Comparison

CrateDive vs Tape Loop Machine

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

Head to head
About

CrateDive

This app uses AI to quickly identify sample-worthy moments in any audio track, including loops, vocal chops, and melodic hooks. It offers features like interactive waveforms, AI loop ranking, and BPM/key detection to streamline the music production process.

Highlights
  • AI sample detection
  • Interactive waveform visualization
  • AI loop ranking
  • BPM and key detection
  • Stem separation (Pro)
  • WAV export (Pro)
  • AI sample descriptions (Pro)
Features
Read full description

CRATE DIVE — AI SAMPLE DISCOVERY FOR PRODUCERS Drop any track. Crate Dive's AI finds every sample-worthy moment — loops, breaks, vocal chops, melodic hooks, transitions — in seconds. Cut a 20-minute crate dig down to 3. Built for hip-hop beatmakers, lo-fi producers, trap heads, EDM producers, DJs, and remixers who'd rather make beats than scrub waveforms. 3D WAVEFORM (NEW IN 2.0) A live 3D waveform that moves with the music. Pick a loop and the view frames it. Pinch to zoom, tap to seek, or switch back to 2D. PADS (NEW IN 2.0) Play any loop as 16, 8 or 4 chops. Flow mode keeps the loop running while you jump around; Chop mode plays each pad once. Tap a pad to drag its start and end, snapped to 1/16 notes or free. AI LOOP RANKING The algorithm scores every loop on boundary seamlessness, harmonic richness, and beat alignment — then surfaces the top 5, starting on the downbeat. The flip-ready ones first. BPM & KEY DETECTION 95%+ accurate BPM finder. Full key and scale detection. Manually adjust either with one tap. Perfect for harmonic mixing and matching samples to your project. SAMPLE POINT DETECTION AI marks every drum break, melodic hook, vocal chop, riser, build, and drop. Each detection comes with a reason tag so you know why it was flagged and a confidence score from 60–100%. STEM SEPARATION (PRO) Studio-grade stem splitter. Isolate vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments in one tap. Mute and solo stems on the pads, and see where each one comes in on its own waveform. Build acapellas, drumless beats, and instrumental versions instantly. WAV EXPORT (PRO) Export any loop, stem, or the full track as clean WAV files. Drag straight into FL Studio, Ableton, Logic, MPC, or any DAW or sampler. AI SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS (PRO) Plain-English context for every detection: "Warm trumpet loop, 4 bars, ~88 BPM, ideal for boom-bap flips." No more guessing what you grabbed. FOUR THEMES Glacier, Classic, Ember and Ruby. Each one recolors the waveform and the app icon. PRIVACY FIRST Audio is processed in memory and discarded immediately. No account required. No tracking. Your crates stay yours. FREE TO START Three analyses per day, free, no card required. Pro is $9.99/month with a 7-day free trial — unlimited analysis, stem separation, WAV export, and AI sample descriptions. PERFECT FOR • Hip-hop and boom-bap beatmakers • Lo-fi producers chasing seamless loops • Trap producers hunting vocal chops and 808s • EDM producers grabbing risers, builds, and drops • DJs and remixers searching for breakbeats and acapellas • Bedroom producers using FL Studio, Ableton, Logic, or any DAW Crate Dive: find the gold in any track. Support: cratedive.app/support Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Service: https://cratedive.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://cratedive.app/privacy

About

Tape Loop Machine

Create warm, evolving ambient soundscapes with tape-style looping and sound-on-sound layering. This audio effect plugin offers long delay times and analog degradation simulations for experimental music creation. Explore presets or use it within your favorite AUv3-compatible host.

Highlights
  • Tape-style loop and delay
  • Sound-on-sound overdubbing
  • Long delay times
  • Analog degradation and tone coloring
  • Wow, flutter, and tape degradation simulation
  • Preset library
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

Tape Loop Machine is a free AUv3 audio effect built around tape-style looping, sound-on-sound layering, and long ambient delays. Use it inside any AUv3-compatible host to create warm repeats, evolving drones, layered guitar textures, synth soundscapes, and slow-moving experimental loops. Simple enough to pick up in minutes. Deep enough to get lost in. Features: - Tape-style loop and delay behavior - Sound-on-sound overdub layering - Long delay times for ambient and drone use - Analog degradation and tone coloring - Wow, flutter, and tape degradation simulation - Presets for quick sound exploration - AUv3 plugin support The standalone app is included for exploring presets and quickly auditioning sounds. For the full experience, load Tape Loop Machine BA2 as an AUv3 audio effect inside your favorite host, connect a guitar, synth, microphone, or any audio source, and start building evolving loops.

Screenshots

CrateDive4 screens
Tape Loop Machine3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tape Loop Machine at none against CrateDive's 2. Tape Loop Machine also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (18 vs 3). CrateDive's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. CrateDive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Tape Loop Machine asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CrateDive holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tape Loop Machine has 18 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CrateDive ships an update every 6 weeks, Tape Loop Machine fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CrateDive versus Tape Loop Machine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrateDiveTape Loop Machine
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.8 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings318 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJester AgustinBaturay Koc

Customer experience

CrateDive

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tape Loop Machine

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CrateDive

Subscriptions2
  • CrateDive Pro$9.991 Month
  • CrateDive Pro Annual$69.991 Year
None

Tape Loop Machine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CrateDive free?
CrateDive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tape Loop Machine free?
Tape Loop Machine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CrateDive or Tape Loop Machine?
CrateDive is rated higher. CrateDive averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Tape Loop Machine averages 4.8 from 18 ratings.
Do CrateDive or Tape Loop Machine have ads?
Neither CrateDive nor Tape Loop Machine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CrateDive or Tape Loop Machine?
CrateDive ships an update every 6 weeks, and Tape Loop Machine fortnightly. Most recently, CrateDive was updated on October 24, 2026 and Tape Loop Machine on October 24, 2026.

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