# AudioKit Retro Piano — user reviews > 90 indexed App Store user reviews of AudioKit Retro Piano by Audiobus Pty Ltd, rated 4.30/5 from 158 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-retro-piano/id1514017716/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-retro-piano/id1514017716.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 115 · 4★ 12 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 19 ## What do users think of AudioKit Retro Piano? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎵 Beautiful, warm, and rich piano sounds - ✨ Excellent presets with creative variety - 🎛️ Simple and intuitive interface - 🆓 Free or affordable pricing (original release) - 🔌 AUv3 audio unit support - 🎚️ Good reverb and effects quality - 💡 Unique lo-fi/vintage aesthetic - ⚡ Stable performance when working properly - 🎹 Great for hip-hop and lo-fi music production **Cons** - 💰 Changed to subscription model ($2.99/month) - 🔒 Added user tracking/spyware concerns - 🌐 Now requires internet connection - 🐛 Frequent crashes and instability - 🔊 Audio clipping and distortion issues - ⚙️ MIDI keyboard compatibility problems - 🎚️ Presets don't save state in DAWs - 📱 Poor compatibility with some iOS versions - ⏳ Infinite loading screens - 🎛️ Controls hidden/inaccessible on small screens - 😴 App goes to sleep during MIDI use - 🔄 Reverts to default sounds after reopening projects **Commonly reported bugs** - Infinite loading screen on startup - Crashes when used as AU in GarageBand and other DAWs - MIDI keyboard input not recognized - Audio unit extension not appearing in DAW options - Presets revert to default when project reopens - Note drops while playing with MIDI controller - Constant audio clipping and crackling - DSP fluctuations in AUM (15-65%+) - App freezes after iOS 14+ updates - Vinyl noise sound only (missing piano sound) - Incompatible with Keystep and Keylab 61 - Controls inaccessible on iPhone SE - App crashes unexpectedly in Nano Studio **Most requested features** - Attack time control - Stretch/microtuning options - Sequencer and arpeggiator integration - Built-in recording functionality - Proper state saving in DAWs - Rhodes piano simulation - Prevent device sleep during MIDI input - Better preset organization - Detailed changelog for updates ## Newest reviews (13 of 90) ### 4/5 — This was really good *2025-12-28* But I can no longer open this app on my iPhone and iPads, it shows a loading screen and stuck forever ### 1/5 — Another AudioUnit that stops working after awhile *2023-10-17* I’ve purchased everything they’ve ever made because I liked the idea behind AudioKit and wanted to support it. However, bot this as their FM AU no longer save states when I save the song. Just opened up an old tune and noticed instruments seemed to be missing. Tracked it down to this AU and the only way I could get it to make ANY noise was to change the preset. Which, of course, loses whatever changes you’d made the last time you opened it. As a result, I have to give it one star as a warning. As I said on their other app, it really doesn’t matter that it’s cheap if it doesn’t work (or, at some point in the future, won’t work because their efforts are focused on their new apps while these old ones go stale. Note that the positive reviews are from YEARS ago. Be warned. ### 1/5 — Doesnt with with MIDI keyboard *2023-07-01, version 1.3.5* All other AudioKit apps work fine with my AKAI Mini MPK3 except this one. ### 4/5 — Good for the price. *2022-11-28* To me, it sounds like one shot piano sample played on a keyboard (as you would in a sampler plugin, take GarageBand for example) with the FX on top. The expressiveness that you get with the velocity sensitivity of a sound is not there, or not good enough. But for the price, it’s good! It's got some cool presets. ### 3/5 — Что то не так. *2022-10-05* Давно не открывал, сейчас открыл а звук во всех банках только виниловый треск, нет самого пианинного звука. ### 4/5 — Not responsive to external MIDI keyboard *2022-06-22* The sounds themselves are wonderful , I am using a midi keyboard and the app isn’t responding to the inputs , every other app from your team works well with my keyboard but not this ### 3/5 — Beware of the reviews *2022-05-14* This app was a limited edition free app on its original release, people tend to like free regardless of capabilities in general. The app periodically comes back on sale when AudioKit have a new release, so at the right price it’s no more than a cheap coffee to go. I’m not really sure what the need is for this app., it doesn’t do anything usable, it’s a so so Soundfont style piano sound