# iSymphonic Orchestra — user reviews

> 144 indexed App Store user reviews of iSymphonic Orchestra by Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte, rated 3.80/5 from 103 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isymphonic-orchestra/id892220800/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isymphonic-orchestra/id892220800.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 58 · 4★ 8 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 8 · 1★ 16

## What do users think of iSymphonic Orchestra?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🎵 Exceptional sound quality and realistic orchestral samples
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎹 Highly responsive to MIDI keyboard input and expression controls
- 🔌 Seamless integration with DAWs like GarageBand, Cubasis, and AUM
- 🎼 Wide variety of articulations and instrument combinations
- ✨ Beautiful reverb and effects processing
- 💪 Stable performance on iPad with proper setup
- 🎯 Versatile for multiple music genres and compositions
- 📱 Works well as both standalone app and audio unit plugin
- 🎸 Great for layering sounds across different instruments

**Cons**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases for additional sound packs
- 🐛 Crashes when used as AU plugin with multiple instances
- ⚠️ Random loud distortion artifacts at unpredictable times
- 🎹 On-screen keyboard is too small and difficult to use
- 🔊 Inconsistent volume levels across different notes and instruments
- ⏱️ Slow attack times on some sounds
- 🔌 Latency issues with long cables or unresponsive keyboards
- 📊 Limited control over attack, release, and delay parameters
- 🐛 Audio export issues and incomplete playback
- 💾 App crashes when deleting tracks, losing unsaved progress
- 🔄 Requires inter-app audio switching to access all sound banks
- 🎼 Some instrument tone changes every few keys
- 📱 Poor AU functionality compared to standalone version

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes when using multiple AU instances in AUM
- GarageBand integration fails during export and audio merging
- Audio cuts out or plays only partially during export
- Track deletion causes complete app crash and data loss
- Reverberation artifacts on specific notes (C4, C5)
- Loud distortion spikes occurring randomly
- MIDI keyboard connection freezes or stops working
- Settings menu becomes garbled with accessibility features enabled
- App freezes when connecting to certain MIDI controllers
- Audiobus compatibility issues despite advertised support
- Sound packs fail to download or load correctly
- Stuck MIDI notes when changing channels with pedal depressed
- Glitching and connection loss in multi-instance setups
- Export functionality broken in GarageBand AU version

**Most requested features**

- Ability to hide unowned sound packs for easier navigation
- Zoom function for keyboard section
- Adjustable attack and release envelope controls
- Filter to show only owned sounds
- Dedicated save/record/play controls on main screen
- Bundle pricing option for all sound packs
- Separate woodwinds, horns, and strings-only IAP options
- Improved AU plugin UI closer to standalone version
- Microphone placement and mixing options like Spitfire Labs
- Favorites or custom sound folders
- Better orchestral percussion sounds
- Ability to import files from device without USB
- Export preset functionality between devices
- All-off MIDI signal for all channels simultaneously
- Cheaper entry-level sound pack bundle

## Newest reviews (14 of 144)

### 4/5 — Super App jedoch zu teuer …

*2025-11-12*

Ich finde die App super doch ich Student und habe nicht so viel Geld dass ich mir jetzt die packs Leisten kann… also für mich ist der App Preis 9,99€ komplett  in Ordnung … aber für 19 Instrumente 19,99€ oder 12,99 zu zahlen und das mal 10 ( packs ) das finde ich irgendwie merkwürdig …. Weil in der Standard App sind ja 25 Instrumente und die ganzen aufnahmeoptionen oder App Funktionen erhalten … aber dann für 19 Instrumente 19,99 zu zahlen wenn 25 Instrumente und die App Funktionen nur 9,99€ bezahle . 

Ich finde auch komisch dass in dem Standard also Standard App ohne Packs zu kaufen nur orchestras oder mehrere Instrumente hat ohne dass man sie verändern kann.. also beispielsweise Horn und strings dass man da nicht einstellen kann das man nur Horn oder strings hat … denn nur in den Packs sind einzelne Instrumente womit man selber auswählen kann welche dazu kommen … 
Aber ansonsten ist die App sehr gut .
Vielleicht könnten sie dies berücksichtigen mit den Preisen für die Packs …..

### 2/5 — Nice BUT

*2025-04-28, version 2.4.4*

Very little control over attack, attenuation, and delay. Also BEWARE:  This app “explodes” at times with a loud distortion that will knock you off your seat. Its random occurrence dismisses the app from being used in live performance. Stay away from it.

