Comparison

SWAM Cello Section vs BLEASS Tides

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

Head to head
About

SWAM Cello Section

This app uses physical modeling to create realistic and expressive cello section performances. It offers real-time sound generation, individual section control, and seamless integration with DAWs. Ideal for composers, producers, and live performers seeking dynamic string section sounds.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling sound generation
  • Real-time expression control
  • Individual section customization
  • Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
  • MIDI and MPE compatibility
  • Smart Room Simulator 'Ambiente'
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SWAM Cello Section for iOS: The Next-Level String Section Experience SWAM Cello Section for iOS brings the power of Physical Modeling technology to your mobile device, allowing you to create realistic, expressive, and fully customizable cello section performances on the go. Whether you’re a composer, producer, or live performer, this revolutionary app delivers unmatched realism, efficiency, and flexibility in a lightweight and intuitive package. Unlike traditional sample libraries, SWAM Cello Section doesn’t rely on pre-recorded articulations. Instead, it generates the sound in real time, reacting dynamically to your playing style, whether you're working in classical, cinematic, jazz, or modern electronic music. Why Choose SWAM Cello Section for iOS? Unparalleled Realism – Each cello section is fully controllable in terms of expression, vibrato, bow pressure, bow position, tremolo, and more. No need to switch between different articulations—just play and shape the sound in real time. Enhanced Efficiency – No more endless searching for the right articulation or sample. With SWAM Cello Section, you have immediate access to every possible playing technique at your fingertips. Faster Workflow – Control velocity, expression, and phrasing seamlessly while switching effortlessly between staccato, legato, spiccato, or pizzicato just by playing. Smart Room Simulator “Ambiente” – The built-in room simulator ensures that all cello sections in your mix interact naturally, allowing for a centralized UI to position every section in a shared acoustic space without tweaking each plugin separately. Top Features at a Glance Individual Section Control – Adjust the expressivity of each cello section independently, fine-tuning vibrato, bowing techniques, dynamics, and more. Standalone & AUv3 Plugin – Use SWAM Cello Section as a standalone app for real-time performances or integrate it as an AUv3 plugin in your favorite DAW. Customizable Sound & Playability – Personalize the tone, resonance, and bowing articulation to match any genre or style. MIDI & MPE Compatibility – Play expressively with MIDI controllers, MPE devices, wind controllers, or even directly from your iOS device’s touchscreen. Seamless Integration with DAWs – Perfect for mobile music production, SWAM Cello Section works effortlessly in Logic Pro for iPad, Cubasis, AUM, GarageBand, Camelot Pro and more. Lightweight & Powerful – Thanks to state-of-the-art Physical Modeling technology, you get a realistic and highly responsive string section without the need for massive sample libraries. Who is SWAM Cello Section for iOS Designed For? Film & Game Composers – Achieve lifelike, expressive cello section performances directly from your iPad or iPhone. Music Producers – Use real-time expressivity to shape your sound instantly, without limitations. Live Performers – Integrate SWAM Cello Section into your live setup for dynamic, high-quality string section performances on the go. Orchestrators & Arrangers – Create and refine rich, full orchestral arrangements with deep control over every section’s expressivity. Important Notes For the best experience, we recommend using a device with an Apple Silicon chip (M1, M2, M3, or later) for optimal responsiveness and real-time performance. Like the solo SWAM Strings instruments, SWAM Cello Section is monophonic, as it accurately replicates real bowed string instruments, allowing only double stops where realistic fingerings permit. To fully explore the expressive power of SWAM Cello Section, a MIDI controller capable of continuous expression (such as an MPE device, breath controller, or expression pedal) is recommended. Take your string section to the next level with SWAM Cello Section for iOS and redefine the way you create, perform, and produce music—anytime, anywhere.

About

BLEASS Tides

This music app offers a unique delay processing experience with fluid delay times and advanced modulation. Shape your echoes with input filters and a flexible feedback path featuring multiple effect processors. Its intuitive interface is designed for both touch and mouse interaction.

Highlights
  • Fluid delay time alteration
  • Enhanced modulation system (LFOs, envelope followers)
  • Input filter with resonant bands
  • Feedback path with 11 insertable effect processors
  • Interactive delay visualizer
  • Momentary Freeze and Kill buttons
Currently charting
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BLEASS Tides washes away the dry, uninspiring echoes of conventional delay processors with wave after wave of richly characterful reflections. The plugin's fluid approach to delay processing means delay times can be altered without the unpleasant warping results produced by other delay processors, with the option of a controlled tape-like timing shift, or a simple crossfade between differently timed delays. Better still, with an enhanced modulation system provided by BLEASS' latest plugin technology, you can take full advantage of this delay time fluidity with stereo LFOs, envelope followers and macro controllers that allow you to explore new horizons of exciting delay effects. There's more to creating unique and enthralling delay lines than timing alone, and so BLEASS Tides provides many different ways of shaping and adding character to its repeats. An input filter combining low- and high-pass resonant bands allows you to easily mould the incoming signal and thereby sculpt the resulting echoes. Then, for even deeper and more exhilarating shaping, Tides' feedback path features five insert points into which any of 11 different effect processors can be loaded. These include distortions, filters, pitch and frequency shifting, ring modulation, and even an additional delay processor, all of which can be brought to life with the plugin's stereo modulators. Tides is the first plugin to use BLEASS' v2 plugin engine, its reimagined interface design giving a crisp and clean look to the plugin whilst retaining the familiar and welcoming look and feel of previous BLEASS plugins. The new interface is as easy to use with touchscreens as it is with a mouse, and includes innovative interactive elements such as Tides' delay visualiser that, when clicked with the mouse or touched with a finger, produces fascinating interactive frequency shifting effects. Further realtime interaction comes in the form of momentary Freeze and Kill buttons that are perfect for creating spontaneous, organic effects, whether on stage, on the go, or in the studio. BLEASS Tides' unique approach brings delay processing to new shores with never before heard stereo effects and modulations, extensive tonal shaping, and a user interface that's both easy on the eye and easy to use. More information on https://www.bleass.com/tides

Screenshots

SWAM Cello Section4 screens
BLEASS Tides4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BLEASS Tides at $14.99 against SWAM Cello Section's $44.99. BLEASS Tides also leads on chart position (#191 vs unranked) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). SWAM Cello Section's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SWAM Cello Section costs $44.99 and BLEASS Tides $14.99 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 — 5.0 for SWAM Cello Section against 4.9 for BLEASS Tides. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BLEASS Tides has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of SWAM Cello Section's written reviews are positive against 75% of BLEASS Tides's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SWAM Cello Section ships an update every 5 weeks, BLEASS Tides every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
SWAM Cello Section versus BLEASS Tides: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSWAM Cello SectionBLEASS Tides
Price$44.99$14.99 — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.9 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#191 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB28 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperAudio ModelingBLEASS

Customer experience

SWAM Cello Section

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BLEASS Tides

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

SWAM Cello Section

No in-app purchases

None

BLEASS Tides

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SWAM Cello Section free?
SWAM Cello Section costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BLEASS Tides free?
BLEASS Tides costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SWAM Cello Section or BLEASS Tides?
SWAM Cello Section is rated higher. SWAM Cello Section averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while BLEASS Tides averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.
Do SWAM Cello Section or BLEASS Tides have ads?
Neither SWAM Cello Section nor BLEASS Tides shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SWAM Cello Section or BLEASS Tides?
SWAM Cello Section ships an update every 5 weeks, and BLEASS Tides every 5 months. Most recently, SWAM Cello Section was updated on September 19, 2026 and BLEASS Tides on September 12, 2026.

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