Comparison

GRDelay vs Tapko

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

Head to head
About

GRDelay

This audio effect plugin creates unique sound textures by generating up to 16 stereo 'grains' from delayed input audio. It offers randomization of grain shape, delay time, and pitch-shifting for experimental sound design.

Highlights
  • Granular synthesis-based delay
  • Up to 16 stereo grains
  • Randomized grain shape and delay time
  • Pitch-shifting and cascading grains
  • Standalone and AUv3 compatible
Read full description

GRDelay - Granular Random Delay Plugin (AUv3) GRDelay is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Overview - What's a Granular Random Delay? GRDelay is a randomised delay effect that uses a similar approach to granular synthesis to generate sound. In GRDelay, up to 16 "grains" of stereo sound are created in realtime from delayed copies of the input audio, with control over the grain shape and delay time. There are also options to pitch-shift grains up an octave, and cascade the output from one grain into another. Shape, delay time and pitch-shifting can all be randomised to create some really unusual effects and textures. While GRDelay can produce sounds similar to existing pitch-shifted delays and even shimmer effects, the design is totally original, and to the best of my knowledge, quite sonically unique. I think GRDelay is really one of those effects you need to hear to believe, so please do check out the reviews and demos online. Please note, because there's a "whole lot of random going on" in GRDelay, it's not a good choice if you want a delay that can do tempo / clock-sync'd rhythmic delays. Perhaps take a look at PolyDelay which offers tempo sync to host and musical note length delay times. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson

About

Tapko

This app is a powerful drum sampler for musicians, offering a 16-pad grid for loading and manipulating sounds. It provides extensive per-pad editing, advanced sampling features like velocity layers and round robin, and seamless integration with music hosts.

Highlights
  • 16-pad grid with per-pad sample import
  • Per-pad editing (EQ, pan, reverb)
  • Velocity layers and round robin sampling
  • MIDI Learn for instant assignment
  • Built-in stereo reverb
  • Kit creation, import, and export
  • Multi-output routing
Features
Read full description

Tapko is a fast, no-nonsense drum sampler built by a musician for musicians. Load your sounds, build your kit, and play — standalone or as an AUv3 plugin in your favorite host. Use Tapko on its own as a playable drum machine, or load it as an AUv3 instrument in AUM, Loopy Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis, and more. 16 PADS, TOTAL CONTROL • 16-pad grid with per-pad sample import (WAV, AIFF, MP3, M4A, FLAC, CAF) • Per-pad 3-band EQ, volume, pan, gain, choke groups, and configurable Fade Out • Swipe pads to tweak volume, EQ, pan, and reverb send on the fly • MIDI Learn — tap a pad, play a note, instantly assign note and channel • Swipe left/right on single-sample pads to cycle saved versions • Built-in stereo reverb with per-pad send and global room/decay controls ADVANCED SAMPLING • Velocity layers — up to 5 layers per pad with adjustable velocity ranges • Round robin — cycle through up to 5 samples per pad (sequential or random) • Layer mode — stack up to 5 samples per pad and trigger them simultaneously • Random velocity — override incoming velocity with base +/- variation for natural dynamics • Sample Editor with zoomable waveform: high-detail zoom view above, full-file overview below with a draggable zoom-window and in/out markers, pinch-to-zoom, trim handles, start delay, attack, and per-pad gain • Global media browser — import clips once, assign to any pad in any kit KITS & SHARING • Create, rename, duplicate, and delete kits • Import and export kits as .tapkokit files • Kit Store — browse and download free community kits • Full backup and restore of all kits and media to a single .tapkobackup file • iCloud sync keeps kits and your Media Library in sync across devices • Build kits on your computer at tapko.davidguva.se MULTI-OUTPUT ROUTING • 9 stereo output buses (1 Main + 8 Aux) for hosts that support multi-output • Assign each pad to an individual output bus for separate mixing and effects • Main bus always carries the full mix — works seamlessly in single-output hosts too MIDI & HOST INTEGRATION • MIDI input with customizable note mapping (GM drum layout by default) • Per-pad MIDI channel assignment (omni or channel 1–16) • MIDI output and Program Change for kit switching • All parameters exposed to the host for automation • Factory presets support BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE • Real-time C++ DSP engine with vDSP acceleration • 48-voice polyphonic playback with intelligent voice stealing • Efficient CPU usage for most kits; usage increases with kit complexity (more layers, longer samples/tails, and heavier FX/routing) STANDALONE & PLUGIN Tapko works as a standalone drum machine right out of the box. It also registers as an AUv3 instrument plugin so any compatible host can load it.

Screenshots

GRDelay4 screens
Tapko4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GRDelay at $1.99 against Tapko's $4.99. GRDelay also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.2). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

GRDelay costs $1.99 and Tapko $4.99 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 GRDelay against 5.0 for Tapko. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GRDelay versus Tapko: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGRDelayTapko
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequency—Every 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRob JacksonDavid Lars Guva

Customer experience

GRDelay

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tapko

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

GRDelay

No in-app purchases

None

Tapko

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GRDelay free?
GRDelay costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tapko free?
Tapko costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GRDelay or Tapko?
GRDelay and Tapko are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do GRDelay or Tapko have ads?
Neither GRDelay nor Tapko shows ads.

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