Comparison

VU Studio vs KAGARIBI

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

Head to head
About

VU Studio

Create music on the go with a portable beatmaking workstation. Build beats, shape samples, and arrange full tracks with a structured yet fast workflow. Import and edit audio, then organize your ideas into complete songs.

Highlights
  • Portable project workflow
  • Sample shaping and editing
  • Pattern and sequence building
  • Full track arrangement timeline
  • Dedicated editing views
  • Mixer for balancing tracks
  • Live performance effects
Features
Read full description

VU Studio is a beatmaking workstation built for creating ideas, shaping samples, and arranging full tracks in one portable project workflow. Start with pads and sounds, build patterns per group, combine those patterns into sequences, then arrange patterns, sequences, and audio tracks on the song timeline. The workflow is direct enough for sketching beats quickly, but structured enough to grow an idea into a finished arrangement. Import audio into pads, preview waveforms, edit sample regions, and use CHOP to split samples into playable slices. VU Studio keeps imported audio inside the project package, so your songs stay portable instead of depending on temporary file picker paths. Use dedicated views for the way you want to work: - PADS for samples, pad settings, and sound preparation - STEPS for fast pattern programming - PIANO for detailed note and event editing - SEQUENCE for building song sections from patterns - SONG / Timeline for arranging the full track - MIXER for balancing groups, pads, audio tracks, sends, inserts, and master output - LIVE for performance effects and quick sound manipulation - BROWSER for finding and loading audio sources VU Studio projects are saved as managed .vustudio packages. Export creates a portable .vustudio archive for transfer or backup, with project data and assets kept together. On iOS, projects live in Documents so they remain visible in Apple Files. You're a fan of my previous VU202 app? That's great - VU Studio supports .vu202 project file - move your project and keep 100% edit possibilities! Whether you are chopping drum breaks, programming patterns, building sections, importing samples, or moving a project between iOS and desktop, VU Studio is designed around a simple idea: keep the beatmaking flow fast, organized, and portable.

About

KAGARIBI

This music creation tool allows users to shape and understand sound with a powerful synthesizer and an integrated sound anatomy feature. It offers extensive sound design capabilities, MIDI support, and advanced tuning options for both standalone use and as an AUv3 instrument.

Highlights
  • Dual oscillators with analog waveforms and wavetables
  • Extensive modulation matrix and effects suite
  • Integrated Sound Anatomy for sound explanation
  • Support for MPE and MIDI 2.0
  • Advanced tuning systems beyond 12-TET
  • Offline WAV export
  • Live Safe mode for reduced audio dropouts
Features
Read full description

Play a sound. Shape it. Understand why it sounds that way. KAGARIBI is a free synthesizer for iPhone and iPad with no ads, tracking, account, or network connection required. Play it standalone or load it as an AUv3 instrument. CREATE YOUR SOUND • Two oscillators with analog waveforms and six wavetable families • Up to seven-voice unison, FM, ring modulation, and hard sync • Six filter types, three envelopes, two LFOs, and an eight-slot modulation matrix • Drive, phaser, chorus, delay, reverb, compressor, and limiter • Arpeggiator and four performance macros UNDERSTAND IT — SOUND ANATOMY Sound Anatomy reads the patch you are playing and explains why it sounds the way it does. Connect what you hear to unison, filters, envelopes, LFOs, effects, and more—without leaving the instrument. PLAY AND PRODUCE • 30 factory presets • Multitouch keyboard, Hold, and Arpeggiator • MPE and MIDI 2.0, plus USB and Bluetooth MIDI input • AUv3 host automation for 95 parameters • One preset library shared between the app and AUv3 • A/B comparison, search, favorites, and a recoverable trash • Offline 48 kHz / 24-bit WAV export BEYOND 12-TET Explore 16 included tunings—from just intonation and Pythagorean to Japanese scales, 19/24/31-EDO, and Bohlen–Pierce. Import Scala .scl and .kbm files and set reference pitch from A=415 to 466 Hz. READY FOR LIVE PLAY Live Safe watches real-time processing headroom and adjusts the voice limit when needed to reduce the risk of audio dropouts. Choose Studio or Offline HQ when the session calls for more detail. Your data stays on your device. KAGARIBI includes no third-party ad SDKs, tracking, or network transmission.

Screenshots

VU Studio4 screens
KAGARIBI4 screens

Verdict

The call

VU Studio and KAGARIBI both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 56% of VU Studio's written reviews are positive against 0% of KAGARIBI's. KAGARIBI's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days). On price, rating, ratings volume and 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for VU Studio against 4.5 for KAGARIBI. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 4 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of VU Studio's written reviews are positive against 0% of KAGARIBI's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VU Studio ships an update every 6 days, KAGARIBI every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VU Studio versus KAGARIBI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVU StudioKAGARIBI
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (7 ratings)4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size171 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDariusz ChynekCode and DESIGN inc.

Customer experience

VU Studio

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

KAGARIBI

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

VU Studio

No in-app purchases

None

KAGARIBI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VU Studio free?
VU Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is KAGARIBI free?
KAGARIBI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VU Studio or KAGARIBI?
KAGARIBI is rated higher. VU Studio averages 4.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while KAGARIBI averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do VU Studio or KAGARIBI have ads?
Neither VU Studio nor KAGARIBI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VU Studio or KAGARIBI?
VU Studio ships an update every 6 days, and KAGARIBI every 2 days. Most recently, VU Studio was updated on October 5, 2026 and KAGARIBI on October 12, 2026.

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