Comparison

iVCS3 vs Sonic Tracks

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

Sonic Tracks

This app enables synchronized multitrack audio playback for musicians and live performers. It allows for precise routing of multichannel outputs and organized show playback, ensuring consistent audio performance during rehearsals and live shows.

Highlights
  • Synchronized multitrack playback
  • Multichannel output routing
  • Show playback organization
  • Live performance audio control
  • Sequencing and transition control
Read full description

Sonic Tracks Player is a synchronized multitrack playback app designed for musicians and live performers using Sonic Tracks cloud media libraries. Load user-managed song stems, route multichannel outputs with precision, organize show playback, and maintain consistent synchronized performance audio across rehearsals and live shows. With built-in routing, sequencing, and transition control, Sonic Tracks Player gives performers reliable command over live multitrack playback. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.sonictracks.app/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.sonictracks.app/privacy

Screenshots

iVCS34 screens
Sonic Tracks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sonic Tracks at Free against iVCS3's $19.99. Sonic Tracks also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 91%) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). iVCS3's advantage is ratings volume (206 vs 2). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Sonic Tracks is free to download; iVCS3 costs $19.99 up front. iVCS3 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Sonic Tracks sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for iVCS3 against 5.0 for Sonic Tracks. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iVCS3 has 206 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of iVCS3's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sonic Tracks's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
iVCS3 versus Sonic Tracks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriVCS3Sonic Tracks
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (206 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings206 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB64 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftAgent K Media, LLC

Customer experience

iVCS3

All ratings206 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative6.7%

Sonic Tracks

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Sonic Tracks

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
2 purchases

Sonic Tracks

Subscriptions2
  • Additional Playback Device$5.991 Month
  • Additional Playback Device$59.991 Year

Questions

Is iVCS3 free?
iVCS3 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Sonic Tracks free?
Sonic Tracks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iVCS3 or Sonic Tracks?
Sonic Tracks is rated higher. iVCS3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while Sonic Tracks averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do iVCS3 or Sonic Tracks have ads?
Neither iVCS3 nor Sonic Tracks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iVCS3 or Sonic Tracks?
iVCS3 ships an update every 2 months, and Sonic Tracks every 2 months. Most recently, iVCS3 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Sonic Tracks on October 6, 2026.

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