The Manetron vs Things
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
"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)
Things
This audio plugin offers a unique tilting equalizer effect, allowing users to easily adjust the balance between highs and lows by turning a single knob. It also provides mid/side processing for enhanced stereo depth and adjustable cutoff frequencies.
- Tilting EQ with main knob control
- Mid/side processing for stereo depth
- Adjustable cutoff frequency
- Boost gain control
- Easy-to-use interface
Read full descriptionHide full description
Things Flip EQ is an easy-to-use tilting EQ plugin with mid/side mode. Turn the main knob to the right, and you get more highs and less lows; turn it to the left, and lows are boosted while highs are attenuated. You can choose the cutoff frequency of the EQ with the Cutoff control, or increase the gain of the EQ with the Boost button. Things Flip EQ can also be applied to either the mid or side of a stereo signal to further enhance the stereo depth.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Things at 100% against The Manetron's 50%. Things also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). The Manetron's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 28 months) and price ($3.99 vs $6.99). On ratings volume, 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
The Manetron costs $3.99 and Things $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Things holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of The Manetron's written reviews are positive against 100% of Things's.
The Manetron ships an update every 7 months, Things every 28 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | The Manetron | Things |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (4 ratings) | 4.9 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months — better | Every 28 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 150 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | insideout ltd. | AudioThing Ltd. |
Customer experience
The Manetron
Things
In-app purchases
The Manetron
No in-app purchases
Things
No in-app purchases









