Comparison

VU950 vs Starrypad

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

Head to head
About

VU950

This app emulates the behavior of early digital samplers, focusing on sound shaping through intentional limitations and artifacts. It offers a full timestretch workflow, reduced bit depth processing, and MIDI control for a hands-on experience. Standalone mode includes multi-track sequencing, effects, and the ability to host other AUv3 apps.

Highlights
  • Classic sampler sound emulation
  • Full timestretch workflow
  • Reduced bit depth processing
  • MIDI-controllable parameters
  • Multi-track sequencing
  • AUv3 hosting
  • Built-in effects
Features
Read full description

VU950 is not about realism. It is about behavior. Sound shaped by limits, gain interaction and audible artifacts — the same forces that defined early digital samplers. Draws inspiration from classic midi sequencers combined with samplers. Why it sounds the way it does Instead of emulating a single piece of hardware, VU950 recreates the way early samplers behaved internally. Resolution limits, imperfect filtering and non-linear stages are treated as musical decisions, not technical flaws. What shapes the sound VU950 sample rate: 7.5 kHz to 48 kHz Full timestretch workflow with classic hardware sampler tone Reduced bit depth processing for early-digital density User-adjustable anti-aliasing behavior Stereo signal path with selectable left or right input channel Dedicated input gain stage with drive and circuit bias Multiple filtering stages including bandwidth limitation Built-in low-pass filter for tone shaping Anti-aliasing tuned for musical artifacts, not transparency Non-linear processing across the entire signal path Output gain stage that affects tone and density, not just level MIDI-controllable parameters for hands-on workflow Maximum sample length: 63 seconds Truncate option to trim sample Precise mode for precise trimming on start and end screen One or eight voices of polyphony Precise start and end point control for trimming Chop function with selectable amount of slices And that was just VU950 AUv3 plugin. In Standalone: 8 tracks Support for hosting AUv3 apps to change VU950 sound engine to any sound You like. Build in multi sampler - VU20. Build in midi device - VUMIDI. Mixer with 4 inserts per track. 17 build in effects like filters, eq, compressors Possibility to use 4 AUv3 effects per channel Step Sequencer Piano Roll. Song Mode Live Mode Export wav with stems. Loading samples to build in turntable and record samples to VU950/VU20 or another AUv3 plugin with inputs Classic and modern UI template (Modern is fully customisable) In app purchases drumkits are downloadable after purchase (MPC60 drumkit for free) You can check also my another beatmaking app - VU202 - which is free and it is also a AUv3 instrument so You can use VU202 in VU950!

About

Starrypad

Transform your device into a versatile music creation tool. Record and import audio, then assign it to velocity-sensitive pads for playback. Build complex loops with layering and undo options, and export your creations in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • 16 velocity-sensitive pads
  • Built-in drum kits and synth phrases
  • Microphone and audio import
  • Loop recording with layering
  • WAV and MIDI export
  • MIDI controller support
Read full description

Starrypad turns your iPhone into a drum pad, looper and sampler. Play sixteen velocity-sensitive pads with acoustic drums, 808 sounds and original synth phrases. The C Synth kit follows your tempo while keeping note pitch independent. Shape each pad with level, pan and tuning in the Mixer. Record from the microphone or import audio from a video you choose, trim the sound and assign it to a pad. Record loops, add layers and undo the latest pass. Switch from recording to playback without stopping the loop. Play along with music from another audio app. Background playback depends on the other app and your audio route. This does not import or record protected streaming audio. Export loops as WAV or MIDI. Connect an optional class-compliant USB MIDI controller. No controller, account or subscription is required. Settings and help support English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. Familiar performance legends stay in English. Audio processing and your recordings stay on the device. Salamander Drumkit by Alexander Holm (CC BY 3.0) TR-808 Sound Sample Set by Michael Fischer via TidalCycles (CC0 1.0) Additional percussion from FreePats (CC0 1.0) Original synthesized rhythm phrases by Starrypad

Screenshots

VU9504 screens
Starrypad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Starrypad at Free against VU950's $4.99. Starrypad also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). VU950's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days). On 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

Starrypad is free to download; VU950 costs $4.99 up front. VU950 sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Starrypad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VU950 holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of VU950's written reviews are positive against 100% of Starrypad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VU950 ships an update every 2 days, Starrypad every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
VU950 versus Starrypad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVU950Starrypad
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (11 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size189 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDariusz ChynekRyo Ijuin

Customer experience

VU950

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Starrypad

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

VU950

One-time8
  • EMAX drumkit$0.99
  • S2400$0.99
  • MPC2000$0.99
Show 5 more
  • MPC2000 2$0.99
  • MPC3000$0.99
  • SP1200$0.99
  • S900$0.99
  • SP202$0.99
None

Starrypad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VU950 free?
VU950 costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Starrypad free?
Starrypad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VU950 or Starrypad?
VU950 is rated higher. VU950 averages 4.2 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Starrypad averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do VU950 or Starrypad have ads?
Neither VU950 nor Starrypad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VU950 or Starrypad?
VU950 ships an update every 2 days, and Starrypad every 10 days. Most recently, VU950 was updated on October 31, 2026 and Starrypad on October 31, 2026.

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