# SoundFonts — Polyphonic soundfont synth

> Polyphonic soundfont synthesizer with AUv3 plugin and MIDI support. (iPhone/iPad app by Brad Howes.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundfonts/id1453325077 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Brad Howes](https://appshunter.io/developer/430573224)
- Category: Entertainment, Music
- Price: $7.99
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 145 App Store ratings · 76 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 187 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-02-19
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundfonts/id1453325077/reviews.md

## What is SoundFonts?

This is a straightforward yet powerful app that acts as a polyphonic audio synthesizer with a virtually unlimited collection of sounds. Under the hood, It uses an AVAudioUnitSampler to generate the audio output when you touch one or more keys. The sounds that are available come from soundfont (SF2)  files, such as those available online for free (and of variable quality). 

The app also exists as an AUv3 plug-in (included) so you can use it in your favorite music generation application such as GarageBand, Logic, or AUM. It also includes two AUv3 effects units – reverb and delay - which you can use separately as well..

The app supports MIDI input -- just connect a MIDI keyboard/controller to your iOS device and you should be good to go! There is also support for MIDI over Bluetooth. You can also control some app settings using MIDI controls, including the active favorite preset and the audio effects.

To use, simply select a SoundFont name in the left list, then a patch name on the right and start playing. Some additional hints to get going:

• Add a SoundFont (SF2) file that you have downloaded onto your iCloud Drive. Press the "+" button and then locate the file to add. You can always change the display name of the SoundFont  by swiping right. And you can remove a SoundFont that you no longer want by swiping left on its name.

• Bring up reverb and delay effects by touching the wavy "signal" button.

• Swipe right on a patch name to make it a favorite. Favorited patches have a star next to their name. You can edit the name of the favorite by again swiping right and selecting the edit action. You can remove a favorite by swiping left and selecting the remove action.

• Touch the labels at either end of the black bar to change the range of the keyboard. You can go as low as "C0" and as high as "C9". You can also change the range by swiping left/right on the black bar. Note that this ability does not exist in the AUv3 extension -- use the native application keyboard controls to achieve the same results. You can also toggle the keyboard sliding feature by touching the small arrow between the note labels.

• Switch between the soundfont patches listing and the favorites view by double-tapping on the patch name in the black bar above the keyboard. You can also swipe left/right with two fingers in the patches and favorites views to switch to the other view.

• In the view of favorites, you can edit a favorite button by double-tapping on it. You can rearrange the favorite buttons with a tap-and-hold gesture.

Finally, you can check out the source code! Go to the Support URL to find out more.

## Key features

- Polyphonic audio synthesis
- Vast soundfont library
- AUv3 plugin support
- Reverb and delay effects
- MIDI keyboard input
- MIDI over Bluetooth

## Chart rankings

- #161 in Top Paid · Entertainment (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 76)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundfonts/id1453325077/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Works perfectly

*2026-01-26*

Great app for playing soundfonts and it's accessible with VoiceOver

### 5/5 — Favorite plugin but issues after iOS 26

*2025-09-25*

I’ve been enjoying using this plugin for GarageBand ever since I bought it more than a year ago! However, after updating to iOS 26, I started having issues with the plugin not being able to load. I tried redownloading GarageBand and the Soundfonts app, but I still had the same problem with it crashing and being unable to load. I think this is an essential app that makes GarageBand even better, so I really hope this is fixed. Thank you!

### 5/5 — Excellent app, responsive and helpful developer

*2025-07-23*

I downloaded this app after my partner showed it to me and it blew my mind, I had no idea such a thing existed. 

Initially I had trouble integrating it with Garage Band on my iphone, emailed the developer and they got back to me within hours with a solution that completely solved the problem.

This is the order of steps I took that solved my personal problem (no sound coming through the audio unit in GB): closing Garage Band completely, uninstalling Soundfonts, restarting my phone, redownloading Soundfonts, opening Soundfonts and THEN opening Garage Band—problem solved. 

Incredible work, highly reccomend this app.

**Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to post your kind review. Glad to know everything worked out.

### 4/5 — Great app for sf2s

*2025-06-08*

A while ago some friends of mine who use this app for sf2-playing said they didn’t like how song exporting makes the tracks into sine waves, so they had to screen record it. I’m glad it was fixed recently.

