# King of VHS: VCR Synth — NEW: LO-FI Synthesizer + AUv3!

> Lo-fi synthesizer app emulating vintage VCR-recorded synth sounds. (iPhone/iPad app by AudioKit Pro.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/king-of-vhs-vcr-synth/id6743419642 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [AudioKit Pro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1307785645)
- Category: Music, Photo & Video
- Price: $7.99
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 286 App Store ratings · 45 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.4 · 210 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-04-09
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/king-of-vhs-vcr-synth/id6743419642/reviews.md

## What is King of VHS?

KING OF VHS: VCR SYNTH captures the sound of vintage synthesizers recorded through a VCR, then carefully resampled for that unmistakable lo-fi character.

“KING OF VHS has got to be the best iPhone/iPad synth, 2025!”
–  12x Platinum Producer, Bolo Da Producer, 

"THIS IS APP IS A GAME CHANGER"
Warm, retro-inspired feel. Enjoy the vibe of dusty tapes, 80s synths, and analog charm

KING OF VHS: VCR SYNTH has been completely rebuilt from the ground up — 
FEATURES all NEW CODE, PRO FEATURES, Plus some Brand New Bonus Sounds. 
And YES, your favorite classic samples are still here.

No in-app purchases. No subscriptions. No data tracking.

"King of VHS is the NEW STANDARD for LO-FI Synths" – Ikkai Blog, 2025
"Possibly the BEST SOUNDING app I've made." – AnalogMatthew

FEATURES:
∙ Over 160+ Multi-Sampled PCM Instruments Total – 2,500+ high-quality VCR/VHS recorded samples
∙ Over 400 brand new samples (into 40 multi-sampled PCMs, with 300+ New Presets!)
∙ 3 LFOs with deep modulation options (no LFOs in the original)
∙ Built-In Synth Engine – Making VCR Synth a true VA synth, not just a sample player.
∙ Step Sequencer – With adjustable rate, gate, and destination routing
∙ Re-Engineered UI & VCR FX – Customize tone and texture
∙ Rewritten from scratch: Stable, and built to last

BONUS FEATURES:
∙ Classic VCR sound effects — buttons, tape hiss, and more
∙ Free expansion pack:  OP-1 recorded straight to VHS
∙ Universal app — iPhone and iPad versions included
∙ Works with MIDI keyboards, iOS MIDI hosts
∙ Robust MIDI Learn and Mapping options 
∙ Entire app is 200 MB Download! WOW! 

KING OF VHS is your new secret weapon for lo-fi and retro-inspired production.
One-time price. No upsells. Just pure vintage flavor.

"I picked up King of VHS and this is not an exaggeration: I’m halfway thru auditioning all the presets and there are so so many great sounds my favorites folder is overflowing with stuff" – Loopy Pro Forum

WHAT'S NEW:
∙ 40 NEW multi-sampled Instruments  (400+ Brand New Samples for this App)
∙ 300+ Completely New Presets, Taking advantage of New features and PCMs
∙ 3 Powerful LFOs – Tons of modulation destinations (the original had zero)
∙ Step Sequencer – With adjustable rate, gate, and destination routing
∙ Full Synth Engine – VCR Synth is now a real synth, not just a sample player. Includes engine from King of Digital
∙ Completely Rebuilt Codebase – Faster, more responsive, and more powerful
∙ Tempo Sync Support – Finally, everything locks to your BPM
∙ Re-Engineered FX – Tuned for the sweet spot in every mix
∙ Keyboard Splits – Assign layers across different keyboard zones
∙ Dual Panel UI – Optimized layout for iPad: stacked panels for better workflow
∙ Upgraded Filters – Including lush Moog-style low-pass filters
∙ New Filter Types – Band-pass and high-pass now included
∙ Alternate Tunings – Support for 432 Hz and other A tunings
∙ Added Chorus Effect – For richer, wider sounds
∙ Global & Layer Bend Controls – Perfect for risers, drops, and FX shaping
∙ Robust MIDI Learn System – Save/load mappings, plus pre-mapped templates
∙ PCM Previewing – Audition samples directly from the selection panel
∙ Improved PCM Navigation – Left/right buttons for faster browsing
∙ Overall Sound Quality Improved
PLUS, TOO MUCH MORE TO LIST… 

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE SOUNDS! WHAT'S INCLUDED?
∙ Includes samples from Brian Funk’s iconic 80s VHS sample pack (a $15 value)
∙ Includes samples from VCR Wave OP-1 desktop pack (another $15 value)
∙ Expressive New Sounds – NEW Bank of 100 Presets by DMT Cymatics
∙ EVERYTHING INCLUDED, FREE!

