VAPolyMod vs GSi Piano Studio
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VAPolyMod
This app is a polyphonic synthesizer with a modular architecture offering multiple audio routing configurations. It includes a step sequencer, built-in effects, and supports various MIDI and audio export options. Projects can be shared across devices via iCloud.
- Modular architecture with 4 audio routing configurations
- Dual VCOs, VCFs, and VCAs
- 6 envelope generators and 5 LFOs
- Built-in effects (delay, chorus, reverb, etc.)
- 3-channel analog style step sequencer
- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
- Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 support
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VAPolyMod features a preconfigured modular architecture that offers four audio routing configurations of voice modules, consisting of dual VCOs, dual VCFs, and dual VCAs, ranging from stereo channels to layered channels. It also contains 6 envelope generators and five LFOs. VAPolyMod 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 - Polyphonic Synthesizer. - a preconfigured modular architecture that offers four audio routing configurations - Low pass Filter is modeled on cascaded OTA -24dB per octave low pass filter circuit. - 3 channel analog style step sequencer. - 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 Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. - Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. - Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) - 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, blown and red. - Font size for title of controls are adjustable. - Factory Preset 128 - Effects Preset 40 System Requirements - iOS 17.0 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.
GSi Piano Studio
This application uses advanced synthesis to recreate the sound of a grand piano. Users can customize various elements of the piano's mechanics to achieve unique sounds. It requires a physical MIDI keyboard for playback and is best suited for modern devices.
- Physical modeling sound generation
- Full polyphony
- Virtual sympathetic resonance
- Customizable velocity curves
- Session Recorder
- AUv3 plugin support
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GSi Piano Studio is a software that recreates the sound of a gorgeous Grand Piano using Physical Modeling synthesis. INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND There are two ways to recreate the sound of a Grand Piano digitally: either using large sample sets, or using synthesis. As for the sample approach, GSi offers Genuine Sounds Vol. I that includes a wide variety of large sample sets directly recorded from actual acoustic instruments. Piano Studio, instead, recreates the sound using mostly digital synthesis techniques, by replicating the single elements that constitute the complex mechanic assembly of an actual piano: keys, hammers, strings, soundboard, enclosure, lid, etc. Some of these elements can also be modified via user parameters, such as the string dampening, detuning, sympathetic resonances, impact on the duplex-scale, hammer hardness and so on, so that the sound can be further refined or altered in order to obtain a different flavor of sound, or even something that goes beyond the natural sound of a Grand Piano. Main features - Full polyphony - Virtually unlimited dynamics - Long and natural decays - Supports real sympathetic resonance - Supports half-pedal and re-pedaling - 6 Ambience selections - 12 Virtual microphones - 9 Preamp types - Built-in limiter/compressor - 6-band visual equalizer with spectrum analyzer - Ping-Pong delay and Reverb - Customizable velocity curves - Session Recorder: records while you play, loads/saves SMF - Program manager with unlimited Programs - Available as Stand-alone App and AUv3 plugin - Low CPU load and RAM usage Please note: this App has no screen keyboard, you need to connect a physical MIDI keyboard to play. Also, you need a modern device, possibly iPad 9th gen or newer, iPhone 14 or newer. Older devices might not have enough CPU power for performing well at full polyphony.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: VAPolyMod at $14.99 against GSi Piano Studio's $19.99. 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
VAPolyMod costs $14.99 and GSi Piano Studio $19.99 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 VAPolyMod against 5.0 for GSi Piano Studio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | VAPolyMod | GSi Piano Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 99 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ryo Togawa | Genuine Soundware |
Customer experience
VAPolyMod
GSi Piano Studio
In-app purchases
VAPolyMod
No in-app purchases
GSi Piano Studio
No in-app purchases









