Are iOS instruments and effects ‘desktop quality’?

The first iOS instruments and effects were pretty simplistic affairs and could only be used in isolation. However, things have certainly changed. The best iOS instruments and effects are now a match for those that you use in your DAW. In fact, we’re seeing an increasing number of desktop products being ported over to Apple’s mobile platform, and they’re surviving the journey fully intact. These aren’t watered-down versions – they’re the real deal. FabFilter’s Pro-Q 2 recently made the jump, giving iPad users access to one of the best EQ plugins on the market.

Better still, you’ll often find that the iOS versions are much cheaper than their Mac and PC equivalents. The desktop version of Pro-Q 2 costs £134 but the iOS port is £29. What’s more, with Apple’s AUv3 iOS plugin standard finally catching on, it’s now possible to use many of these instruments and effects directly in your DAW. There’s no more switching between apps –- the plugins can be loaded up from within your host.

So, what’s the catch? If there is one, it’s that iOS host applications and the hardware they run on still aren’t as powerful or flexible as a Mac or PC. Yes, you can create complete productions on an iPad or iPhone, but you have more creative options if you’re working on a desktop machine. This is one of the reasons why software companies are inclined to price their iOS instruments and effects lower – they know that, when push comes to shove, most serious producers will still want the desktop plugin, so they’re operating in a different market.

If you can live with the limitations of iOS, though, you can rest assured that, as far as quality goes, the platform’s top instruments and effects are definitely up to scratch.