# AU Studio vs SL Tape

The clearest difference is rating: AU Studio at 4.5 against SL Tape's 3.0. AU Studio also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1). SL Tape's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and price ($6.99 vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

AU Studio costs $9.99 and SL Tape $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

AU Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

AU Studio ships an update monthly, SL Tape every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | AU Studio | SL Tape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$6.99** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/au-studio/id6763809742/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sl-tape/id6797349450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Thompson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1511795684) | [VIACHESLAV ZHILTSOV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862005860) |

## What reviewers say

### AU Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/au-studio/id6763809742)

This app acts as a dedicated host for Audio Unit extensions, allowing musicians and developers to inspect, audition, and test installed audio plugins. It provides detailed information about each unit's capabilities and behavior without requiring a full digital audio workstation.

**Highlights:** Scan and catalog installed Audio Units, Filter plugins by developer, type, and status, Load AUv3 interfaces or use detailed inspector, Inspect registry identity, MIDI support, and parameters, Route CoreMIDI sources and audition audio effects, Monitor runtime CPU and memory usage, Built-in manual for guidance

**In-app purchases:** none


### SL Tape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sl-tape/id6797349450)

This audio effect plugin adds vintage cassette tape warmth, saturation, and subtle pitch variations to your music. Customize the sound with six intuitive controls and save your favorite settings. Its redesigned interface features animated reels and responsive lighting for an immersive creative experience.

**Highlights:** Tape saturation, Tape hiss simulation, Pitch modulation (Wow & Flutter), Tape wear control, Mix blend for original/processed audio, Factory presets and custom saving, Animated cassette interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AU Studio free?

AU Studio costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SL Tape free?

SL Tape costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AU Studio or SL Tape?

AU Studio is rated higher. AU Studio averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while SL Tape averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do AU Studio or SL Tape have ads?

Neither AU Studio nor SL Tape shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AU Studio or SL Tape?

AU Studio ships an update monthly, and SL Tape every 5 days. Most recently, AU Studio was updated on October 24, 2026 and SL Tape on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*