Comparison

Bruno Drum Synth vs TAPE 16

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

Head to head
About

Bruno Drum Synth

This app allows users to create layered drum sounds using multiple synthesis engines. It offers intelligent randomization and a context-aware tweak system for effortless sound design, suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Four synthesis engines per drum
  • Six voice types (Kick, Snare, Hat, Clap, Tom, Pluck)
  • Intelligent randomization
  • Context-aware tweak system
  • Master FX bus with multiple effects
  • Deep MIDI mapping and AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

Here is the secret behind every great drum: the professionals build them in layers. A kick is a sub, a click, and a body. A snare is a tone, a crack, and a wash of noise. The traditional way means juggling samples, plugins, and routing to pull it off. Bruno makes that professional technique effortless. Bruno is built around three ideas: • Four synthesis engines per drum, layered in parallel, each with its own complete signal chain • Six voice types that reconfigure all four engines for the right frequency range • Intelligent randomization and a context-aware tweak system The result is punchy kicks, cracking snares, shimmering metal, evolving percussion and twangy plucks. Whether it is your first drum synth or your fortieth, Bruno meets you where you are. Hit the dice for an instant new sound. Roll a single engine or nudge one tab at a time. Or dive deep into per-engine sound design when you are ready. SIX VOICE TYPES • Kick, Snare, Hat, Clap, Tom, and Pluck • Each voice retunes all four engines for its own frequency range and parameters • Parameter values are preserved when you switch voices, so happy accidents carry across • String-model Pluck with pickup comb, stiffness, and modal resonance FOUR INDEPENDENT ENGINES • Analog, FM, Fold, and Resonant, summed in parallel • Every engine has its own tune, decay, and volume plus pitch envelopes • Filters: 8 types with cutoff, resonance, bipolar envelope, and decay • Three LFOs per engine: Cutoff, Pitch, and Character, with sync, gate, phase, and range • Per-engine compressor, drive with 4 saturation types, delay with 4 types, and 3-band EQ • Per-Engine noise, includes independently controlled noise decay, with white, pink and crackle noise. • ON and OFF per engine, so a drum can be one engine or a dense four-layer stack SHAPE THE TRANSIENT • Dedicated Vol Env tab with click amount, click tone, decay curve, and tail • Per-engine Body Peak EQ for tuned resonance and thump • Voice-specific controls like Kick Tick, Snare BP wires, and Pluck stiffness and hum MASTER FX BUS • Saturator, Compressor, Transient Shaper, Reverb, Stereo width, and Limiter • Global 3-band EQ with quick presets • Copy to All across filter, compressor, delay, EQ, and every LFO INTELLIGENT RANDOMIZATION • Musical preset generator tuned per voice for usable drums, not noise • Generate by style and target by category for each of the six voices • Roll a whole preset, a single engine, or one tab at a time • Tweak system for subtle, context-aware variations • 100-entry history you can step forward and back through • One-tap dice for instant inspiration SAMPLE EXPORT • Export Any Sound – Turn your Bruno creations into reusable audio samples. • Single-Sample Export – Quickly export drums, percussion and other non-chromatic sounds as individual samples. • Chromatic Multisample Export – Automatically create complete multisample sets from pitched sounds. • Flexible Multisample Mapping – Choose the root note, octave range, and semitone spacing for your multisample exports. • Flexible Audio Export – Choose sample rate, bit depth, and mono or stereo format to suit your app or hardware. • Instant App Export – Send Bruno sounds directly into Koala or Loopy Pro with no editing required. • Build Your Own Sample Libraries – Export sounds for hardware samplers, drum machines, DAWs and grooveboxes to create custom kits and multisample instruments. EFFORTLESS WORKFLOW • Consistent layout across all four engines • Live scope with per-engine spectrum feedback • Per-tab hints explaining the controls plus production tips BUILT FOR REAL MUSIC • Factory presets including curated Signature sounds • Preset import and export • Master Preset import and export • Deep MIDI: full Note and CC mapping (CC mapping AUv3 only) • Clock-synced LFOs lock to host tempo • AUv3 plugin that works in AUM, Loopy Pro, Drambo, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis, and more

About

TAPE 16

Record and mix music with a 16-track tape-style workflow. This cross-platform app lets you build songs take by take, with hands-on controls and Audio Unit plugin support. Save and reopen sessions offline, with optional iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • 16-track recording workflow
  • Destructive tape recording
  • Audio Unit plugin support
  • MIDI input
  • Hands-on transport and mixer controls
  • Offline session saving
  • Optional iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

TAPE 16 is completely cross-platform, with iPhone, iPad and desktop versions built around the same session format and focused 16-track workflow. Start a tape on one device and keep the session moving wherever you work. Inspired by reel-to-reel tape machines, TAPE 16 lets you arm a track, record a performance, and build your music one take at a time. Work with a fixed 16-track layout, hands-on transport and mixer controls, Audio Unit plugins, MIDI, and tape character controls. Recording follows a destructive tape workflow: new takes overwrite existing audio where you record. Your working tapes stay on your device. Record, save, and reopen your sessions offline. Use Files to move compatible sessions between iPhone, iPad and desktop, or optionally enable iCloud sync for selected Tape Library folders across your signed-in Apple devices. FREE MODE Keep one managed saved tape and save it as often as you like, with no time limit. All 16 tracks, recording, editing, Audio Units, MIDI, templates, and Remote remain available. Additional saved tapes and bounce/export require the Full Unlock. UNLIMITED TAPES + BOUNCE A one-time, non-consumable In-App Purchase unlocks additional saved tapes and bounce/export on iPhone and iPad. Restore Purchases is available in the app. Microphone permission is used for recording. Optional Remote control uses your local network. Optional iCloud sync uses your personal iCloud storage.

Screenshots

Bruno Drum Synth4 screens
TAPE 164 screens

Verdict

The call

Bruno Drum Synth and TAPE 16 both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of TAPE 16's written reviews are positive against 50% of Bruno Drum Synth's. TAPE 16 also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Bruno Drum Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). 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

TAPE 16 is free to download; Bruno Drum Synth costs $4.99 up front. TAPE 16 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bruno Drum Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Bruno Drum Synth against 4.3 for TAPE 16. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Bruno Drum Synth's written reviews are positive against 100% of TAPE 16's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bruno Drum Synth ships an update every 9 days, TAPE 16 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bruno Drum Synth versus TAPE 16: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBruno Drum SynthTAPE 16
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (6 ratings)4.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings66
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlenn VassalloJack Paterson

Customer experience

Bruno Drum Synth

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

TAPE 16

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Bruno Drum Synth

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

TAPE 16

One-time1
  • Unlimited Tapes + Bounce$29.99

Questions

Is Bruno Drum Synth free?
Bruno Drum Synth costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TAPE 16 free?
TAPE 16 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bruno Drum Synth or TAPE 16?
Bruno Drum Synth and TAPE 16 are both rated 4.3 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do Bruno Drum Synth or TAPE 16 have ads?
Neither Bruno Drum Synth nor TAPE 16 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bruno Drum Synth or TAPE 16?
Bruno Drum Synth ships an update every 9 days, and TAPE 16 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Bruno Drum Synth was updated on October 31, 2026 and TAPE 16 on November 5, 2026.

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