Create instant nostalgia with your audience... Lo-Fi vibe, VHS warble, this might be your new favorite app!

POSSIBLY THE BEST VALUE IN MOBILE MUSIC?
Yes, Buy Now!

"There’s something about these older recordings that just takes you back in time."
– Brian Funk, Ableton Certified Trainer 

We could keep going, but here’s the most important thing:
It sounds incredible. No fluff, no filler.. just pure retro synth magic.

## Key features

- Over 160+ Multi-Sampled PCM Instruments
- Built-In VA Synth Engine
- Step Sequencer with modulation
- Re-Engineered UI & VCR FX
- Classic VCR sound effects
- MIDI keyboard and host support

## What do users think of King of VHS?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Beautiful interface
- 🚀 Great playability
- 💡 Interesting and unique sounds
- 👍 Packed with features
- 👍 Excellent value for the price

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes with multiple instances in GarageBand
- 🐛 Resource-intensive
- ⚠️ Misleading advertising claims

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes with multiple instances in GarageBand
- Resource-intensive

**Most requested features**

- Modular synth functionality
- More preset options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 45)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/king-of-vhs-vcr-synth/id6743419642/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Fun to use and sounds great

*2026-06-19*

The synth gives great sounds out of the box butyou can also go a lot further with it if you want to.

### 5/5 — Love it

*2026-04-06*

Love this wonderful thing

### 5/5 — My fav phone synth I love it so much

*2026-04-04*

Enough said
Get it

### 5/5 — Instant bangers

*2026-03-24*

Made 4 bangers right after opening these and I’ve never made Beas on iPhone before

### 5/5 — Another Incredible App

*2026-02-16*

Inspiring, fun, and feature-packed.  What’s not to love?

### 5/5 — Pure synth love

*2026-02-11, version 1.4.1*

Pure synth love I’m feeling it

### 1/5 — Nothing useful

*2026-01-17, version 1.3.1*

This is the worst of the Audiokit apps, I was apprehensive on getting it, I should had trusted my gut, big regret. 🇺🇸

### 5/5 — Incredible Sound, Nice Features

*2026-01-03*

Truly captures the sound and vibe of the synths it samples. Groundbreaking. Love the dual aspect.

### 1/5 — I want my money back.

*2025-10-10*

I have purchased a “VHS Synth” twice now. The first is the older synth by Brian Funk and an update caused me to lose an entire album of music I had made.

I just purchased this synth as a replacement to hopefully recreate that lost music and the synth disables itself as I export songs. This is twice now that my hard work is being lost. This is TWICE NOW that I have paid for absolute garbage. I want my money back, I don’t care how. This is absolute nonsense.

### 5/5 — Just awesome!

*2025-08-23*

The best, most playable, sexy eargasm sounding soft synth to date. It’s wasting (in a great way!) hours of my time. Thank you

## Frequently asked questions about King of VHS

### What is King of VHS: VCR Synth?

King of VHS: VCR Synth is a mobile application that recreates the sound of vintage synthesizers recorded through a VCR, imbuing them with a distinctive lo-fi character. It offers a comprehensive synth engine, extensive sample libraries, and creative sequencing tools for music production.

### What are the key features of this app?

Key features include over 160 multi-sampled PCM instruments, a built-in VA synth engine, a step sequencer with modulation options, re-engineered VCR effects for tone customization, and classic VCR sound effects. It also supports MIDI keyboards and hosts.

### How much does King of VHS: VCR Synth cost?

The app is available for a one-time purchase price. There are no in-app purchases, subscriptions, or data tracking involved, offering a straightforward acquisition model.

