Comparison

iVCS3 vs KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone

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

Head to head
About

iVCS3

This application emulates the iconic EMS VCS3 synthesizer, a pioneering portable synthesizer from 1969. It recreates the original's unique sound generation capabilities, including its oscillators, filters, and patch matrix, allowing users to explore its distinctive sonic palette.

Highlights
  • Official EMS VCS3 emulation
  • Three oscillators (2 VCOs, 1 LFO)
  • Noise generator
  • Voltage controlled low pass filter (VCF)
  • Patch board matrix
  • Joy-stick controller
  • Voltage controlled spring reverb
Features
Read full description

iVCS3 Official EMS VCS3 emulator The VCS3 was created in 1969 by Peter Zinovieff's EMS company. The electronics were largely designed by David Cockerell and the machine's distinctive visual appearance was the work of electronic composer Tristram Cary. The VCS3 was more or less the first portable commercially available synthesizer—portable in the sense that the VCS 3 was housed entirely in a small, wooden case. The VCS3 was quite popular among progressive rock bands and was used on recordings by The Alan Parsons Project, Jean Michel Jarre, Hawkwind, Brian Eno (with Roxy Music), King Crimson, The Who, Gong, and Pink Floyd, among many others. Well-known examples of its use are on The Who track "Won't Get Fooled Again" (as an external sound processor, in this case with Pete Townshend running the signal of a Lowrey Organ through the VCS3's filter and low frequency oscillators) on Who's Next. Pink Floyd's "On the Run" (from The Dark Side of the Moon) made use of its oscillators, filter and noise generator, as well as the sequencer. Their song Welcome to the Machine also used the VCS3. The bassy throb at the beginning of the recording formed the foundation of the song, with the other parts being recorded in response. The VCS3 was also a staple at the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop, and was a regular (and most frightening) sound generator for the Dr Who TV series. Many fo the monsters and atmoshere;s created for the show came directly from the VCS3. Description The VCS3 has three oscillators (in reality, the first 2 oscillators are normal oscillators and the 3rd an LFO or Low Frequency Oscillator), a noise generator, two input amplifiers, a ring modulator, a 18dB/octave (pre-1974) or 24dB/octave (after 1974) voltage controlled low pass filter (VCF), a trapezoid envelope generator, joy-stick controller, voltage controlled spring reverb unit and 2 stereo output amplifiers. Unlike most modular synthesizer systems which use cables to link components together, the VCS3 uses a distinctive patch board matrix into which pins are inserted in order to connect its components together. Keyboards controller DK1 keyboard controller Although the VCS3 is often used for generating sound effects due to lack of built-in keyboard, there were external keyboard controllers for melodic play. The DK1 in 1969 was an early velocity sensitive monophonic keyboard for VCS3 with an extra VCO and VCA. Later it was extended for duophonic play, as DK2, in 1972. Also in 1972, Synthi AKS was released, and its digital sequencer with a touch-sensitive flat keyboard, KS sequencer, and its mechanical keyboard version, DKS, were also released. (See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCS3)

About

KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone

Create powerful beats with a full-fledged rhythm machine for iPhone. This app faithfully reproduces the sound engine and design of a popular hardware unit, offering intuitive operation and a vast library of preset patterns. Enjoy detailed beat-making and sound synthesis anywhere, anytime.

Highlights
  • Faithful reproduction of hardware sound engine and design
  • Intuitive step sequencer for beat creation
  • 300 built-in inimitable rhythm patterns
  • Sound synthesis from single waveforms
  • Eight types of master effects
  • Audio export to DAW software
  • Wireless synchronization with other devices
Read full description

