Aural Scanner vs EchoSketch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Aural Scanner
This audio plugin helps musicians and engineers with single-sided hearing explore stereo mixes. It routes audio from the stereo field to your functional ear in real-time, offering different scanning modes for immersive listening.
- Stereo field scanning for functional ear
- AirPods Head Tracking mode
- Phone Scanner mode
- Manual slider control
- AUv3 plugin for DAWs
- Standalone testing app
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AuralScanner is an AUv3 audio plugin for musicians and engineers with single-sided or asymmetric hearing. Load it as an insert effect in Cubasis, AUM, GarageBand, or Logic Pro and explore your full stereo mix using just your functional ear. THE SPATIAL FLASHLIGHT AuralScanner routes audio from anywhere in the stereo field toward your functional ear in real time. Scan left to hear what's buried on the left side of the mix. Stay centered for balanced monitoring. The effect follows your focus — not the other way around. THREE SCANNING MODES • AirPods Head Tracking — Requires AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Turn your head and the stereo field follows hands-free. • Phone Scanner — Hold your iPhone in landscape and sweep it left or right like a scanner wand. Works with any headphones. • Manual Slider — Drag to lock onto any position in the stereo field. HOW TO USE IT 1. Open a host app (Cubasis, AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro). 2. Add Strong Sides as an AUv3 effect insert on your stereo output. 3. Choose which ear is your functional ear and start scanning. The standalone app lets you grant motion permissions and test head tracking before using the plugin in a DAW.
EchoSketch
Shape delay and reverb effects in real-time with a playable X/Y performance surface. Explore four distinct delay types and multiple reverb options, with extensive parameter control for unique sound morphing. Works as a standalone app or an Audio Unit plugin.
- X/Y performance surface for real-time sound shaping
- Four distinct delay types: digital, analog, reverse, ping-pong
- Spring, plate, and hall convolution reverb
- Modulation and tone control for echoes
- HOLD, LIFT, FREEZE, and MOTION performance gestures
- Standalone app and AUv3 plugin compatibility
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EchoSketch turns delay and reverb into a live, playable instrument. Shape your sound in real time using a responsive X/Y performance surface designed for intuitive touch expression. At its core are four great-sounding delays: digital, analog, ping-pong, and reverse. The range for each parameter and the XY axes direction can be set independently, allowing you to easily morph between sounds. It works as an Audio Unit plugin or standalone — iOS or Mac. Comprehensive Delays • Digital (patterned after a legendary '80s rack delay), Analog (warm, with tape-style pitch glide), Reverse, and Left/Right Ping-Pong • Delay times can sync to tempo or be set in milliseconds • Feedback features delay-dependent tone shaping — bright for short delays and darker for long ones Convolution Reverb • Stereo or mono Spring, Plate, and Hall • Reverb path is separate from the delay (same as vintage tape echo units), so repeats don’t get washed out Modulation and Filter • Analog-style modulation for chorused, warbly pitch echoes • Tone control — darken or brighten delays, with a center detent for flat Designed for Hands-On Performance • HOLD / LIFT — leave the XY cursor in place, or touch the pad for momentary delay sounds • FREEZE — set the current feedback into an infinite loop and play over it • MOTION — record a gesture on the XY pad and loop it Presets and More • Presets are transferable between hosts • Two looks — light "Trail" and dark "Glow" • Works standalone with live audio or as an AUv3 plugin • Universal — iPad/iPhone also gets you the Mac version — one purchase • Mac: after installing, open EchoSketch once to use it as a plugin in your DAW • Works in AUM, AudioBus, GarageBand, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Aural Scanner at $4.99 against EchoSketch's $7.99. EchoSketch's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). 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
Aural Scanner costs $4.99 and EchoSketch $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Aural Scanner against 5.0 for EchoSketch. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
Aural Scanner ships an update every 4 days, EchoSketch every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Aural Scanner | EchoSketch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $7.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GABRIEL MURRAY | Avi Bortnick |
Customer experience
Aural Scanner
EchoSketch
In-app purchases
Aural Scanner
No in-app purchases
EchoSketch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Aural Scanner free?
Is EchoSketch free?
Which has better reviews, Aural Scanner or EchoSketch?
Do Aural Scanner or EchoSketch have ads?
Which is updated more often, Aural Scanner or EchoSketch?
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