### What devices is King of VHS: VCR Synth compatible with?

This is a universal app, meaning it is designed to work on both iPhone and iPad devices. It also supports working with MIDI keyboards and iOS MIDI hosts.

### What kind of music is this app best suited for?

This app is ideal for creating lo-fi and retro-inspired music. Its unique VCR-emulated sounds and analog charm are perfect for genres like synthwave, chillhop, vaporwave, and any production seeking a warm, nostalgic audio texture.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7.1 — 2026-07-08

THANKS EVERYONE! 
• IMPROVED: World Scales work better. The following scales were fine-tuned by experts: Chinese (Pentatonic), Çargâh, Hicaz Ascending (Turkish), Hicaz Descending (Turkish), Huseyni (Modern / Arabic), Hüseyni Ascending (Turkish), Hüzzam, Karcıǧar, Nikriz Ascending, Rast Ascending v1, Rast Ascending v2, Rast Descending v2, Saba (Arabic), Şedaraban (Turkish), Sikah (Arabic), Segâh (Turkish), Suznak [Basit] (Arabic), Pahadi Raga
• IMPROVED: LFO Timing
• IMPROVED: Scala import
• Plus, lots of other small fixes!

### 1.7 — 2026-06-22

THANKS EVERYONE! MAJOR FREE UPGRADE:
• NEW: MICROTONALITY (Microtonality + VHS Synth Sounds = Match made in Heaven!)
Explore new sonic territory with 150+ curated microtonal scales, including North Indian scales, Hexanies, and scales by Irv Wilson, Marcus Hobbs, and more.
• Import Scala .scl tuning files and bring your own custom scales into the app.
• NEW: WORLD SCALES
Explore 60+ international scales with selectable root keys. Choose from Arabic, Egyptian, Eastern, and other world scales, then pick the base key that fits your song.
Special thanks to Aram from TAQS.IM for the world scales!
• NEW: WESTERN KEY + SCALE SUPPORT
Choose a key like C minor, Bb, F minor, and more. Select from Major, Minor, Blues, Pentatonic, and other familiar scales.
Keep your arps, sequences, and external MIDI locked to a Western scale, world scale, or go fully microtonal.

• NEW: PRESETS SAVE THEIR KEY AND SCALE
Want Preset #17 to always load in D minor? Now it will. Save presets with the correct key and scale for songs, live sets, and performance patches.
• NEW: AUv3 STATE SAVING FOR TUNING AND SCALE
Your tuning and scale settings are now saved properly inside AUv3 sessions.
• NEW: TUNE LOCK
Tune Lock button starts unlocked, so presets can load with their saved tuning. Tap the lock icon to keep the same tuning while changing presets.
• NEW: PROGRAM CHANGE MIDI MAPPING
You can now use a custom MIDI CC to change presets. Go to the About Page [i], tap “MIDI Mapping,” then “Add/Edit Mapping.” Choose “Program Change,” then enter the CC you want to use.

PLUS: More improvements under the hood.
Thanks for supporting the app. 
Analog Matthew

### 1.6.2 — 2026-05-19

THANKS EVERYONE!
• NEW: MIDI Clock In can now be toggled off
Tap the Tempo readout to turn MIDI Clock In on/off
NOTE: Tempo readout turns green when MIDI Clock is controlling it
• iPhone AU View improvements
• Fixes sequence sound cutting out while scrolling presets & lfos 
MORE FREE UPDATES TO COME! BETTER & BETTER!

### 1.6.1 — 2026-05-05

Thanks everyone! Quick fixes & updates for AUv3 LFOs!

### 1.6 — 2026-05-05

THANKS EVERYONE! Big improvements:
• NEW: MIDI Clock Input. Get your Tempo from a MIDI source! (In Standalone mode. AUV3 hosts should have their own timing)
• AUV3 Timing: Sequencer/Arp Starts on First Beat in Cubasis
• LFO/Tempo Sync Timing More Accurate
• Fix for MIDI Learn crashes in iOS 26
This app will keep getting Better & Better!

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All apps by AudioKit Pro: https://appshunter.io/developer/1307785645

## Related topics

[vhs synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vhs-synth)

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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 2026-09-05.*