Comparison

TOPLAPapp vs M8 Music Tracker

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

Head to head
About

TOPLAPapp

This app offers a unique sonic puzzle experience using a virtual machine for sound synthesis. Users control the machine by placing command letters and adjusting parameter sliders to generate experimental, often noisy, electronic music.

Highlights
  • Virtual machine for sound synthesis
  • Instruction-based sound generation
  • Parameter sliders for sound control
  • Grid-based command placement
  • Experimental sonic art focus
  • Live coding principles
Features
Read full description

TOPLAPapp is a sonic puzzle based around a virtual machine for sound synthesis. This machine accepts a few valid instructions represented by the letters T, O, P, L, A, and p, and you control it by placing each command letter within a grid, along with setting some associated parameter sliders. The machine rushes through the instruction set to create output sounds, which are usually of a somewhat noisy character, hopefully interestingly so. The historical antecedents include instruction synthesis as pioneered at the Institute of Sonology in the 1970s, and the live coding movement, of modifying a running program as it acts. This app is intended for those interested in more experimental sonic art: don't download unless you are open to stranger computer music sounds ((http://www.toplap.org).

About

M8 Music Tracker

Create and arrange music with a portable eight-track tracker, synthesizer, and sequencer. Features multiple synth engines, sample playback, and advanced sequencing tools. Offers extensive connectivity and compatibility with hardware and other M8 users.

Highlights
  • Eight-track music tracker and sequencer
  • Multiple built-in synth engines (Wavsynth, Macrosynth, FMSynth, Hypersynth)
  • Sampler for playback and recording
  • Advanced sequencing with modulation, scales, and effects
  • MIDI instrument control
  • CoreMIDI and IAA integration
  • Portrait and landscape support
Read full description

M8 tracker is an eight-track music tracker, sequencer, and synthesizer from Dirtywave. Create and arrange music using a portable tracker workflow. Sequences are built from phrases and chains, which can be arranged independently across eight tracks with sequencing and modulation at each step. Instruments • Wavsynth - Chip synth inspired wavetable synth • Macrosynth - Macro oscillators of over 40 unique synthesis engines • FMSynth - Four-operator FM synthesis • Hypersynth - Six-note 13 oscillator swarm synth • Sampler - Sample playback and recording • MIDI instruments for controlling internal or external gear • Up to 128 instruments per song Sequencing • Eight independent monophonic tracks • Instrument tables for advanced modulation • Scales, grooves, probability, and comprehensive effect commands • Live performance and song-rendering tools Connectivity • CoreMIDI input and output • External computer keyboards and game controllers • Ableton Link support • AUv3 plugin version • Inter-App Audio (IAA) integration • Launchpad Pro MKIII support M8 supports portrait and landscape orientations on iPhone and iPad. Projects, instruments, samples, themes, and rendered audio are accessible through the Files app. Built-in contextual help explains every view with shortcuts. M8 for iOS provides the complete M8 workflow in a portable, touch-enabled interface. Songs and bundles are fully compatible with M8 hardware and can be transferred between devices and shared with other M8 users. Join the Dirtywave Discord community to share music, get help, and discuss M8.

Screenshots

TOPLAPapp2 screens
M8 Music Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TOPLAPapp at Free against M8 Music Tracker's $29.99. TOPLAPapp also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). M8 Music Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 49 months) and ratings volume (97 vs 4). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

TOPLAPapp is free to download; M8 Music Tracker costs $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

M8 Music Tracker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: M8 Music Tracker has 97 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of TOPLAPapp's written reviews are positive against 100% of M8 Music Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, M8 Music Tracker every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
TOPLAPapp versus M8 Music Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTOPLAPappM8 Music Tracker
PriceFree — better$29.99
Rating4.8 (4 ratings)5.0 (97 ratings) — better
Positive reviews95.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings497 — better
Update frequencyEvery 49 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#15 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB235 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua ParmenterDirtywave

Customer experience

TOPLAPapp

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%

M8 Music Tracker

All ratings97 ratings
Positive99.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

TOPLAPapp

No in-app purchases

None

M8 Music Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TOPLAPapp free?
TOPLAPapp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is M8 Music Tracker free?
M8 Music Tracker costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TOPLAPapp or M8 Music Tracker?
M8 Music Tracker is rated higher. TOPLAPapp averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while M8 Music Tracker averages 5.0 from 97 ratings.
Do TOPLAPapp or M8 Music Tracker have ads?
Neither TOPLAPapp nor M8 Music Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TOPLAPapp or M8 Music Tracker?
TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, and M8 Music Tracker every 4 days. Most recently, TOPLAPapp was updated on October 10, 2026 and M8 Music Tracker on October 18, 2026.

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