with a soft synth brass layer and vinyl noise sound, all adjustable. Yes, it’s niche, but you’d never use it for anything in any track you produce so as a paid app I’m not sure you should ever contemplate paying out for it. Their 3 synth apps are another beast entirely, Synth One is free and easily a top 10 iOS synth whether paid or not. My advice, buy their excellent Synth D1 app, and download their free Synth One app as well. ### 3/5 — Sons sature *2021-02-06* Les sons se ressemblent tous un peu et on tendance à vite saturer, grésiller. Au final, c’est pas l’appli du siècle ### 2/5 — Why delete the keyboard *2020-12-01* Why just not fix the keyboard instead of deleting stuff now I can't get to the app settings what used to be there that used to work but now I can't get to Them ### 1/5 — “Limited Edition” (J/k!) *2020-11-10, version 1.3* Pretending this is a $99 app on sale for $2.99 after it was supposedly limited edition and “sold out” - it’s too much. Laughable amateur hour marketing. ### 4/5 — Saving state, at last! *2020-11-01* This has some lovely sounds, and finally state saves under AUM, etc. The one oddity is that to get that saved state back you first need to tap on the default ‘Welcome’ then select saved state. Would be better if app followed the invention of simply reloading as it was left. Nic ### 2/5 — Constant clipping *2020-09-26* Seems to be a running trend with every instrument I’ve downloaded from audiokit. Even with the volume down to 25, it constantly clicks and pops. No matter what adjustments I make. Have yet to be impressed with any of the instruments. Update: fixed the clipping issue, but now, since the most recent update of both iOS and GarageBand, everything I’ve recorded with retro piano in it, keeps going back to the original welcome sound. Doesn’t matter what adjustments I make. Which is disappointing because I recorded quite a few songs with this plugin. ### 4/5 — Crashing after iOS 14 update *2020-09-22, version 1.2.1* Opens normally when it’s standalone but crashes as AU within other apps. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Hmmm… *2025-09-06* I absolutely love Audiokit’s range of apps and have most of them. I’ve tried this one out before and have come to the same conclusion. I just don’t see the point of it. NB: If this is the first app you try from them, please don’t let it put you off. They have so much fantastic stuff available! **Developer response:** We're sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate you sharing it. If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at audiobus.help@gmail.com. We're always here to help! ### 1/5 — neverl loads anything *2025-08-07, version 1.50.2* infinite loading screen ### 1/5 — Misleading website *2025-06-08* “+ No ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases: Includes full app, free!” Also, if I am going to give you money every month, I want more than a “bug fixes and improvements “ report. I want to know exactly what you did. **Developer response:** Your input is valuable to us! If you need any assistance or have questions, please reach out at audiobus.help@gmail.com. ### 1/5 — used to be "no tracking " *2025-02-28, version 1.50.2* not anymore, you should be aware of this ### 1/5 — Good *2025-02-27, version 1.50.1* Bye ### 1/5 — Not worth subscription pricing *2025-02-11* This is a handy app. It’s basically a rompler that is quick and easy to use and sounds nice. Unfortunately the app was sold to this new developer and they have taken it subscription. It was a reasonable value as a one time purchase, but now they think people will pay $2.99 a month for it? Thats nuts if you ask me. **Developer response:** We're sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate you sharing it. If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at audiobus.help@gmail.com. We're always here to help! ### 1/5 — Trackers! Subscriptions! Doesn’t work!!! *2025-02-10, version 1.5* This app is now SPYWARE ### 1/5 — Predatory pricing. skip this app *2025-02-08, version 1.5* I love how they use the audio kit platform to make an app that cost more than pro audio kits apps and is a subscription service…. Something the real audio kit would never do. ### 1/5 — New developer did bad to this App! *2025-02-08* They changed a fantastic App into a subscription App, added trackers and disabled use of the App without Internet access - which renders a music App pretty useless. Cannot recommend anymore! ### 1/5 — Under new management *2025-01-24* Pleasant, simple piano app. Not worth the subscription and user tracking which has been added. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your feedback! If you're experiencing any issues with the Retro Piano app, please reach out to our support team at audiobus.help@gmail.com ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love this little dirty piano *2026-03-02, version 1.50.2* It’s the perfect simple app to get great tones ### 5/5 — Fantastic app, but…. *2023-10-07* It doesn’t appear to be compatible with either the Keystep or Keylab 61. Update 6/7/23. All’s well on the Arturia front. ### 5/5 — Very good app *2022-10-10* I love the app a lot. The only issue is that it doesn’t work with iOS 16 anymore. Whenever I use it, or whenever I put it with AUV3 it doesn’t work. Please fix this. ### 5/5 — Hey AudioKit *2020-10-16* Guys! Please make your limited edition apps available again (for an affordable price perhaps?) I do not really understand why a digital software product that is already created and does not require any additional work and is always available (because it is in apple store), is sold out. It is simply not logical nor rational in my opinion. So many programming hours of numerous people are not getting the recognition it deserves. Thanks for your work. ### 5/5 — Login’ it *2020-09-08* The sounds are super smooth and warm! ### 5/5 — Less is Everything *2020-08-31* When these guys make an app they do it very well . I remember downloading the first AudioKit app before they updated it and I already liked it mainly because the beautiful reverb effect they have is unlike any I’ve heard anywhere else. That was the key to making even the blandest sound , full and vibrant, they only got better and more creative from there....so I know that this retro piano sounds awesome now ,....just wait till they work on it and spruce it up , I play around with all the big name items in the synth realm and AudioKit came in short time and surpassed all of them. Thanks for creating great toys for us grown azzz adults. ### 5/5 — One more day to complain *2020-08-30* As another reviewer said, if you want a great acoustic piano sound for free, open GB. It’s all there. You can even add vinyl scratches if you’d like. But that’s not the point! This is a piano/synth mix. You control the mix & vinyl & the tone. It sounds great. I didn’t need this sound but now that I have it.... I find needs for it. Solid, modern r&b/hip hop piano/synth sample sound that been in vogue for many years. This is free. For those that must look a gift horse in the mouth, don’t use what little creative energy you have remaining to write bad reviews. Use it to find an app w/ a subscription so you can pay monthly to justify calling yourself a “musician”. For those that want to support devs that are doing what they can to provide rare, genuinely EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES for musicians to create with hi quality, low cost apps, unhindered by greed & economics, I hope you already got this because it will no longer be available by the time this posts. ### 5/5 — Unexpected Surprise... 😎 *2020-08-26* I have purchased and downloaded a number of your apps before, and have found them ranging from interesting to mindblowing – in varying degrees. Synth One is a masterpiece IMO. I can see if people were expecting this to be more “standard piano sounds“ they might be a bit disappointed. For me, however, it was just the opposite! And although I would love to have a few minor additions – such as ‘attack-time’, and stretch/micro tunings (pretty pleeez! 🙏🏼), within a few moments of playing with the controls, I made these wonderfully gritty/rich “hint of a piano” textures drenched in crunch, and reverb – that sound delicious in the bass registers. 😎 If there were a way to patch the sequencer and arpeggiator or features from SynthOne into here... that would be the icing on the cake. As for those complaining “that it’s not up to par” – perhaps they were expecting a more standard electric and acoustic piano set?? This is F R E E. If you want all those standard piano sounds etc. why not just open GarageBand (which, sounds great, btw), or find one of the 30 or so electric and acoustic-piano “simulation” apps out there? Simply cut your losses (none!), delete the app, and move on to the next one. Life is too short to waste time on crappy reviews for apps one didn’t even pay for. ### 5/5 — These guys are awesome. *2020-08-19, version 1.2* Great app. ### 5/5 — Thank you so much *2020-08-15* I read a couple reviews that were really negative.. Pay no attention to them. Audio is the best synth for many reasons. Keep up the great work,your very much appreciated u --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*