Comparison

Cab ML vs sub808

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

sub808

Create powerful sub-bass sounds with this intuitive instrument app. Explore analog-inspired flavors, fine-tune saturation, and sculpt your basslines with versatile envelope and shaper controls. Compatible across devices for seamless production.

Highlights
  • 50 Factory Presets
  • 4 Analog Flavors
  • 8 Saturation Modes
  • Filter Cutoff & Glide
  • Handcrafted Envelope & Shaper
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
Features
Read full description

Sub atomic bass. Anywhere. For any mix. sub808 is the end result of countless hours dialing in and perfecting the perfect 808 - so you don’t have to! Experience the instant power of sub808 in your productions and sculpt your bass into something uniquely yours with our intuitive interface, all within moments. At its core, sub808 includes 50 Factory Presets, featuring 4 distinct flavors: Smooth, Tape, Gritty, and Nasty. Each flavor comes with its own unique analog character, providing excellent starting points for your creativity. Fine-tune these sounds to perfection with 8 Saturation modes, offering precise control over drive and mix levels. Smooth Easy-To-Dial-in Filter Cutoff & Glide Times: Experience enhanced versatility with a filter cutoff featuring both pre and post saturation modes, enabling you to position your filter precisely within the signal chain. Elevate your bass playability with the added convenience of an easily adjustable glide function, facilitating seamless pitch bending between your bass lines for added depth and expression. Handcrafted Envelope and Shaper: We’ve dialed in a customized amp envelope, giving you just what you need: Attack & Release. To complement this further, a specialized transient shaper that can sculpt your sound from a smooth bass pad, to PUNCH kick drum sound with ease. Collaborate, Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Machine: Wether you have a fleet of production machines, or if you collaborate with music makers around the world, we have you covered with cross-platform compatibility & presets to make switching between any machine fast and easy. Features - 50 Factory Presets covering multiple genres - 4 distinct Flavors with baked in Analog goodness - 8 Saturation Modes w/ Drive & Mix Controls - Punch Control for Smooth or Punchy bass - Sound sculpting Glide & Attack/Release Controls - Preset Manager included for saving, editing, and loading different presets - Standalone app and AUv3 included

Screenshots

Cab ML4 screens
sub8084 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cab ML at 50% against sub808's 0%. Cab ML also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). sub808's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.2 vs 4.0). On ratings volume, ads 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

Cab ML is free to download; sub808 costs $9.99 up front. Cab ML sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. sub808 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

sub808 holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 10 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Cab ML's written reviews are positive against 0% of sub808's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cab ML ships an update every 3 weeks, sub808 every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Cab ML versus sub808: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCab MLsub808
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.2 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings410 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
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 MB150 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJan MaesOSC Audio

Customer experience

Cab ML

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

sub808

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cab ML

One-time1
  • Cab ML Activation$11.99
None

sub808

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cab ML free?
Cab ML is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is sub808 free?
sub808 costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cab ML or sub808?
sub808 is rated higher. Cab ML averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while sub808 averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.
Do Cab ML or sub808 have ads?
Neither Cab ML nor sub808 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cab ML or sub808?
Cab ML ships an update every 3 weeks, and sub808 every 6 months. Most recently, Cab ML was updated on August 31, 2026 and sub808 on September 7, 2026.

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