Comparison

True Pan vs volumeCTRL

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

Head to head
About

True Pan

This audio plugin allows for lossless repositioning of stereo recordings, preserving the stereo field's geometry. It enables fully reversible panoramic rotations without compressing the stereo image and supports advanced transformations and modulation effects for creative sound design.

Highlights
  • Lossless stereo field repositioning
  • Fully reversible panoramic rotations
  • Advanced transformations and modulation
  • Preserves spatial information in ambience/reverb
  • Tempo-synced LFOs for rhythmic motion
  • Dynamic stereo spread controls
Features
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True Pan makes it possible to reposition stereo recordings while perfectly preserving the geometry of the stereo field. This allows for lossless, fully reversible panoramic rotations that don't compress the stereo image. The plugin also supports more intense transformations and modulation effects. True Pan can be used to: • Pan sounds that are rich in ambience or reverb without diminishing spatial information • Adjust stereo field recordings, freely rotate the entire sound field (e.g. to change what's in front) • Easily shift sonic perspectives of fx-rich, layered stereo instrument patches • Explore a new dimension of positional reverberation • Add subtle motion to, or "liven up" omnidirectional sounds (can also be used as a special chorus effect at higher rates) • Add a dynamic spatial quality to arpeggiated or rhythmic passages using the tempo sync feature with different LFO types • Apply stronger modulation for sound design and creative uses (creating warble, flutter or stereo tremolo and glitch effects) • Aid and speed up workflows for multi-mic setups When used as a post-processor for reverbs, True Pan can provide higher temporal density and smoothness than what pre-panned reverb inputs would allow. This directly translates to a better quality, but can also be viewed as a different physical setup of the sound source and the listener in relationship to the boundaries of the acoustic space. Thus it opens up additional degrees of freedom in positioning. The plugin's approach to quality preservation is best demonstrated by its ability to transform processed audio back to its original state, by applying a reverse rotation. The included stereo spread controls incorporate features that aim to minimize volume fluctuations by adapting to the actual input signal and its M/S gain distribution, including a fully dynamic adaptive mode, and a snapshot-based one. PLEASE NOTE: • An Audio Unit v3 compatible host app is required to use this plugin • Dual mono inputs from two microphones need to be converted to a single stereo signal in order to be processable

About

volumeCTRL

Gain precise control over your device's audio levels with this utility app. Adjust volume by percentage or dBFS, fine-tune with incremental steps, and temporarily dim or mute sound. Ideal for music, podcasts, and late-night media consumption.

Highlights
  • Precise volume adjustment by percentage or dBFS
  • Keypad for exact value input
  • Fine-tune volume with customizable step sizes
  • Temporary dim and mute functions
  • Seamless integration with device volume controls
  • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Currently charting
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volumeCTRL is a simple utility that works alongside your iPhone/iPad’s built-in volume controls to give you precise control over its level. It is designed for anyone who needs or wants tighter, repeatable control over volume level. volumeCTRL lets you set the volume level using either Percent or dBFS (decibels from Full Scale). You can key in exact values with a handy on-screen keypad. Fine tune your setting using buttons which change the value in small steps. Dim or Mute the sound when you get interrupted temporarily. volumeCTRL is the perfect iPad Split View or Slide Over companion for listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. Use it with your favorite music app, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL Music, or Pandora. With volumeCTRL, you can get your late night listening level just right when you stream movies or TV shows while everything else is quiet. If you're picky about exactly how loud your device audio is, volumeCTRL is the right app for you. FEATURES - volumeCTRL lets you set your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch volume precisely + New Favorite Volume options let you set preferred volumes for various listening cases - Selectable Units: Percent (%) or Decibels from Full Scale (dBFS) - Virtual Keypad allows you to key in exact values - Volume Up/Down Buttons let you change the volume in fine-grained 0.5 % or about 0.5 dB steps + New in Version 1.1 You can customize the step size - Dim and Mute Buttons let you temporarily lower the volume and easily get back to your previous level - Dim lowers the volume by a fixed amount (Customizable, Default: 18 dB) Super handy for quieting down loud commercials! - Mute silences the audio completely - volumeCTRL peacefully coexists with the device’s built-in volume controls — use either and the other follows seamlessly - Supports both Dark and Light Mode Appearances - Supports Hardware Keyboards connected to iPads - volumeCTRL is a Universal App - it works on iPad, iPhone, & iPod touch - User Guide embedded in App - no internet connection required to read it - auDSPr strives to design Apps for Everyone - Languages: All auDSPr audio apps support for 简体中文, Español, русский, 日本語, Français, Deutsch, Svenska, Latviešu - Accessibility Features - VoiceOver screen reader support assists visually impaired users APPLICATIONS - Setting impactful yet safe listening levels when using headphones or in-ear monitors - Setting repeatable reference volumes for studio control rooms or audiophile listening rooms - Setting precise levels for hearing aid intelligibility SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - BUYER BEWARE: Some Bluetooth devices have coarse volume implementations (see picture above). The coarse hardware volume defeats volumeCTRL’s fine software volume setting and prevents performance from behaving optimally! - volumeCTRL is verified to work beautifully with Apple AirPods - Compatible with iOS 11.0 & up (iPhone 5S, iPhone SE (1st Generation), iPod touch (6th Generation) & up) - Compatible with iPadOS 11.0 & up (iPad (5th Generation), iPad Pro (1st Generation), iPad Air (1st Generation), iPad mini 2,& up)

Screenshots

True Pan2 screens
volumeCTRL3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: True Pan at 100% against volumeCTRL's 45%. True Pan also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.2). volumeCTRL's advantage is chart position (#156 vs unranked). On price, 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

True Pan costs $4.99 and volumeCTRL $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

True Pan holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of True Pan's written reviews are positive against 45% of volumeCTRL's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

True Pan ships an update every 17 months, volumeCTRL every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
True Pan versus volumeCTRL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrue PanvolumeCTRL
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better3.2 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings79 — better
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#156 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.111.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperquantovoxauDSPr

Customer experience

True Pan

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

volumeCTRL

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%

In-app purchases

None

True Pan

No in-app purchases

None

volumeCTRL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is True Pan free?
True Pan costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is volumeCTRL free?
volumeCTRL costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, True Pan or volumeCTRL?
True Pan is rated higher. True Pan averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while volumeCTRL averages 3.2 from 9 ratings.
Do True Pan or volumeCTRL have ads?
Neither True Pan nor volumeCTRL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, True Pan or volumeCTRL?
True Pan ships an update every 17 months, and volumeCTRL every 9 months. Most recently, True Pan was updated on August 29, 2026 and volumeCTRL on September 13, 2026.

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