Comparison

Recodec vs VAPolyMk5

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

Head to head
About

Recodec

Transform clean audio signals into rich, textured tones with a suite of powerful effects. Experiment quickly with a classic interface, save custom presets, and gain hands-on control via MIDI and host learning. Includes a companion app for routing and a user manual.

Highlights
  • Bit-depth and sample-rate reduction
  • Harmonic drive and tone shaping
  • Dry/Wet blend and limiter
  • 35 factory presets
  • User preset saving
  • MIDI and Host Learn
  • Mono/stereo operation
Read full description

Recodec is an AUv3 audio effect for turning clean signal into textured, character-rich tone. Use Crusher for bit-depth style reduction, Reducer for sample-rate style degradation, Refine for smoother oversampled processing, Drive for added harmonic color, and Bass and Treble to rebalance the result. Then place the effect exactly where it belongs with Dry / Wet and the always-on Limiter. Recodec is built for fast experimentation. The classic interface keeps the core controls close, supports mono and stereo operation, includes factory presets across multiple categories, and lets you save your own user presets for quick recall. Recodec also includes MIDI Learn, Host Learn, CC assignment, and optional CC broadcast feedback for hands-on control workflows. Features: - Crusher for digital bit-depth style reduction - Reducer for sample-rate style degradation - Refine oversampling control - Drive, Bass, and Treble tone shaping - Dry / Wet blend and always-on Limiter - 35 factory presets across multiple categories - User preset save and recall - MIDI Learn, Host Learn, CC assignment, and CC broadcast - Mono and stereo operation Great for: - drums and percussion - vocals - synths and keys - bass and guitar - loops and transitions - creative sound design

About

VAPolyMk5

This is a powerful bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer with a re-designed step sequencer. It offers advanced oscillator features, a cascaded OTA low-pass filter, and extensive modulation capabilities. Operate it as a standalone app or an AudioUnit Extension.

Highlights
  • Bitimbral polyphonic synthesis
  • Re-designed step sequencer
  • Hard sync and through zero FM oscillators
  • Cascaded OTA low-pass filter
  • AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 support
  • Built-in effects suite
Features
Read full description

VAPolyMk5 is bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer. Main feature of Mk5 is re-designed step sequencer which contains one note sequencer and three modulation sequencers. Oscillator feature hard sync and through zero FM. Low pass Filter is modeled on cascaded OTA -24dB per octave low pass filter circuit. Each synthesizer consists of three oscillators, resonant low pass and high pass filter, amplifier, three envelope generators, two LFO and key tracking. Two synthesizers can be configured as layer or split. Mk5 also features global LFO, output morphing, classic ring modulator and easy target assignment for mod wheel and aftertouch. VAPolyMk5 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 Oscillators feature hard sync and through zero FM. Low pass Filter is modeled on cascaded OTA -24dB per octave low pass filter circuit. Re-designed step sequencer Re-designed offset control Improved output morphing. Improved classic ring modulator. Improved key tracking Easy target assignment for mod wheel and aftertouch 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. General 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, gray or blown. Adjustable text size for title of controls Factory Preset 208 Synth CH Preset 256 Effect Preset 40 Default & Macro 8 System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later macOS 14.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. 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. Sound may be distorted if CPU of the device doesn't have enough power. If it happens reduce number of voices or enable Low Power Mode in setting panel. App launches in Low Power Mode in the first time on device with iOS earlier than iOS 18.0 as mono-timbral.

Screenshots

Recodec4 screens
VAPolyMk54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: VAPolyMk5 at weekly against Recodec's every 5 weeks. On price, review sentiment, 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

Recodec costs $14.99 and VAPolyMk5 $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Recodec ships an update every 5 weeks, VAPolyMk5 weekly. Both last shipped on September 19, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Recodec versus VAPolyMk5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRecodecVAPolyMk5
Price$14.99$14.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian ThompsonRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Recodec

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VAPolyMk5

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Recodec

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyMk5

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Recodec free?
Recodec costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyMk5 free?
VAPolyMk5 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Recodec or VAPolyMk5 have ads?
Neither Recodec nor VAPolyMk5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Recodec or VAPolyMk5?
Recodec ships an update every 5 weeks, and VAPolyMk5 weekly. Most recently, Recodec was updated on September 19, 2026 and VAPolyMk5 on September 19, 2026.

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