SideChain AUv3 vs Tapko
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Tempo-synced volume ducking
- Full parameter automation
- Save and load presets
- Adjustable ADSR envelope controls
- EDM pumping effect
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SideChain AUv3 at $2.99 against Tapko's $4.99. SideChain AUv3 also leads on 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
SideChain AUv3 costs $2.99 and Tapko $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
SideChain AUv3 ships an update every 3 days, Tapko every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SideChain AUv3 | Tapko |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 4 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Scale Degrees LTD | David Lars Guva |
Customer experience
SideChain AUv3
Tapko
In-app purchases
SideChain AUv3
No in-app purchases
Tapko
No in-app purchases





