# RE-1 Tape Machine — Virtual Tape Machine

> Virtual tape machine for echo, chorus, looping, sampling, and overdubbing. (iPhone/iPad app by Kai Aras.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Kai Aras](https://appshunter.io/developer/370820899)
- Category: Music
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 132 App Store ratings · 37 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 107 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2018-08-23
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053/reviews.md

## What is RE?

RE-1 - Tape Echo 

RE-1 is a full featured virtual Tape Machine capable of delivering authentic tape based echo and chorus effects but it doesn't stop there. With it's interactive tape player, sample, loop and overdub features it's possible to use it like a virtual tape recorder, sample player, looper or simply as a master effect. 

Overview:
- Virtual Tape deck including 3 individually controllable read heads, variable delay time and feedback
- Interactive user interface and realtime visualisation of various parameters related to the tape simulation
- Dedicated controls for Wow, Flutter, Color, Tape Hiss & saturation amount 
- Tape Loop mode with overdub, tape reverse and time-stretching 
- Sample/Loop library loads wave files onto the virtual tape loop
- Transport and Tempo Sync
- Stereo Spread & Stereo Panner
- Input processing: Highpass filter 
- Output processing: 2 band eq

Tape Echo:
- Authentic tape echo emulation
- Multi-tap delay with 3 individually controllable read heads 
- Color Control adjusts the echo's tone from dark to bright
- Delay Time: 5ms - 1000ms (or 1/32th to 1/1) 
- Wow & Flutter 
- Tape Hiss and Saturation
- Stereo spread
- Stereo panner

Looper / Sample Player:
- Uses the tape like a traditional looper with unlimited overdubs
- Configurable Loop length with 1 - 8 bars and tempo sync and tape reverse
- Tape transport can be linked to the host's transport controls
- Time stretching keeps loops in sync  
- Samples/loops can be loaded onto the tape directly
- Samples can be created from the tape loop and stored in the sample library at any time
- Factory content includes a variety of loops grouped by style
- Samples/loops can be imported from and exported to other apps 

Connectivity:
- Standalone
- AUv3
- InterApp-Audio
- Audiobus
- Ableton Link
- MIDI (Tempo, CC, Program Change)

- Requirements: 
- iOS 11+

## Key features

- Virtual tape deck with 3 read heads
- Authentic tape echo emulation
- Tape loop mode with overdubbing
- Sample/loop library
- Real-time parameter visualization
- Wow, Flutter, Color, Hiss & Saturation controls

## Recent user reviews (10 of 37)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Excellent tape echo

*2026-06-29*

does exactly what it sas on the tin, great plugin

### 5/5 — Cooler than a cool thing

*2024-06-09, version 1.1.8*

Occasionally, an app arrives that has so much right on release, it deserves 5 stars. Yes, friends, this is one such app. If the kind of FX this does compliments the kind of music you make, then do not hesitate. Within minutes I had something going with it that sounded like the afterlife of Bob Marley!

### 1/5 — Contacted dev twice

*2024-05-25*

I’ve been beta testing apps for over 13 years so I always contact the developer before I leave a poor review.  I’ve contacted them twice and I didn’t even get a quote. We will get back with you email” or “we are busy working on the problem”email. I received nothing. I’m using a few different iPads and yes, the app actually shows the entire app on the iPad, but you can’t use it as a standalone whatsoever. They were supposed to address this in the last update, but it wasn’t.
Then, I contacted them because when I use it on my 13 pro max, you can’t see the entire screen. You can’t scroll to the left or the right it’s just cut off.

The wave files do not work in standalone app. The wave files that they have and the wave files that you import do not work. again, this was supposed to be addressed in the last update which I contacted them twice in a month and heard nothing.  
This actually was one of my favorite tape delay apps, but it’s gone into my ‘unsuable’ folder on both my iPhone and my five iPads.  If the developer ever gets back with me, then I will most certainly change my review. I’m just a little disgusted at the moment.

### 5/5 — Awsome

*2024-01-14*

Super echo unit. Very responsive developper. Has now even included the ability to choose input and output in stand alone mode.

### 5/5 — Great App but BEWARE APPLE UPDATES!

*2023-02-17*

This app is crazy fun and great for live performance.
After updating my iPad to iOS 16.3, the app no longer works. 
Thanks again Apple, you really want to kill 3rd party content don’t you? It would be different if APPLE came out with an amazing echo app like RE-1, but the best they can come up with is the absolute WORST ever DAW, aka Grabage Band.
Luckily, I still have an OLD iPad that can run this very cool app.

### 3/5 — Great effect, but UI is too heavy

*2023-01-17*

I got iPad Pro (2018 10.5 model), and when loading (opening the UI instance) the plugin is giving too many cracking noises to be able to adjust the parameters. If you close the UI (having plugin still active) the cracklings go away. But, this makes the plugin unusable. This happens under very minimal load, so I think the UI might have a bug of some sort. Tried it in Beatmaker 3, Cubasis, ApeMatrix, NanoStudio and AUM. If it worked - clear 5 star effect.

 As a possible fix, maybe remove that tape animation thingy or toggle it on/off in settings? If you make a “compact” (as in not full screen) version with just the knobs, I’m pretty sure that would fix this problem. Because the RE-1 itself running in background (without the active window) doesn’t eat up more CPU than other comparable plugins. 

