Mid vs spectwhirl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mid
This app offers unique stereo transformations, allowing for smooth, continuous intervals between L/R and M/S representations. It enables new modulation possibilities and can be used as a width-preserving panner or to transform any stereo effect into an M/S one.
- Continuous mid-side interval
- Width-preserving panning
- Spatial modulation effect
- Transform stereo effects to M/S
- Lossless stereo field preservation
- Tempo sync capable LFO
- Paired mode for effect modulation
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Ever wonder what lies between the L/R and M/S representations? Mid-Side Continuum extends the definition of mid-side encoding to create a smooth, continuous interval allowing in-between values and gradual changes. Channel mode switches can now be turned into faders, opening up new modulation possibilities as well. The algorithm used by the plugin is a true extension of the mid-side encoder/decoder concept and doesn't involve any cross-fading or other artificial constructs. The plugin can be used in two ways: • In standalone mode, as a width-preserving panning effect, or a special modulation effect for spatially balanced sounds • In paired mode, allowing other effects to operate anywhere between L/R and M/S modes, with modulation options available FEATURES: • Provides a new kind of spatial modulation effect for stereo signals • Can be used as a panner that doesn't squash wide components (existing ambience, reverb, stereo FX), strongly panning narrow parts at the same time • A great companion for delays or delay-based effects: explore adding space or change the panoramic character without re-configuring delay taps • Turn any stereo effect or effects chain into a M/S one (or any graduation on the L/R - M/S curve), by sandwiching them between a pair of Mid-Side Continuum instances • Unlike panning, stereo panning, or binaural panning, Mid-Side Continuum preserves the exact geometry of the stereo field by using a lossless transform • Higher rates of change can be used to create additional kinds of effects (chorus, warble/flutter), depending on the width characteristics of the original input • A tempo sync capable LFO is available to add automatic modulation; the LFO phase can be offset to allow precise timing control and alignment THE PANNER FOR REVERB-RICH SOUNDS: Panning high-ambience and reverb-rich sounds need no longer result in squashed stereo images. The exact, full width of the stereo field is preserved when using Mid-Side Continuum as a panning tool. Unlike binaural panning, the overall stereo frequency response is kept maximally flat, thanks to the used algorithm's audio engineering-focused feature set. In fact, Mid-Side Continuum's algorithm is a lossless, completely reversible one (based on True Pan's technology). WRAP ANY EFFECT TO CHANGE / MODULATE THEIR STEREO MODE: Two Mid-Side Continuum instances can be conveniently linked in a way that the second one cancels out the transformation, restoring the original sound. Once linked, the second plugin will automatically re-align if parameters are changed in the first one, without missing a single sample. Between these two points, any number of audio effects can be inserted, all of which will receive the transformed signal instead of the original L/R one. This setup can be used in multiple ways: either to just turn any stereo plugin into a M/S one, or to modulate the stereo field of the wet signals (while keeping the dry signal intact) without the need for setting up additional routing, thus keeping tracks neatly self-contained. VERSATILE EXTENSION TO DELAY-BASED EFFECTS: • Alter stereo delay patterns or turn a mono multi-tap delay into a stereo one on the fly • Instead of having to choose from the two, explore any setting between L/R and M/S delay modes to select the best-fitting stereo response • Remove excessive L/R slappiness without losing any stereo width by spatially equalizing the delay output, filling in directions not populated by L/R taps • Improve the clarity of the mid channel / mono mix when combining panned delays with shorter notes or more rhythmic passages • Lessen any "clockwork-like" quality of panned delays that may be experienced with some instruments or passages • Change or fine-tune delay patterns that emerge in the mono mix when using stereo delays PLEASE NOTE: • An Audio Unit v3 compatible host app is required to use this plugin
spectwhirl
This audio effect app transforms input sound into new textures and bell-like tones by extracting and manipulating sinewave components. It offers advanced control over delay lines, frequency shifting, and filtering, with gesture recording for parameter automation.
- Sinewave component extraction and grouping
- Delay lines with feedback
- Frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects
- Configurable filtering
- Gesture recording for automation
- Scene saving and management
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"bells and whistles, literally" spectwhirl is a hybrid spectral audio effect. It can extract and rearrange sinewave components from input signal to make new sound textures and bell-like sounds. * input sound is converted to sinewave components that are divided into 4 groups: harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and other * each component is fed into a delay line with feedback * there is a group of frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects before and after delay lines * each set of sinewave components can be filtered * all the parameters can be instantly automated with gesture recording !!! Please note that this effect consumes much CPU and requires a modern device. ====================== Quick Start: Top row of controls enables different parts of user interface: scenes editor ("scene"), controls switch ("edit") and "zoom" controls When "edit" is switch on, you can show or hide various controls (marked as "ctrl") and switch gesture recording automation for some of them (marked with ">") Main control surface displays sonogram with tracked elements. Colors are set accordingly to the group they are assigned (red-orange-green-blue are for harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and others). Each "lane" contains delay time controls. * Triangle facing left is for the start locator, it determines initial delay time * Square moves both start and end locators together * When left locator is first moved you can see the right locator with the same triangle. It shows the end of the selected region, the secondary delay time is determined by the difference between left and right locators * if you drag over the area of the region in a lane, the four-dotted/one circle indicator will change its appearance; this changes the arpeggio mode of the region. If set to leftmost position (one circle) the components go in-sync; if set to maximum value (shown as diagonal line with circles) - components are played sequentially * all settings can be stored as "scene" and multiple scenes can be switched sequentially; there is a set of button to move, add and delete scenes. All scenes will be stored as machine state; it can be exported / imported as a single file or as separate file with current scene in the "setup" view The standalone version always starts with output level set to -70 dB to avoid feedback
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mid at 100% against spectwhirl's 33%. Mid also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). spectwhirl's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 14 months) and price ($4.99 vs $5.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Mid costs $5.99 and spectwhirl $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Mid holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Mid's written reviews are positive against 33% of spectwhirl's.
Mid ships an update every 14 months, spectwhirl every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mid | spectwhirl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better | 4.0 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | quantovox | Alexey Nadzharov |
Customer experience
Mid
spectwhirl
In-app purchases
Mid
No in-app purchases
spectwhirl
No in-app purchases








