Comparison

Sidechain Compressor Plugin vs T.APE

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

Head to head
About

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

This audio plugin enables side-chain compression for music production, creating rhythmic pumping effects. It offers true side-chaining in compatible DAWs and a unique sudo side-chain method for broader compatibility.

Highlights
  • Standard compressor features
  • Real calibrated VU and reduction meters
  • Real-time visual graphing
  • True sidechain in AUM
  • Sudo sidechain with MASTER/SLAVE
  • 3 available busses
  • Mono/Stereo modes
Features
Read full description

This is an AUv3 compatible stereo compressor plugin which is intended for use inside your favourite DAW/HOST such as AUM, Cubasis, Auria, Meteor, AUM or GarageBand etc. So lets start by answering the question what is side chaining?  Side chaining is a technique used in a lot of modern dance music which involves using the volume level of one sound source to control another. You can hear plenty of examples of this in modern Trance/Dubstep music where sound engineers use the impact of a bass drum to duck a sustained string sound, creating space in the mix. This can be heard as a rythmic pumping sound which gives your music drive and energy. This compressor is quite unique since it was designed to get around the limitations of AUv3 plugins on iOS and the lack of multi-audio routing inside DAW apps. Until recently it wasn't possible to do true side chaining using AUv3, but now AUM has recently integrated support for multiple inputs and outputs per AUv3 plugin, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. This is great for AUM users, but this still leaves users of other DAW's in the dark. This is where this app has you covered as it provides a method of sudo side-chaining by allowing you to attach two instances of this plugin to multiple sources and route audio between them to achieve a sudo sidechain. This works by ensuring two instances of the plugin are loaded as insert effects, one being the MASTER and the other a SLAVE. The slave sends audio to the master by means of one of 3 available busses. True side chaining can be achieved in AUM. Simple set the SideChain Mode to 'Normal' and install an instance of the plugin on the channel you want to control. Then using the new 'Multiple Audio Unit Instances' option in AUM you can add a redirection of the controlling source to send to the same bus the plugin is listening to. It's that simple. In this case you need to set both instances to either Bus 2 or 3, since Bus 1 is the original audio. Features: ○ Standard Compressor features. ○ Real calibrated VU and reduction meters ○ Real-time visual graphing of parameters. ○ Real sidechain in AUM. ○ Sudo side chain using MASTER and SLAVE for others. ○ 3 available busses. ○ Mono / Stereo modes. ○ Integrated help.

About

T.APE

This app offers a retro-inspired multitrack recorder that mimics the feel of working with tape. It allows musicians to record up to four stereo tracks, layer ideas, and export projects with a vintage aesthetic and modern flexibility.

Highlights
  • 4-track stereo recording
  • Per-track volume, pan, solo & mute
  • Real-time tape-style playback
  • Drag-to-scrub functionality
  • Project title and notes
  • Timeline view with waveform editor
  • Loop-friendly layering
Features
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T.APE – A Retro-Inspired Multitrack Recorder with a Modern Soul Step into the world of T.APE: a multitrack recording app that feels like working with tape—but in your pocket. Built for musicians, producers, and sound explorers, T.APE combines the warmth and immediacy of vintage cassette workflows with the flexibility of modern digital tools. Record up to four stereo tracks, layer your ideas, trim and bounce your takes, and take notes of your new project. Whether you're sketching demos, building experimental textures, or capturing spontaneous moments, T.APE gives you a fast and tactile way to create—without distractions. Key Features: - 4-track stereo recording with offline bounce - Per-track volume, pan, solo & mute - Real-time tape-style playback with drag-to-scrub - Give your project a title and save your notes too - Timeline view with waveform editor - Loop-friendly and made for layering ideas - Project export and import with all track settings - Vintage tape aesthetic with modern reliability T.APE doesn’t try to replace your DAW—it complements it. Perfect for quick takes, sound journaling, or lo-fi experiments on the go. For first-time users: T.APE lets you record multitrack audio just like an old-school tape recorder. To record over existing tracks in real time, you’ll need to use headphones. We recommend using original Apple wired headphones for the best results. Before you start, it’s also a good idea to fine-tune the app’s internal latency. To access the latency settings, tap the spinning reel icon at the top (it rotates during playback, like a tape spindle). Then swipe vertically to adjust the latency. On an iPhone 14 Pro, a value around 220 ms is usually ideal. Note: the system-calculated value doesn’t include your device’s final output latency. We’re working on a more advanced latency calibration system for future updates. To record at a specific point in your project, simply scrub forward or backward, press pause, arm the track, and start recording. If you have any questions or need help, feel free to reach out!

Screenshots

Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens
T.APE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: T.APE at 5.0 against Sidechain Compressor Plugin's 3.6. T.APE also leads on update cadence (every 16 months vs every 67 months) and price ($3.99 vs $5.99). Sidechain Compressor Plugin's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99 and T.APE $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

T.APE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidechain Compressor Plugin has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, T.APE every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sidechain Compressor Plugin versus T.APE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidechain Compressor PluginT.APE
Price$5.99$3.99 — better
Rating3.6 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 67 monthsEvery 16 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comPaolo Giorgi

Customer experience

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%

T.APE

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

T.APE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is T.APE free?
T.APE costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or T.APE?
T.APE is rated higher. Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while T.APE averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Sidechain Compressor Plugin or T.APE have ads?
Neither Sidechain Compressor Plugin nor T.APE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidechain Compressor Plugin or T.APE?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin ships an update every 67 months, and T.APE every 16 months. Most recently, Sidechain Compressor Plugin was updated on November 4, 2026 and T.APE on October 30, 2026.

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