VAPolyEnsemble vs Tonic FX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VAPolyEnsemble
Create rich, detuned synthesizer sounds with a powerful unison oscillator and multiple stereo filters. This app offers a built-in step sequencer, a variety of effects, and extensive MIDI support. It functions as a standalone application or an AudioUnit Extension for music production workflows.
- Unison oscillator with 7 detuned waves per voice
- Stereo resonant low-pass and high-pass filters
- Stereo amplifier
- 3-channel analog-style step sequencer
- Built-in delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor
- Standalone and AUv3 extension support
- Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 support
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VAPolyEnsemble features a unison oscillator that can produce seven detuned saw, pulse, or triangle waves per voice. It is followed by a stereo resonant low-pass filter, a stereo resonant high-pass filter, and a stereo amplifier. VAPolyEnsemble 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 Unison oscillator that can produce seven detuned saw, pulse, or triangle waves per voice. Stereo VCF and Stereo VCA. 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. - Selectable UI Color. - 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.
Tonic FX
Create custom audio effect chains for your music. This app allows you to build and reorder a variety of effects, from distortion and modulation to time-based and dynamic processors, for use in standalone mode or with compatible music production hosts.
- Customizable effect rack
- Reorderable effect chain
- 24 built-in effects
- Standalone app and AUv3 plugin
- MIDI Learn for hardware control
- Tempo sync for time-based effects
- Preset library
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Thirty-four effects. One tap to add each one — and the order of the chain is yours. Tonic FX is the Tonic effects rack in an app of its own, focused and affordable — an Audio Unit (AU and AUv3) effect in GarageBand, Logic, AUM, Cubasis, Drambo and any host, and a standalone app that processes your microphone or line input. A RACK YOU BUILD — AND REORDER Every effect has its own on/off, grouped by category: add one with a tap, then drag the cards to rearrange the chain. The order is saved with the preset. THIRTY-FOUR EFFECTS • Drive — Overdrive, Distortion (hard, asymmetric and fuzz), Amp Sim with 6 models and cabinet, Wavefolder/Fuzz, Bitcrush, Ring Modulator and Lo-Fi/Vinyl. • Modulation — an 8-mode Chorus (vintage through string ensemble), a Phaser with four voicings, from the gentle 4-stage pedal to a slow 10-stage pad sweep, Flanger, Vibrato, Detune, Pitch Shifter/Harmonizer, Throb (the pulsing vibrato of the sixties) and Frequency Shifter. • Motion — a two-rotor Rotary cabinet, Auto-Pan, Tremolo, a Stereo Widener with a mono maker that keeps the bass centred, a Pedal Wah you can put under an expression pedal, and the Trance Gate, with a draw-your-own-rhythm mode. • Time — a tempo-syncable ping-pong Delay, with Wow and Sat for tape character; a Reverb with nine spaces: room, hall, cathedral, plate, spring, shimmer, cloud, gated and swell — plus Freeze, to hold a chord and play over it; Reverse, which plays back what you just played backwards; and Call & Response, which listens to your phrase and answers in the gap. • Dynamics & EQ — Compressor, Limiter, Noise Gate, De-esser, a musical 5-band EQ and a 12-band graphic EQ, each with eight one-tap starting points you can overwrite with your own. Compressor, gate, de-esser and limiter show how much they are holding, in dB. • Vocal — Voice, a whole vocal channel behind one knob: low cut, gate, de-esser, compressor and sheen, all in the right measure; and the Doubler, which simulates two or four voices singing along. • Filter — an Auto-Wah that breathes with your playing, always first in the chain. BUILT FOR PLAYING Full MIDI Learn maps any hardware knob to any control, including the from–to range for an expression pedal. Tempo sync from your host keeps delay and modulation in time. Colour-coded scenes A–F, a preset library with favourites, and factory presets to get started fast. A tactile "pro hardware" interface, native on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Thanks for playing with RSJB — made by musicians, for musicians! Follow what's new at www.rsjb.com.br
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Tonic FX at $9.99 against VAPolyEnsemble's $14.99. On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
VAPolyEnsemble costs $14.99 and Tonic FX $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | VAPolyEnsemble | Tonic FX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ryo Togawa | Rubens Felicio |
Customer experience
VAPolyEnsemble
Tonic FX
In-app purchases
VAPolyEnsemble
No in-app purchases
Tonic FX
No in-app purchases









