Comparison

RE vs TfxEcho

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

Head to head
About

RE

This app is a versatile virtual tape machine offering authentic tape echo and chorus effects. It also functions as a sampler, looper, and overdubbing tool, allowing for creative audio manipulation and real-time performance.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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+

About

TfxEcho

This audio plugin offers a warm, dark echo effect inspired by analog delay units. It allows for adjustable delay times, feedback, and filters, with modulation capabilities and tempo syncing. The plugin captures high-frequency signals for a versatile sound.

Highlights
  • Echo and delay effect
  • BBD-inspired delay lines
  • Adjustable delay time (20-1200 ms)
  • Feedback control (0-100%)
  • Low-pass and high-pass filters
  • Modulation rate and width
  • Tempo sync
Features
Read full description

TfxEcho is an echo effect AudioUnit Extension plugin. It uses delay lines which are inspired by BBD (bucket brigade device). BBD is used in various analog delay unit and is known for its warm and dark sound. The delay line uses fixed length buffer and an artificial clock to sample input signal in variable sampling rate. When the delay time is changed, the delay line can produce pitch change effect which is similar to the behavior of the BBD based analog delay unit. The delay line is inspired by BBD, but it is not emulation of the any particular BBD. Unlike the typical BBD based delay unit, frequency range of the delay line is not limited. The delay line is capable to capture signal in higher frequency up to about 22KHz. Features AudioUnit Extension - Delay Time: From 20 ms to 1200 ms - Feedback: From 0 % to 100 % - Adjustable lowpass filter and high-pass filter. - Modulation rate: From 0.01 Hz to 10 Hz - Modulation width: From 0 ms to +/- 10 ms - Delay time can be synced to tempo provided by the host application. Host Application Host application uses system audio input as an audio source and processed audio signal is routed to the system audio output.

Screenshots

RE3 screens
TfxEcho2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TfxEcho at $4.99 against RE's $9.99. TfxEcho also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 65%). RE's advantage is ratings volume (132 vs 12) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On rating, update cadence, 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

RE costs $9.99 and TfxEcho $4.99 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 — 4.7 for RE against 4.7 for TfxEcho. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RE has 132 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of RE's written reviews are positive against 80% of TfxEcho's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
RE versus TfxEcho: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRETfxEcho
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.7 (132 ratings)4.7 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews64.9% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings132 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#194 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.5
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasRyo Togawa

Customer experience

RE

All ratings132 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral4.5%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive64.9%
Neutral16.2%
Negative18.9%

TfxEcho

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

RE

No in-app purchases

None

TfxEcho

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RE free?
RE costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TfxEcho free?
TfxEcho costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RE or TfxEcho?
RE and TfxEcho are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 132 and 12 ratings respectively.
Do RE or TfxEcho have ads?
Neither RE nor TfxEcho shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RE or TfxEcho?
RE ships an update every 3 months, and TfxEcho every 3 months. Most recently, RE was updated on October 14, 2026 and TfxEcho on October 7, 2026.

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