Comparison

TGX vs VAPolyMkII

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

Head to head
About

TGX

This app recreates a legendary synthesizer's sound with an extensive 18GB library. It offers standalone and AUv3 compatibility, allowing users to access factory presets, raw waveforms, and drum kits for professional music production.

Highlights
  • Virtual sample library of Yamaha SY99/77
  • 18GB lossless sound library
  • Includes all factory presets and raw waveforms
  • Standalone and AUv3 compatible
  • Advanced FM Technology (AFM)
  • High-quality A/D converters
Read full description

Released in 1991 this one is probably our second favorite synthesizer next to the EX5. The thing that made this synth amazing was it's AFM (Advanced FM Technology). Not only could it read the DX7 patches, but the enhanced AFM allowed for even better FM EPs with a ton of expression. The other thing you will recognize from this synth is it's incredible A/D converters which really make the synthesizer sound warm and phat. You can still hear the digital edge, but it's mixed with a warm analog tone that made all of the patches just sound professional and organic. Highlights: • Standalone and AUv3 Compatible • Yamaha SY99/77 Virtual Sample Library • 18GB Library (11GB Lossless on Disk) • Includes all 256 Factory Presets • Includes all RAW Waveforms • Includes all Drum Kits --------- The Ultimate Recreation of a Legendary Synth Classic: • Factory Presets - You get 128 Factory SY99 Presets and 128 Factory SY77 Factory Presets • Raw Waveforms - We give you access to the RAW Waveforms so that you can re-create some of your favorite patches. Our synthesis is powerful enough to get very close! • Capturing Nostalgia - Most of our presets use the exact wave layers as the hardware, which allows you to tweak to your liking. When needed, we used the sampled version. • Taking it to Another Level - Because our synthesizer is a bit more powerful than the hardware, you can now create presets that rival the hardware. • We sampled the factory presets with the effects on to capture the "exact" nostalgia of the hardware. --------- Standalone vs Pure Synth® Expansion - Standalone version has the black skeuomorphic interface - Expansion Unlocks inside of Pure Synth® FREE Player (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pure-synth-platinum/id1459688500#see-all/in-app-purchases) - The Expansion includes the iPhone Version and the standalone does not - The Expansion includes the dynamic modulation from Pure Synth® - The Expansion allows you to mix and match libraries with one single interface ------- Sample Size and Space ▪ 18GB RAW Sound Library Before Lossless Compression ▪ 11GB Actual Size on Device After Lossless Compression ▪ 2GB RAM or Higher Required ***Lossless compression is a way to compress audio files without losing quality. ---------------- Device Specifications: ▪ 2GHz ARM Processor Recommended - iPad Pro 12.9 and 9.7 in, iPad 5th Gen, iPad Pro 12.9 in. (Gen 2), iPad Pro 10.5 in., iPad 6th Gen, iPad Pro 11 in., iPad Pro 12.9 in. (Gen 3), iPad Air (Gen 3) ▪ For External Sample Streaming, we only recommend Fast External SSD Drives (Not USB Thumb Drives) ---------------- External Drive Storage Our app is one of the first apps ever to offer external Drive Storage. In order to save space, you can store all of the samples on an external SSD and it will stream and read the sounds in real-time.

About

VAPolyMkII

This virtual analog synthesizer offers a 16-voice bitimbral polyphonic sound engine with two distinct filter models and extensive modulation options. It includes a built-in sequencer, various effects, and supports AudioUnit Extension for integration with DAWs. Projects can be synced across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.

Highlights
  • 16-voice bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer
  • Two analog-modeled filter types
  • Extensive modulation capabilities
  • Built-in piano roll sequencer
  • Multiple audio effects
  • AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
  • iCloud Drive project syncing
Features
Read full description

VAPolyMkII is a virtual analog bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features 16 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The synthesizer consists of two 8 voice synthesizer, which features two oscillators, two ADSR envelopes, resonant high pass and low pass filter and an amplifier per voice. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on the Sallen-Key filter circuit and cascaded OTA filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and parameter automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. - Main Features - Virtual analog 16 voice bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer Two type of Lowpass filter, cascaded OTA model and Sallen-key model. Patch points for modulation. Support MIDI 2.0 New User Interface built by SwiftUI for improved performance. 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.

Screenshots

VAPolyMkII4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VAPolyMkII at $14.99 against TGX's $19.99. VAPolyMkII also leads on device support. TGX's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.6). On rating, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

TGX costs $19.99 and VAPolyMkII $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for TGX against 4.5 for VAPolyMkII. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 11 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TGX versus VAPolyMkII: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTGXVAPolyMkII
Price$19.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.7 (6 ratings) — better4.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings611 — better
Update frequency—Weekly
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Devices—iPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size317 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMIDIculous LLCRyo Togawa

In-app purchases

None

TGX

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyMkII

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TGX free?
TGX costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyMkII free?
VAPolyMkII costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TGX or VAPolyMkII?
TGX is rated higher. TGX averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while VAPolyMkII averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.

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