8 vs TubeSound
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
8
Create fast 8-bit and electronic music with this step sequencer. Program drums and melodies, arrange song structures with custom playback flows, and export your audio. Use it as an AUv3 instrument in compatible hosts.
- Step sequencer for drums and melodies
- Customizable playback flows for song structure
- AUv3 instrument extension
- Save and export audio
- One-tap randomization for idea sketching
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Whether you are exploring chiptune for the first time or quickly capturing a retro electronic idea, 8-bit Music Master offers a straightforward, lightweight workflow. In the standalone app, program drums, Melody 1, and Melody 2 one step at a time. Switch octave ranges, reveal semitone notes, or use random generation as a starting point, then edit every note and hit yourself. Custom playback flows let you arrange the page order and repeat count of each part separately, turning short patterns into longer sections. Save your projects and export a finished mix, MIDI file, or separate stems for further production and sharing. Four AUv3 plugins are included: • Chip Synth — retro waveforms, presets, arpeggiation, sound shaping, and step sequencing • Six-Voice Drum Machine — kick, snare, closed and open hats, clap, and tom, with swing, presets, and a host-synced 16-step pattern sequencer • 8-bit FX — bit-depth and sample-rate reduction, drive, digital noise, stereo width, and tempo-synced delay • Chip Seq MIDI — a host-synced 16-step MIDI generator with pitch, velocity, gate, length, and swing controls Use the suite in compatible hosts such as Loopy Pro. The instruments and audio effect can also run in GarageBand; Chip Seq MIDI requires a host that supports AUv3 MIDI routing. The app is designed to help you begin quickly while leaving every pattern open for hands-on editing, so generated ideas can still become your own.
TubeSound
This app emulates the warm sound of classic vacuum tubes for your audio. It offers 23 modeled tube circuits, from subtle harmonic coloration to amplifier-inspired saturation. Advanced controls allow for deep customization of tube behavior and aging.
- 23 modeled vacuum tube circuits
- Subtle harmonic coloration
- Pro Mode for advanced control
- Tube aging simulation
- AUv3 plugin support
- Custom preset saving
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TubeSound adds the warm, rich character of classic vacuum tubes to your audio. This is not a typical tube-style distortion effect. Many presets operate below 0.5% THD, producing subtle harmonic coloration rather than heavy saturation. REAL TUBE CIRCUITS 23 carefully modeled tube circuits inspired by legendary hi-fi and guitar amplifier designs from the 1950s to today. Each model recreates key parts of the original design, including triode curves, power supply sag, transformer behavior, and natural analog drift. PRO MODE Take full control over tube circuit behavior with advanced parameters such as plate voltage, grid bias, PSU stiffness, transformer saturation, and more. Includes 5 factory presets inspired by iconic circuits, plus the ability to save and manage your own custom Pro presets. TUBE AGING Three wear stages: New, Worn, and Old. Each stage changes the tube character with increased noise, wider drift, and reduced gain. RADIO & URL Listen to internet radio and direct HTTPS MP3/AAC streams through the same tube processing as your local files. Save favorite stations, assign an Audiophile preset or keep your current Audiophile/Pro sound. Track titles appear when provided by the station. AUv3 PLUGIN Use TubeSound as an Audio Unit effect in GarageBand, AUM, or any AUv3 host. FREE TO TRY All 23 circuits are available in the trial version. During the trial, audio mutes for 3 seconds every 30 seconds. A one-time in-app purchase removes this limitation. No subscription is required. Already purchased? Use Restore Purchases with the same Apple Account. FOR • audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts • music producers and mixing engineers • mastering and subtle harmonic coloration • guitar and instrument processing • adding analog tube character to digital audio Product names are used for reference purposes only and are not affiliated with or endorsed by their respective owners.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TubeSound at Free against 8's $1.99. TubeSound also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). 8's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On 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
TubeSound is free to download; 8 costs $1.99 up front. TubeSound sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 8 asks for nothing beyond the download.
8 ships an update every 4 days, TubeSound fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 8 | TubeSound |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #191 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 宁 徐 | Bartosz Paprzycki |
Customer experience
8
TubeSound
In-app purchases
8
No in-app purchases
TubeSound
- Unlock Full Version$19.99









