JULY vs TAPESCAM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JULY
This app faithfully emulates a classic 1980s polyphonic analog synthesizer. It meticulously models the original's circuits, offering its warm sound and signature chorus effect in a software format. It functions as both an AUv3 plugin and a standalone application.
- Faithful emulation of iconic 1980s polyphonic analog synth
- Detailed circuit modeling
- Warm DCO sound
- Silky filter
- Unmistakable chorus effect
- AUv3 plugin and standalone operation
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JULY is a faithful emulation of one of the most iconic polyphonic analog synthesizers from the early 1980s. We spent months living with the original, studying every quirk and charm, from the warm, steady DCO to the silky filter and that unmistakable chorus, then modeled its circuits in detail to bring its soul into software. Available as AUv3 and Standalone
TAPESCAM
Simulate the warm, imperfect sound of analog tape machines. Add drive, color, and tape-like artifacts like dropouts and wow/flutter to your audio projects. Offers granular control over saturation, hiss, and tape wear.
- Dual gain stages with randomized dropouts
- Wow/flutter motion control
- Controllable hiss and tape wear
- Drive + Color blending
- Tone tilt and shelving EQs
- Tape Speed presets
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Bring the sputter, wobble, and magnetic warmth of a well-loved four-track into any project. TapeScam stacks dual gain stages with randomized dropouts, wow/flutter motion, and controllable hiss so you can dial in everything from gentle glue to saturated cassette chaos. - Blend Drive + Color to morph between smooth compression and spitty, asymmetrical crunch - Wow/Flutter knob moves from subtle drift to dreamy vibrato, with Age-based randomness that keeps both channels alive - Tone tilt plus Bass/Treble shelves let you brighten guitars, thicken keys, or scoop space for vocals without leaving the plugin - Tape Speed presets shift headroom, bandwidth, and dropout behavior for “new”, “used”, or “worn” tapes - Noise and Comp switches give instant texture and level matching, while Output trims sit post-saturation for easy gain staging - Randomized dropout envelopes with smooth attack/hold/release phases create musical dips and wear NOTE: This is a plugin! It doesn't make any sound on its own. Available as an AUv3 for iOS/iPadOS. TapeScam slots into your DAW of choice. Interested in using this on desktop? VST3 and AU plugins are available at https://charles.pizza/apps/tapescam
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TAPESCAM at $3.99 against JULY's $19.99. TAPESCAM also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). 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
JULY costs $19.99 and TAPESCAM $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TAPESCAM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of JULY's written reviews are positive against 100% of TAPESCAM's.
JULY ships an update every 6 weeks, TAPESCAM every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | JULY | TAPESCAM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (15 ratings) | 5.0 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AudioThing Ltd. | Charles Vestal |
Customer experience
JULY
TAPESCAM
In-app purchases
JULY
No in-app purchases
TAPESCAM
No in-app purchases






