Altered Player vs TAPE 16
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Altered Player
Experience your local music library without distractions. This app offers real-time audio adjustments like reverb and playback speed, organized by folders and playlists for a pure listening experience. Enjoy offline playback and lossless audio.
- Offline playback of local audio files
- Real-time audio effects (reverb, speed)
- Lossless audio support
- Folder-based library navigation
- Distraction-free interface
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Listen to music stored on the device, without distractions. No streaming, no accounts, no recommendations. Adjust audio in real time during playback. Subtle changes to space, clarity, and timing allow sound to be experienced differently, without interrupting the listening flow. Music is organised through folders and playlists, not algorithms. Nothing is suggested or reordered. What plays is what was chosen. - Offline playback of local audio files - Real-time audio effects: reverb, low-pass, playback speed - Lossless audio support - Folder-based library navigation - Distraction-free interface
TAPE 16
Record and mix music with a 16-track tape-style workflow. This cross-platform app lets you build songs take by take, with hands-on controls and Audio Unit plugin support. Save and reopen sessions offline, with optional iCloud sync.
- 16-track recording workflow
- Destructive tape recording
- Audio Unit plugin support
- MIDI input
- Hands-on transport and mixer controls
- Offline session saving
- Optional iCloud sync
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TAPE 16 is completely cross-platform, with iPhone, iPad and desktop versions built around the same session format and focused 16-track workflow. Start a tape on one device and keep the session moving wherever you work. Inspired by reel-to-reel tape machines, TAPE 16 lets you arm a track, record a performance, and build your music one take at a time. Work with a fixed 16-track layout, hands-on transport and mixer controls, Audio Unit plugins, MIDI, and tape character controls. Recording follows a destructive tape workflow: new takes overwrite existing audio where you record. Your working tapes stay on your device. Record, save, and reopen your sessions offline. Use Files to move compatible sessions between iPhone, iPad and desktop, or optionally enable iCloud sync for selected Tape Library folders across your signed-in Apple devices. FREE MODE Keep one managed saved tape and save it as often as you like, with no time limit. All 16 tracks, recording, editing, Audio Units, MIDI, templates, and Remote remain available. Additional saved tapes and bounce/export require the Full Unlock. UNLIMITED TAPES + BOUNCE A one-time, non-consumable In-App Purchase unlocks additional saved tapes and bounce/export on iPhone and iPad. Restore Purchases is available in the app. Microphone permission is used for recording. Optional Remote control uses your local network. Optional iCloud sync uses your personal iCloud storage.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Altered Player at 5.0 against TAPE 16's 4.3. Altered Player also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). TAPE 16's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. TAPE 16 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Altered Player asks for nothing beyond the download.
Altered Player holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TAPE 16 has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Altered Player ships an update every 6 weeks, TAPE 16 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Altered Player | TAPE 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.3 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Roman Emtsev | Jack Paterson |
In-app purchases
Altered Player
No in-app purchases
TAPE 16
- Unlimited Tapes + Bounce$29.99
