Comparison

SpaceFields vs MIDI Tape Recorder

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

Head to head
About

SpaceFields

Create evolving rhythmic soundscapes from any audio source. This app uses a loop-based system with dual loops, pitch shifting, and effects to generate ambient textures and rhythmic structures. Experiment with complex sound design using intuitive controls and randomization.

Highlights
  • Loop-based sound mangling
  • Dual loop recorder
  • Pitch shifting and effects
  • Convolution reverb with deep spaces
  • Rhythmic structure generation
  • Automation generators with randomization
  • Live and sample processing modes
Features
Read full description

Loop-based mangler effect to create slowly changing rhythmic sound structures in deep reverb space from any external sources or samples. Great for experimenting and designing ambient and noise backgrounds with rhythmic elements. The principle of the application is quite simple. It is based on a loop recorder with two loops. When one loop is recorded, the second is played back. When the loop recording stops, there is a smooth transition between them. Three separate outputs can playback the recorded loop with different pitches (speeds), each with its own effects and two automation generators. The mix of these outputs is fed to the convolution reverb. The reverb is packed with a set of long and deep sound spaces that create a blurry and ambient sound. But the main feature of this application is its well designed parameters that make it easy to experiment with a huge number of sound options using any source material from live instruments to synthesized sound. With just two parameters you can add complex rhythmic structures based on Euclidean rhythms, and easy-to-use automation generators with a randomize option to add variations to the sound, allowing you to modify parameters like an LFO or based on a given rhythm. The convolution reverb has advanced options with which you can change and extend the original reverb spaces. Even using the randomization options, in almost every case, you will get interesting and various soundscapes and textures. With these options it is very easy to create the basis for new unique presets. It only takes a little tweaking of some parameters to get impressive results. The loop recorder can be started and stopped manually or by input signal, can use fixed length or overwrite the loop while recording, and has the option for crossfade between the end and the beginning of the loop. All this makes it convenient for live use as well as when processing recorded material. As an extended option, you can use a special mode in which the application works as a direct effect, without the loop recorder. The special mode sampler is designed for quickly load samples and easy control of the application when used it live. This panel contains the input and output controls, essential controls of the loop recorder, and a large area with a recording counter, which is also used to start/stop the recorder. You can assign up to nine samples for fast loading into the loop, as well as save a recorded loop as a sample and to an external file. SpaceFields is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). SpaceFields works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, with supports Audiobus host app. On MacOS, SpaceFields can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option), audio unit parameters and importing samples from any directory on device. SpaceFields has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. Demos and previews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL1Dis3u0AQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkWkc5I0uE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74LyfDM2dQM You can find more information on SpaceFields and other creative audio apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

About

MIDI Tape Recorder

This app offers a unique approach to MIDI recording, capturing performances with audio-like precision. It focuses on preserving the nuances of your playing without altering timing, ideal for expressive MPE performances. Simple controls make it fun to record, play back, and loop MIDI.

Highlights
  • Sample accurate MIDI recording
  • MPE support
  • Four independent MIDI tracks
  • Overdub and punch-in recording
  • MIDI file import/export
  • Undo/redo functionality
Features
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MIDI Tape Recorder takes a radically different approach to MIDI recording. Now in version 2.0, it runs both as an Audio Unit v3 plugin inside your favorite host and as a standalone app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. MIDI messages are recorded and played back with the same accuracy and precision as audio recordings. Most modern DAWs, even at their highest resolution, still change the timing of MIDI messages to accommodate their editing features. These changes impact the playback of your performance as MIDI messages get reordered and delayed, altering how they influence sound, sometimes in very significant ways. MIDI Tape Recorder records your performance exactly as you play it, just like an audio recorder, accurately reproducing every nuance. It purposefully has no MIDI note editing, no quantization, no individual CC tweaking, nothing you wouldn't do with audio. Instead, very expressive and ultra-dense MIDI streams are perfectly stored and reproduced. It excels at capturing and playing back expressive performances with MPE controllers and MPE plugins. The controls are purposefully simple and intuitive, like a traditional four-track tape recorder, making it fun to record, play back, and loop your MIDI performance. Even with non-MPE MIDI, it keeps you in the flow and creative, without being interrupted by the technical nature of most DAWs. New in the standalone app: run MIDI Tape Recorder on its own, with CoreMIDI input and output to route your performance to any of your MIDI apps, synths, and hardware. Sessions are autosaved and can be saved, opened, and shared as documents. Recording keeps running in the background and with the screen locked, so you never lose a take. MIDI Tape Recorder makes no sound on its own: as a plugin it records inside your host; as a standalone app it routes MIDI to your instruments. Features: • Runs as an AUv3 plugin or as a standalone app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Four independent tracks for recording MIDI channel voice messages • Sample-accurate MIDI recording and playback • Real-time display of active recorded notes and other received messages • Full MPE support • Continuous loop recording that re-records over the loop on each cycle instead of stopping at the loop end • Multi-level undo and redo • Overdub recording, with punch-in/punch-out for automated regional overdubbing • CoreMIDI input and output routing in the standalone app • Autosaved, shareable session documents in the standalone app • Background and screen-locked recording in the standalone app • Automated storage and recall of all recordings inside the AUv3 host project • MIDI file import and export, for the whole project or each individual track • Repeated playback with start and stop locators • AUv3 parameters for all controls • Snap-to-beat positioning for the playhead and locators • Per-track MPE configuration (MCM) detection and envoy • Host transport and host tempo sync • Clear all recordings or a single track, and crop the session to a new duration • Fully resizable UI with per-track input/output activity indicators • Optional per-track record enable, input monitoring, and mute • Four virtual MIDI cable inputs, with optional routing of the first cable to all tracks • AUv3 user presets when the host supports them • Open source, freely distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

Screenshots

SpaceFields4 screens
MIDI Tape Recorder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MIDI Tape Recorder at every 2 weeks against SpaceFields's every 2 months. MIDI Tape Recorder also leads on price ($9.99 vs $10.99). SpaceFields's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

SpaceFields costs $10.99 and MIDI Tape Recorder $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SpaceFields against 4.7 for MIDI Tape Recorder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 62 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of SpaceFields's written reviews are positive against 79% of MIDI Tape Recorder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpaceFields ships an update every 2 months, MIDI Tape Recorder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SpaceFields versus MIDI Tape Recorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpaceFieldsMIDI Tape Recorder
Price$10.99$9.99 — better
Rating4.7 (47 ratings)4.7 (62 ratings)
Positive reviews90.5% of reviews — better79.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4762 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.4 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIgor VasilievUwyn, LLC

Customer experience

SpaceFields

All ratings47 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%

MIDI Tape Recorder

All ratings62 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive79.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative14.7%

In-app purchases

None

SpaceFields

No in-app purchases

None

MIDI Tape Recorder

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SpaceFields free?
SpaceFields costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MIDI Tape Recorder free?
MIDI Tape Recorder costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SpaceFields or MIDI Tape Recorder?
SpaceFields and MIDI Tape Recorder are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 47 and 62 ratings respectively.
Do SpaceFields or MIDI Tape Recorder have ads?
Neither SpaceFields nor MIDI Tape Recorder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SpaceFields or MIDI Tape Recorder?
SpaceFields ships an update every 2 months, and MIDI Tape Recorder every 2 weeks. Most recently, SpaceFields was updated on October 15, 2026 and MIDI Tape Recorder on October 17, 2026.

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