Comparison

GSDSP MagicBlur vs GateReverb

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

Head to head
About

GSDSP MagicBlur

Transform audio into lush pads, frozen textures, or spectral motion with this multi-curve spectral blur and freeze effect. Shape different parts of the spectrum with independent blur times, and explore evolving drones and unique spectral transitions.

Highlights
  • Frequency-dependent spectral blur
  • Multi-curve spectral freeze
  • Morphing and frame selection
  • Reverse morph direction
  • Envelope and pitch shifting
  • Modulation system
  • AUv3 audio effect plugin
Features
Read full description

Turn any sound into lush pads, frozen textures, or drifting spectral motion with this multi-curve spectral blur and freeze effect. Frequency-Dependent Blur MagicBlur is a multi-curve spectral blur and freeze processor designed for transforming audio into pads, overtone glissandi, reversed textures, and glitch-like movements. Apply separate blur times per frequency or frequency range, then mix, modulate, and spread them to explore anything from subtle, washed-out ambience to extreme spectral experimentation. How Spectral Blur Works Incoming audio is analyzed into fast-moving spectral frames, each representing the frequency content of a small slice of sound. Instead of playing every frame in sequence, MagicBlur lets you pick frames at defined intervals and morph smoothly toward the next one. The Blur Time sets how gradually frequencies transition — and because MagicBlur supports independent blur times per frequency, you can shape different parts of the spectrum with fine-grained control. Freeze, Reverse & Transform Disable morphing to create a spectral freeze, holding each frame until the next is selected. Reverse the morph direction, apply envelopes, or shift pitch to create evolving drones and unique spectral transitions. Combined with MagicBlur’s modulation system, these tools unlock a wide range of expressive and experimental sound design possibilities. MagicBlur is an AUv3 audio effect plugin compatible with Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, GarageBand and many more. A Desktop version is also available for Windows and macOS (VST3 / AU / AAX). More information here: https://gs-dsp.com/products

About

GateReverb

Features
Read full description

GateReverb is a focused, single-purpose reverb effect for vocals, drums, and mix busses: a Plate reverb whose tail is shaped by a gate, so the wet signal opens and closes with the dynamics of your source instead of trailing off in a long, smeared decay. Unlike a conventional reverb, GateReverb's gate listens to your input and controls only the reverb return — your dry signal always passes through untouched. The result is reverb that feels alive and rhythmic: tight and punchy when you want it tucked in, or big and dramatic when you want it to bloom and snap shut. WHY A GATED REVERB Traditional reverbs add space, but the tail can blur transients, muddy a mix, or fight for room with other instruments. By gating the reverb return, GateReverb lets you dial in exactly how much "air" survives after each hit or phrase — keeping your low end tight, your vocals intelligible, and your drums punchy, while still giving you all the depth and character of a smooth Plate reverb underneath. SIX CONTROLS, NO GUESSWORK GateReverb keeps the interface to six clearly labeled controls so you can dial in a sound fast, without hunting through menus: - Threshold — sets how loud the input must be before the gate opens - Attack — how quickly the reverb appears once the gate opens - Release — how quickly the reverb tail is cut off - High Damp — tames or brightens the top end of the reverb tail - Dry Level — your unprocessed input signal - Reverb Level — the gated wet signal Every control uses a musically tuned response curve, so small movements near the most useful range (short attacks, fast or slow releases, etc.) give you fine control exactly where you need it. 8 PRESETS FOR REAL-WORLD SOURCES GateReverb ships with eight presets designed around real mixing situations, each tuned with appropriate thresholds, timing, and tonal balance for its source material: - Vocal Air — a natural, breathing space that follows phrasing - Vocal Spotlight — a dramatic swell that blooms at the end of a line - Drum Snap — a short, punchy ambience that preserves transients - Drum Pump — an aggressive, rhythmic gated effect for electronic and pop production - Bus Glue — a subtle cohesive space for a full mix bus - Bus Bloom — an expansive lift for choruses and key moments - Subtle Texture — barely-there ambience for spoken word or delicate sources - Extreme Gate — a bold, obvious gated effect for sound design Each preset is a starting point — every control remains live, so you can reshape any preset to fit your track in seconds. BUILT FOR YOUR WORKFLOW GateReverb is built as a lightweight AUv3 Audio Unit plugin for use inside your favorite AUv3-compatible host on Mac and iOS — load it on a vocal, drum bus, or send, and it's ready to play with. All parameters are exposed to your host for full automation, so gate timing and reverb levels can be part of your arrangement, not just a static setting. A standalone version is also included so you can audition GateReverb on a sample audio file before committing it to a session — load a WAV, hit play, and hear exactly how each preset and control responds before you build it into your mix. GateReverb is designed to do one thing extremely well: give your reverb a shape, a rhythm, and a reason to be there. No oversized interface, no overwhelming parameter list — just the controls you need to get a great gated reverb sound, fast.

Screenshots

GSDSP MagicBlur3 screens
GateReverb1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GateReverb at $0.99 against GSDSP MagicBlur's $29.99. On ads, in-app purchases, device support 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

GSDSP MagicBlur costs $29.99 and GateReverb $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
GSDSP MagicBlur versus GateReverb: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGSDSP MagicBlurGateReverb
Price$29.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.9 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGustav ScholdaKenichi Nakamura

In-app purchases

None

GSDSP MagicBlur

No in-app purchases

None

GateReverb

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GSDSP MagicBlur free?
GSDSP MagicBlur costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GateReverb free?
GateReverb costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do GSDSP MagicBlur or GateReverb have ads?
Neither GSDSP MagicBlur nor GateReverb shows ads.

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