Comparison

VocaLive for iPad vs Sidechain Compressor Plugin

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

Head to head
About

VocaLive for iPad

This app provides singers with studio-quality vocal effects and recording tools. It offers real-time processing, a multi-track recorder, and microphone emulations to enhance vocal performances and practice sessions.

Highlights
  • 12 real-time professional vocal effects
  • 4-processor effects chain
  • 2-track recorder (expandable)
  • Mic Room with 20 mic emulations
  • Vocal warm-up tools
  • Voice Cancel for backing tracks
  • Live Mode GUI
Read full description

VocaLive provides singers and vocalists with a suite of 12 real-time professional vocal effects, along with a range of tools to help you practice, sing and record. The effects can be combined into a chain of 4 processors and saved as presets. A collection of 55 presets is included to get you up and running immediately. VocaLive for iPad includes 12 vocal effects: Pitch Fix (for tuning or stylized FX), Choir, Morph, Reverb, De-Esser, Delay, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Phazer and Envelope Filter plus a vocal Double effect available via registration. Together these effects provide unparalleled creative processing power. With VocaLive you can process your voice, sing along to any song in your iTunes Music library — its Voice Cancel feature lets you remove existing vocals — and warm up with helpful vocal warm-up tools. Use the new 2-track recorder to sing over backing tracks, or expand the studio section (available via in-app purchase) to record whole songs. With the optional Mic Room feature, VocaLive also gives you the sound and color of 20 classic and modern studio microphone emulations, for even more control over your vocal tone. Ready to perform? VocaLive’s new Live Mode offers an optimized GUI specifically for live use. See your entire chain at a glance, with all the settings and controls you need in an easy-to-read format designed for the stage. Plus VocaLive offers an optional 4-track looper to easily create songs, harmonies and more on the fly. For best quality, use VocaLive with IK’s iRig Mic range of microphones, from handheld to studio condenser mic. Or connect your favorite 3rd party mic using our iRig Pre interfaces. But you can also have fun with it and record quick ideas using the built-in microphone on your iPad or earbuds. Control your virtual rig just as easily as you would a traditional vocal multiFX with new iRig Stomp I/O integration, so you can change presets, control effects and more right from your feet. Or go wireless with iRig Blueboard, a wireless Bluetooth controller for basic control on the go. VocaLive also supports Core Audio and Core MIDI so you can use any compatible third-party interface or MIDI controller, and Audiobus and Inter-App Audio compatible, letting you use it alongside your favorite recording or songwriting apps. VocaLive for iPad features: • Real time vocal processor + recording app • 4-processor vocal effects chain • 12 professional studio-quality vocal effects included • Mic Room microphone with 20 classic and modern studio mic emulations* • Includes metronome and vocal warm-up tools • 4-track looper section* • 2-track recorder (expandable to a full 8-track recording studio*) • Import and play songs directly from your Music library or computer • Voice Cancel lets you create sing-along backing tracks by removing the vocal track from existing recordings • Simultaneous multi-track recording • Studio section (included with Recorder) with waveform visualization and editing, touch-and-drag looping, normalization, punch-in/punch-out recording, simultaneous multi-track recording support and more • AutoFreeze (allows each track to have its own full effects chain) • Live Mode shows you your entire rig at a glance, with all the parameters you need on stage easily accessible • 55 presets included with 4 Favorites for fast recall • MIDI controllable and with built-in integration for iRig Stomp I/O, iRig Blueboard and other controllers • Audiobus & Inter-App Audio support * available via in-app purchase IMPORTANT: AmpliTube users can add the effects processors from VocaLive to their AmpliTube app using the “Restore my purchases” option in the in-app menu. For more information: www.ikmultimedia.com/vocaliveipad Accessories information: www.ikmultimedia.com

About

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

This audio plugin enables side-chain compression for music production, creating rhythmic pumping effects. It offers true side-chaining in compatible DAWs and a unique sudo side-chain method for broader compatibility.

Highlights
  • Standard compressor features
  • Real calibrated VU and reduction meters
  • Real-time visual graphing
  • True sidechain in AUM
  • Sudo sidechain with MASTER/SLAVE
  • 3 available busses
  • Mono/Stereo modes
Features
Read full description

