# FM Essential - US — user reviews > 40 indexed App Store user reviews of FM Essential by Yamaha Corporation of America, rated 3.01/5 from 70 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 20 · 4★ 8 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 24 ## Newest reviews (13 of 40) ### 4/5 — SEQTRAK should be unlocking this *2025-02-20, version 1.1.8* Fantastic sound ,would be wonderful for ST owners ### 2/5 — does not unlock with usb-c camera adapter *2024-04-30, version 1.1.7* bought an adapter just for unlocking the app. connecting with ipad air 4th gen w/ ios17. No joy. ### 3/5 — Leave it to the dude *2021-02-09, version 1.1.5* Wearing two bracelets and Capri pants. ### 3/5 — Crashes *2021-01-18, version 1.1.4* Love it as a stand-alone instrument, but the app crashes while loading combinations with mx49 keyboard! ### 2/5 — Crashes *2021-01-05, version 1.1.4* Sounds great but certain preset menus are completely useless as they crash the app ### 4/5 — Really like a lot, but... *2020-12-11, version 1.1.4* Once I updated my iPad to 14, the “Combined Sounds” would no longer read from my MX88. Also, it would be useful to have a separate volume control for the drums. Please fix. Otherwise, it replicates the sounds of my DX100, B200, and TG33 very nicely with the extra plus of effects and quick mods. ### 4/5 — Great fm synth app but with one disappointing limitation *2020-08-03, version 1.1.4* Successfully unlocked this on a MX88BK (in-store) and mostly love the capabilities of this FM sound module/app. Works nicely and can create and save new 4 operator FM patches just fine. The only real limitation is with the LFO. While it is possible to use the LFO on each operator separately, there is no LFO delay parameter like on a real dx100 or tx81z, etc.. This is a serious (and annoying) limitation. The only way to “delay” the LFO is to use each operator’s envelope params by setting a slow attack. For example, if you want a delayed vibrato (like on a flute or sax patch) this can be accomplished easily if there was a LFO delay parameter(like on a real FM synth). But with this app no can do. Please fix this Yamaha. I know you won’t because you don’t really care but it’s worth a try to ask. I guess you get what you pay for. Lol. ### 3/5 — Disappointed *2020-06-28, version 1.1.4* Disappointed to find my original MX49, no letters following, isn’t good enough to unlock this. ### 4/5 — I love the app but *2019-12-20, version 1.1.4* This app should d be able to be used as a plugin also I'm not felling the locked sound. I'm willing to purchase in app sounds but without the keyboard. ### 3/5 — Heavy use with varying degrees of success *2019-07-31, version 1.1.4* I use this app to live record into GarageBand, and it comes in handy for making sound effects. However, just recently I opened the app to discover that the instruments suddenly stop working if you turn off both effect filters in the EFX/EQ module. I used to be able to leave the instruments completely dry so that I could hear the raw sound accurately and make precise adjustments. Now, the program disables instruments completely if the effects are turned off, or even if they’re set to “thru.” I even reinstalled the app and encountered the same problem. Pleas fix this rather serious obstacle. ### 3/5 — Sounds great, but needs updates *2019-07-24, version 1.1.4* I really like the sounds of the emulation, but it is quite cpu heavy, and audio units share the same patch regardless of the host. Please fix, Yamaha ### 2/5 — Fm Essential Unlock *2017-12-16, version 1.1.2* New iPad Pro, latest update, spent over an hour @ Guitar Center (10 mi. drive), with several different MX models, trying to unlock FM Essential. Incompatible USB Device on all MX displays. A total waste of my and the helpful staffs time. ### 4/5 — Uh, No *2017-08-13, version 1.1.2* First off, the app in its unlocked state is pretty interesting in its own right, particularly if you've owned a DX7 or similar synth. The supplied patches are 'meh', but will whet your appetite. The kink comes when you try what's described in the above review. The keyboard specialist at the retailer I visited knew all about the app, but pitched it as something that was slaved to a particular keyboard. Yours. You buy an MX## and you can use the supplied cable to interface with your iOS device and unlock the 250+ additional voices. When I asked him if he could unlock it with a display synth he said no, it wouldn't work apart from that keyboard. Not to say the app's not cool, just that it's a fail as described above. Likewise not to say I wouldn't get an MX88 later and use this - I own and enjoy lots of YamaStuff. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Ohh my god! Ohh my god! *2024-05-04, version 1.1.7* I think this synth has restored my faith in humanity! Total Chaos Level- Ragnarok Grade- A+ Stars- infinite Yamaha We Owe You One! We Truly Do! Love and Hugs!🤗 ### 1/5 — Fm essential *2021-06-06, version 1.1.5* This app don’t work, I bought two different usb and lighting adapters and it still didn’t work. ### 1/5 — Why not let us unlock it!?!? *2021-01-27, version 1.1.5* Please allow unlock without going miles to another store. They might not let me do the unlock anyway so please allow unlock without jumping thru hoops??? Thank you Yamaha ### 1/5 — Won't connect *2020-08-24, version 1.1.4* I can't make use of this app. Please fix. 