# synthQ — user reviews > 25 indexed App Store user reviews of synthQ by Chris Niven, rated 4.23/5 from 13 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthq/id950094378/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthq/id950094378.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 7 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (5 of 25) ### 5/5 — Fun synth with a brilliant UI *2015-08-14, version 1.04* Great UI lets you keep only the modules you want to tweak, this makes sound designing fun. ### 5/5 — A lot of freaky! *2015-05-17* I am not a keyboardist, nor do I like synth dance music. And although I am sure this app will let you make dance tones to your liking, for me the strong benefit is being able to create lots of cool far out sounds very easily and quickly. It is basically a modular synth but with a very straight forward interface tailored for ipad use and functionality. It doesn't look like a hardware devise, nor have lots of flashy floaty graphics. It is made for easy accessibility of functions on the ipad, and as such is genius. Everything needed is on the screen at the same time, and functions are color coded to find them easily. And with all that, the keyboard still has half the screen, as should be, even with the stacked keys that gives access to several octaves at once, offering some pretty extended melodic and harmonic possibilities. I have very basic synth knowledge, but with a little work I have figured out how to put the functions together get some really out there sounds. If you like original era electronic sounds, this is a great synth - Sun Ra freak tones and classic far out sci-fi effects are very possible. For me the presets are actually pretty tame, so this app can be programmed for some intense sounds. The little xy pads and xy keys are also great to have for live use. What I would like to see is the possibility of a continuos keyboard option, like so many other synths offer. That way one could get a theremin type pitch glide with another modulation on the other axis. This would go a long way for live performance possibilities for me. If you like way out electronic sounds and a good tool for live sound improvisation, this app will very much appeal to you. As I said before, I am sure it can be programmed for lots of other sounds, as any classic modular subtractive synth can. But the ease of use of lots of functions at the tips of your fingers quickly lets your sound creation go as deep as you desire. ### 5/5 — GUI, sound, support *2015-01-14* For me, the gui is inspiring - meaning fun, smart, and transparent - and the tones are somehow also inspiring, nice and fat, with lots of character. We used to say tasty. And the dev is really on the case, and open. Easily worth twice the pittance it costs. ### 5/5 — Fresh *2015-01-13, version 1.01* Fresh new synth with a very playable interface. Most importantly the great sound is definitely there and the inclusion of AB and MIDI makes it hookable with other gear. Looking forward to further development. Saying that, the developer spent a lot of time and effort on this one already. ### 5/5 — Unique, full-featured synth *2015-01-06* Even though a lot of the preset sounds are a bit "out there" for me, and there are some performance issues on my older iPad2, I have to give Synth-Q 5 stars for the sheer volume of options and features it offers. Full AudioBus/IAA/MIDI functionality, plus an intuitive 3-octave keyboard on-screen. The developer is already supporting the release by taking community suggestions and releasing preset pack content. This is a nice addition to the iOS synth lineup. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Deleted in 2 Minutes *2018-01-02, version 1.516* While I have great respect for anyone who can create such an intricate app, the sound was just yucky, offensive to my ears. ### 2/5 — Crowded house *2019-02-27* This interface is so crowded it always makes me feel uninterested in using it like it’s approach to sequence entry is too encrusted and not very welcoming . It just needs a face lift . For me anyway. Peace Christo ### 3/5 — Could use an update *2019-04-03* The interface is great and worth preserving, if it ran more smoothly. Sometimes the sound is glitchy, and stutters occasionally. ### 3/5 — Grrrr… *2019-03-27* Sequencer sorted Thanks App support links to Facebook!! Come on really? iPad Pro 12.9 iOS 12.1 and now 12.1.1. If I touch anything but play in the sequencer section the app crashes. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thank you ### 3/5 — Certainly not normal *2015-08-07, version 1.03* This UI is maddening and I do not see the point... Yet? Will I ever? Not sure. I like the quirky personality of the sound potential. Fun presets but everything sounds very mono. Even the reverb... Which normaly widens things... just sounds buried under modulations that I cannot tell the order of. This ui... Probably great for the dev. Reminds me of the car Homer designed on the simpsons and I mean that as a compliment. Maybe more hardcore synth heads will get it. ### 4/5 — Just one thing missing *2017-01-11, version 1.512* SynthQ has carved it's own niche, and despite the most overcrowded interface since Magellan (which is brilliant) the app offers some great sounds and flexibility. What I'd like to see added is Ableton Link. Nic ### 4/5 — Great Modular Synth & Nice Update *2016-04-30* Haven't played with Synth-Q in a while and forgot how great sounding it is—plan to play with in depth and look forward to the new update and