Comparison

REF vs J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin

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

Head to head
About

REF

Features
Read full description

REF-440: The tuner that disappears when you need to play. REF-440 is designed for musicians who demand precision and clarity. Inspired by Dieter Rams and Teenage Engineering, every pixel serves a purpose. No ads. No clutter. Just a precision instrument that helps you tune and get back to making music. Precision You Can Feel REF-440 uses the McLeod Pitch Method (MPM) algorithm, optimized for real-time guitar tuning. With ±2¢ accuracy, adaptive smoothing, and intelligent note locking, you get stable readings that don't jump around — even in noisy environments. Designed Like an Instrument The interface mimics a hardware tuner: a dark "faceplate" display panel, needle meter with ghost trails, and LED indicator. The 135-point note display is readable from across the room. Orange means action, neutral means success. Context-Aware Instructions Forget "flat" and "sharp." REF-440 tells you what to do: TIGHTEN or LOOSEN for strings, TUNE UP or TUNE DOWN for chromatic mode. Physical actions for physical instruments. Every Guitar Player's Needs Guitar — 12 tuning presets including Standard, Drop D/C/B, Open G/D, DADGAD, and more Bass — Standard, Drop D, Half-Step Down, 5-String Ukulele — Standard (High-G), Low-G, Baritone Chromatic — Detect any pitch across the full frequency spectrum Thoughtful Customization Reference pitch from 415 Hz (Baroque) to 466 Hz (bright orchestral) Capo support (0-12 frets) Sharp/flat display preference (A# vs Bb) Adjustable noise gate for any environment Optional in-tune chime (customizable sound) Keep screen on while tuning Premium Details Standby mode saves battery — tap to resume Home screen and Control Center widgets (iOS 18+) Siri Shortcuts for reference tones Live Activity during tuning sessions VoiceOver accessible with meaningful labels Respects Dynamic Type and Reduce Motion settings Built for Musicians, by Musicians REF-440 is a single-purpose tool that does one thing exceptionally well. No subscriptions, no premium upgrades, no feature gates. Just a tuner that works.

About

J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin

Enhance your acoustic guitar sound with this AUv3 plugin. It offers detailed control over body, air, and string tones, plus compression, stereo width, and spatial effects. Try it free for seven days before a one-time purchase unlocks all features permanently.

Highlights
  • Acoustic guitar curve engine
  • Multi-band EQ shaping
  • Optical compressor
  • Stereo micro-pitch widening
  • Short stereo double and room bloom
  • Fifteen factory presets
  • Customizable panel finishes
Features
Read full description

Body, air, and string detail — the shape of a well-mic'd acoustic, without a rack of EQ. jj-moon is an acoustic-guitar curve engine in a single AUv3 insert. Four blocks in signal order, each with its own on/off, plus a master strip. SHAPE — A fixed multi-band target aimed at great acoustic recordings: rumble out, body in, boxiness out, soft mid dip, string presence, air on top. Three voices — Steel, Nylon, Flamenco — share the same knobs. One Curve amount for how far you go, Wood for body vs sparkle, Presence for the strings. This is the block the whole plug-in is built around. COMP — An optical compressor with program-dependent release. Soft by design for acoustic dynamics. One Comp knob for threshold, ratio and make-up together, plus Attack and Release. A gain-reduction meter shows what it is doing. WIDTH — Stereo micro-pitch and short delay (the same family of trick as a classic microshifter), with a Focus crossover so the body stays centred while the highs open up. SPACE — A short stereo double with gentle flutter, into a soft acoustic room bloom. Not a spring tank — just a little air around the instrument. FIFTEEN FACTORY PRESETS Default, Fallen Leaf, Fingerstyle, Piezo Soft, Stereo Porch, Close Mic, Moon Room, Strum, Curve Only, Nylon, Concert Hall, Spanish Soft, Flamenco, Rasgueado, Soleá. Save your own from the preset window; swipe left to rename or delete. WORKS WHERE YOU WORK An Audio Unit v3 effect: GarageBand, Logic for iPad, AUM, Cubasis, BeatMaker, and any other AUv3 host. The included app is a working player — six acoustic demo parts are bundled (steel + nylon), or run your own playing through the microphone. The panel is drawn procedurally rather than assembled from bitmaps, so it stays sharp at whatever size your host gives it, on a phone or a 13-inch iPad. Moonlight, Slate, Field Green, or Tweed finishes. FREE TO TRY Seven days free from first launch. No account, no signup, no subscription. After that, one purchase unlocks it permanently on all your devices. If you do not buy it, the editor keeps working and audio passes through dry — nothing you built disappears. jj-moon is an original effect. Preset names point at a feel or a place. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any artist, label, or other plug-in maker, and does not recreate any particular recording.

Screenshots

REF4 screens
J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: REF at none against J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin's 1. REF also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. REF asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

REF ships an update every 3 days, J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
REF versus J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterREFJ.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB8 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperAmr RashedPetar Gerov

In-app purchases

None

REF

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin

One-time1
  • jj-moon Unlock$2.99

Questions

Is REF free?
REF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin free?
J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do REF or J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin have ads?
Neither REF nor J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, REF or J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin?
REF ships an update every 3 days, and J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin weekly. Most recently, REF was updated on October 28, 2026 and J.J.Moon AUv3 Plugin on October 25, 2026.

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