Comparison

SideChain AUv3 vs Tapko

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

Head to head
About

SideChain AUv3

Create a classic EDM pumping effect with tempo-synced volume ducking. This app offers full parameter control for automation and allows saving/loading custom presets. Fine-tune your audio envelope with adjustable floor, delay, curve, and release settings.

Highlights
  • Tempo-synced volume ducking
  • Full parameter automation
  • Save and load presets
  • Adjustable ADSR envelope controls
  • EDM pumping effect
Currently charting
Read full description

Simple tempo-synced volume envelope for that classic EDM pumping effect. All parameters exposed for automation. The default setting will probably do what you need, but you can also save/load presets. Set floor value, delay, curve, release point - control the envelope like a standard ADSR __ If you're having an issue, please email me at support@scalenumbers.com rather than leaving a review, as apple doesn't send developers any alerts when reviews are left, so I won't know you've tried to contact me.

About

Tapko

This powerful drum sampler allows musicians to load, shape, and play custom drum kits. It offers extensive per-pad sound manipulation, built-in effects like reverb and delay, and advanced sampling features. Seamlessly integrate with other music production apps or use it standalone.

Highlights
  • 16-pad grid with per-pad sample import
  • Per-pad EQ, volume, pan, and FX sends
  • Built-in reverb and delay effects
  • Advanced sampling with velocity layers and round robin
  • Sample Editor with waveform manipulation
  • Integrated sequencer with step editor
  • MIDI Learn for controller integration
Features
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Tapko is a no-nonsense drum sampler for iPhone and iPad, built for live use. Load your sounds, shape your kit and play—standalone or inside your AUv3 host (AUM, Loopy Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis, and more). Swipe to mix, connect your MIDI controller and add a groove when you need one. 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 Fade Out • Swipe pads to set volume, EQ, pan, reverb send, and delay send on the fly • MIDI Learn — tap a pad, play a note, done • Swipe left/right on single-sample pads to cycle saved versions • Varispeed pitch per pad, per velocity layer, and per round-robin sample SOUND FX ON EVERY PAD • Pitch envelope, transient shaper, saturation, bitcrusher, and a resonant filter with a per-hit sweep • Everything is automatable from your host TAPKO SPACE REVERB & DELAY • Reverb: Room, Plate, Hall, and Cosmos, with Space, Decay, Pre-delay, Color, Clarity, and Modulation • Delay: Clean, Warm, Diffuse, and Reverse, synced to your host's tempo (1/2 to 1/32, straight, dotted, or triplet) or free-running, and it can feed its echoes into the reverb • Per-pad sends and dry level, global wet levels • Drum-focused factory presets plus your own, to save, export, and import; shared kits sound the same anywhere ADVANCED SAMPLING • Velocity layers — up to 5 per pad with adjustable ranges • Round robin — up to 5 samples per pad, sequential or random • Layer mode — stack up to 5 samples and trigger them together • Sample Editor with a zoomable waveform, trim handles, start delay, attack, and gain. Play sounds exactly like hitting the pad • Render Pad — bounce a pad to a new sample with its EQ, pitch, Sound FX and, if you like, reverb and delay baked in • Sample Recorder (standalone app) — record from the mic or an audio interface straight into your Media Library • Global Media Browser — import clips once and use them in any kit, with nested folders, multi-select, and export/import KITS & SHARING • Create, rename, duplicate, and delete kits; import and export .tapkokit files • Sort your kits into categories • Kit Store — browse featured kits and categories and download free community kits, with each kit's icon and info kept in your kit list • Full backup of kits, media, and presets to one .tapkobackup file • iCloud backup and restore with live progress • Web Manager (Beta) — edit kits and your Media Library from a browser on your computer BUILT-IN SEQUENCER • A bonus for when you want a groove: open it from the toolbar, press Play, and your own kit plays the pattern • Ready-made grooves plus percussion and hi-hat parts, each with A, B, C loops and a Fill • Switch loops and trigger fills while it plays; changes land on the next bar • Step editor with velocity and extra reverb or delay per hit; save your own patterns and share grooves as files • Assign each instrument to any pad, per kit • Internal clock, or follow your host's tempo and transport • Control it from function pads, host parameters, or MIDI CC (optional preset on channel 16) MULTI-OUTPUT ROUTING • 9 stereo outputs (1 Main + 8 Aux) for multi-output hosts • Send any pad to its own Aux bus for separate mixing MIDI & HOST INTEGRATION • MIDI input with customizable note mapping (GM drums by default) • Per-pad MIDI channel (omni or 1–16) • Chromatic MIDI Channels (Beta) — play each pad chromatically from its own channel • MIDI output and Program Change for kit switching • Function pads — one tap can mute pads, switch effects, set sends, play pads, send MIDI CC, or load a kit, and your host can press them too • Pad, Sound FX, and Mixer parameters automatable from the host BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE • Real-time C++ DSP engine with vDSP acceleration, designed for low CPU use • Standalone: optional Play in Background (Settings > Other) • 48-voice polyphony with smart voice stealing

Screenshots

SideChain AUv31 screens
Tapko4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SideChain AUv3 at $2.99 against Tapko's $5.99. SideChain AUv3 also leads on chart position (#188 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.2). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence 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

SideChain AUv3 costs $2.99 and Tapko $5.99 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 SideChain AUv3 against 5.0 for Tapko. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideChain AUv3 ships an update every 3 days, Tapko weekly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
SideChain AUv3 versus Tapko: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideChain AUv3Tapko
Price$2.99 — better$5.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScale Degrees LTDDavid Lars Guva

Customer experience

SideChain AUv3

All ratings1 ratings
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

SideChain AUv3

No in-app purchases

None

Tapko

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SideChain AUv3 free?
SideChain AUv3 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tapko free?
Tapko costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SideChain AUv3 or Tapko?
SideChain AUv3 and Tapko are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do SideChain AUv3 or Tapko have ads?
Neither SideChain AUv3 nor Tapko shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideChain AUv3 or Tapko?
SideChain AUv3 ships an update every 3 days, and Tapko weekly. Most recently, SideChain AUv3 was updated on November 5, 2026 and Tapko on November 5, 2026.

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