This is an AUv3 compatible stereo compressor plugin which is intended for use inside your favourite DAW/HOST such as AUM, Cubasis, Auria, Meteor, AUM or GarageBand etc. So lets start by answering the question what is side chaining?  Side chaining is a technique used in a lot of modern dance music which involves using the volume level of one sound source to control another. You can hear plenty of examples of this in modern Trance/Dubstep music where sound engineers use the impact of a bass drum to duck a sustained string sound, creating space in the mix. This can be heard as a rythmic pumping sound which gives your music drive and energy. This compressor is quite unique since it was designed to get around the limitations of AUv3 plugins on iOS and the lack of multi-audio routing inside DAW apps. Until recently it wasn't possible to do true side chaining using AUv3, but now AUM has recently integrated support for multiple inputs and outputs per AUv3 plugin, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. This is great for AUM users, but this still leaves users of other DAW's in the dark. This is where this app has you covered as it provides a method of sudo side-chaining by allowing you to attach two instances of this plugin to multiple sources and route audio between them to achieve a sudo sidechain. This works by ensuring two instances of the plugin are loaded as insert effects, one being the MASTER and the other a SLAVE. The slave sends audio to the master by means of one of 3 available busses. True side chaining can be achieved in AUM. Simple set the SideChain Mode to 'Normal' and install an instance of the plugin on the channel you want to control. Then using the new 'Multiple Audio Unit Instances' option in AUM you can add a redirection of the controlling source to send to the same bus the plugin is listening to. It's that simple. In this case you need to set both instances to either Bus 2 or 3, since Bus 1 is the original audio. Features: ○ Standard Compressor features. ○ Real calibrated VU and reduction meters ○ Real-time visual graphing of parameters. ○ Real sidechain in AUM. ○ Sudo side chain using MASTER and SLAVE for others. ○ 3 available busses. ○ Mono / Stereo modes. ○ Integrated help.

Screenshots

Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sidechain Compressor Plugin at $5.99 against VocaLive for iPad's $24.99. Sidechain Compressor Plugin also leads on rating (3.8 vs 2.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). VocaLive for iPad's advantage is update cadence (every 8 months vs every 67 months) and ratings volume (26 vs 6). On ads and iOS requirement 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

VocaLive for iPad costs $24.99 and Sidechain Compressor Plugin $5.99 up front. VocaLive for iPad sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Sidechain Compressor Plugin asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidechain Compressor Plugin holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of VocaLive for iPad's written reviews are positive against 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VocaLive for iPad ships an update every 8 months, Sidechain Compressor Plugin every 67 months. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
VocaLive for iPad versus Sidechain Compressor Plugin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVocaLive for iPadSidechain Compressor Plugin
Price$24.99$5.99 — better
Rating2.9 (26 ratings)3.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews35.1% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 67 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size186 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIK Multimedia US, LLC4Pockets.com

Customer experience

VocaLive for iPad

All ratings26 ratings
Positive38.5%
Neutral15.4%
Negative46.2%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive35.1%
Neutral11.9%
Negative53.1%

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%

Bugs and requests

VocaLive for iPad

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 7, iOS 11, iOS 15, iOS 16 updates
  • App won't start after iOS updates
  • Harmony presets reverting to other presets after updates
  • Stereo recording with phase cancellation instead of mono
  • Vocal audio too quiet or inaudible
Show 9 more
  • Microphone input not recognized
  • App disappears when minimized or switching apps
  • Audible hum in audio output
  • Lag and latency in pitch control and harmonizer
  • Recording glitches, pops, and drops
  • In-app purchases not persisting after reinstall or update
  • Audiobus initialization errors
  • Unable to load sounds for upload
  • WiFi file transfer link not functional

Requested features

15 requests
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support for use in other DAWs
  • AudioBus compatibility
  • Stereo to mono conversion effect
  • Distortion effect
  • Looper functionality for stacking vocal loops
Show 10 more
  • Multi-track recording with proper timeline editing
  • Waveform visualization for editing
  • Audio copy/paste functionality
  • Better file transfer options (Dropbox, Google Drive integration)
  • GarageBand plugin integration
  • Bluetooth speaker connectivity
  • Keyboard chord control with polyphony
  • Video playback for karaoke/practice
  • Dock connector microphone support
  • Better song list UI with longer character limits

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

VocaLive for iPad

One-time6
  • External Control$5.99
  • Looper$14.99
  • Mic Pack$14.99
Show 3 more
  • Recorder$19.99
  • Studio$19.99
  • Recorder + Studio$24.99
None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VocaLive for iPad free?
VocaLive for iPad costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VocaLive for iPad or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin is rated higher. VocaLive for iPad averages 2.9 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.8 from 6 ratings.
Do VocaLive for iPad or Sidechain Compressor Plugin have ads?
Neither VocaLive for iPad nor Sidechain Compressor Plugin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VocaLive for iPad or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
VocaLive for iPad ships an update every 8 months, and Sidechain Compressor Plugin every 67 months. Most recently, VocaLive for iPad was updated on September 1, 2026 and Sidechain Compressor Plugin on September 21, 2026.

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