vocoder. I anticipate greatness! This is a quick review: Nice range of built-in presets deep leads, pads, fx, tutorial presets; the module interface is visually unique, efficient to access and pleasure to use; plenty of expressive control with multi octave keys allowing full range without scrolling keyboard; built-in documentation and hints for each module; good MIDI support; and overall great sound! Worth the money. Kudos to the Developer! I knocked it 1 star because of a unusual launch time and weird pause when multitasking back-n-forth between apps— I assume this is a bug on the update or a strange anomaly that affects only my iPad Air (might just be me)and I'll change my review accordingly ### 4/5 — Award worthy UI *2016-01-10* This is a great synth to have in your music app arsenal. It doesn't waste your time with an outdated interface, and thanks to it's easy drag-and-drop modulation assignments and semi-modular nature, programing is more accessible to the average person, while it's depth & range will appeal to seasoned pros. Then there is the on-screen keyboard, which is an excellent design and one of the best I've played on an iPad screen. One thing though: I'd love to see another effects slot or two and maybe an expansion of effect types. ### 4/5 — Pretty *2015-07-31* I really like this synth. At first glance, it looks somewhat overwhelming but after an hour of tinkering I was coming up with wicked sounds. I would say that it is actually very intuitive. I normally cannot be bothered to write reviews but with the new compressor update, I thought I should give this a shout out.is this my absolute favorite synth? No. Can you make some crazy sounds in different ways than other Side? Yes. I also love the triple keyboard. Cheers to the developers and I hope to see this great synth continue to.be developed. Slayer ### 4/5 — excellent synth ,great results *2015-01-14* i like the keyboard, at first thought looked weird lol but the functionality of it is great. sound results are great. i wish there was a small step sequencer or at least an arp!! has good built in effects ... export options are emailing a wav of a recording. i am falling for this synth ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Nice update! *2023-10-05* I wonder if auv3 can be realized? ### 5/5 — Awesome, deep and no steep learning curve *2020-05-03, version 1.741* Brilliant synth designed to be played on the iPad not emulating hardware layouts which are great in the real world but don’t work on a touch screen. Really well thought out, great sound and easy. No menu diving, u want 3 oscillators, touch em, u want modulation sources, touch em. Simple yet highly efficient design, great work 👍🏾 ### 5/5 — I like weird... *2020-04-09, version 1.740* And this synth is as good as weird can get. It’s raw. Vicious. Wish that the IAA audio effect would be made available as an AUv3 because it sounds great as an audio effect! ### 5/5 — Super deep for an easy price *2019-03-23* There are a lot more expensive synth apps out there that are a lot known and much more expensive, but this insanely deep music making tsunami is an affordable sound designers dream that leaves others int the dust! ### 5/5 — It is super cool, and quirky. *2018-01-05, version 1.517* This is really excellent. It is supposed to sound a little wonky and occasionally in your face. The only think I might like would be an option to create a bit of a moodier, slightly less candy cane visual vibe...but that is moot. Watch the videos of the developer making sound patches, especially if you know very little about synthesis and what is going on with sound design. Some of the reviews are just counterproductive and quite ignorant. Let them have all Korg Gadgets, lol... ### 5/5 — If you want out there real fast, this is the one! *2017-04-10* Dead easy modular style without the guessing games headache use, inspires experimentation, great sounding synth, very expressive keybed controller. It can be used conventional but that's not the specialty of this one. ### 5/5 — This synth is a candy-colored monster! *2016-12-30* Fantastic sounds. Highly recommend this one. ### 5/5 — For the Digger *2016-12-20, version 1.2* Update: really useful new Sequencer / Arp module. This synth just gets better. This one just screams dig deep and program me. Not a bread and butter synth...excels in dirty screaming gutter sounds (or is that how I'm programming it?). Dev has been releasing new presets, but really this synth just screams experiment with me! ### 5/5 — Link gets in Sync *2016-12-20* Adding Link and an arp to the app allows you to get all of your sounds in sync with other apps. This synth sounds good and takes advantage of the touch screen, allows you to make, organize, and delete patches. You can use the whole screen as a keyboard, it has midi support, Audiobus, IAA which all work. There is also a built-in manual that goes into how to operate all of the features. You have lots of modulation and fx options. The developer did a good job on this one. ### 5/5 — I cannot tell a lie *2016-04-03* Seriously i own around 95% of ALL music apps on the app store, and i always float back to this one, theres too many reasons to list (cause im lazy) but its worth the price, its extremely customizable, and its easy to get great variation from just pulling up on a key while shifting a finger to another, and the UI is funking amazing, seriously just give it a try, you wont be disappointed. ^_^ --- *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 2026-06-01.*