### 5/5 — Fantastic app! MPE support would be amazing.

*2025-05-15, version 2.30.8*

(Please :)

### 4/5 — I recommend

*2025-04-01*

The app is almost perfect, i only have a couple complaints though, the app doesn’t have a way to shorten the release of the instruments, nor attack and sustain, it would be fantastic if this was added. My other complaint is that the app will sometimes crash garage band if you have too many soundfont players, I’m not sure if it’s this, or garage band. But overall, i highly recommend this if you use garage band.

### 5/5 — Crashing Issue

*2025-02-23, version 2.30.8*

This app is really nice, however on GarageBand IOS, it repeatedly crashes, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

### 4/5 — Regarding version 2.30.8

*2025-02-14, version 2.30.8*

Although this works great on iPadOS, this app won't validate as an AU using Logic Pro on macOS. It used to work for a while… I'd love to be able to use it again on desktop.

### 4/5 — Best plugin I’ve ever used, just one problem left

*2024-12-31*

The only problem is that the instruments convert to sine waves every single time the performance is optimized (which happens A LOT in GarageBand). If this problem was fixed, than it would definitely be a 5-star app!

**Developer response:** Thanks for reporting your version. Version v2.30.6 has a fix that I hope alleviates your issue.

### 5/5 — Still crashing

*2024-12-22*

Not sure what happened but even after the recent update it still crashes whether it’s auv3 or standalone. I’m on 2017ipad pro w/ the 16.7 software update.

EDIT:

Bro that was quick, I mentioned crashing issues yesterday and today the issue is resolved. Where is the tip jar?

**Developer response:** Thanks for reporting your issue. This should be fixed in v2.30.6. Sorry for the inconvenience!

## Frequently asked questions about SoundFonts

### What does this app do?

This app is a polyphonic audio synthesizer that allows you to generate a wide variety of sounds using soundfont (SF2) files. It can be used as a standalone application or as an AUv3 plugin within other music creation applications.

### How do I add new sounds to the app?

You can add new soundfont files by tapping the '+' button and locating the SF2 file on your iCloud Drive. You can then rename soundfonts by swiping right on their name and remove them by swiping left.

### Is this app free to use?

Based on the provided information, this application is a paid app. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, indicating a one-time purchase model.

### Can I use this app with a MIDI keyboard?

Yes, the app fully supports MIDI input. You can connect a MIDI keyboard or controller to your iOS device, or use MIDI over Bluetooth, to control the synthesizer and its settings.

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

Key features include polyphonic audio synthesis, a virtually unlimited collection of sounds via soundfonts, AUv3 plugin compatibility, built-in reverb and delay effects, and comprehensive MIDI input support.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.32.5 — 2026-06-16

• Fix crash in AUv3 component

### 2.32.4 — 2026-05-15

• Disable/hide MIDI buttons in settings panel when in AUv3 component.
• Change how sound fonts are resolved from DAW song/preset files in order to remove issues when sharing files across devices.
• Fix to remove audio artifacts in CUBASIS 3 when playhead stops.
• Fix crash in Camelot host.
• Various internal improvements.

### 2.31.1 — 2026-01-26

• Pressing "Done" when searching only dismisses the text keyboard, leaving the current search results.

### 2.31.0 — 2026-01-16

• Enable searching in font list by dragging down to reveal search bar.
• Minor bug fixes.

### 2.30.12 — 2025-08-25

• Various fixes related to accessibility -- thanks to Neal Hibbard for raising the issue
• Effects knobs now work via Voice Over and report their units
• Fixed the order of the controls in Voice Over
• Improved use of on-screen keyboard with Voice Over

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## More apps by Brad Howes

- [SimplyLowPass](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplylowpass/id1553314889)
- [SimplyFlange](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplyflange/id1554960150)
- [SimplyPhaser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplyphaser/id1557901730)
- [SimplyTremolo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplytremolo/id1558372201)
- [SimplyChorus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplychorus/id1617785972)

All apps by Brad Howes: https://appshunter.io/developer/430573224

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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 2026-09-04.*