Attack Drums vs VAPolyFMv2
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
VAPolyFMv2
This modular FM synthesizer offers 8 operators with spectral form and pitch EG, supporting standalone use or as an AUv3 extension. It includes built-in effects, a step sequencer, and extensive MIDI and Ableton Link integration for music creation across Apple devices.
- 8 Operator Modular FM Synthesizer
- Built-in effects (delay, chorus, reverb, etc.)
- Analog style step sequencer
- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
- Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 integration
- Cross-platform iCloud Drive project sharing
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VAPolyFM V2 is modular FM synthesizer inspired by modern FM Synthesizers. V2 features 8 operators, 4 oscillator spectral form and pitch EG per operators. VAPolyFM 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 8 Operator Modular FM Synthesizer. 4 Spectral Form. Pitch EG per Operators. Modular Operator Routing. Eight Assignable Controllers with Global Offset Parameters for Performance. 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 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 230 Factory Presets, 40 Effects Presets and 5 Macro 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. UI Color can be selected from black, navy or gray. 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 update cadence: Attack Drums at every 2 weeks against VAPolyFMv2's every 2 months. Attack Drums also leads on ratings volume (23 vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). VAPolyFMv2's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 34%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 VAPolyFMv2 $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Attack Drums against 4.5 for VAPolyFMv2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of Attack Drums's written reviews are positive against 50% of VAPolyFMv2's.
Attack Drums ships an update every 2 weeks, VAPolyFMv2 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Attack Drums | VAPolyFMv2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (23 ratings) | 4.5 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 34.2% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 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 | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Waldorf Music | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
Attack Drums
VAPolyFMv2
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
VAPolyFMv2
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Attack Drums
No in-app purchases
VAPolyFMv2
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Attack Drums free?
Is VAPolyFMv2 free?
Which has better reviews, Attack Drums or VAPolyFMv2?
Do Attack Drums or VAPolyFMv2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Attack Drums or VAPolyFMv2?
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