Comparison

Gauss Field Looper vs Replicant 3

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

Head to head
About

Gauss Field Looper

This app brings the art of tape looping to mobile devices, allowing you to create evolving sonic textures. Adjust tape speed and direction, overdub, and even use a built-in sequencer for rhythmic tape-speed changes. It mimics the behavior of magnetic tape for a unique creative experience.

Highlights
  • Standalone field recorder
  • Audio Unit effect plugin (AUv3)
  • Variable tape speed and direction
  • 4-step polyrhythmic sequencer
  • Overdub functionality
  • Multi-mode filter with LFO
  • Delay effect with host sync
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Co-designed with Berlin-based electronic musician Hainbach, Gauss brings the oldschool tape-looping art form to mobile devices. This creative field looper works both standalone and as an Audio Unit effect plugin and puts the possibilities of using looped tapes in your hands. Without the need for scissors. Like real tape loops Gauss takes you off the grid of your DAW: you can adjust tape speed and direction, even during recording. The flow of your loops will drift organically as the tape follows its own cyclical timeline.  Use overdub, or even multiple instances of the Audio Unit plugin, to create multi-layered ever changing sonic palettes. We want this app to be a celebration of digital audio technology, so when audio quality is degraded it will do so in a pleasingly crunchy digital way. For example, recording on low tape speeds will give you longer recording time, but at the cost (or pleasure) of a distinctively lower recording quality. So Gauss mimics the behaviour - not the sound - of magnetic tape. Set the length of the tape, record and overdub your audio, play around with tape speeds; Gauss captures the essence of two ends of tape stuck together in all its unsynchronised, free-running glory. There's even a unique built-in 4-step polyrhythmic sequencer for sequencing tape-speed changes. - designed as a standalone field recorder and an Audio Unit effect plugin (AUv3) in one package - universal app: plugin and standalone work on all iDevices, iOS11 and higher - variable tape speed; seamlessly change direction and speed during playback or recording - 4-step sequencer lets you trigger (polyrhythmic) tape-speed changes in sync with your host tempo - variable inertia for the tape drive motors (from instant to very slow speed changes) - built-in multi-mode filter with LFO modulation - delay effect with optional host-sync mode - “1989” mode uses a special 8 bit/11KHz tape head for a last-century vintage digital sound - 45 seconds maximum loop size at 1x speed, proportionally longer at lower speeds (.e.g 90 seconds at half speed, etc.) - overdub at any speed or tape direction - plugin supports global cross-host preset handling (requires iOS13+, compatible AUv3 host) Find the user manual at ruismaker.com

About

Replicant 3

This real-time audio effect processor captures, loops, and mangles audio on the fly. It offers advanced sequencing with per-step probability and direction, alongside four distinct slice effects for creative sound design. Control dynamics with envelope crossfading and trigger slices manually or via MIDI.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio slicing and mangling
  • Advanced step sequencer (3-16 steps)
  • Four distinct slice effects (Stutter, Delay, Redukt, Ring Mod)
  • Envelope crossfading for dynamic control
  • Manual and MIDI triggering
  • Intuitive visual step sequencer interface
  • AUv3 compatible
Read full description