### 4/5 — Better than I could’ve hoped for.

*2025-03-15*

This is a fantastic app with pristine sound quality. It really just blows me away the full realistic quality of instrument samples, The keyboard is very responsive and easy to use despite its tiny size when enlarged. The basic sound bank is enough to create a masterpiece in your own right. The major complaint that I have, upon recording in additional tracks, if you delete that track, the app crashes, losing all of your progress along with way. Especially tedious, if you hadn’t saved the song. This has happened at least five times. The other suggestion I would add is please include a more accessible means to save record, play actively on the main screen instead of having to stop and cycle back and fourth.

### 4/5 — Great Potential, But Needs Critical Improvements.

*2024-12-13*

I’ve been using this app for a while, and while I appreciate its core functionality, the overall experience is frustrating due to several persistent issues.
Crashes Frequently: The app often freezes and closes unexpectedly, especially when performing complex tasks. This disrupts productivity and makes it unreliable.
Outdated Connectivity: It lacks support for modern connections and features, which makes integration with other platforms unnecessarily complicated.
Cumbersome Processes: Many tasks require unnecessarily complex steps, increasing the likelihood of errors and crashes. Streamlining these processes could significantly improve the user experience.

### 3/5 — Not bad

*2024-04-16, version 2.4.3*

Needs ability to zoom into a section of the keyboard.

### 3/5 — Guter Sound ! Aber !!!

*2024-03-14*

Leider entspricht die Auv3 Plug-In Umsetzung nicht der Stamd Alone Version,  denn weder das sehr gute Tuning Tool ,noch der Multimode (bis zu 16 Instrumente gleichzeitig Arrangierbar) sind ind der Auv3 Version enthalten , das ist wirklich sehr schade .

### 3/5 — fix ur au

*2023-06-25, version 2.4.2*

have to use as inter app to switch orchestra banks. Unlivable in 2023!!!! Invested hundreds in these banks please fix jfc

### 4/5 — Good but not perfect

*2023-04-27, version 2.4.2*

The trombones and some other instruments change in tone almost every 3 keys and it end up hurting my orchestrations. Also the drums are horribly laid out.

### 4/5 — Excellent!

*2023-04-15, version 2.4.2*

Please amend your response!

This App has taken some heavy flak regarding lack of AU functionality - and to be fair, it’s a bit harsh. The Dev has continued to address issues over the last 18 months, to the point where this has become a welcome addition to my AU arsenal for GarageBand. A lot of work has gone into making this almost indistinguishable from the original package, and it is pretty polished and certainly very useable now - a welcome addition, both as a standalone ‘sketch pad’ for finding chord progressions - accessible via third party MIDI chord progression apps and recordable within as it includes a basic MIDI recorder and export function. Having purchased several expansions to the App, I can honestly, and confidently, recommend this for use now - it’s stable, it sounds great (in all fairness it always has on its own) but now with the added effects section applied to the AUv3 side, I’m loving it! Thank you to the Developer for sticking with it and continuing to improve it despite some harsh, and at times undeserved criticism - it’s been worth the wait and the hard work - deserves to be a 4-star App at least.

### 5/5 — First impression: delicious sounds.  Now…

*2022-10-14, version 2.4.1*

…it’s 5 stars from me on this, probably because the flaws it has, are not to do with the sound timbre or that aspect.  And I must be clear what I am comparing it to, is what I would really like on iOS/iPadOS, which is Spitfire Abbey Road etc.  However, that alone tells us we are up in the quality stakes.  Discussions then are about how far this can be measured against the competition.

Competition - and I have really really scoured for iOS orchestral sounds - seems to come down to: the best soundfonts you can glean from what’s out there (the most boring searches I have ever undertaken, second only to looking for trainers for the wife, for disappointment when later ‘assessed’ on arrival !); or the individual Geoshred ones or the SWAM ones; then there’s GarageBand’s own or whatever DAW you use…so that’s Cubasis et al.

Patently, as I’ve ended up here the competition is flawed in some way, despite ALL the above options having some splendid sounds. Now ‘flawed’ just means a -ve aspect.  Some are very expensive, and seem to focus on ‘solo’ instruments, so I can imagine the pricing when they get around to sections.  Some are peculiar in that they refuse to accept MIDI information (blocks of midi) dropped in from another track.  The Developer position on this I was given directly by that developer - the expression permitted by their app is unique and executed in a unique manner, and so it would be inappropriate to allow this to be done.  Hmm.  I was not convinced, but it saves them making their app undertake a ‘conversion’ or ‘stripping-away’ process is for sure.

