Comparison

Tap Delay vs TB Flowtones

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Tap Delay

This app recreates the warm, analog sound of vintage tape echo machines with a modern tapped delay engine. It offers 24 taps for rhythmic effects, tape simulation with saturation and noise, and live input processing from various sources.

Highlights
  • Multi-tap delay machine
  • 24 taps for rhythmic effects
  • Tape simulation (Saturation, Noise, Flutter)
  • MIDI controllable
  • Live input processing
  • Audiobus 3 and IAA compatible
  • AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

Back in the “old days”, producers and engineers created delay and echo effects using tape machines. Tap Delay combines the warm sound of vintage tape echo machines with a modern, step sequencer-like tapped delay engine which continues the tradition of the tape echo machines into the 21st century. The Tape simulation includes all relevant aspects for the recreation of a faithful analog tape sound: • Compression and Saturation • Tape hiss • Tape head bias • Wow and Flutter (Tape speed instability) • Smooth speed / delay time changes Three feedback filters with hipass/lowpass and bandpass characteristic simplify the creation of authentic dub echo effects. The built-in Limiter allows for endless feedback sounds. Use live input from any source - Microphone, Guitar, Audiobus and Inter App Audio - or take a song from your iTunes library for processing. Features: • Multi-tap delay machine • 24 taps for rhythmic delay effects • Tape simulation ( Saturation, Noise, Flutter ) • Alias free tape saturation through oversampling. • MIDI controllable including Tempo sync • Delay loop equalizer for dub effect. • Glitch free simulation of variable tape speeds. • Spatial echo rotation effect. • Audiobus 3 compatible with state saving • IAA compatible ( Auria, Cubasis, Garageband ). • AudioUnit AUv3 with parameter automation. • Ableton Link. • Integrated iTunes player.

About

TB Flowtones

This virtual analog synthesizer app offers a true VA synthesis engine with analog-modeled filters and extensive modulation options. Create warm, analog-sounding music with a powerful architecture, diverse waveforms, and pro-grade effects. It also includes an integrated step sequencer and hundreds of presets.

Highlights
  • True virtual analog synthesis engine
  • Analog-modelled non-linear filters
  • Extensive modulation options
  • Pro-grade studio effects
  • Integrated step sequencer
  • Hundreds of presets and intelligent randomizer
Read full description

TB Flowtones Virtual Analog Synthesizer app and AUv3 plug-in Thanks to it's true VA synthesis engine, the use of analog-modelled non-linear filters and extensive modulation options, Flowtones sounds warmer and more analog than digital romplers and wavetable-based synths. TB Flowtones comes as stand-alone app as well as AUv3 plugin. True virtual analog synthesis features: - 4 VCO architecture (two voice layers with two VCOs each) - 4 synthesis engine types, in part modelled after famous analog synthesisers - 36 analog VCO waveforms featuring all classic waveforms and more - All VCO waveforms support pulse width modulation - Full stereo and mono unison modes for each VCO independently - Noise and subharmonic oscillators for each VCO - Unique ring and self-modulation matrix - High-quality, warm, non-linear filters (VCF) with over 30 filter types, including unique multi-resonance filters Modulation features: - Four LFOs with 30 waveforms each - LFOs can modulate other LFOs, including themselves! - Three additional envelope generators, with key velocity modulation - Quick access to modulation strengths through context menus - Hundreds of modulation signal paths available - LFOs can produce noise as waveform to randomly modulate other parameters; for example to simulate slight variations in analog filter parameters as they happen in analog circuits. Pro-grade effects - Studio-quality reverb, delay, and chorus effects - Unique formant filter to add vocal character - Analog and digital distortion / bit crushing effects - Master equaliser and peak limiter for final touch - Non-linear power supply simulation for authentic interaction between notes Step sequencer - Fully integrated, intuitive step sequencer - Can trigger chords and note series / phrases - Can run asynchronously or synchronously to the host - Smart copy/paste of note series to improve workflow - Smart zoom: edit fine details while keeping an overview over the full sequence Presets and intelligent randomizer - Flowtones comes with hundreds of presets to spark your creativity - Intelligent randomizer to explore endless sound synthesis possibilities What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.

Screenshots

Tap Delay4 screens
TB Flowtones4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tap Delay at $1.99 against TB Flowtones's $9.99. Tap Delay also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). TB Flowtones's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 29 months). On review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Tap Delay costs $1.99 and TB Flowtones $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TB Flowtones holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Tap Delay's written reviews are positive against 83% of TB Flowtones's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tap Delay ships an update every 29 months, TB Flowtones every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Tap Delay versus TB Flowtones: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTap DelayTB Flowtones
Price$1.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.2 (13 ratings)4.7 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews82.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1339 — better
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry GohsToneBoosters

Customer experience

Tap Delay

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral5.6%
Negative16.7%

TB Flowtones

All ratings39 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral11.4%
Negative5.7%

In-app purchases

None

Tap Delay

No in-app purchases

None

TB Flowtones

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tap Delay free?
Tap Delay costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TB Flowtones free?
TB Flowtones costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tap Delay or TB Flowtones?
TB Flowtones is rated higher. Tap Delay averages 4.2 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while TB Flowtones averages 4.7 from 39 ratings.
Do Tap Delay or TB Flowtones have ads?
Neither Tap Delay nor TB Flowtones shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tap Delay or TB Flowtones?
Tap Delay ships an update every 29 months, and TB Flowtones every 3 months. Most recently, Tap Delay was updated on September 30, 2026 and TB Flowtones on September 30, 2026.

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