Comparison

M2DX vs Reel2

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

Head to head
About

M2DX

Create music with a powerful 6-operator FM synthesizer. Explore hand-crafted presets or import classic DX7 banks. Use the on-screen keyboard or connect MIDI controllers for a versatile music-making experience.

Highlights
  • 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesis
  • On-screen keyboard with velocity control
  • DX7-format .syx bank import
  • 6-stage FX chain
  • AUv3 plug-in support
  • Native MIDI 2.0 support
Features
Read full description

M2DX is a 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesizer for iPhone, built from the ground up in pure Swift 6. Open it and play immediately — tap the built-in on-screen keyboard and start making sound with M2DX's own hand-crafted presets. No external hardware or MIDI controller is required. The FM engine is a bit-exact port of the open-source Dexed / msfa DSP, verified sample-for-sample against the reference. It is also compatible with the classic DX7 patch format: bring your own DX7-format .syx banks and play them alongside M2DX's originals. KEY FEATURES - Built-in on-screen keyboard with velocity and octave control — play standalone, no hardware needed - 6-operator, 32-algorithm DX7-style FM synthesis - M2DX's own original FM presets, plus DX7-format .syx bank import (bring your own) - A 6-stage FX chain: EQ, Drive, Chorus, Reverb, Stereo, Maximizer - Low-latency audio with AVAudioSourceNode direct rendering - AUv3 plug-in — use M2DX as an Audio Unit (AUv3) in compatible hosts OPTIONAL MIDI (not required to use the app) - Connect any MIDI controller over Bluetooth or USB if you have one - Native MIDI 2.0 — UMP with 16-bit velocity and 32-bit controllers - MIDI-CI Property Exchange — patch names appear on compatible controllers (for example, KORG KeyStage) - MIDI Learn for hands-on control MIDI 2.0 done natively, classic FM done faithfully. The FM engine is built on Dexed / msfa (Apache License 2.0). M2DX is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Yamaha Corporation. DX7 and Yamaha are trademarks of Yamaha Corporation. iOS 18 or later.

About

Reel2

This audio effect app adds warm, musical echoes to your music using tape delay emulation. Shape your repeats with controls for saturation, tone, and tape age, and choose from free-time, tap tempo, or host sync modes. Save your favorite echo settings with custom presets.

Highlights
  • AUv3 effect for compatible hosts
  • Free-time, tap-tempo, and host-tempo modes
  • Tape age, tone, saturation, wow and flutter
  • Stereo width and dry/wet mix
  • Factory and user presets
  • Saturated self-oscillation feedback
Features
Read full description

Reel2 is a characterful AUv3 tape delay for iPhone and iPad. Add warm, musical echoes inside compatible Audio Unit hosts, then shape the repeats with tape-inspired controls for saturation, tone, age, wow and flutter, feedback, width, and dry/wet mix. Use free-time mode for manual delay times, tap tempo when you want to play the delay in by feel, or host sync when your session tempo should drive the repeats. Factory presets make it quick to start, and user presets let you save your own favorite echo settings. Reel2 includes a five-minute trial for audio processing. The Full Version unlock is a one-time non-consumable in-app purchase. Features: - AUv3 effect for compatible hosts - Free-time, tap-tempo, and host-tempo modes - Natural feedback through saturated self-oscillation - Tape age, tone, saturation, wow and flutter - Stereo width and equal-power dry/wet mix - Factory presets and saveable user presets - One-time Full Version unlock with restore support

Screenshots

M2DX4 screens
Reel21 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reel2 at 5.0 against M2DX's 4.0. M2DX's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. M2DX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Reel2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reel2 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
M2DX versus Reel2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterM2DXReel2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHakaru HiroseJoshua David Aquino

Customer experience

M2DX

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

Reel2

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

M2DX

One-time1
  • M2DX Pro Unlock$9.99
1 purchases

Reel2

One-time1
  • Reel2 Full$1.99

Questions

Is M2DX free?
M2DX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reel2 free?
Reel2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, M2DX or Reel2?
Reel2 is rated higher. M2DX averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Reel2 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do M2DX or Reel2 have ads?
Neither M2DX nor Reel2 shows ads.

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