# Audio Unit Player vs 1981 FM

The clearest difference is rating: 1981 FM at 5.0 against Audio Unit Player's 3.9. 1981 FM also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). Audio Unit Player's advantage is ratings volume (32 vs 3). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Audio Unit Player sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and 1981 FM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

1981 FM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Audio Unit Player has 32 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Audio Unit Player's written reviews are positive against 100% of 1981 FM's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Audio Unit Player | 1981 FM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audio-unit-player/id734191615/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1981-fm-80s-track-generator/id6805325447/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loop-Sessions.LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/414215366) | [Soft Brew Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/561703410) |

## What reviewers say

### Audio Unit Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audio-unit-player/id734191615)

This music player allows real-time audio processing including time stretching, pitch shifting, and equalization. It functions as an AUv3 host and supports A-B loop playback, center cancel, and background audio. Import audio files from other apps for practice or performance.

**Highlights:** Real-time time stretch (0.5-2.0x speed), Real-time pitch shift (-1 to +1 octave), 31-band equalizer with presets, Adjustable reverb with presets, AUv3 host functionality, A-B loop playback, Audio file import from other apps

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Always remove banner ads. | $3.99 | one-time |


### 1981 FM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1981-fm-80s-track-generator/id6805325447)

This app generates complete, unique musical tracks using chaotic mathematical principles. It offers various styles, modes, and keys, with customizable FM synth sounds and effects. Tracks can be recreated using seeds and exported via MIDI.

**Highlights:** Chaos-driven track generation, Four-operator FM synth engine, Multiple musical styles and modes, MIDI export and input, Customizable effects (chorus, delay, reverb), Offline functionality

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AUv3 Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Audio Unit Player free?

Audio Unit Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is 1981 FM free?

1981 FM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Audio Unit Player or 1981 FM?

1981 FM is rated higher. Audio Unit Player averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while 1981 FM averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Audio Unit Player or 1981 FM have ads?

Audio Unit Player shows ads; 1981 FM does not.

### Which is updated more often, Audio Unit Player or 1981 FM?

Audio Unit Player ships an update every 2 weeks, and 1981 FM every 2 weeks. Most recently, Audio Unit Player was updated on November 11, 2026 and 1981 FM on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*