Grail Tape
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Please include:
- iOS version + iPhone model
- App version (Settings → About → Version)
- A short description of what you were doing and what happened
Frequently asked
What are the ways to identify a tape?
Five: say it (speak the artist, album, or catalog number), type it, photograph it (point at the J-card or shell — Apple Vision reads the text on-device), play it (let the app listen to a track), or scan the J-card barcode. All modes match a catalog that ships inside the app, so results come back in seconds without a network connection.
Why does identification sometimes pick the wrong edition?
Grail Tape ranks candidates by best-match across voice, photo, or barcode signal — but editions of the same album can be very similar. The picker shows the top three; if the right one is in the list, tap it. If it's not, "None of these" sends you back to refine.
How does Discogs connection work?
We use Discogs OAuth (read-only). Tap Settings → Discogs → Connect. You'll sign in on Discogs directly — we never see your password. We can fetch your collection but cannot modify it. Disconnect any time from the same screen; we delete the token from your device immediately.
How does Last.fm connection work?
Tap Settings → Last.fm → Connect and sign in with Last.fm directly — we never see your password. Once connected, the app reads your scrobble history to show what you actually listen to, and if you enable scrobbling, your tape plays are sent to your own Last.fm account alongside your streaming scrobbles. Disconnect any time from the same screen.
Why does the camera show a black screen?
iOS may have revoked camera access. Open iOS Settings → Grail Tape → Camera and ensure it's enabled. (Inside the app, tap "Open Settings" on the camera permission screen for a direct link.)
What does "Likely first issue" mean?
It means Grail Tape matched the tape's edition markers (shell imprint, J-card cues, barcode era, country) against known characteristics of the first issue — but edition identification is offered for entertainment and reference, not professional authentication or appraisal. Treat the verdict as a starting point. For high-value tapes, do your own research before buying or selling.
What is the dub-and-fake checklist?
The classic tells, as a checklist: does the catalog number moulded into the shell match the J-card? Are the write-protect tabs punched out? (Commercial tapes shipped with them removed — intact tabs mean a dubbed blank.) Does the barcode fit the claimed era? Is the J-card too crisp for its age? It's a guide for entertainment — not authentication.
Why "free during beta"? Will it always be free?
We're free during the beta period so we can learn what's worth charging for. Long-term, the basic identification + pricing features will stay free. Some heavy-catalog features (every edition of every album, dub & fake checklists, cassette-only grail flags) may become a paid subscription. You'll know in advance — nothing changes silently.
Does the app track me?
No. We don't use the Apple advertising identifier, we don't share data with advertisers, and we don't track you across other apps or websites. We do collect anonymous crash and usage analytics via Firebase to fix bugs. See privacy policy for details.
How accurate is the value estimate?
Prices come from current Discogs marketplace listings. Discogs is the most-active physical-music marketplace, so live asking prices are a reliable signal — but condition is the dominant pricing variable (a Near Mint tape can be several times a VG copy, and a missing or water-damaged J-card cuts value hard). The app shows a range; treat the high end as "what a really clean copy could fetch" rather than what every copy is worth.