Soundfonts almost get us there, nearly, very close.  Indeed they ARE sampled after all.  If you watch some of Guy Michelmore’s excellent videos on the ‘big boys’ of the orchestral sound world, you will realise I am aiming very high.  Cheekily perhaps for someone determined to remain in iOS even before he got a used wonderful iPad Pro M1 12.9” device with a humungous 2TB SSD (because I did tests and found less than 75Gb ‘free’ SSD space, resulted in many glitches galore that are often blamed by users on the apps or Audio Units!).  Others rely on synthesising the sounds in some way, but not everyone has a cpu up to the task?

After all that, my take from having bought ‘Heavy Brass’ from the same developer, several years ago, and now this, is the sounds are delicious but I cannot expect an iOS developer with finite resources to produce a ‘container’ like Spitfire labs have for the Mac/PC, that gives choices of microphone locations and picking and mixing mics etc, it’s unreasonable and economically unfeasible.  But, There is an opportunity with touchscreens of iOS to be more exploited for expression still, I think?

As I mentioned the Spitfire top-notch sounds, it’s worth divulging I did reach out to them at Spitfire labs, and asked about iOS developments.  Unsurprisingly, they said they could not confirm or deny any future direction of development they would take.  I can guarantee, if one of the ‘big boys’ moves into iOS, this orchestra app by Christian will be examined in some detail as part of the exercise.

So moving on, anyone not wanting to buy every single soundpack/IAP for the Orchestra app, really could do with a ‘cut-down’ set of IAPs that cover the essentials.  I am not sure if this is the ‘pro’ box, or the ‘coda’ or whatever, perhaps that’s what I am missing.  This guidance would help, but you can listen to samples once you get this ‘starter’ orchestra app, and they seem the same high quality sounds from viewing a few of those in-app in the standalone app.  This developer still does in iOS what very few do (three or 4 or 5 devs if we count Apple and Steinberg!).  This orchestra app is still virtually unique in iOS.  Take care all.

### 2/5 — Pro and cons

*2022-07-02, version 2.4.1*

I love the sounds but when I export my song the sound halfway play so basically I can’t make music with this app

### 5/5 — Excellent Orchestra sounds for mobile devices

*2022-03-26*

A real alternative to desktop sound librarys, especially for iOS producers.
Very authentic with realistic results.

I‘m also a big fan of the Crudebyte HeavyBrass app.

Regular updated.

Thank you very much for such cool apps.

### 5/5 — It’s good.

*2022-03-20, version 2.4.1*

I read the reviews and was in 2 minds about buying after reading some of the comments, but if you only buy the app and none of the IAPS it’s still very useable. The IAP prices vary and so far I’ve bought 4 and I will add to that as I decide that I need them.

### 5/5 — Great orchestra sounds.

*2022-03-19, version 2.4.1*

Great app. Very pleased it’s Audio Unit compatible. Realistic sounds and easy to use.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Sounds like a toy keyboard

*2024-03-07, version 2.4.2*

Avoid this product at all costs. The sound of the instruments are unimpressive, have little to no articulation, and are very synth-like. Don’t ever buy the in-app ad-ons either because they are fake sounding and arguably worse than the prepackaged sounds. They also refuse to give you refunds if you are unhappy with your purchase.

### 1/5 — Großes Problem

*2024-03-03*

Ich habe mit iSymphonic in Beatmaker 3 einen Beat produziert. Der Sound ist großartig und alles läuft reibungslos. Allerdings stoße ich auf ein erhebliches Problem beim Exportieren der Spuren: Die iSymphonic-Spuren sind verzerrt, und die Lautstärke schwankt. Was könnte das Problem sein? Alle anderen Spuren werden normal exportiert.

### 1/5 — Can’t upload

*2023-01-15, version 2.4.2*

Very frustrating that USB from computer is the only way to import a file. Why doesn’t it allow you to upload from same device?

### 1/5 — Limitado e cheio de compras internas.

*2022-09-24*

Extremamente amador, não permite praticamente nenhuma edição do som ou de seus controles. Compras internas com preço alto, não vale a pena.

### 1/5 — Poor Customer Support and Faulty sections!

*2022-07-27, version 2.4.1*

Purchased this app with high expectations..however I have found that there are some annoying and unwanted artefacts in some of the sections and particularly in the Cello/Woodwind section where an incredibly annoying reverberation occurs when holding on the note C4 and a couple of notes after...disappearing then reappearing again on C5. This reverberation is even more noticeable, profound and annoying when the app is played through either of my midi keyboards! I contacted Crudebyte to see if they were able to offer a possible resolution for this and all I appear to have got from them was ready made excuses and no positive help or assistance whatsoever, other than an offer to refund which is something I suppose. I sent them a video recording highlighting this artefact while being played, however they replied claiming that any and all artefacts annoying or not are purposely built into the system and this reverberation is in fact 'not reverberation' in their opinion and everything is operating as it should, which is blatantly not the case and a gaslighting effort on their part to indicate that I cannot in fact hear what I obviously can hear! Not too happy with it or them!

