Comparison

Tape Cassette 2 vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

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

Head to head
About

Tape Cassette 2

This audio plugin emulates the warm, noisy, and characteristic sound of vintage tape cassettes. It offers enhanced saturation, a new impulse response, and real sampled tape noise for a more authentic vintage audio experience. It can be used on entire tracks or individual channels for added texture and movement.

Highlights
  • Tape cassette emulation
  • Selectable Type 1 Cassette IR
  • Improved saturation algorithm
  • Real sampled tape noise
  • Adjustable saturation, filters, and noise
  • VU meters and oversampling
  • Stand-alone and AUv3 plugin
Read full description

Tape Cassette 2 is an audio plugin that emulates the warmth, noise and character of old tape cassettes. Following up from our well received Tape Cassette 1, we’ve updated the plugin with a sleek interface and more changes under the hood too. Along with a brand new selectable Type 1 Cassette Impulse Response (IR), we’ve improved the saturation algorithm, wow & flutter engine and implemented real sampled tape noise, all which results in a wonderfully warm and more accurate vintage sound. In addition to this you now have two VU meters to monitor your audio and built in oversampling. You can easily add that classic sound to an entire track, or use directly on individual channels, for added movement, texture and warmth. Alternatively you can take it further than the material limitations of tape and push the parameters into a far more experimental soundscape, as a sound design tool. Parameters: ⁃ Saturation (+/-24dB) ⁃ Low Pass Filter (5 to 22KHz) ⁃ Noise (-80 to 0 dB) ⁃ Wow (0 to 100%) ⁃ Flutter (0 to 100%) - IR (On/Off) - Auto-Gain (On/Off) - Output (+/-24dB) Tape Cassette 2 is both a stand-alone application as well as an AUv3 plugin, meaning it works within iOS and iPadOS hosts such as GarageBand.

About

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

Highlights
  • VHS-recorded and resampled synths
  • Over 280+ presets
  • Standalone app and AUv3 plugin
  • VCR sound effects
  • VCR FX section for customization
  • Free expansion pack included
Features
Read full description

VHS Synth features synths recorded with a VCR, then resampled. Perfect for Synthwave, Hip Hop, Indie, Rock, Movie Soundtracks, Lo-Fi, Ambient, Vaporwave, Retro Pop, and more. Create instant lo-fi and cool retro vibes. Press a key. Elevate your music. Includes over 280+ Presets by Jakob haQ, Red Sky Lullaby, The GarageBand Guide, DJ Puzzle, Sound of Izrael, DJ Montra, Marc Hupkens, AnalogMatthew, JEC, Da Fingaz, Brian Funk, and more. "BEST Lo-Fi instrument I’ve ever played, seriously good sounds!" - The SoundTest Room "VHS Synth is a Retrowave dream!" - iPad Loops "Turns Your iOS Device Into An 80s Time Machine" - Synthtopia Classic Synths were recorded to VHS Tape with a VCR, then re-sampled. "VHS Synth is the ULTIMATE Retro Synth App" - The GarageBand Guide FEATURES: • Standalone app + iOS AUv3 Plugin • Over 280+ presets to inspire you • Compressed to under 140mb to save space • VCR Sound Effects (Buttons, Tape Hiss, More) • VCR FX section to customize the sounds • FREE Expansion Pack: OP-1 recorded with a VCR ++ iPhone & iPad version included for one low price Real analog feel and dirt. Vintage hardware was recorded into a VCR and then re-sampled. Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: - Length: weekly or yearly - Free trial: only on selected subscriptions - Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase - Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms & Conditions: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Terms-Conditions-150cf6557a0880aca270f4f8ccee8d3e?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Terms-Conditions-150cf6557a0880aca270f4f8ccee8d3e?pvs=21) Privacy Policy: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Privacy-Policy-150cf6557a088019bec6ccb33ae5bb09?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Privacy-Policy-150cf6557a088019bec6ccb33ae5bb09?pvs=21) * NOTE: This app has no official affiliation with AudioKit Pro, LLC. It was built using the free AudioKit source code.

Screenshots

Tape Cassette 21 screens
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tape Cassette 2 at 100% against VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's 52%. Tape Cassette 2 also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (135 vs 43). On price 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

Both are free to download. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Tape Cassette 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tape Cassette 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 135 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Tape Cassette 2's written reviews are positive against 52% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tape Cassette 2 ships an update every 14 months, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Tape Cassette 2 versus VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTape Cassette 2VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (43 ratings) — better4.0 (135 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better51.5% of reviews
Number of ratings43135 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.5
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB167 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCaelum AudioAudiobus Pty Ltd

Customer experience

Tape Cassette 2

All ratings43 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

All ratings135 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral5.9%
Negative20.7%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive51.5%
Neutral10.3%
Negative38.1%

Bugs and requests

Tape Cassette 2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
  • App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
  • Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
  • Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
  • Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand
Show 6 more
  • Duplicate track sounds different from original
  • Display shows 'Welcome' instead of loaded patch
  • Thin black keys difficult to hit on keyboard
  • Missing top C key on keyboard
  • Sounds inconsistent when exported from GarageBand
  • App disappears from projects after ownership change

Requested features

7 requests
  • Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
  • Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
  • Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
  • Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
  • Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode
Show 2 more
  • Access to original synth parameters instead of sample-based playback
  • Direct routing to IAA output for FL Studio Mobile

In-app purchases

None

Tape Cassette 2

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Weekly premium$4.997 Days
  • Yearly premium$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Tape Cassette 2 free?
Tape Cassette 2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tape Cassette 2 or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?
Tape Cassette 2 is rated higher. Tape Cassette 2 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 135 ratings.
Do Tape Cassette 2 or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; Tape Cassette 2 does not.
Which is updated more often, Tape Cassette 2 or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?
Tape Cassette 2 ships an update every 14 months, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, Tape Cassette 2 was updated on October 31, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on October 30, 2026.

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