 That said, for those considering buying this plugin, if you’re someone who doesn’t mind freezing tracks or uses a handful of plugins/fx, this app is very good in terms of actual fx and sound quality. One of the best tape delays I’ve tried, in fact. The 3-star is for people like myself who like to use several plugins in their projects, and for that it’s very heavy so I stopped using it.

### 5/5 — Indépassable

*2022-12-29, version 1.1.5*

Quasiment unique dans son genre à ce niveau de qualité, une interface superbe, RE-1 est capable de produire un résultat vraiment incroyable !
Enfin, et surtout, Kai Aras développe ses applications pour qu’elles fonctionnent et soient réellement exploitables aussi bien sur iPad que sur iPhone 👍

### 5/5 — Fantastic support from Kai. Big thanks!

*2022-10-24, version 1.1.5*

Had a few issues getting this working in AUM. Kai was super helpful helping me troubleshoot and get it working. The delay sounds amazing, really captures the flavor classic tape delays with plenty of setting the tweak away at a craft whatever sound you need.

### 3/5 — Not sure it’s all that.

*2022-08-06*

I’m experiencing some crackling and pops whenever I’m trying to adjust the knobs. Also, the knobs seem to have some sort of delay in their response which I don’t dig. Some of the interface buttons are way too small and hard to press even when the window is maximized in AUM. Weird scaling when iPad is held vertically. 

Sonically, I don’t like any of the stereo effects in it, they still sound pretty narrow to me. The sound tends to be quite “dry” in its character, I’d say it is 180 from what the real tape introduces. 

Overall quite disappointed by this purchase.

### 1/5 — Teilweise nicht bedienbar

*2022-08-01*

Auf einem iPhone 2020 SE vielen einige Regler auf der rechten Seite der App. wenn man sie mit einigen Tricks sichtbar macht sind sie nicht bedienen Bar. dieses Problem ist schon von einem anderen User angemerkt worden, wurde aber nicht behoben. Daher nur einen Stern.

## Frequently asked questions about RE

### What does the RE-1 Tape Machine app do?

RE-1 is a virtual tape machine that provides authentic tape-based echo and chorus effects. It also functions as a comprehensive tool for sampling, looping, and overdubbing, allowing users to create complex audio arrangements and performances.

### What are the key features of this app?

Key features include a virtual tape deck with three individually controllable read heads, authentic tape echo emulation, a tape loop mode with unlimited overdubbing and tape reverse, a sample/loop library for loading wave files, and dedicated controls for parameters like Wow, Flutter, Color, Tape Hiss, and saturation.

### How much does the RE-1 Tape Machine app cost?

The app is a paid application, meaning you purchase it once to unlock all its features. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions mentioned.

### What are the compatibility requirements for this app?

The app requires iOS 11 or later. It can be used as a standalone application and also supports various audio integration technologies like AUv3, InterApp-Audio, and Audiobus, making it compatible with many other music production apps.

### What are some common use cases for the RE-1 Tape Machine?

Common use cases include adding vintage tape echo and chorus to tracks, creating intricate loops with overdubbing for live performance or song sketching, using it as a creative sampler to manipulate audio, and applying its unique saturation and hiss characteristics as a master effect.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.0 — 2026-06-28

- Fixed an issue where loading multiple instances in Cubasis would cause some instances to stop running

### 1.1.8 — 2024-04-29

- Fixed an issue where the audio engine would fail to initialize when running the standalone app on iPhone

### 1.1.7 — 2024-01-05

- Fixed an issue where the plugin would not work properly when running on iOS17
- Standalone: Added options for selecting Input/Output channels when using a multi channel audio interface
- Standalone: Fixed an issue where microphone input would not work properly on some iPad models
- Minor Visual Tweaks

### 1.1.5 — 2020-09-22

- Fixed an issue where patches would not load when running on iOS14

### 1.1.4 — 2020-05-02

- Active Sample/Loop is now stored in a preset 
- Added Settings for controlling delay time knob and touch reel sensitivity 
- Tweaked time control response
- Improved fullscreen layout
- Changed IAA/AB name to match the AUv3 name
- Changed the slider touch tracking from an absolute to a relative type which feels less direct but allows more accurate control 
- Fixed an issue where the tape loope export dialogue would not scale properly when using the AUv3 in fullscreen mode
- Fixed an issue where loading the "Looper" preset would cause the plugin to crash
- Fixed an issue where leaving and returning to the standalone app would cause the UI layout to change on some devices 
- Fixed an issue where samples created from within the app would me missing the sample rate information causing them to play improperly in other apps
- Fixed an issue where continuously resizing the AUv3 could generate UI glitches in some cases

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## More apps by Kai Aras

- [MIDIBrute](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midibrute/id1010753735)
- [RP-1 Delay](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rp-1-delay/id1079530569)
- [RF-1 Reverb](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rf-1-reverb/id1097763239)
- [VC-1 Chorus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vc-1-chorus/id1130683829)
- [Italizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italizer/id1133091743)
- [VOLT Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/volt-synth/id1185984394)

All apps by Kai Aras: https://appshunter.io/developer/370820899

## Related topics

[tape loop machine](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tape-loop-machine)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*