😕😕😕 ### 1/5 — Deceptive!!! *2019-02-06, version 1.1.2* You need access to an antiquated discontinued keyboard to unlock the full version of the app total failure!!!!!! ### 1/5 — 10 Sounds *2019-01-15, version 1.1.2* You basically get 10 presets and the rest are locked. Garbage. ### 1/5 — An ad disguised as an app *2018-05-08, version 1.1.2* Seems like it could have been a decent piece of kit, but it requires you to buy a $800 keyboard to get it out of demo mode. Even free, it’s a bit of a ripoff, because ha ha, they got credit for a download out of you. Way to be a bunch of cheap, creepy tightwads, guys. ### 1/5 — I have an MX49 and it doesn’t unlock on iPhone X!! *2018-03-28, version 1.1.2* I agree with the folks that are annoyed that you require an MX to unlock this app. I have an MX49BK and I can’t get it to unlock the app on iPhoneX! It unlocks on my iPad Pro 9.7” but after a while it tells me that the iPad hardware is not compatible when connected to the MX. So I can use the iPad standalone with all the features but it’s nice to be able to select voices and features directly from the iPad and play them on the MX. Either charge something to unlock the full version or just unlock it regardless of whether you own an MX or not. I also own a Montage 7 (FANTASTIC! by the way) and got the MX to take with me when I travel. ### 1/5 — Listed as free but... *2018-02-05, version 1.1.2* ...very limited and not usable. It can only be used with full functionality when connected to a Yamaha keyboard. I guess Yamaha conveniently forgot to mention that... ### 1/5 — Crooked Yamaha *2017-01-14, version 1.1.0* Why is Yamaha intent on promoting this as freeware? All this app is, is a sleazy ad for the MX synthesizers. In other words, "you can use this app if you poop out $500 for one our MX synthesizers. Yamaha used to be a respectable company, but man, have they slipped in recent years. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Tenori On apps bring it back please *2025-01-13, version 1.1.8* Please bring back the two tenori on apps. Tnr-i was a great app. Many people will be thrilled if you do ### 5/5 — Cool app *2024-12-19, version 1.1.8* I’m really enjoying this app ### 5/5 — Cool app *2024-10-03* I’m really enjoying this app ### 5/5 — Cool app *2023-06-23* Really nice work ### 5/5 — easy to use great sound *2023-01-26, version 1.1.6* love it ### 5/5 — Incredible *2020-10-21, version 1.1.4* This is an amazing synth. ### 5/5 — Wonderful, flexible, intuitive little synth. *2019-11-13, version 1.1.4* Great sound with lots of great presets to use as starting points. Very flexible and easy to use. Definitely recommend if you own a compatible Yamaha product!! ### 5/5 — Thank you, Yamaha *2017-04-30, version 1.1.2* FM GO Promo Want the the full version? Here's your chance. First, Download the free version of FM Essential to your iOS device, then visit an authorized Yamaha dealer and connect your iOS device to a Yamaha MX synthesizer to unlock the full version. There is no purchase required to download FM Essential. Once the full version is downloaded and unlocked, it stays fully enabled on your device – even when the MX is no longer connected! That's right, you can walk out of the store with the full version loaded on your iOS device. But you might want to stay and have some fun playing with the MX and FM Essential! Update: Take your Apple Camera kit adapter and ask the store to lend you a USB to connect and you will be set! Then have a blast playing the instrument using the phone/keyboard combo on the fly. The sales guy didn't know about the app or the offer, but we both were excited and surprised with the possibilities offered using the app/keyboard combo. I do not work for Yamaha. But, they should have someone go to stores... ### 5/5 — Ignore these entitled ingrate jerks.. This is amazing *2016-07-24, version 1.0* Yamaha releases an amazing FM synth. It's sound is stunning. It rivals the best iOS synths in sound and its interface is better then any Yamaha FM synth has ever been. Then they give it away for free! Of course these entitled jerks have to complain because it is meant to promote a keyboard these cheapskates will never buy. Serious what's wrong with you people? You can use it with audiobus and works perfectly with any iOS DAW that supports that. I tested it with Cubasis & Modstep. Yes I wish it had the AU version included or as an IAP but guess what out of my 60+ synths, samplers and drum machines only one of them has an AU version. ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2016-07-21, version 1.0* Ok, I admit, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is WAY too tasty a piece of software to be freeware. My hat is off to you, yamaha. I've been a Yamaha user for, well, just about freaking forever. I own and frequently use a tx81z, a dx21, an rx-7' just to name a few.....and for somebody who truly loves the cheesy goodness of fm synthesis, this is MAGNIFICENT, Thank you, from the bottom of my crusty old eighties influenced heart! --- *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 2026-06-10.*