Comparison

VAPolyTS vs pOus

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

Head to head
About

VAPolyTS

Create iconic electronic music sounds with this polyphonic synthesizer. It offers advanced oscillator stacks, a step sequencer, and built-in effects for crafting Trance, House, and Techno. Seamlessly share projects across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Polyphonic subtractive synthesizer
  • Stack oscillators with detuned and octave-shifted outputs
  • Analog style step sequencer with piano roll editor
  • Built-in delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) and Ableton Link support
  • MIDI 2.0 and Bluetooth MIDI compatibility
  • iCloud Drive project sharing across Apple devices
Features
Read full description

VAPolyTS is polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It is inspired by the synthesizers which contributed to shape iconic sounds of Trance, House and Techno Music in 1990’s. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The synthesizer features two stack oscillators. The one of them can generate mix of detuned seven oscillator outputs. The other one can generate mix of several octave shifted oscillator outputs. It also features a mixer, a resonant low pass filter, a resonant hight pass filter, an amplifier, two envelope generators, two LFO and analog style step sequencer. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. VAPolyTS also includes sequencer which features piano roll editor and parameter automation. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Polyphonic subtractive synthesizer. Stack oscillator which can generate mix of seven detuned oscillator outputs. Stack oscillator which can generate mix of several octave shifted oscillator outputs. Analog Style Step Sequencer. Eight Assignable Controllers. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Support MIDI 2.0. Support Foot Pedal and Per Note Control. Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Include 256 Factory Presets. Improvements Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) Support MIDI2.0 Per Note Control Messages MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. if sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, reduce number of voices. 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.

About

pOus

This app emulates analog drum machine bass drums with adjustable tuning and decay. It offers MIDI OUT functionality for envelope follower data and a scale mode for playing musical scales. Designed for musicians using AUv3 hosts.

Highlights
  • BassDrum emulation
  • Adjustable tune and decay
  • MIDI OUT envelope follower
  • Scale mode for musical notes
  • AUv3 instrument
  • MIDI CC routing
Read full description

Concept: The app is an AUv3 instrument that emulates the so-called “BassDrum” of analog drum machine. In addition it features MIDI OUT functionality of Envelop Follower, that is, the user can send out this instrument's unique envelop via midi CC for modulating external plugins. Also there is "scale mode" where the user can play "pOus" with musical scale like Bass. System Requirements: AUv3 host that has a flexible capability of MIDI routing (AUM, apeMatrix, etc) Usage: There are 9 sliders & one button. Tune: BassDrum’s fundamental frequency (30hz - 160hz). text-editable. Decay: determines its duration. Amp: audio’s decibel representation. MIDI OUT: whether the functionality of envelop follower is turned on or off (default: off) MIDI Gain: gain amount of MIDI out Offset: balances the output parameter’s value Channel: determines MIDI channel MIDI CC: determines the destination MIDI CC number. text-editable Scale Mode: This is a sort of Bass mode, that is, it can play musical scale in response to incoming MIDI notes. Button: triggers the instrument. Recommended Scheme: drum machine (MIDI out) -> “pOus” -> audio effect (compressor, saturator etc)

Screenshots

VAPolyTS4 screens
pOus2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: pOus at $2.99 against VAPolyTS's $5.99. pOus also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

VAPolyTS costs $5.99 and pOus $2.99 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 — 5.0 for VAPolyTS against 5.0 for pOus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VAPolyTS ships an update every 10 months, pOus every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
VAPolyTS versus pOus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVAPolyTSpOus
Price$5.99$2.99 — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyo TogawaSatoshi Kajii

Customer experience

VAPolyTS

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

pOus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

VAPolyTS

No in-app purchases

None

pOus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VAPolyTS free?
VAPolyTS costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is pOus free?
pOus costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VAPolyTS or pOus?
VAPolyTS and pOus are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do VAPolyTS or pOus have ads?
Neither VAPolyTS nor pOus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VAPolyTS or pOus?
VAPolyTS ships an update every 10 months, and pOus every 4 months. Most recently, VAPolyTS was updated on September 13, 2026 and pOus on September 21, 2026.

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