VAPolyWest vs Note to Be
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
Note to Be
This app offers advanced MIDI quantization for iOS musicians. It allows precise control over note selection, octave flexibility, and MIDI CC integration for crafting harmonious compositions and dynamic live performances. Supports microtonal scales and multi-synth setups.
- Customizable note and octave selection
- MIDI CC to note conversion
- Multi-synth channel assignment
- Live performance toggles
- Microtonal scale support (Scala Library)
- MPE polyphonic playback
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Take full control of your MIDI experience with Note to Be—the powerful iOS app designed to transform how you interact with your music. Whether you're working with a MIDI keyboard, sequencer, or MIDI CC input, Note to Be ensures your notes are perfectly quantized to the nearest selected note, allowing you to craft precise, harmonious compositions with ease. Key Features: - Customizable Note Selection: Choose individual notes from any octave, or apply your selection across the full -1 to +8 octave range. - Octave Flexibility: Work within the entire octave spectrum, selecting and unselecting notes with a simple tap. - MIDI CC Integration: Use MIDI CC from hardware controllers or apps like ShiftBud to convert control changes into quantized notes. Easily create chord voicings and dynamic live performances. - Multi-Synth Support: Assign different MIDI channels to multiple synths, allowing each to respond to the quantized MIDI output independently. - Live Performance Enhancement: Engage the 'all notes' toggle to instantly apply note selections across all octaves or quickly select notes in a specific key and scale. - Microtonality: Select a microtonal scale from the Scala Library with +5000 microtonal scales, or import your own to the iCloud folder. Play the MPE supported synths polyphonically. With Note to Be, your music becomes a canvas, and every note is a brushstroke. Unlock new creative possibilities and refine your sound with the precision of MIDI quantization, right from your iOS device. Note to Be is a MIDI app and does not produce any sound on its own. You need a MIDI input source and an audio output destination in order to work with Note to Be. The AUv3 plugin requires an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Audiobus etc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Note to Be at $3.99 against VAPolyWest's $14.99. Note to Be also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). VAPolyWest's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 50%) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, 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
VAPolyWest costs $14.99 and Note to Be $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for VAPolyWest against 4.9 for Note to Be. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of VAPolyWest's written reviews are positive against 50% of Note to Be's.
VAPolyWest ships an update every 10 months, Note to Be every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VAPolyWest | Note to Be |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better | 4.9 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #191 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ryo Togawa | Cem Olcay |
Customer experience
VAPolyWest
Note to Be
In-app purchases
VAPolyWest
No in-app purchases
Note to Be
No in-app purchases