Replicant 3 is a real-time audio slicing and mangling effect, the third generation of the plugin that started the genre in 2007. Feed it any audio and Replicant's sequencer captures, loops, reverses, and re-slices it on the fly, layering in delay, filtering, panning, ring modulation, and bit-crushing to turn predictable tracks into something unpredictable. Version 3 is a ground-up rebuild with an all-new sequencer engine, expanded effects, and a redesigned interface that makes programming complex slice patterns fast and intuitive. SEQUENCER ENGINE Program 3 to 16 steps per measure with multiple step-size modes, from dotted notes through nontuplets. Build rhythmic patterns that go well beyond straight time. Per-step probability, direction (forward or reverse), and effect routing let you create patterns that evolve and surprise. FOUR SLICE EFFECTS The original Stutter capture-and-repeat is joined by three new modes. Delay adds rhythmic echoes to sliced audio. Redukt applies bit-crushing and sample-rate reduction for lo-fi destruction. Ring Mod adds metallic, inharmonic tonal coloring to any slice event. ENVELOPE CROSSFADING Smooth transitions or hard-gated rhythmic chops on every slice event. Control the attack and release shape of each captured buffer for precise dynamic control. MANUAL AND MIDI TRIGGER Bypass the sequencer entirely and fire slices on demand. Manual trigger mode works with touchscreens for live performance. MIDI trigger lets you drive Replicant from a controller, keyboard, or DAW automation. REDESIGNED INTERFACE A visual step sequencer puts your entire pattern on screen at once. Edit steps, assign effects, set probabilities, and adjust parameters without menu-diving. CROSS-PLATFORM PRESETS XML-based preset manager with presets compatible across all Audio Damage plugin formats and operating systems. SOUND DESIGN IDEAS Sequence stuttering vocal chops with per-step filter sweeps. Build glitched-out drum fills by randomizing slice direction and bit-crushing depth. Layer ring modulation on sustained pads for metallic, evolving textures. Use MIDI trigger mode to fire slices manually in a live set. Program polyrhythmic slice patterns with odd step counts against 4/4 time. Run full mixes through Replicant on a bus for controlled chaos breakdowns. AUv3 compatible. Runs standalone or hosted in AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, Cubasis, GarageBand, and other AUv3 hosts on iOS 11 or newer. From Audio Damage, making creative software for discerning musicians since 2002.

Screenshots

Gauss Field Looper3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Gauss Field Looper at 4.7 against Replicant 3's 4.0. Gauss Field Looper also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (115 vs 4). Replicant 3's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $6.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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

Gauss Field Looper costs $6.99 and Replicant 3 $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Gauss Field Looper holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gauss Field Looper has 115 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Gauss Field Looper's written reviews are positive against 67% of Replicant 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gauss Field Looper ships an update every 4 months, Replicant 3 every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Gauss Field Looper versus Replicant 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGauss Field LooperReplicant 3
Price$6.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.7 (115 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings115 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 18 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBram BosAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Gauss Field Looper

All ratings115 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative9.5%

Replicant 3

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Gauss Field Looper

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes or GUI disappears when external audio input connected
  • Bluetooth headphones not working
  • USB audio interface not recognized
  • Audio signal cuts when external output plugged in
  • Playback stops when screensaver activates
Show 6 more
  • App not visible in AUM or Audiobus despite installation
  • No audio output on some iOS versions
  • iCloud sync not working between devices
  • Harsh feedback when not using headphones
  • Click sound at end of loop when sync enabled
  • Distortion and artifacts when slowing loops

Requested features

18 requests
  • Host synchronization (start/stop/tempo sync)
  • Longer loop length (90+ seconds in HiFi mode)
  • Sample/audio file import functionality
  • Export loops to Files app or AudioShare
  • AUv3 plugin format support
Show 13 more
  • Multiple simultaneous loops on iPhone
  • MIDI mapping and external MIDI control
  • Metronome or count-in feature
  • Waveform display visualization
  • Fine-tuned pitch adjustment controls
  • Loop trimming and cutting tools
  • VST3 plugin for Windows/DAW integration
  • Monitoring output routing options
  • Audio threshold/compression for field recording
  • Tape type/year variations and grunge control
  • Standalone field recording without DAW
  • Buffer/session saving in plugin mode
  • Sequencer enhancements

Replicant 3

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Gauss Field Looper

No in-app purchases

None

Replicant 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gauss Field Looper free?
Gauss Field Looper costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Replicant 3 free?
Replicant 3 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Gauss Field Looper or Replicant 3?
Gauss Field Looper is rated higher. Gauss Field Looper averages 4.7 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while Replicant 3 averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Gauss Field Looper or Replicant 3 have ads?
Neither Gauss Field Looper nor Replicant 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gauss Field Looper or Replicant 3?
Gauss Field Looper ships an update every 4 months, and Replicant 3 every 18 months. Most recently, Gauss Field Looper was updated on October 29, 2026 and Replicant 3 on October 24, 2026.

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