Comparison

Fly Tape 2 vs Needlepoint

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

Head to head
About

Fly Tape 2

This app emulates the sound of vintage cassette tapes, adding textured nuances like noise and hiss to audio signals. It offers extensive control for "on the fly" audio manipulation and can be automated via MIDI CC.

Highlights
  • Vintage cassette tape emulation
  • Textured noise and hiss control
  • On-the-fly audio manipulation
  • MIDI CC automation
  • AUv3 plugin for iOS hosts
Features
Read full description

FlyTape 2 builds on the principles of the original FlyTape. However, FlyTape 2 is a complete rewrite and has been vastly improved in both features and stability. A love of vintage sounds and character is our thing and FlyTape 2 fits this ethos as a unique take on the features of classic tape.  Named for it's style, performance and user improvisation control, it’s FX can be added to incoming audio signals in many ways "on the fly". Sliders for textured nuances such as noise hiss will allow you to dial in tasteful settings reminiscent of cassette tapes. These also can be automated via midi cc for additional modulation. FlyTape 2 installs as an iOS AUv3 plugin effect, designed for use within host apps such as Garageband, Beatmaker 3, Cubasis, Audiobus, and more.

About

Needlepoint

This app simulates the warm, fuzzy sound of vinyl records using advanced physical modeling. It generates realistic turntable noises and artifacts, offering creative control over warped sounds and tempo-synced playback. Additional effects like a compressor and glitchy looper enhance the audio.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling for realistic vinyl sounds
  • Synthesized record detritus and distress
  • Tempo-syncable turntable speed
  • Single-knob compressor with multiple algorithms
  • Broken record looper mode
  • Vinyl spindown and start effect
  • Granular pitch shifter
Features
Read full description

Unfiltered Audio's Needlepoint is now available on iOS as a Standalone app or AUv3 plugin! Unfiltered Audio raises the bar (and lowers the tonearm) with Needlepoint: a revolution in vinyl simulation. Continuing the retro themes of their smashed-up hit lo-fi-af, Needlepoint presents a full platter of advanced physical modeling to dive deep into the warm, fuzzy sound of turntable noises and artifacts beloved by many. Of course, since this is an Unfiltered Audio plugin, you can push the needle far past realism and dive into some seriously warped sounds. While many vinyl plugins are content to use looping samples of noise, Needlepoint uses physical modeling to achieve its incredible sound. Needlepoint synthesizes all sorts and sizes of detritus and distress on a record: hair, dust mites, scratches, warping, etc. These are not randomly modeled, but rather accurately distributed onto a rotating, algorithmic platter. Changing the speed of the record can greatly change the nature of Needlepoint's impact on your sound. While you may be used to vinyl RPMs like 33 1/3, 45, and 78, have you ever wondered what it would sound like to tempo sync a turntable to your DAW? Now you can! Beyond noise, ambience, and tone, Needlepoint includes other effects to fully etch out your vibe. A single knob compressor (inspired by lo-fi-af's PRESS knob with six additional algorithms) can be added before or after the signal chain. This compressor can emulate algorithms from famous hardware samplers associated with vinyl, or even mimic the sound of analog distortion introduced by the vinyl pressing process. A BROKEN mode emulates a broken record a broken record a broken record a broken... Where were we? Oh right, a BROKEN mode acts as an unpredictable looper by jumping the grooves on your recent audio. You can automate the mode's toggle to create all sorts of cut-up and glitchy phrases. No vinyl plugin would be complete without a SPINDOWN button that creates that classic vinyl stop (and start!) sound. Here you can control the rate of the spindown to better fit the effect into your mixes. Finally, at the end of the processing chain, Needlepoint features a granular pitch shifter to help you achieve that chopped up vibe without needing to manually change the speed of your tracks. Despite all of these features, Needlepoint is incredibly easy to use. With a beautiful interface and an extensive set of presets, Needlepoint will help you itch that nostalgic scratch that your tracks need. As an AUv3 plugin, Needlepoint has been tested to work perfectly with Garageband, Drambo, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Loopy Pro, and more! Additionally, with its clear layout and smart resizing, Needlepoint can be used on tablets and phones with ease. (Note for Drambo users: Drambo does not yet have automatic Plugin Delay Compensation for managing plugins with latency. As a result, tracks with Needlepoint will not line up properly with other tracks. An upcoming patch for Drambo will add this feature in.)

Screenshots

Fly Tape 23 screens
Needlepoint4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Needlepoint at 4.8 against Fly Tape 2's 4.4. Needlepoint also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Fly Tape 2's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $9.99) and ratings volume (51 vs 14). On review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Fly Tape 2 costs $5.99 and Needlepoint $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Needlepoint holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 14 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Fly Tape 2's written reviews are positive against 50% of Needlepoint's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fly Tape 2 ships an update every 2 months, Needlepoint fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Fly Tape 2 versus Needlepoint: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFly Tape 2Needlepoint
Price$5.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.4 (51 ratings)4.8 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings51 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMSXII Sound DesignUnfiltered Audio

Customer experience

Fly Tape 2

All ratings50 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral22.2%
Negative22.2%

Needlepoint

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Fly Tape 2

No in-app purchases

None

Needlepoint

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fly Tape 2 free?
Fly Tape 2 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Needlepoint free?
Needlepoint costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fly Tape 2 or Needlepoint?
Needlepoint is rated higher. Fly Tape 2 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Needlepoint averages 4.8 from 14 ratings.
Do Fly Tape 2 or Needlepoint have ads?
Neither Fly Tape 2 nor Needlepoint shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fly Tape 2 or Needlepoint?
Fly Tape 2 ships an update every 2 months, and Needlepoint fortnightly. Most recently, Fly Tape 2 was updated on October 27, 2026 and Needlepoint on October 23, 2026.

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