The ELECTRIBE reborn in an even smaller form A full-fledged rhythm machine for iPhone ● Featured in "Best Music Apps" ● Featured in "Best New Apps" This app’s intuitive operation allows anyone to easily create powerful beats on the ELECTRIBE series. The enormously popular ELECTRIBE-R instantly became a must-have item for track-makers around the world, and now it’s been reborn as an app for iPhone. With this app, we’ve effectively “put the original hardware chassis into your iPhone,” by faithfully reproducing the sound engine and design of the ELECTRIBE-R. We’ve also included the latest preset patterns and many new functions that are currently featured on the “iELECTRIBE for iPad”, released in 2010. , taking a further evolutionary step in technology. Taking advantage of the ease of use that you expect on iPhone, we have maximized the intuitive nature of the ELECTRIBE to make this new product worthy of its name: the iELECTRIBE mkII. It won’t take long for you to enjoy the ultimate experience of the Electribe series. This apps intuitive nature and familiar interface make it easy to create beats with an analog feel that’s like nothing else. ● Amazing rhythm machine that generates powerful grooves We’ve perfectly replicated the thick-sounding synth engine of the ELECTRIBE-R and its intuitive step sequencer. Now you can instantly obtain extreme tonal changes and powerful rhythms with just one touch Not only can iELECTRIBE for iPhone be easily enjoyed by anyone, but it also allows detailed beat-making that transcends iPhone specs. In addition to playing back the provided audio data, you can also freely synthesize sounds from a single waveform and combine those sounds into your own original beats. This allows for the true experience of music production that connects all musicians. ● Three hundred built-in rhythm patterns that only this app can produce With 64 of the latest preset patterns, 192 from the first-generation ELECTRIBE-R, and 32 template patterns for various genres, this app successfully draws out the full potential of the thick sounding analog beats. There are approximately 300 inimitable rhythm patterns that you’ll hear only from iELECTRIBE for iPhone. Electro, house, techno, drum'n'bass, dubstep, hip hop, techno pop, and IDM are some of the wide range of electronic music genres that are provided. ● An ELECTRIBE that you can put in your pocket and take anywhere Whether you’re on the train or bus while commuting to school or to work, at a coffee shop, or in your bedroom, you can enjoy beat-making anywhere and anytime you like. Your completed beats can be transferred to your DAW software via the audio export function. You can also use the WIST function to play wirelessly with a friend using two devices simultaneously. ● Powerful functions that bring infinite possibilities to your grooves We’ve packed maximum potential into this machine with eight types of powerful master effects featured on the upper-level models of the ELECTRIBE. This includes the ring modulation function of the ELECTRIBE-R and the cross-modulation function of the ELECTRIBE-R mkII. This app allows you to switch back and forth to choose between the two. It also includes the BEAT FLUTTER function that uses a proprietary randomizer to create fresh rhythms and the motion sequence function that remembers your knob movements. In addition, you can use an external USB-MIDI device such as the nanoPAD or nanoKONTROL for performance and control. There’s also support for the latest iOS technologies such as Inter-App Audio, Audiobus, Virtual MIDI, and iCloud. More info at korg.com

Screenshots

iVCS34 screens
KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: iVCS3 at 4.9 against KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone's 3.9. iVCS3 also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 51%) and ratings volume (206 vs 18). KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

iVCS3 costs $19.99 and KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone $19.99 up front. iVCS3 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iVCS3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iVCS3 has 206 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of iVCS3's written reviews are positive against 51% of KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iVCS3 ships an update every 2 months, KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iVCS3 versus KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriVCS3KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone
Price$19.99$19.99
Rating4.9 (206 ratings) — better3.9 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews — better50.7% of reviews
Number of ratings206 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftKORG INC.

Customer experience

iVCS3

All ratings205 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative6.7%

KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone

All ratings18 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral22.2%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive50.7%
Neutral22.5%
Negative26.8%

Bugs and requests

iVCS3

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Presets not loading
  • Crashes on iOS 15.04
  • Sampler not functioning properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Mac compatibility
  • Improved preset management
  • Expanded sampling capabilities

KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

iVCS3

One-time10
  • Red Sky Lullaby - 180 PresetsFree
  • Singe Difficile by RUST(i)KFree
  • RUMBLEFree
Show 7 more
  • OLD GRIT - COLLECTIONFree
  • JEC 2018 Iconic PinkFloydFree
  • JEC EMS-50Free
  • SINAPSYA - Under The Dust$2.99
  • LALA - Sonic Pleasures$3.99
  • JEC Mega Bank$4.99
  • Essential EMS Modifications$6.99
None

KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iVCS3 free?
iVCS3 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone free?
KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iVCS3 or KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone?
iVCS3 is rated higher. iVCS3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone averages 3.9 from 18 ratings.
Do iVCS3 or KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone have ads?
Neither iVCS3 nor KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iVCS3 or KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone?
iVCS3 ships an update every 2 months, and KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone every 3 months. Most recently, iVCS3 was updated on November 1, 2026 and KORG iELECTRIBE for iPhone on November 1, 2026.

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