Black Distortion vs jAmp 8100
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Black Distortion
This audio plugin emulates a classic distortion pedal, offering versatile gain levels from mild overdrive to fuzzy tones. It features a unique filter control to shape high-end frequencies and a volume control for perfect integration with your existing sound. Use it as a primary distortion, a dirty channel for amplifiers, or a boost for solos.
- RAT2 distortion pedal emulation
- Adjustable gain from overdrive to fuzz
- Legendary filter control for treble shaping
- Volume control for clean tone matching
- Standalone, AudioUnit v3, and Inter-App Audio support
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The Black Distortion plugin modeled on RAT2* distortion pedal will be your go-to distortion plugin for every recording, whether it’s rock, blues, punk, or jazz. The beauty of the Black Distortion plugin lies in its versatility. Used as a primary distortion, it excels at arena rock rhythm tones and soaring leads. Do you have an amplifier plugin with too much headroom? Let the Black Distortion plugin be your dirty channel. Maybe you already love your amplifier plugin distortion. Use the Black Distortion plugin as a boost for solos and get the extra kick you need. The Black Distortion plugin features the legendary filter control. Turn it to the right to roll off brittle high-end frequencies. Having trouble cutting through the mix? Turn it to the left and allow the natural brightness of your instrument to shine through. Black Distortion plugin dials in the perfect amount of gain, from mild overdrive to full out fuzzy assault, and the volume control lets you dial it in just perfectly against your bypassed clean tone. Legal Disclaimer: *All product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Nembrini Audio SRL. These product names, descriptions and images are provided for the sole purpose of identifying the specific products that were studied during Nembrini Audio’s sound design process. Works as a standalone app, AudioUnit v3 effect, or Inter-App Audio effect
jAmp 8100
This app digitally emulates a classic 90s solid-state guitar amplifier, offering authentic tones favored by metal bands. It functions as a standalone app or a plugin within DAWs, featuring a noise gate, compressor, and various effects.
- Marshall Valvestate 8100 emulation
- Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
- Noise gate and compressor
- Ibanez Tube Screamer emulation
- Impulse response (IR) loader
- MIDI controller support
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jAmp 8100 represents a digital emulation of the Marshall Valvestate 8100 amplifier, which stood out as one of the most impressive-sounding amplifiers of the 90s. Numerous metal bands showcased this amplifier in their albums, with particularly notable appearances in the works of bands such as Death, Prong, and Static-X. Features: - Standalone, or as a AUv3 plugin in GarageBand, Logic Pro, or other DAW. - Marshall Valvestate 8100 emulation - Noise gate - Compressor - Ibanez Tube Screamer emulation - Pre amp chorus - Five band post amp equalizer - Post amp stereo chorus - Impulse response (IR) loader - MIDI controller support with MIDI learn - Stereo effect - Integrated IRs by forward-audio.com and Valhallir.at The free version allows you to test jAmp 8100 completely, but every minute the amplifier will be silent for 3 seconds. To remove these limits there is a one time in-app purchase. You need an audio interface to connect your instrument to your mobile device. Known audio interface brands are for instance Focusrite or iRig. For iPad you might want to consider using a USB-C hub with power delivery to avoid draining your battery during your jam session, but this is optional. For iPhone you will need to use an adapter that can 1. connect via lightning port to your iPhone 2. connect to your phone charger with USB 3. connect to your audio interface with USB If you have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or similar you can use the lighting to USB 3 camera adapter for this which is easily available in the market. Your iPhone cannot deliver enough power on its own to feed the audio interface, so this adapter with a connection to your phone charger is necessary. If you don't have an audio interface, you can still use the AUv3 plugin in a DAW such as GarageBand or Logic Pro. Any (guitar) sound you have recorded can be fed through the jAmp 8100 audio unit to add solid state distortion or any of the other included effects.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Black Distortion at none against jAmp 8100's 1. Black Distortion also leads on ratings volume (24 vs 6). jAmp 8100's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 61 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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
Both are free to download. jAmp 8100 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Black Distortion asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Black Distortion against 5.0 for jAmp 8100. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 67% positive.
Black Distortion ships an update every 61 months, jAmp 8100 every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Black Distortion | jAmp 8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (24 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 61 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 42 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nembrini Audio | Jan Maes |
Customer experience
Black Distortion
jAmp 8100
In-app purchases
Black Distortion
No in-app purchases
jAmp 8100
- jAmp 8100 Activation$11.99
Questions
Is Black Distortion free?
Is jAmp 8100 free?
Which has better reviews, Black Distortion or jAmp 8100?
Do Black Distortion or jAmp 8100 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Black Distortion or jAmp 8100?
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