting with MIDI keyboard and audio interface on iPad 9th gen
  • App screen goes dark and no sound when connected to MIDI/audio interface
  • Minor bug: sometimes the app seems to lose track of the (swell) expression pedal
  • Problema GarageBand: not working as Audio Unit with native GarageBand keyboard
  • Latency issues on older iPhone models
  • Battery drains when in background

Requested features

30 requests
  • Add parametric EQ
  • Adjustable sustain
  • Adjustable Leslie transition speed
  • Save drawbar registrations
  • Reverse color keys for quick access
Show 25 more
  • Toggle setting for rotary control
  • Increase UI size
  • Add sustain pedal triggers bass note
  • Add percussion volume control
  • Add black keys to keyboard view
  • Add up/down selector buttons for presets
  • Option to save parameters globally or per preset
  • Add MIDI learn
  • Clean setting on drive knob
  • Leslie speed switch on organ page
  • More presets
  • Integrate half moon Leslie directly on organ screen
  • Add mute function for use with other apps
  • Option to decide buffer size
  • Transpose +2 octaves for lower split
  • More Leslie tweaks (speed, ramp-up times, amp models)
  • Add reverse color keys to keyboard page
  • Allow rotary control to have 'toggle' setting
  • Increase UI size
  • Add user saved presets
  • Add MIDI learn
  • Clean setting on drive knob
  • Leslie speed switch on organ page
  • More presets
  • Expression pedal mapping improvement

OB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

VB3m

No in-app purchases

None

OB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VB3m free?
VB3m costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OB free?
OB costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VB3m or OB?
VB3m is rated higher. VB3m averages 4.5 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while OB averages 4.2 from 16 ratings.
Do VB3m or OB have ads?
Neither VB3m nor OB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VB3m or OB?
VB3m ships an update fortnightly, and OB every 10 days. Most recently, VB3m was updated on October 18, 2026 and OB on October 18, 2026.
Which is more popular, VB3m or OB?
VB3m currently peaks at #192 in the App Store charts, and OB at #194. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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