# Photophore Synth — user reviews > 61 indexed App Store user reviews of Photophore Synth by Taika Systems LLC, rated 4.50/5 from 28 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photophore-synth/id937318617/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photophore-synth/id937318617.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 1 ## Newest reviews (16 of 61) ### 3/5 — Sounds great, limited connectivity *2021-01-12, version 1.0.4* Used to be my favorite lead synth but with ios 14.4 it recieves midi on all channels even when selecting a specific channel. So, i can’t really use it ### 4/5 — Updated for newer devices? *2020-04-22, version 1.0.2* Hi, could you please update the interface to fit newer screen sizes? The last update was over 5 years ago :) ### 4/5 — different approach ... *2018-05-23, version 1.0.2* ... to sound design. not as much variety as expected, but still convincing results. ### 4/5 — dat sound! *2017-09-03, version 1.0.2* Looking ages for this kind of sound. This one is my secret weapon. Give us midi and ableton link and i give you 5* <3 Please bring Photophore to 2017 or Photophore 2! Please!!! ### 5/5 — Honestly, fantastic.... *2017-08-04, version 1.0.2* I would actually rate this as a must have synth. It's actually that good. Great bright sound and synth features. Just get it. Hope the developers come up with more. ### 4/5 — Awesome But... *2017-06-04, version 1.0.2* Beautiful sounding app. Elegant interface. One star off only because if my screen sleeps it dies even though I have checked the Run in background option. Despite that it is still well worth having. ### 5/5 — Unique approach to synthesis *2017-04-16, version 1.0.2* This is real nice full body synth as a pose to others which tend to sound cheap. Real good clean sound and presets are really usable unlike other apps. A really good addition probably one of the best sounding apps I have heard in a while. ### 4/5 — innovative digital warmth *2017-02-10, version 1.0.2* Photophore introduces a unique approach to digital synthesis that is able to produce a wide variety of very impressive sounds, and I am excited to see what an update will bring. I hear there is one on the way. Right now the synthesis model is simply very cool, and I have no criticism at all for the basic idea here. What would make this a five-star synth for iOS, besides the obvious (I hope) addition of a multi-octave keyboard that is visible against the dark interface: more time-domain variable controls. I realize standard LFO's might break the concept of moving away from analog modeling, but surely there are ways to utilize auxiliary flocking algorithms to control the main flocking algorithms producing the sound so that they evolve in complex ways. Or something. :) This is a creatively implemented synth; I suspect the devs could come up with something equally creative to nudge Photophore along its very promising potential career as a powerful sound design tool. I highly recommend buying this now to help pay for the next version. There is enough here already to make it worth its very reasonable price. ### 5/5 — awsm!! *2017-02-05, version 1.0.2* wow now i want midi out for that. and ableton link of course ! <3 thank you ! ### 4/5 — Needs better keyboard *2017-01-14, version 1.0.2* It's an interesting app, but the keyboard is like an afterthought. Either, this should be expanded to cover much more of the screen, or the app should be made Chordion compatible. Oh, and the black on dark green colour scheme is way, way too dark for comfortable use. Nic ### 5/5 — Boards Of Canada *2017-01-05, version 1.0.2* This is most creative synth app. If you want that Boards of Canada, Tycho, and Juno reactor sound/feel this is the app for you! ### 5/5 — Digital Warmth *2016-07-23, version 1.0.2* This is still one of my favorite iPad synths. It could use an update though. I'd love to see a Midi Learn function, for example. You can set the mod wheel to control one parameter at a time, but for those of us with midi keyboards that have lots of knobs and faders, it would be great to be able to control everything at once. Also, can the arpeggiator sync to external time clocks? I haven't figured out how to do it. At any rate, it's a good sounding synth. Very unique. And I love the little animations on the screen. ### 4/5 — PHOTOPHORE *2016-02-20, version 1.0.2* Super surtout pour le prix . faut pas comparé photphore avec les autres vue sons prix audiobus compris . Très bon sons . Oui un peut petit les touches mais y 'a midi moi aussi jais des gros doits . Bref bravo ### 5/5 — Impressed *2015-09-06, version 1.0.2* I have spent a lot on apps over the years trying to find just what this one does so well. If you want organic sounding sounds that swirl and evolve endlessly this is the one you want. So much so that I spent two hours experimenting with the app and each time I found something even better. Not only is it truly usable but also so simple to use. I am using it with a Novation Impulse which worked with no effort at all. ### 5/5 — Awesome sounds *2015-06-04, version 1.0.2* Big warm sweeps sounds. This is a synth with a distinctive sound and while it can be used for anything it is my go-to for big warm pads. ### 3/5 — Decent *2015-06-01, version 1.0.2* I'm sure many of you are like me and can't resist snapping up any new synth given how cheap they are. After a few sessions with this, though, I'd recommend shooting straight to the superior Mitosynth. The on-screen keyboard is a pain. