Tape Pro vs StringLab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tape Pro
This audio effect plugin and app emulates tape machines, adding warmth, distortion, and modulation to your sound. It offers flexible saturation, frequency shaping, and realistic tape noise and delay effects for music production.
- Multi-fx tape emulation
- Flexible saturation module
- Dynamic frequency response modeling
- Realistic tape noise emulation
- Wow and flutter effects
- Analog tape delay emulation
- AUv3 plugin and standalone app
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Tape Pro is a multi-fx tape emulation AUv3 plugin and app that introduces warmth, frequency shaping, modulation, noise and delay. Whether you want to accurately replicate a microcassette tape running at 1.2cm/s, or you want to drive a mastering grade tape machine with strange distortion shapes into a high feedback delay engine, Tape Pro is the plugin for the job. Saturation The saturation module is the first part of the signal chain within Tape Pro. It’s very flexible as it isn’t restricted to the traditional sound of tape and can be used to tune into your desired distortion sound. The module has 5 user parameters: Type, Drive, Asymmetry, Hysteresis and Remanence. The types of saturation on offer are: Tape, Digital, Rectify, Half-Rectify, Sine & Smooth. Response The response module within Tape Pro models the dynamic frequency response of tape. This can bring warmth, presence, or even jarring qualities to your audio - this is entirely subjective of course! The module has 3 user parameters: Type, Low Pass & High Loss. Tape Pro includes the following impulse responses: Cassette Type 1, Cassette Type 2, Cassette Type 4, Worn Copi-Delay, New Copi-Delay, Mod Copi-Delay, Master SA812, Master TM15, Microcassette 1.2cm/s, Microcassette 2.4cm/s, Semi-Pro RB77 7.5ips & Semi-Pro RB77 15ips. Tape Pro also includes Minimum Phase (MP) versions of the IRs listed above (not including the copi-delay versions). If you are using Tape Pro in parallel, on a bus or on a send, we recommend that a minimum phase IR is used. (For more information on this please see the explanation in the manual available from our website). Noise The Noise module applies real, sampled tape noises to the signal chain. The module has 4 user parameters: Type, Pre/Post Delay, Gain & Crosstalk. The noises included are the same as listed above in the response module. Wow & Flutter The Wow and Flutter module emulates the natural irregularities in the physical medium of tape. Wow recreates the low speed fluctuations of tape speed, while Flutter recreates the high speed fluctuations. The modules have 10 parameters in total. Wow: Depth, Sync, Rate, Mod, Sync x2 and Mod Rate. Flutter: Depth, Rate, Mod, Mod Rate. Delay The Delay module is an emulation of an analogue tape delay machine. The module has 11 user parameters: Dry, Wet, Time L, Time R, Feedback L, Feedback R, Portamento, Enable, Initial, Sync and Link. Tape Pro is both a stand-alone application as well as an AUv3 plugin, meaning it works within iOS and iPadOS hosts such as GarageBand.
StringLab
This app is a digital synthesizer that uses physical string modeling to recreate the sounds of various instruments, particularly plucked or hammered strings. It allows users to explore acoustic physics and create unique instrument textures through extensive parameter experimentation.
- Karplus-Strong physical modeling
- Exciter Impact and Noise modes
- Resonator objects with feedback
- Frequency Dispersion support
- External live input
- Preset randomizer and manager
- Drag & Drop preset export
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StringLab is a physical string modeling synthesizer based on Karplus-Strong theory. It is capable of reproducing the sounds of many different types of instruments, but is especially useful in the reproduction of hammered or plucked strings and other types of percussive instruments. It works by passing carefully crafted waveforms and short bursts of white noise through a series of tuned delay lines. The delay lines have an internal feedback loop with a series of filters to mimic the natural decay of harmonics found in a real instrument. StringLab allows you to discover the character of real-world accoustics, exploring the physics of how materials interact. Many new and original textures are born out of experimenting with the settings, so don't be afraid to experiment and create your own unique and dynamic instruments. Features •Karplus Strong based physical modeling. •Exciter Impact with multiple modes. •Exciter Noise with many envelope driven filters. •2 resonator objects with feedback. •8 bands per object with inversion. •4 Coupling modes. •Supports Frequency Dispersion. •Feedback low/high Damping. •Per object Body Filter. •Pitch Deformity. •External live input mode. •Preset randomiser. •Build it Preset Manager & Favourites. •Search Presets. •Drag & Drop preset export of presets. •Supports Color Sets.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Tape Pro at 4.7 against StringLab's 4.3. Tape Pro also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 57%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). StringLab's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly) and price ($6.99 vs $7.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Tape Pro costs $7.99 and StringLab $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Tape Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Tape Pro's written reviews are positive against 57% of StringLab's.
Tape Pro ships an update monthly, StringLab every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tape Pro | StringLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | $6.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better | 4.3 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 57.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 123 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Caelum Audio | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Tape Pro
StringLab
In-app purchases
Tape Pro
No in-app purchases
StringLab
No in-app purchases








