Comparison

Chiptune vs Pocket Vinyl

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

Head to head
About

Chiptune

Create 8-bit video game music with a step sequencer. Design patterns, chain them into songs, and customize sounds for two pulse, triangle, and noise channels. Export your creations as WAV, MIDI, or video.

Highlights
  • Step sequencer grid for note input
  • Customizable pattern lengths (4-64 steps)
  • Four NES-style synthesized sound channels
  • Pattern chaining for song arrangement
  • Export as WAV, MIDI, or video
  • Offline functionality
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Chiptune is a step sequencer for writing music in a style of old game consoles. Simply tap a note, tap a cell in the grid, and it will play sounds from one of four NES-style channels. Chiptune has two pulses, a triangle and noise. Each channel is synthesized live rather than sampled. Patterns are customizable from 4 to 64 steps and can be chained into an arrangement. This lets a piece go from just a single loop into a full song with intros, verses, choruses, etc. WRITE • Compose on a grid of notes with 4 to 64 steps per pattern • Customize your track to cut notes short or let them ring • Set the tempo by typing it or nudging it a step at a time • Easily undo any changes • Three sample songs to play and take apart • A How it works guide explains the controls SOUND • Two pulse channels with four pulse widths, from thin and nasal to full square • A triangle channel ideal for basslines • Tunable noise for drums like a hi-hat or a low rumble • Volume, decay, and arpeggio controls per channel, so one channel can fake a chord • Sounds come with basic presets ARRANGE • Create sections with a named pattern and a repeat count • Loop one pattern while editing or play the whole song • Add multiple tracks of any sound when four channels aren't enough • Custom iPad specific layout in portrait and landscape SAVE AND SHARE • Songs autosave as you work so you never lose anything • Duplicate a song to try something slightly different • Export any song as a WAV file with a seamless loop or with the last notes ringing out • Export as a MIDI file to keep working on your notes in another music app • Export a video of your song playing, as a scrolling grid or a game cartridge, to post on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube Chiptune works fully offline and never asks for a subscription. No account, no ads, no tracking.

About

Pocket Vinyl

Features
Read full description

Pocket Vinyl turns your iPhone and iPad into a record player for Apple Music. Flip through a crate of your albums, pull one out and drop it on the platter. The tone arm swings over, the needle drops and the record spins with the album's own label artwork. Pause, and the platter slows to a stop and the arm lifts, just like the real thing. PLAY YOUR ALBUMS ON VINYL • A crate of your recently played albums, your Apple Music library, or search the whole Apple Music catalog • Drag a sleeve onto the platter or just tap it • The label on each record is made from the album cover • Tracklist in the style of a record sleeve, split into Side A and Side B • Heart a song to add it to your Apple Music favorites ON YOUR HOME SCREEN AND LOCK SCREEN • Home Screen widgets show the record that's on your turntable, with play and pause on the medium widget • A Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island shows the spinning record and lets you play and pause POCKET VINYL PRO: ONE PURCHASE, YOURS TO KEEP One in-app purchase unlocks everything below. It is not a subscription, and it's shared with your Family Sharing group. • Vintage sound: Dust or Crackle surface noise with an intensity slider, plus a tone-arm thunk when the needle drops • Turntable skins: Walnut '60s suitcase, Silver '70s hi-fi, Mint diner jukebox and Matte black modern. Your widgets and Live Activity use the same skin • Special records: red, blue, gold and green vinyl, splatter, translucent, picture discs and 45 singles. Pick a default or choose a pressing for each album • Dusty records: albums you haven't played for a while gather dust and cobwebs, and playing them wipes it away Already bought Pro? Tap Restore Purchases on the Pro screen. APPLE MUSIC REQUIRED Pocket Vinyl plays music from Apple Music only. Apple Music subscribers hear full songs and albums. Without a subscription you hear 30-second previews and can subscribe from the app at any time. Spotify, YouTube and your own music files aren't supported. NO ADS, NO ACCOUNT, NO TRACKING There are no ads and nothing to sign up for, and Pocket Vinyl doesn't collect any data. Privacy Policy: https://implicitli.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://implicitli.com/terms-conditions.html Support: https://implicitli.com

Screenshots

Chiptune4 screens
Pocket Vinyl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pocket Vinyl at Free against Chiptune's $0.99. Chiptune's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#166 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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

Pocket Vinyl is free to download; Chiptune costs $0.99 up front. Pocket Vinyl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chiptune asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Chiptune versus Pocket Vinyl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChiptunePocket Vinyl
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#166 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better27.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIndividuation Labs LLCimplicitli, LLC

In-app purchases

None

Chiptune

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pocket Vinyl

One-time1
  • Pocket Vinyl Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Chiptune free?
Chiptune costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocket Vinyl free?
Pocket Vinyl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chiptune or Pocket Vinyl have ads?
Neither Chiptune nor Pocket Vinyl shows ads.

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