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work with Cubasis *2022-03-04, version 1.0.4* Doesn’t show in Cubasis 3 under audiobus or inter-app. Useless. Sent email to support but no response. ### 1/5 — DO NOT BUY PHOTOPHORE SYNTH *2015-02-12, version 1.0.1* Contrary to the glowing reviews listed here, Photophore Synth is simply a new coat of paint on tired old synth sounds. The twinkling lights are interesting if you’re still in puberty. This app is a toy for boys, not a synth with any uniqueness or power. Save your money until developers bring out something distinct and powerful. There are already good examples of powerful synths in the app store. This synth is just a dressed up 5 minute tart…. ### 1/5 — It wont play any sound *2014-12-16, version 1.0* The thing will not play a sound. ### 1/5 — Not worth your time if it was free. *2014-12-14, version 1.0* Relative to the awesome synths that are out there in the App Store this one is worse then Meh. Compared to Bebot (toy synth category) this does not deserve any more then one star, but compared to animoog or prophet it deserves a negative star. The limited presets sound are not useable for anything but techno, there nothing "organic"about any of the sounds. The graphical display of swarming balls when touched detunes and garbles the sound and thus has no sound shaping benefit. What a waste of time and money. ### 1/5 — One star ...for now *2014-12-12, version 1.0* Retina 4 with iOS 7 -Photophore is stuck on the "Welcome to Photophore" page; the page cannot be swiped away (is frozen) and nothing in the app currently responds to touch. ### 2/5 — AUv3 otherwise this is pointless *2024-11-21, version 1.0.4* Inter-app audio is now abandoned as a tech. ### 2/5 — AUM AV3 *2019-08-03, version 1.0.2* Would be great if I could use in AUM or if this were AV3. ### 2/5 — Mouais a voir *2015-01-03, version 1.0* Pour la première approche , le coup de mettre le doigt sur les petits points , n'aide pas une seconde a changer un son de façon à ce que ce soit harmonieux, c'est un gadget, le clavier est tout petit,si vous avez pas un clavier externe, c'est moyen , un synthé qui peu amuser, mais loin des synthé les plus connu comme animoog, addictives, zeta3... Etc..... Et il y a peu d'avis , pour une apps première dans 12 pays ......mouais,..... ### 2/5 — Well... *2014-12-11, version 1.0* Nothing special but a good layout... ### 3/5 — Pas mauvais mais bon *2021-12-09, version 1.0.4* Vendu comme « différent » C’est un synthétiseur classique avec une animation pas folle. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Drifty AF *2025-07-25, version 1.0.4* This thing drrriiiffffttttssss, I love it ### 5/5 — This is a very engaging synth. *2024-11-04, version 1.0.4* A real steal at the price, lots to spend time on and some great sounds. I love everything about it! ### 5/5 — Flock, Flock, Flock … *2022-07-13, version 1.0.4* Pigeons! ### 5/5 — Хорошее начало ! *2020-07-24, version 1.0.4* Ждём новые пресеты и Синты , ) ### 5/5 — Please add AUv3! *2020-07-05, version 1.0.3* Very good synth, but AUv3 needed very much!!! ### 5/5 — Loving this! *2020-05-11, version 1.0.2* Such great sounds and even though the sound library appears limited, just a few tweaks of the effects knobs and changes to the wavelength opens up so many options. The ambient sounds are lush and the bass lines are deliciously epic. The oscillation makes all the difference for me. It really opens up every sound and transforms each one from basic to eerie and theatrical. The swarm itself does a good job of that and I like it as an added level of sound interaction. I haven’t been playing around with it long but just experimenting and working out the possibilities has been great fun. I think this will take my music production in a hole new direction with more interesting tracks no doubt. ### 5/5 — Favorite app of all time...minor compatibility update please! *2020-04-27, version 1.0.2* The title says it all. TO THE DEVELOPER...Please update for compatibility with the pro! ### 5/5 — Séduisant *2019-06-11, version 1.0.2* Un synthétiseur étrange et atypique... Peu de presets, des réglages sommaires, et pourtant pour un prix étonnamment bas on a quelque chose qui ressemble à rien de connu avec une approche graphique surprenante et un son très personnel qui font que ce synthétiseur m’a immédiatement plu, et hormis le "clavier" qui, faut bien l’admettre, n’est pas terrible (une taille ridiculement petite), c’est un investissement raisonnable qui peut trouver facilement sa place tellement il est différent 👍 ### 5/5 — 堀さん *2017-11-23, version 1.0.2* デトロイトテクノで使えそうな雰囲気の音。音作りのパラメータは多くはないが、気が付くと使ってしまう、そんなシンセ。はっきりした個性がある ### 5/5 — Amazing!! *2017-11-23, version 1.0.2* Seriously, buy this app! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this before tonight. Sounds so thick, so other worldly. Great for scoring or ambient. Can also do “normal” sounds but it’s so much more than that. Would love to be able to use more than one wave form at a time in an update. --- *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 2026-06-08.*