# sir Sampleton vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is price: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave at Free against sir Sampleton's $0.99. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). sir Sampleton's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download; sir Sampleton costs $0.99 up front. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. sir Sampleton asks for nothing beyond the download.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 135 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of sir Sampleton's written reviews are positive against 52% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

sir Sampleton ships an update every 3 months, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | sir Sampleton | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.3 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sir-sampleton/id404873671/reviews) | **[4.0 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 48 | **135** |
| Positive reviews | **65.7% of reviews** | 51.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 21 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paul Slocum](https://appshunter.io/developer/404873676) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### sir Sampleton

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sir-sampleton/id404873671)

Record and play back sounds on dual keyboards with a built-in rhythm machine. Inspired by 80s samplers, this app lets you create lush, complex musical textures from your voice, instruments, or other noises. Samples can be looped, customized, saved, and shared.

**Highlights:** Sample from microphone, Dual piano keyboards, Built-in rhythm machine, Save and email samples, Download free samples, Adjust tuning and effects, Sample from other apps via Audiobus

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple, intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- 🎹 Great Casio SK-1 emulation and nostalgic appeal
- 🎵 High-quality sound and audio fidelity
- 🎧 MIDI and Audiobus support for integration
- 🎨 Clean, minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Screen orientation issues (stuck in portrait/vertical mode)
- 🐛 Touch input misalignment and unresponsive controls
- 🐛 Graphics scaling problems on newer devices
- 📱 Incompatible with iOS 16 and later versions
- 🐛 Distorted/crackling audio from microphone recording

**Reported bugs**

- Screen stuck in portrait mode, won't rotate to landscape
- Touch input only registers on 1/4 of screen
- Graphics and app engine mismatch causing display corruption
- App incompatible with iOS 16, 16.2, 16.4.1, 17.5.1
- Microphone recording produces unintelligible distorted crackling

**Requested features**

- Export samples as MP3/WAV files
- Sequencer for arranging samples into songs
- Reverse/reverse-loop functionality
- Sustain button/function for live performance
- Arpegiator feature


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is sir Sampleton free?

sir Sampleton costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, sir Sampleton or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is rated higher. sir Sampleton averages 3.3 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 135 ratings.

### Do sir Sampleton or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; sir Sampleton does not.

### Which is updated more often, sir Sampleton or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

sir Sampleton ships an update every 3 months, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, sir Sampleton was updated on November 13, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on November 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*