Comparison

VinylScratch vs VU44

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

Head to head
About

VinylScratch

Transform your device into a professional DJ scratch instrument. Load samples, control them with realistic vinyl physics, and shape sounds with live effects. Record and share your creations, or use it as an AUv3 plugin in your favorite music production apps.

Highlights
  • Realistic vinyl physics engine
  • Live XY effects pad
  • Cut and reverse playback
  • Cue points and looping
  • WAV recording and sharing
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

VinylScratch turns your iPhone into a real scratch instrument. Load any audio sample and control it like a record — scratch, cut, loop, cue, and shape the sound with live effects — all with your fingers on the touchscreen. Whether you're a turntablist practicing cuts without decks, a producer sketching DJ-style arrangements, or a beatmaker who wants tactile sample control — VinylScratch gives you the physics, the effects, and the workflow to do it properly. Drop in a sample, feel the vinyl, twist the FX, hit record. VINYL PHYSICS ENGINE The scratch engine models real platter mechanics. Sound accelerates and decelerates the way a record actually does, with natural spin-down when you release. • Drag on the waveform to scratch — velocity and direction tracked sample-accurately • Three inertia modes: VINYL (natural spin-down), PAGE (instant stop), OFF • Adjustable sensitivity from ultra-fine to aggressive • Multitouch scratch support on iPad LIVE FX PAD A Kaoss Pad-style XY touch surface for real-time effects. Slide your finger to shape the sound — both axes control different parameters simultaneously. • Filter — LP/HP sweep and ISO (SP-404 style isolator) • Reverb — room, hall, plate and more • Delay — time, feedback, and LP cutoff control • Distortion — bit crush and lo-fi presets • FX1 & FX2 — two configurable effect slots with custom axis mapping • HOLD — lock the effect in place after lifting your finger • Glow trail visualization on the XY pad CUT & REV • CUT — hold to mute the signal, just like a crossfader kill • REV — flips playback direction • Crossfader strip for blend control CUE POINTS & LOOP • Two cue points: CUE A and CUE B — set, jump, clear • Loop IN/OUT with toggle — keeps the region when disabled • Full waveform view with overview strip TRANSPORT & RECORDING • Play / Pause with repeat mode • Record your scratch + FX session as WAV • Share or save directly from the app • Time display with millisecond precision AUv3 PLUGIN • Load VinylScratch as an instrument in GarageBand, AUM, Audiobus, or any AUv3 host • Full UI inside the host — scratch and effects included APPEARANCE • 15 color themes • Dark interface optimized for stage and studio PRO UNLOCK One-time purchase. No subscription. Unlocks: sample loading, recording, all FX effects, FX Hold, REV CUT, crossfader, themes, and AUv3. Free version includes playback, CUT, and filter with the built-in track.

About

VU44

This app transforms audio sampling into a tactile, vinyl-inspired experience. Spin a virtual platter, drop the needle, and capture loops by ear and feel, just like a crate digger. Shape your sound with onboard mixing and effects, then integrate it into your music setup.

Highlights
  • Tactile vinyl-style platter for scratching and nudging
  • Adjustable RPM speeds for pitch shifting
  • Precise loop capture with hand-played timing
  • 4-band channel EQ for tone shaping
  • 16 built-in effects with 4 insert slots
  • Load audio from folders, files, and videos
  • AUv3 plugin support for host integration
Features
Read full description

VU44-7 — sample like a vinyl digger. VU44-7 turns sampling into a hands-on, tactile experience. Instead of staring at waveforms, you spin a real turntable platter, drop the needle and catch the perfect loop the way crate-diggers always have — by ear and by feel. Record straight off a spinning platter to get that warm, hand-played vinyl character into your sampler. Nudge the speed, scratch in a chop, cut it on the fly and grab exactly the slice you want. It's the fastest, most musical way to pull samples — whether you're flipping a record, a YouTube clip or your own field recordings. MADE FOR SAMPLING • Tactile vinyl-style platter — scratch, nudge and rewind by touch • 33 / 45 / 78 RPM — slow it down or pitch it up for instant flips • CUT & START for transform-style cuts and stabs • 6 cue points — set your hits and recall them instantly • Capture loops with real, hand-played timing and feel SHAPE THE SOUND • 4-band channel: GAIN, HIGH, MID, LOW — dial in the tone like a real mixer • 16 effects you know from VU950 — filters, EQ, comp, delays, reverb and more — across 4 insert slots • Re-colour every panel and choose a VU950 or Modern skin BRING IN YOUR OWN AUDIO • Load from Folders, Files and Videos with the built-in DISK browser WORKS IN YOUR SETUP • AUv3 plugin — run VU44-7 inside any AUv3 host, route the audio to Your favorite sampler. • Use multiple instances, automate it and bounce straight into your project • Standalone app for quick, no-fuss sampling on the go PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No accounts, no analytics, no tracking. Your audio stays on your device. Stop scrolling waveforms. Start digging.

Screenshots

VinylScratch4 screens
VU444 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VU44 at 100% against VinylScratch's 0%. VU44 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. VinylScratch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and VU44 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VU44 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of VinylScratch's written reviews are positive against 100% of VU44's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VinylScratch ships an update monthly, VU44 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VinylScratch versus VU44: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVinylScratchVU44
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings414 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB25 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperIvan KorablinDariusz Chynek

Customer experience

VinylScratch

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

VU44

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

VinylScratch

One-time1
  • VinylScratch Pro$7.99
1 purchases

VU44

One-time1
  • Support$0.99

Questions

Is VinylScratch free?
VinylScratch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VU44 free?
VU44 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VinylScratch or VU44?
VU44 is rated higher. VinylScratch averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while VU44 averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do VinylScratch or VU44 have ads?
Neither VinylScratch nor VU44 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VinylScratch or VU44?
VinylScratch ships an update monthly, and VU44 every 2 months. Most recently, VinylScratch was updated on October 31, 2026 and VU44 on November 5, 2026.

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