### 1/5 — Looked great but poor support

*2022-06-24, version 2.4.1*

Can’t make this connect to my clavinova.  Contacted support which promised a response with 24 hours but nothing yet.  Concert coming up next week and I have no harp sound - at the moment it’s a waste of time and money but let’s see if anyone is there to help!

### 1/5 — Composer.

*2021-12-21, version 2.3.4*

Absolutely dreadful and expensive. There are no controls to alter attack and release times. The main issue is the extremely slow attack on all sounds. So slow in fact you can’t play it. Very , very dissatisfied and disappointed. Don’t bother.

### 1/5 — How much do you have to spend?

*2021-08-13, version 2.3.2*

Great app. But stacks of sound packs at $15 plus each? Come on. You’re taking the piss. And I pay for one and it download. Con.

### 1/5 — poor effort on auv3

*2021-02-02, version 2.1.9*

for those that paid you well for the stand alone app ands its iaps,
its pretty lame that you have added no control over the instruments in the auv3 version.

### 1/5 — Always has issues

*2020-11-08*

In Cubasis, always unstable. You load more than one instance and audio disappears. I just updated and again same issue. Dont recommend.

**Developer response:** This is no longer an issue with recent versions of iSymphonic and iOS. We are now able to run dozens of iSymphonic AU instances stable with all major DAW apps (including Cubasis) without any issues, which also matches with user feedback that we receive recently.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Great orchestra app but

*2026-05-25, version 2.5.1*

I like the concept of the app and how it functions the only thing that bugs me is the prices like 15-36 dollars is a lot for one sound pack but I had to pay 90+ (probably 150) dollars I mean over time not t once just to get a proper range of instruments but apart from that I really appreciate it. Thank you for listening 😝

### 5/5 — Absolutely Stellar

*2025-11-17*

I use this app constantly on literally all my projects. It's an indispensable part of my workflow, whether I'm working on acoustic guitar tracks, basslines, synths, piano melodies, or even intense heavy metal jams.
The flexibility is incredible. I can easily run multiple instances in AUM to layer sounds across different instruments. I specifically use it with other apps like Synth Guitar 2, and it does an amazing job enhancing my guitar tones.
If you're looking for a versatile, powerful, and reliable sound app that works great on everything from orchestral arrangements to rock, this is it. I absolutely love what it can do!

### 5/5 — Still Cool

*2025-07-07, version 2.5*

This thing still blows me away. The only real Gripe i still have is we should be able to tick a box to Hide the ones we don't own, this would make navigating the sounds we do own easier, especially on the iPhone scroll.. This app is driven by expression, velocity and latency. IE, having a nice responsive keyboard hooked up makes All the difference. I've read complaints about poor sound sets and thats not true. The way this app responds to my keyboard is astounding. The euphoria you feel when it all rises is heart melting. Most mistakes people make using this app are poor keyboard choices that aren't responsive enough and using long cables that affect latency. This apps epic and I've cut plenty of stunning tracks with it.  UPDATE:  i started out with this App on an iPhone 5 x86 and i still love it on my iPhone 7 pro with iOS 15.8.4… please maintain support as long as you technically can  🤗

### 5/5 — Mini Orchestra

*2025-03-12, version 2.4.4*

I finally got a five stars!

### 5/5 — great work and easy to use

*2025-01-08, version 2.4.3*

perfect to make a podcast from

### 5/5 — Great App

*2024-12-29*

Easy to use. There is a wide variety of quality and very cost effective orchestral instruments with useful articulations. The sound library integrates seamlessly in programs like GarageBand for composition.

### 5/5 — Canto sound

*2024-08-23*

Bonjour bonne application un son réaliste on se croirait dans un concert philharmonique pour connexion bien aussi en câble ou bleuthous bravo

### 5/5 — Tolles Orchester

*2023-04-22*

Liebes Entwicklerteam,
vielen Dank für all die Arbeit, die in dieser App steckt! Bin sehr zufrieden und kann jedem dazu raten, diese App zu kaufen und je nach Wunsch mit den zusätzlichen Paketen zu ergänzen.
Toller, satter Sound, vielfach modellierbar.

### 5/5 — Absolute awesome

*2023-03-03, version 2.4.2*

If you like me need beautiful orchestra soiunds this is IT !!

### 5/5 — Most beautiful orchestral instrument set

*2022-10-27*

Simply download any Mozart Requiem piece and be at the Opera. Great sounding details, deep low ends, a lot of precision without anything artificial… don’t you hesitate, buy this one !!!

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*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 2026-08-26.*