1. Home
  2. 🎵 Music
  3. ButterSynth
ButterSynth

ButterSynth

by Arto Vaarala

63 ratings
71 reviews
📊 Productivity
🎵 Music
$19.99

Lowest price: $5.99 2 years ago (-234%)

Price history

Details

Released
April 28, 2023
Updated
December 8, 2023

Features

Developer

Arto Vaarala
✨Promote your app ✨
ButterSynth screenshot #1 for iPhone
ButterSynth screenshot #2 for iPhone
ButterSynth screenshot #3 for iPhone
ButterSynth screenshot #4 for iPhone
ButterSynth screenshot #5 for iPhone
ButterSynth screenshot #6 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
📈50.03%
Price change↘︎
📌Ready
Reviews summary↘︎
⭐71
Reviews↘︎
📝1+ tags
Tags↘︎
🔄6+ apps
Alternatives↘︎
❓5 answered
FAQ↘︎
📦w/o updates
Updates frequency↘︎
🖼️Get Icon
Icons↘︎

About

This powerful synthesizer app offers a hybrid approach, combining wavetable, FM, and sample-based synthesis. Create unique sounds with a vast sonic range, advanced modulation, and a built-in effects rack. It caters to both experienced sound designers and beginners with extensive presets.

✓Hybrid 6-oscillator synthesis (wavetable, FM, sample)
✓Built-in wavetable editor
✓FM engine with 4 operators
✓Sample and Granulator engines
✓32-slot modulation matrix
✓Internal FX rack with 16 modules
✓Extensive preset library
Show original description

What users say about ButterSynth

Reviews of ButterSynth are mixed: the Music app is rated 4.0/5 from 63 App Store ratings. What users like most: deep sound design capabilities, versatile modulation matrix. Top complaints: fiddly on small screens, crashes frequently. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • ✨Deep sound design capabilities
  • 🎛️Versatile modulation matrix
  • 🔊Great sound quality
  • 💡Innovative wavetable generator
  • 🌟Serum-like experience
  • 📱Available on phones/iPads
  • 🎹Excellent for sound design
  • 🚀Powerful and capable synth
  • 💯Top-tier instrument
  • 🎶Amazing workflow and sound
  • 💻Desktop-class plugin on iOS
  • 🎨Beautiful and intuitive UI
  • 🎚️Wide range of filters
  • 🎛️Loads of modulation capabilities
  • 💡Unique random LFO feature
  • 🎚️Good array of effects
  • 🎛️Multiple oscillator types
  • 🎚️FM synthesis included
  • 🎛️Real 4-op FM synthesis
  • 🎨Straightforward interface presentation
  • 🎚️Great filters
  • 🎶Excellent sound
  • 💡Top-notch sound banks/patches
  • 🎛️Highly customizable
  • 🎚️Great for DnB
  • 🎛️Can sound pretty or nasty
  • 🎚️Granular controls
  • 🎛️Deep and great sounding
  • 💡Can recreate popular synths
  • 🎚️Powerful and versatile
  • 🎛️Good selection of presets
  • 🎚️Excellent standalone app
  • 🎛️Amazing wavetable synth
  • 🎚️Good for soundscapes
  • 🎛️Highly recommended

Negative things

  • 📱Fiddly on small screens
  • 🐛Crashes frequently
  • 🐛Disappears in Cubasis
  • 🐛Spikes CPU usage
  • 🐛Crashes on patch change
  • 🐛No audio on render/freeze
  • 🐛Keyboard doesn't load on iPhone
  • 🐛Audio Unit Extension quit error
  • 🐛Unusable in GarageBand
  • 🐛Preset changes on play
  • 🐛Random crashes in Logic Pro
  • 🐛Patches hang
  • 🐛Limited wavetable selection
  • 🐛Sample module buzz
  • 🐛Simple LFOs
  • 🐛Square wave LFO not square
  • 🐛Step sequencer has glide
  • 🐛Can't save custom presets
  • 🐛No undo in wavetable editor
  • 🐛AUv3 loading issues
  • 🐛Unstable as AUv3
  • 🐛Patches sound different in AUv3
  • 🐛Crashes on iPhone with sequencer
  • 🐛No keyboard in iPhone standalone
  • 🐛Audio degradation in GarageBand
  • 🐛Preset browser closes on selection
  • 🐛Envelope curve is odd
  • 🐛Release envelope ends abruptly
  • 🐛Matrix fiddly with min/max knobs
  • 🐛Missing filter key follow button
  • 🐛Missing sustain pedal support
  • 🐛Missing tunings
  • 🐛Missing master detune
  • 🐛Missing parameter lock
  • 🐛Black borders on screen
  • 🐛Automation not working
  • 🐛No contact option for developer
See all reviews

What's New in ButterSynth

1.04

December 8, 2023

- Fixed: Note panning issue which occurred at the beginning of the note

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Macht leider Probleme seit iOS 26.3. Toller Synth leider ohne MPE Slide Modus

Wirklich toller Synth mit überschaubarer und aufgeräumter UI. Mit zwei Wavetabel, einem Sampler und FM uuund einem Granulizer. Mega.
Nur eine MPE Einstellung für das Keyboard fehlt hier noch und die Möglichkeit Sounds mit einem Sternchen Icon zu versehen, wenn schon kein Ordner erstellen möglich ist. Hoffe sehr dass hier noch ein Update kommt.
Show more
FFlíva

ButterSynth Still The Best Synth in 2026

ButterSynth is still a very powerful monster of a synth in 2026. IMO it outperforms almost all other synth apps on iOS, it really does have everything you need in a synth - with crystal clear audio.
MMidimania

Updated review years later.

