S vs Reel Recorder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
S
This semi-modular synthesizer app for iPad offers a hands-on sound design experience with a single-screen interface for intuitive patching. It delivers a warm, vintage sound inspired by 1970s synthesizers, featuring dual oscillators, resonant filters, and multiple modulation sources.
- Single-screen interface
- Fast, hands-on patching
- Vintage 1970s synth sound
- Dual oscillators
- Resonant ladder filter
- Multiple modulation sources
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S-Modular is a semi-modular synthesiser for iPad, designed for fast, hands-on patching without clutter. Everything is presented on a single screen, making sound design immediate and intuitive. Simply drag from one jack to another to create connections. S-Modular delivers a distinctive vintage sound inspired by classic 1970s synthesis — warm, rich, and full of character. Features Dual oscillators 24 dB/oct ladder filter Resonant high-pass and low-pass filters Two LFOs Four-step CV sequencer Four-track mixer Audio and CV splitter Two AHR envelope generators Delay effect
Reel Recorder
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Reel Recorder brings the tactile experience of a vintage tape recorder to your iPhone. SPIN THE REEL Drag the reel with your finger to scrub through recordings — forward and reverse. The audio plays at your finger's speed, just like real tape. RECORD & PLAY One-tap recording with real-time level metering. Play back with variable-speed FF/REW slider. DESIGNED LIKE HARDWARE Brushed aluminum body, OLED display, physical-style buttons with haptic feedback. Every detail crafted to feel like a real device. FREE & PRO The free version may show a small banner below the recorder after applicable advertising consent. Pro removes ads and adds unlimited recordings, FF/REW up to 8x speed, custom skip intervals, and 24-bit / 48kHz high-quality audio.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Reel Recorder at Free against S's $2.99. Reel Recorder also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). S's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown).
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Reel Recorder is free to download; S costs $2.99 up front. Reel Recorder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. S asks for nothing beyond the download.
S ships an update every 7 months, Reel Recorder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | S | Reel Recorder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.6 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Paul Betowski | seunghyun cho |
In-app purchases
S
No in-app purchases
Reel Recorder
- Reel Recorder Pro$2.99









