RTMS VAPolyMk4 is a new bi-timbral Synthesizer plugin for iOS and macOS (native Apple Silicon) with output morphing and ring mod.
Ryo Togawa is undoubtedly one of the busiest iOS developers in the synthesizer space. With 12 synths to his name, he offers a wide selection of apps. There are two downsides: many of the apps have very similar feature sets and only slight changes.
The other point is the names, which are very simple but slightly misleading if you don’t know his entire portfolio (Mk1, Mk2…) This is also the case with Ryo Togawa (RTMS)’s 13th Synthesizer app, VAPolyMk4.
RTMS VAPolyMk4
VAPolyMk4 is a new Synthesizer for iOS and macOS. Important: RTMS VAPolyMk4 is not the fourth version of VAPoly, but a completely different Synthesizer than MK3, MK2, etc. Indeed, it can be a bit confusing if you don’t know the portfolio in detail.
On the engine side, it’s a bi-timbral 8-voice polyphonic virtual-analog synthesizer with three multi-wave oscillators, featuring hard sync and through-zero FM per layer.
Unlike any other VAPolyMK synth, it features a new output morphing functionality, a classic ring modulator, and global offset parameter control. The rest of the engine remains familiar from the other Ryo Togawa synths.
Each layer also offers a lowpass and highpass filter, an amp section, three envelope generators, and two multi-wave LFOs. There is also an option to layer and split the voices.
To refine your sounds, it also has a multi-FX section with delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor. Also onboard is the piano roll sequencer from the other apps.
Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad, or Mac. There is also an internal audio recorder with audio export of Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV, and CAF) and compressed format (AAC).
Further, it supports MIDI 2.0, a foot pedal, and a per-note channel. Ableton Link and Bluetooth MIDI are also onboard.
RTMS VAPolyMk4 ships with 230 factory, 160 synth channels, and 40 effects presets. You can also choose between three UI colors: black, navy, or gray. It runs as an AUv3 plugin not only on iOS but also on macOS (Apple Silicon only).
First Impression
I’ve been following Ryo Togawa’s development for a long time and enjoy reporting on it. The apps all sound very solid and high-quality, and I’m sure VAPolyMK4 is also at the same level.
However, it bothers me that the apps are always very similar and don’t really offer anything significantly new. You could save 5-6 apps by combining everything into a single app that’s still easy to use.
RTMS VAPolyMK4 is available now for an introductory price of $5,99 instead of $14,99 (60% OFF) until November 30, 2025. To celebrate this release, all other RTMS apps are also 60% OFF.
It runs as a standalone app and AUv3 plugin on iOS (iPhone/iPad) and macOS (native Apple Silicon).
More information here: RTMS /Apple App Store
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