Comparison

FabFilter Volcano 3 vs Pulser BPM Calculator

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

Head to head
About

FabFilter Volcano 3

This app provides a vintage-sounding, creative filtering effect for real-time audio processing. It offers a redesigned interface with a powerful modulation engine and flexible routing options for detailed sound shaping. Use it standalone or as an AUv3 plugin within compatible music production apps.

Highlights
  • Redesigned interface with new modulation engine
  • Four non-linear vintage filters with multiple shapes
  • Frequency panning for per-channel filter variation
  • Flexible routing options (serial, parallel, L/R, M/S)
  • Extensive modulation sources and 50-slot matrix
  • Live modulation visualization
  • Factory and custom presets
Read full description

Nothing beats a vintage sounding, gritty and creamy cut-off filter. That's exactly what FabFilter Volcano has been known for since its first release in 2005. Today, Volcano 3 delivers the best in creative filtering with a completely redesigned innovative interface that is an absolute delight to work with. The Volcano 3 app filters the microphone input and plays it back in real-time. To use Volcano 3 as a plug-in, you need an AUv3-compatible host app like Auria, AUM or Cubasis. Volcano 3 will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins in the host app. Key features: - Fully redesigned, highly simplified interface, with an easy workflow and new modulation engine - Up to four non-linear, vintage-sounding filters with low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, bell, shelf, notch and all-pass shapes - Frequency panning to vary the filter frequency per channel - Intuitive filter display lets you easily create and tweak filters - Very flexible routing options to set all combinations of serial and parallel filtering - L/R and M/S routing options for per-channel filtering - Drive, delay, and output level/panning settings per filter - High Quality option enabling maximum internal oversampling - Piano display - Endless modulation options, with all the 16-step XLFOs, XY controllers/sliders, envelope generators, envelope followers, and MIDI sources you will ever need - Easy drag-and-drop modulation with 50-slot modulation matrix - Live modulation visualization for targets and sources - Curve control in EGs and transient detection in EFs - Carefully designed and curated factory presets, plus the ability to save your own presets - External side-chain triggering - Optional MIDI triggering - Undo/redo and A/B comparison "With a stonking sound and incredible flexibility, Volcano is a must for anyone seeking a characterful all-in-one filter solution" — Computer Music "The combination of a powerful sound and ease-of-use makes Volcano unique." — Future Music

About

Pulser BPM Calculator

This app helps musicians, producers, and audio engineers quickly calculate precise audio timing values for effects like delay, reverb, and modulation. It converts BPM to milliseconds and offers fractional precision for dotted and triplet notes, streamlining the music production process.

Highlights
  • BPM to milliseconds conversion
  • Delay and pre-delay calculation
  • Reverb time calculation
  • Modulation and LFO rate calculation
  • Fractional note precision (dotted, triplet)
  • Studio utility for audio engineers
Features
Read full description

Instant BPM & audio timing calculator. Find delay, reverb, and modulation times fast. Perfect for producers, musicians, and engineers. Pulser is the essential studio utility for musicians, producers, and audio engineers who need fast, accurate timing values. Whether you’re setting up delays, dialing in pre-delay for reverb, or syncing modulation rates, Pulser gives you the numbers instantly. Key Features - BPM Calculator – Convert tempo to milliseconds with precision. - Delay & Pre-Delay Calculator – Quickly find exact note values. - Reverb Time Calculator – Perfectly set decay and pre-delay times. - Mod & LFO Rate Calculator – Lock modulation and LFO rates to your tempo. - Fractional Precision – Adjust with dotted and triplet note options. - Pulser is designed with clarity and speed in mind — no clutter, just the tools you need to keep your music in perfect time. - Whether you’re mixing in the studio or creating on the go, Pulser saves you guesswork and lets you focus on making music!

Screenshots

Pulser BPM Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pulser BPM Calculator at $1.99 against FabFilter Volcano 3's $24.99. Pulser BPM Calculator also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 13 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). FabFilter Volcano 3's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and ratings volume (18 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

FabFilter Volcano 3 costs $24.99 and Pulser BPM Calculator $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FabFilter Volcano 3 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FabFilter Volcano 3 has 18 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of FabFilter Volcano 3's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pulser BPM Calculator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FabFilter Volcano 3 ships an update every 13 months, Pulser BPM Calculator every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FabFilter Volcano 3 versus Pulser BPM Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFabFilter Volcano 3Pulser BPM Calculator
Price$24.99$1.99 — better
Rating5.0 (18 ratings) — better4.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFabFilterMichael Schmidt

Customer experience

FabFilter Volcano 3

All ratings17 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

Pulser BPM Calculator

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FabFilter Volcano 3

No in-app purchases

None

Pulser BPM Calculator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FabFilter Volcano 3 free?
FabFilter Volcano 3 costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pulser BPM Calculator free?
Pulser BPM Calculator costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FabFilter Volcano 3 or Pulser BPM Calculator?
FabFilter Volcano 3 is rated higher. FabFilter Volcano 3 averages 5.0 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Pulser BPM Calculator averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do FabFilter Volcano 3 or Pulser BPM Calculator have ads?
Neither FabFilter Volcano 3 nor Pulser BPM Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FabFilter Volcano 3 or Pulser BPM Calculator?
FabFilter Volcano 3 ships an update every 13 months, and Pulser BPM Calculator every 3 days. Most recently, FabFilter Volcano 3 was updated on November 3, 2026 and Pulser BPM Calculator on November 5, 2026.