pocketOscilloscope vs VAPolyWest
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
pocketOscilloscope
Visualize audio waveforms on your Mac, PC, or iOS device. This tool offers detailed controls for RMS/Peak metering, voltage, gain, and visual elements like line thickness and rotation. Customize channel colors for a personalized audio analysis experience.
- Stereo capable oscilloscope
- RMS/Peak meter
- Controllable Vertical/Horizontal Offset
- Voltage and Gain controls
- Line Thickness and Rotation
- Custom color selection
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pocketOscilloscope is a Mac/PC and iOS compatible stereo capable oscilloscope tool for audio nerds. Complete with RMS/Peak meter and controllable Vertical and Horizontal Offset. As well as separate Voltage and Gain controls, coupled with visual controls like Line Thickness and Rotation for a complete experience. Custom color selection for audio channels 1 & 2. This tool is great for checking your custom built oscillators, plug-ins, or just visualizing your audio. VST3, AU, AUv3, & Stand-alone compatible. *Stand alone app works with external audio hardware devices.
VAPolyWest
This app is a polyphonic synthesizer inspired by 1960s California west coast synthesis. It features wave folding, lowpass gates, and step sequencers for generative music creation. It functions as a standalone app or an AudioUnit Extension across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Virtual analog west coast style polyphonic synthesizer
- Wave folder and lowpass gate
- Step sequencer and envelope generators
- Up to 8 voice polyphony
- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
- MIDI 2.0 support
- Audio export options
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VAPolyWest is inspired by synthesizers developed in California in the 1960’s. VAPolyWest features wave folder and lowpass gate, which are key components of the west coast synthesis. VAPolyWest also features 5 step sequencer and envelope generators which are designed to create generative music. VAPolyWest works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. - Main Features - Virtual analog west coast style polyphonic synthesizer. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Wave folder and lowpass gate for West Coast Synthesis. Step sequencer and envelopes designed for generative music. Support MIDI 2.0 Built-in Sequencer. 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 8 clips. Piano Roll and Parameter automation. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. - System Requirements - A13 Fusion or above is recommended. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension. Sound may be distorted if CPU of the device doesn't have enough power. If it happens reduce number of voices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: pocketOscilloscope at $0.99 against VAPolyWest's $14.99. pocketOscilloscope also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). VAPolyWest's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and review sentiment (75% vs 33%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
pocketOscilloscope costs $0.99 and VAPolyWest $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VAPolyWest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of pocketOscilloscope's written reviews are positive against 75% of VAPolyWest's.
pocketOscilloscope ships an update every 12 months, VAPolyWest every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | pocketOscilloscope | VAPolyWest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 3.6 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 10 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OSC Audio | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
pocketOscilloscope
VAPolyWest
In-app purchases
pocketOscilloscope
No in-app purchases
VAPolyWest
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is pocketOscilloscope free?
Is VAPolyWest free?
Which has better reviews, pocketOscilloscope or VAPolyWest?
Do pocketOscilloscope or VAPolyWest have ads?
Which is updated more often, pocketOscilloscope or VAPolyWest?
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