Comparison

DuckingReverb vs 4Comp

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

Head to head
About

DuckingReverb

Features
Read full description

DuckingReverb — Smart Reverb That Gets Out of the Way Great reverb should add depth without cluttering your mix. DuckingReverb combines a high-quality reverb engine with intelligent ducking technology — reverb that automatically pulls back when your signal is present, and blooms beautifully in the spaces between. Whether you are mixing tracks, performing live, or designing sounds, DuckingReverb keeps your audio clear and full at the same time. HOW IT WORKS Traditional reverb can muddy a mix. The reverb tail competes with the dry signal, blurring transients and reducing punch. DuckingReverb solves this with a built-in sidechain-style ducking circuit. When your audio plays, the reverb level ducks down automatically. When the signal fades, reverb rises back up — filling the space naturally. The result: every note stays sharp and defined, while the reverb still creates a rich, immersive atmosphere around it. DUCKING SECTION Choose from multiple Ducking Types to match your material: - Air: a light, transparent duck ideal for vocals and acoustic instruments - More types available to suit different genres and playing styles Set the Threshold to control exactly when ducking kicks in. A lower threshold means ducking starts earlier; a higher threshold lets more reverb through before pulling back. REVERB SECTION Shape the reverb character with precision: - High EQ Gain: boost or cut high frequencies in the reverb tail for brightness or warmth - Low EQ Gain: control the low-end body of the reverb - Reverb Time: dial in anything from a tight room to a vast hall - Dry Balance: set the level of your direct, unprocessed signal - Reverb Balance: set the level of the reverb return independently Together, these controls let you sculpt reverb that fits perfectly in any context — from intimate acoustic spaces to expansive electronic soundscapes. WHO IS IT FOR DuckingReverb is designed for musicians, producers, sound designers, and audio engineers who want reverb that works with their music, not against it. - Vocalists who need clarity without losing ambience - Guitarists and keyboardists who want lush reverb without wash - Producers crafting deep house, ambient, or cinematic tracks - Live performers who need consistent, clean sound at any tempo TECHNICAL - Native Apple Silicon Support: Universal binary optimized for M1, M2, M3, and Intel Macs. - Modern AUv3 Architecture: Low-latency processing with high stability and low CPU footprint. - DAW Ready: Fully compatible with Logic Pro, GarageBand, and other Audio Unit (AU) hosts on macOS. - Supports all standard sample rates for professional production.

About

4Comp

This audio plugin offers four distinct analog-style compressor models (FET, VCA, Optical, Vari-Mu), each with its own sound and interface. It provides advanced features like stereo linking, sidechain filtering, and real-time transfer curve visualization.

Highlights
  • Four analog compressor models (FET, VCA, Optical, Vari-Mu)
  • Unique DSP engine and interface for each model
  • Live transfer curve visualization
  • Stereo link and sidechain high-pass filter
  • Dry/wet mix and auto make-up gain
  • 17 presets included
  • 0-sample latency
Features
Read full description

Four analog-style compressors in one AUv3 plugin: FET, VCA, Optical and Vari-Mu. Each is its own DSP engine with its own sound, and the whole interface — face, knobs, meters — changes to match the one you pick. New in 1.1: tap ? for a quick start and a guide to each model, and watch the live transfer curve on VCA. FET Fast gain reduction from a feedback detector, with an all-buttons mode. Hi-hats, drum buses, spiky guitars. Ice-blue face. VCA Bus glue with program-dependent AUTO release. Tames transients and spikes without grabbing. Crimson face. Optical Smooth, level-dependent release from a modelled photocell — the cell's light memory. Vocals, brass, strings. Brushed-steel face, ivory meter. Vari-Mu A ratio that rises with level, plus harmonic colour that thickens thin tracks. Mix bus and mastering. Brass face. Four separate DSP paths Each model is its own compressor engine rather than a preset over one circuit: feedback FET, two-stage VCA, photocell release, rising-ratio tube. Switch faceplates mid-session and the plugin animates to the new model's look. Complement it Stereo link (Linked or Dual Mono), sidechain high-pass, dry/wet mix, input/output and auto make-up gain, a gain-reduction meter styled for each model and 17 presets. Real-time-safe DSP, 0-sample latency by default. Works in GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Loopy Pro and other AUv3 hosts on iPhone and iPad.

Screenshots

DuckingReverb1 screens
4Comp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DuckingReverb at $0.99 against 4Comp's $4.99. DuckingReverb also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On 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

DuckingReverb costs $0.99 and 4Comp $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
DuckingReverb versus 4Comp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDuckingReverb4Comp
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequency—Weekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKenichi NakamuraNATHAN THOMAS MATHIS

In-app purchases

None

DuckingReverb

No in-app purchases

None

4Comp

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DuckingReverb free?
DuckingReverb costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is 4Comp free?
4Comp costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do DuckingReverb or 4Comp have ads?
Neither DuckingReverb nor 4Comp shows ads.

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