Originally I said that the synth wasn’t great on small screens, but after years of playing around in the iOS music app scene, I’ve come back to this synth as an absolute classic. I’ve gone deep on what’s available here, with two wavetables, with a wavetables generator tool that you can use to tweak harmonics, FM modulation, a wide arrange of filters…. Honestly, amazing. This synth should get much more attention. Whilst it is fiddly to edit on a phone screen, at least it is available on phones and plays presents developed on larger screens (when needed) perfectly. It’s honestly a brilliant balance of functionality and usability and I understand why compromises had to be made to keep it as functional as it is smaller screens. Honestly one of the best, if not the best synths in the iOS/iPadOS toolkit. Really excellent work.
Show more
ZZenhabit

App crashing

With regular use, I’ve had it crash with AUM. Great app. When it’s not crashing.
@@thekrazywabbit

Most complete Pro SoftSynth

Awesome and Functional...mpe popup possible on top of the auv3 As an addition?
EEC0Sphere
See 66 more reviews

Developer apps

Cream Mobile
Cream Mobile

by Arto Vaarala

🎵 Music

(14)

$4.99
In-App Purchases
See developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

39 issues

App crashing with AUM

Bug

Disappears in Cubasis randomly

Bug

Crashes all the time inside Logic

Bug

Changing a patch spikes CPU to 99%

Bug

Crashes on every patch change

Bug

No audio when rendering or freezing track

Bug

Keyboard doesn't load on iPhone

Bug

iOS18 broke ButterSynth (audio recording issues)

Bug

Failed to load as Auv3

Bug

Crashes as soon as a preset is selected

Bug

Some patches hanging/sounding without input

Bug

CPU spikes to 100% on preset switching

Bug

Audio crackles on preset switching

Bug

Sample module has consistent buzz

Bug

LFOs are extremely simple (no phase offset)

Bug

Square wave LFO is not square (has slew)

Bug

Step sequencer always has glide/slew

Bug

Cannot save custom presets

Bug

No undo function in wave table editor

Bug

AUv3 plugin resets when ButterSynth crashes

Bug

Does not show up as auv3 in Cubasis, AUM, or Audio Evolution

Bug

Crashes regularly even on newest iPad

Bug

Preset changes every time play is pressed

Bug

Not resizing appropriately on smaller screens

Bug

Crashes with unison function in AUM

Bug

White noise on crash with unison

Bug

Sound continues after song stops in GarageBand

Bug

Preset changes on stop, rewind, or play in GarageBand

Bug

Keeps crashing in GarageBand (AUv3)

Bug

Patches in standalone sound different as AUv3

Bug

Crashes when hitting play with arpeggiator/sequencer on iPhone

Bug

No keyboard appears in iPhone standalone mode

Bug

Audio Unit Extension quit error on export

Bug

Lots of crashes in standalone and hosted in AUM

Bug

MIDI not working

Bug

Automation still doesn’t work in Logic Pro

Bug

Random LFO is great for recording sequences

Bug

Preset browser closes each time a new preset is selected

Bug

Works as AUv3 after starting in standalone mode

Bug
✨

Requested Features

20 requests

MPE popup possible on top of the auv3

Feature

Button to hide built-in keyboard

Feature

Buffer size option

Feature

Additional MIDI mappings (e.g., arpeggiator toggle)

Feature

Sustain pedal support

Feature

Longer LFO speed for evolving soundscapes

Feature

Alternative skins/color themes

Feature

Pinable preset browser

Feature

Virtual keyboard to remain active while browser is pinned

Feature

Make app take up whole screen (no black borders)

Feature

Master detune

Feature

Parameter lock

Feature

More presets

Feature

Fix square wave LFO to be truly square

Feature

Fix step sequencer glide/slew for discrete steps

Feature

Undo function in wave table editor

Feature

Filter key follow button

Feature

Adjust envelope curves (especially release)

Feature

Easier way to adjust modulation matrix amount

Feature

Phase distortion inclusion

Feature

FAQ

What kind of synthesis does ButterSynth offer?

ButterSynth is a hybrid synthesizer that combines multiple synthesis engines. It features wavetable synthesis, FM synthesis, and sample-based synthesis, allowing for a vast sonic range and unique sound design possibilities.

Can I create my own wavetables in ButterSynth?

Yes, ButterSynth includes a built-in wavetable editor. This allows you to tweak, morph, and hand-draw your own custom wavetables, with each wavetable supporting up to 256 frames for deep customization.

What are the advanced features for experienced users?

Experienced users will appreciate the thoughtfully designed interface, incredibly powerful 32-slot modulation matrix, fully-featured internal FX rack with 16 modules, and extensive control sources like MSEG envelopes and LFOs. The ability to mix and match synthesis engines also offers limitless scope for sound design.

Is ButterSynth suitable for beginners?

Yes, ButterSynth includes a library of hundreds of ready-to-use presets designed to spark creativity for less experienced synth programmers. This allows users to start making music right away without needing to learn complex synthesis techniques from scratch.

How are presets and samples managed?

All presets, wavetables, samples, and other settings are stored in the Files app. This makes bulk import/export, backup, and community sharing quick and easy, facilitating collaboration and organization.