Comparison

Cab ML vs spectwhirl

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

Head to head
About

Cab ML

This app generates custom impulse responses using a neural network, allowing interactive sound shaping. It also includes a poweramp and microphone reverb generator for further audio manipulation.

Highlights
  • Neural network impulse response generation
  • Interactive tag-based sound shaping
  • Poweramp with multiple options
  • Microphone reverb generator
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

Cab ML is both a standalone app and an AUv3 plugin that provides a neural network for impulse response generation. By moving tags in a window you can change the impulse response in an interactive way. Underlying a neural network will generate an impulse response based on the position of the tags. Instead of trying out all your impulse response files through a classic impulse response loader, you can now find the right sound interactively by moving the marks until you like what you hear. Furthermore Cab ML also provides a poweramp with many options and a microphone reverb generator. The free version allows you to test Cab ML completely, but every minute the plugin will be silent for 3 seconds. To remove these limits there is a one time in-app purchase. You need an audio interface to connect your instrument to your Mac. Known audio interface brands for guitar or bass are for instance Focusrite or iRig. If you don't have an audio interface, you can use the AUv3 plugin in a DAW such as GarageBand or Logic Pro. Any (guitar/bass) sound you have recorded can be fed through the Cab ML audio unit.

About

spectwhirl

This audio effect app transforms input sound into new textures and bell-like tones by extracting and manipulating sinewave components. It offers advanced control over delay lines, frequency shifting, and filtering, with gesture recording for parameter automation.

Highlights
  • Sinewave component extraction and grouping
  • Delay lines with feedback
  • Frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects
  • Configurable filtering
  • Gesture recording for automation
  • Scene saving and management
Features
Read full description

"bells and whistles, literally" spectwhirl is a hybrid spectral audio effect. It can extract and rearrange sinewave components from input signal to make new sound textures and bell-like sounds. * input sound is converted to sinewave components that are divided into 4 groups: harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and other * each component is fed into a delay line with feedback * there is a group of frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects before and after delay lines * each set of sinewave components can be filtered * all the parameters can be instantly automated with gesture recording !!! Please note that this effect consumes much CPU and requires a modern device. ====================== Quick Start: Top row of controls enables different parts of user interface: scenes editor ("scene"), controls switch ("edit") and "zoom" controls When "edit" is switch on, you can show or hide various controls (marked as "ctrl") and switch gesture recording automation for some of them (marked with ">") Main control surface displays sonogram with tracked elements. Colors are set accordingly to the group they are assigned (red-orange-green-blue are for harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and others). Each "lane" contains delay time controls. * Triangle facing left is for the start locator, it determines initial delay time * Square moves both start and end locators together * When left locator is first moved you can see the right locator with the same triangle. It shows the end of the selected region, the secondary delay time is determined by the difference between left and right locators * if you drag over the area of the region in a lane, the four-dotted/one circle indicator will change its appearance; this changes the arpeggio mode of the region. If set to leftmost position (one circle) the components go in-sync; if set to maximum value (shown as diagonal line with circles) - components are played sequentially * all settings can be stored as "scene" and multiple scenes can be switched sequentially; there is a set of button to move, add and delete scenes. All scenes will be stored as machine state; it can be exported / imported as a single file or as separate file with current scene in the "setup" view The standalone version always starts with output level set to -70 dB to avoid feedback

Screenshots

Cab ML4 screens
spectwhirl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cab ML at Free against spectwhirl's $4.99. Cab ML also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 33%). spectwhirl's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Cab ML is free to download; spectwhirl costs $4.99 up front. Cab ML sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. spectwhirl asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Cab ML against 4.0 for spectwhirl. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Cab ML's written reviews are positive against 33% of spectwhirl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cab ML ships an update every 3 weeks, spectwhirl every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Cab ML versus spectwhirl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCab MLspectwhirl
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJan MaesAlexey Nadzharov

Customer experience

Cab ML

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

spectwhirl

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cab ML

One-time1
  • Cab ML Activation$11.99
None

spectwhirl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cab ML free?
Cab ML is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is spectwhirl free?
spectwhirl costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cab ML or spectwhirl?
Cab ML and spectwhirl are both rated 4.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 5 ratings respectively.
Do Cab ML or spectwhirl have ads?
Neither Cab ML nor spectwhirl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cab ML or spectwhirl?
Cab ML ships an update every 3 weeks, and spectwhirl every 5 weeks. Most recently, Cab ML was updated on August 31, 2026 and spectwhirl on September 24, 2026.

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