Comparison

RF vs apeMatrix

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

Head to head
About

RF

This app offers a versatile collection of algorithmic reverbs for creating diverse soundscapes, from intimate rooms to expansive modulated spaces. It features multiple reverb programs, extensive tweakable controls, and seamless integration with various audio hosts and interfaces.

Highlights
  • Multiple reverb programs
  • Continuously variable size
  • Variable pre-delay
  • Diffusion and damping controls
  • Modulation section
  • AudioUnitV3, Inter-App Audio, Audiobus support
Features
Read full description

RF-1 - Algorithmic Reverb (AU, AB, IAA, Standalone) RF-1 is a collection of algorithmic reverbs capable of creating a variety of effects ranging from small rooms to huge, heavily modulated spaces and everything in between. RF-1 comes packed with multiple reverb algortihms, a solid standalone application, carfully tuned factory presets and a plethora of tweak-able controls. What's more, RF-1 integrates with everything from AudioUnit Hosts over Audiobus to Inter-App Audio, Guitar- and USB Interfaces. Features: * 5 unique reverb programs (see below) * Continuously variable size * Variable pre-delay * Diffusion control * Damping control * Width control * High- and Low shelves (+/- 6db pre effect) * Mod section with depth and speed controls (Sine LFO 0.01hz to 5.0hz) Programs: 1. Hall Clean and bright sounding space with subtile modulation and gradually building density. 2. Plate Dark, highly diffused sound with high initial echo density and dark modulation. 3. EnsembleVerb Capable of huge, wide spaces with deep modulation. 4. TremoloVerb Large, bright and always moving with amplitude modulation at the output. 5. VintageVerb Dark, noisy and wonderfull sounding reverb modeled after the first digital reverbs from the late 70s. (10khz bandwidth / 12bit processing) Connectivity: * AudioUnitV3 Effect * Inter-App Audio Effect * Audiobus (Filter) * Ableton Link * USB Audio Interface (Standalone) * Guitar Interface (Standalone) * Microphone (Standalone)

About

apeMatrix

This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
  • MIDI and audio routing
  • Control Manager for parameter modulation
  • Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting
  • MIDI Patch-bay for routing
  • High-quality audio processing
Features
Read full description

Holding true to the standard of apeSoft, apeMatrix continues to push the limits of possibilities in music creation. Automating almost every aspect of linked control, apeMatrix brings all your creation tools together and links them both in MIDI and audio. Letting you inject all your favorite FX both AU and IAA in a very easy and intuitive way. apeMatrix can also assign its Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). apeMatrix offers 10 slots on each of the three Matrix grids with 2 bus slots on each grid that make it possible to interconnect all 3 Matrix. The MIDI Patch-bay also offers endless possibilities for MIDI routing and control in a similar grid design for both internal and external MIDI control. So you can send and receive MIDI and have ultimate control over where it’s routed. Each Audio Connection on the grid has its own gain control. Just tap on the node and drag will give you the full range of volume control. Or use Mixer to controls the RAU output and automate them using apeSoft’s unique Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). Turn each slot on or off by a control switch on the Matrix or MIDI control. Control output, pan, mute and solo of each slot and Master output of each Matrix with the built in mixer control or MIDI control. Route your sounds through all a series of FX or route multiple sounds through the very some FX. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. FEATURES High quality audio up to 32-bit 96kHz Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio Supports multi-channel inputs/outputs audio interfaces Supports Audio Unit Multi-bus input/output (side-chaining) 3 Matrix Audio 3 MIDI Matrix 10 Open Slots per Matrix (hosts up to 30 plugins) 2 Audio Bus Slots per Matrix 2 MIDI Bus Slots per Matrix MIDI Monitor Multi-Channel Audio Route AudioUnit Audio Send Receive Buses MIDI Scale Filtering, Transpose etc… Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all Built-In Parameters Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins) Presets Manager and Morphing Pad Save Custom AUv3 Presets Session Saving/Load Save/Load View’s Frame in Presets Transport to sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA Integrated and configurable MIDI keyboard with scales Connections output and panning controls Post Dynamic Processor Audiobus and Inter-Audio App (Sender and Fx) Audiobus state saving Ableton Link Precise MIDI Clock In/Out AudioShare Compatible AudioCopy Compatible MIDI Manager: Virtual Midi and Network, 14 bit NRPN controllers File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy etc… Variable Sampling Rate (up to 96 kHz) Variable Buffering Size Variable UI Color Schemes BUILT-IN AUv3 (compatibles with other audio hosts) Configurable Sampler with scrub, playable via MIDI V-Meters Oscilloscope/Spectralscope Sender/Receiver (up to 16 buses) Send MIDI messages with LFO Gain/Pan

Screenshots

RF3 screens
apeMatrix4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RF at $2.99 against apeMatrix's $14.99. RF also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). apeMatrix's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (84 vs 12). On rating, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

RF costs $2.99 and apeMatrix $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for RF against 4.7 for apeMatrix. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: apeMatrix has 84 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of RF's written reviews are positive against 73% of apeMatrix's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RF ships an update every 8 months, apeMatrix monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RF versus apeMatrix: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRFapeMatrix
Price$2.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.6 (12 ratings)4.7 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1284 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasapeSoft

Customer experience

RF

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

apeMatrix

All ratings84 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative15.2%

In-app purchases

None

RF

No in-app purchases

None

apeMatrix

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RF free?
RF costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is apeMatrix free?
apeMatrix costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RF or apeMatrix?
apeMatrix is rated higher. RF averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while apeMatrix averages 4.7 from 84 ratings.
Do RF or apeMatrix have ads?
Neither RF nor apeMatrix shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RF or apeMatrix?
RF ships an update every 8 months, and apeMatrix monthly. Most recently, RF was updated on October 26, 2026 and apeMatrix on October 24, 2026.

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