Attack Drums vs VAPolyTZFM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Attack Drums
This app is a powerful sound engine and pattern sequencer inspired by a classic VST plugin. It excels at creating drum sounds but can also be used for vocals and other instruments, featuring a unique text-based vocoder.
- 24-part sound engine
- Pattern sequencer
- Phrase Vocoder (text-based)
- Versatile effects section
- Inter-App Audio & Audiobus 3 support
- MIDI Sync
- Export song to audio file
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Attack Drums is a synthesizer designed mainly for drum sounds, but the powerful sound engine can also be used for everything else - including vocals. Based on the Waldorf Attack VST PlugIn from 2001, it consists of a 24-part sound engine, now packed with a pattern sequencer and a versatile effects section. One highlight of the effects section is the new Phrase Vocoder, a vocoder that uses written text instead of spoken words. Lyrics in - song out, adjust gender as you have always wanted! Just like Waldorf Nave, Attack Drums is a seriously in-depth musical instrument - easy and fun to use, but a sonic beast at its core! Specifications: -24 Sounds -Four independent effect slots with selectable effect: *Delay *Equalizer *Overdrive *Phaser *Flanger *Chorus *Phrase Vocoder -Reverb -Compressor -Pattern Sequencer -999 Patterns -Polyphonic steps - up to 8 notes per step -Fractional track/step timing -Audiobus 3 -Inter-App Audio -MIDI Settings -MIDI Sync -Loop function -Export song to audio file -AudioCopy / AudioPaste -Content control via iTunes File Sharing -Trigger Pads -Mixer -Recording
VAPolyTZFM
This app is a polyphonic synthesizer that utilizes Through Zero FM for musical sound generation. It offers a standalone mode with Ableton Link and MIDI support, as well as an AudioUnit Extension for use with other music software. Built-in effects and iCloud Drive integration enhance its creative capabilities.
- Through Zero FM synthesis
- AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
- Ableton Link and MIDI connectivity
- Built-in effects suite
- iCloud Drive project sharing
- Analog style step sequencer
- Up to 8 voice polyphony
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VAPolyTZFM is polyphonic synthesizer featuring Through Zero FM, which is a type of linear frequency modulation and it is capable to maintain the pitch therefore it can deliver more musical results. VAPolyTZFM 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 Through Zero FM Analog Style Step Sequencer. Eight Assignable Controllers. 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 Foot Pedal and Per Note Control. Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Include 256 Factory Presets. Improvements Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) Support MIDI2.0 Per Note Control Messages MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. if sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, reduce number of voices. 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.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: VAPolyTZFM at 5.0 against Attack Drums's 4.4. VAPolyTZFM also leads on price ($5.99 vs $14.99) and review sentiment (50% vs 34%). Attack Drums's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (23 vs 3). On 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
Attack Drums costs $14.99 and VAPolyTZFM $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VAPolyTZFM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Attack Drums has 23 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Attack Drums's written reviews are positive against 50% of VAPolyTZFM's.
Attack Drums ships an update every 2 weeks, VAPolyTZFM every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Attack Drums | VAPolyTZFM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (23 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 34.2% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Waldorf Music | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
Attack Drums
VAPolyTZFM
Bugs and requests
Attack Drums
Reported bugs
21 issues- Crashes when loading own samples
- Lag with MIDI clock sync
- Inconsistent MIDI response and routing
- Low velocity response
- Transport controls not showing in DAWs
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- App crashes on startup
- App won't open on iOS 9
- Display scaling issues on iPad mini
- Sound designer page not working on iPad 2
- Copy bug
- Sequencer limited to one bar
- Random velocity on pads
- Crashes with Audiobus
- Screen doesn't fit on iPad mini
- Controls not working on iPad mini
- Sound cut out
- Locks up on iPad 2
- Not compatible with iPad 2
- Sluggish and slow performance
- App closes for no reason
- Display on iPad mini scaled incorrectly
Requested features
19 requests- Ableton Link support
- Improved MIDI sync
- Smoother IAA and MIDI integration
- More pattern steps (64+)
- Support for triplets and higher note divisions
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- Dropbox integration
- Disable opening animation
- Separate outputs in iOS
- Auto-envelope setting for samples
- Parameter automation
- MIDI CC parameter control
- MIDI port/channel selection
- Looping multiple patterns for jamming
- Subfolders for samples
- Interface facelift
- Live tweaking of FX, rolls, stutters
- Parameter locks
- Triplet grids option
- Ability to export MIDI patterns
VAPolyTZFM
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Attack Drums
No in-app purchases
VAPolyTZFM
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Attack Drums free?
Is VAPolyTZFM free?
Which has better reviews, Attack Drums or VAPolyTZFM?
Do Attack Drums or VAPolyTZFM have ads?
Which is updated more often, Attack Drums or VAPolyTZFM?
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