# SmashCut Visual Synth — Video playback with MIDI

> Interactive video playback and manipulation controlled by MIDI. (iPhone/iPad app by Secret Base Design.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashcut-visual-synth/id1493237895 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Secret Base Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/413007812)
- Category: Music, Utilities, Music
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 1 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2020-05-07
- Data updated: 2026-07-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashcut-visual-synth/id1493237895/reviews.md

## What is SmashCut Visual Synth?

Musicians have used audio samplers for decades, triggering drum sounds, pianos, and hundreds of other instruments using MIDI keyboards and sequencers.  SmashCut brings the same sort of functionality to video content.

Load in any video from your camera roll, easily set cue points in the video, and you're ready to play with video in a new way.  The app responds to MIDI note messages to seek to cue points, and start or stop playback.  With MIDI CC messages, you can scale, rotate, and transform the video in a live and interactive way.  And if you don't have a MIDI keyboard, you can still use all of the features of the app -- there's a built-in MIDI controller that you can use on a second iOS device.

What can you do with SmashCut?  If you're making a presentation using video, you can trigger play and stop using the remote, and move to different cue points easily.  If you stream video or podcast, you can use SmashCut to cue to a video clip with no hassle or headache.  The iPad version of the app runs on a Silicon Mac, and works well with streaming software such as OBS.

If you have a band, and are putting on a show, you can sequence video to keep in time with the music.  SmashCut is a great way to put together a music video, or to just cut, splice, and glitch video for fun.  Instead of trimming video clips in a conventional editor, you can play with video like you would a musical instrument.

There's full support of MIDI, and also an easy Wi-Fi based connection system; if you have two devices on the same Wi-Fi network, they'll connect in seconds.

You can use the iOS built in screen recorder to capture video and audio from the app.  The app is universal, running on iPad, iPhone, and Silicon Macs.  

There's a watermark on-screen that can be removed with an in-app purchase.

## Key features

- Load and cue video from camera roll
- Control playback with MIDI notes
- Transform video with MIDI CC messages
- Built-in MIDI controller for second device
- Wi-Fi based device connection
- Universal app for iOS and Mac

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Watermark Removal | Free | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (5 of 5)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashcut-visual-synth/id1493237895/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Bro

*2025-09-06*

This is the type of app you’d assume there would be hundreds of but, remarkably, this is the only one I have found. A little finicky, slightly fidgety, but otherwise functional and obviously brilliant. I hope the developer continues to support the app with future updates (thinking visual fx would be highly useful) but if you are into video synthesis and need something to accompany input, sequencing, and hardware then this is it.

### 5/5 — Unique

*2025-05-09*

Great, please add a “loop when video ends” option

### 5/5 — Thank You

*2023-08-11*

Thank you for taking the feedback from users and making such great innovations of improvement.  Coupled with the answers you provided in V1.0 this new update will provide new avenues to enhance my current workflows.  This App is a true Gem for us Creatives.

**Developer response:** This is improved in the 1.1 update -- if you touch and drag on the lower quarter of the screen, you can scrub back and forth precisely.  The MIDI pitch bend will do scrubbing too.  Hope this helps, and thanks for the review!

### 5/5 — Very Nice

*2022-08-28, version 1.0*

Love this App.  It’s a great tool and could be even better if we could assign a midi cc to the video scrubber.  My fat fingers struggle to achieve precise positioning on the video timeline.  Please add this capability.  Thanks you very much :)

**Developer response:** This is improved in the 1.1 update -- if you touch and drag on the lower quarter of the screen, you can scrub back and forth precisely.  The MIDI pitch bend will do scrubbing too.  Hope this helps, and thanks for the review!

### 5/5 — Very original and powerful!

*2021-06-15*

This guy is one of the best Devs! Thank you for continuing to create genuine and original products!

## Frequently asked questions about SmashCut Visual Synth

### What is SmashCut Visual Synth used for?

SmashCut Visual Synth allows you to control video playback and apply transformations using MIDI messages, much like a musician uses MIDI to control audio instruments. It's ideal for live performances, presentations, and creative video manipulation.

### How does SmashCut Visual Synth work with MIDI?

You can load videos, set cue points, and then use MIDI note messages to trigger playback to those points. MIDI CC messages can be used to scale, rotate, and transform the video in real-time.

### Can I use SmashCut Visual Synth without a MIDI keyboard?

Yes, if you don't have a physical MIDI keyboard, SmashCut Visual Synth includes a built-in MIDI controller that can be used on a second iOS device, allowing for interactive control.

### What devices does SmashCut Visual Synth support?

SmashCut Visual Synth is a universal app that runs on iPhone, iPad, and Silicon Macs. It also supports iPod.

### How can I remove the watermark from SmashCut Visual Synth?

The app has a watermark on-screen that can be removed with a one-time in-app purchase. This purchase unlocks the full, watermark-free experience.

### How often is SmashCut Visual Synth updated?

The app was last updated on August 9, 2023, indicating active development and support. The current version is 1.1.

### What is the age rating for SmashCut Visual Synth?

SmashCut Visual Synth has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does SmashCut Visual Synth have ads?

No, SmashCut Visual Synth does not contain advertisements. The only monetization is through an optional in-app purchase to remove the watermark.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.1 — 2023-08-09

There's now a built-in remote control, that can control all the features of SmashCut using a second iOS device.
Documentation and tutorial videos are now available.

### 1.0 — 2020-05-07

No release notes.

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## More apps by Secret Base Design

- [Spectral Eye](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectral-eye/id546934084)
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- [Apollo Sound Injector - Streaming Audio between iOS Devices](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apollo-sound-injector-streaming-audio-between-ios-devices/id912136793)
- [Infinite Looper](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/infinite-looper/id1054808350)
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All apps by Secret Base Design: https://appshunter.io/developer/413007812

## Related topics

[synth video](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/synth-video) · [secret base design](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/secret-base-design)

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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 2026-07-05.*