Comparison

Nostalgia FX vs VAPolyMk4

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

Head to head
About

Nostalgia FX

Transform your audio with a collection of retro effects inspired by vintage gaming consoles and analog gear. Add warmth, texture, and character to your mixes with unique reverbs, tape echoes, and modulation.

Highlights
  • Console Reverb with vintage gaming spaces
  • Tape Cassette Echo with warble and loop controls
  • BBD Chorus for analog-style modulation
  • EFX Module with Bit Crusher and Noise Machine
  • Global controls for quick shaping
  • Freeze button for creative effects
Features
Read full description

Playfully Retro Nostalgia is a quick, easy way to transform your sound — from spacious and dreamy to gritty lo-fi chaos. Inspired by vintage gaming consoles, cassette decks, and classic analog gear, it delivers instant character without the fuss. Just load it up, slide some faders, and your clean mix becomes something with warmth, texture, and personality. …an Audio Arcade Console Reverb gives you unique spaces inspired by vintage gaming consoles and the different vibe of each era. Tape Cassette Echo is an imaginative spin on analog tape delay — the kind you might’ve rigged up in your bedroom long before plugins existed. BBD Chorus takes you back with that warm, warbly magic, that started your FX obsession. The EFX Module packs everything you need to turn your sound into a retro lo-fi dream — with warmth, space, and a character that’s hard to find anywhere else. Features -Console Reverb with four distinct eras of vintage gaming spaces -Tape Cassette Echo with warble, tape spike, and loop length controls -BBD Chorus for warm, warbly, analog-style modulation -EFX Module with Speaker Output, Noise Machine, Tune & Tone, and Bit Crusher -Global controls for quick overall shaping -Freeze button for creative stutter and hold effects -Fully compatible with VST3, AAX, AU, AUv3, and Stand-alone

About

VAPolyMk4

This app is a powerful bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer with advanced features like output morphing and a ring modulator. It offers extensive sound design capabilities with multiple oscillators, filters, and envelopes, and can be used standalone or as an AudioUnit Extension.

Highlights
  • Bi-timbral polyphonic synthesis
  • Output morphing and ring modulator
  • Multiple oscillators, filters, and envelopes
  • Standalone and AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer
  • MIDI 2.0 and Ableton Link support
  • iCloud Drive for project sharing
Features
Read full description

VAPolyMk4 is bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer, which features output morphing, classic ring modulator and global offset parameter control. Each synthesizer consists of three oscillators, resonant low pass and hight pass filter, amplifier, three envelope generators and two LFO. Two synthesizers can be configured as layer or split. VAPolyMk4 operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Bi-timbral Polyphonic Synthesizer. Output morphing. Classic Ring Modulator. Global Offset Parameter Control. Three oscillators featuring hard sync and through zero FM. 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. Full Factory Preset: 230, Synth CH: 160, Effect: 40 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. UI Color can be selected from black, navy or gray. 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.

Screenshots

Nostalgia FX3 screens
VAPolyMk44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Nostalgia FX at $9.99 against VAPolyMk4's $14.99. Nostalgia FX also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Nostalgia FX costs $9.99 and VAPolyMk4 $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 — 5.0 for Nostalgia FX against 5.0 for VAPolyMk4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nostalgia FX versus VAPolyMk4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNostalgia FXVAPolyMk4
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOSC AudioRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Nostalgia FX

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VAPolyMk4

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nostalgia FX

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyMk4

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nostalgia FX free?
Nostalgia FX costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyMk4 free?
VAPolyMk4 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nostalgia FX or VAPolyMk4?
Nostalgia FX and VAPolyMk4 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Nostalgia FX or VAPolyMk4 have ads?
Neither Nostalgia FX nor VAPolyMk4 shows ads.

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