The Manetron vs Lines
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Manetron
Experience authentic vintage tape keyboard sounds with realistic tape running animations. This app offers a collection of sampled instruments from a classic 70s model, complete with motor noise and built-in effects for a unique musical creation tool.
- Authentic 70s tape sampling sounds
- Internal mechanism tape running animation
- Motor noise and mechanical sound effects
- 6 preset instrument sounds
- Core MIDI and Core Audio compatible
- Built-in Reverb & Delay effects
- Scrollable keyboard with adjustable width
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"The Manetron" is the vintage tape sampling keyboard App for iPhone/iPad/Apple Silicon Mac. Genuine sound sampled from the most famous white body tape sampling keyboard model number of M400S (serial number 419 & 728) manufactured in the 70's. You can see an internal mechanism (tape running animation) and can enjoy with eyes and an ear. Feel the live experience the motor noise mechanical sounds were recorded. Features: - 6 preset sound including Flute, 3violins (Strings), Cello, 8-voice Choir, Brass, Bungalow Bill ( Intro sound of The Beatles song "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill") - 35Kyes of sampled sounds from the M400S serial number 419 & 728 manufactured in the 70's. - Core MIDI compatible - Core Audio compatible - 8 sec PCM full sampling sounds each Key - Scrollable Keyboard with switchable key width - No loop sounds (real performance feeling) - 6 instrument sounds can be set as the favorite position of A,B,C position on setting screen - A+B, B+C mix sounds position - Built-in Reverb & Delay effects - The sound of motor mechanical noise - Tape running animation - Pitch control - Original sounds source are recorded by 96KHz/24 bits - Compiled under the supervision of Ken Miyajima (Kinzoku-Yebis, Damian Hamada's Creatures, Romanesco)
Lines
This audio effect plugin transforms any signal into a wide spectrum of sounds, from lo-fi to distortion and feedback. It can also function as an experimental synthesizer, creating rhythms and soundscapes even without input.
- Creative signal mangling
- Experimental synthesizer
- Feedback-based sound design
- Wide range of audio effects
- Rhythm and soundscape generation
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Lines is an effect plugin that crosses borders: it can be used as a creative mangler of all kinds of signals, ranging from lo-fi telephone sounds, lush phasing, warm distortions, crushing feedback, ring modulation and unique frequency shifting. But even without any input, it can be an experimental synthesizer based on feedback, allowing for a wide range of inspiring rhythms, pulses, and organic soundscapes. If you combine input and internal engines an unheard spectrum of sounds appears.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lines at 100% against The Manetron's 50%. Lines also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). The Manetron's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $19.99) and chart position (#138 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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
The Manetron costs $3.99 and Lines $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Lines holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of The Manetron's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lines's.
The Manetron ships an update every 7 months, Lines every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Manetron | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 11 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months — better | Every 13 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #138 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 150 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | insideout ltd. | AudioThing Ltd. |
Customer experience
The Manetron
Lines
In-app purchases
The Manetron
No in-app purchases
Lines
No in-app purchases









