Comparison

Reel2 vs iStem

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

Head to head
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

About

iStem

Features
Read full description

iStem lets you split songs into drums, bass, vocals, and other instruments, remix them, and practice with tempo/pitch/metronome controls. Features: - Split in instrument/vocal tracks - Detect beats - Count-in function - Speed up or slow down songs - Change pitch - Set up loops for detailed practice - No login or user data required - All computation is done on the device - Export to file

Screenshots

Reel21 screens
iStem4 screens

Verdict

The call

Reel2 and iStem are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Reel2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iStem sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Reel2 versus iStem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReel2iStem
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua David AquinoJan Maes

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Reel2

One-time1
  • Reel2 Full$1.99
1 purchases

iStem

One-time1
  • iStem Activation$4.99

Questions

Is Reel2 free?
Reel2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iStem free?
iStem is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Reel2 or iStem have ads?
Neither Reel2 nor iStem shows ads.

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