# VOLT Synth — user reviews

> 62 indexed App Store user reviews of VOLT Synth by Kai Aras, rated 4.60/5 from 193 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/volt-synth/id1185984394/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/volt-synth/id1185984394.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 161 · 4★ 12 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 11

## What do users think of VOLT Synth?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🎶 Great sounds
- ✨ Intuitive UI
-  MPE integration
- 🎵 Expressive
- 💻 Good for travel
- 🎨 Beautiful GUI
- 🚀 Fast development updates
- 💰 Good value for price

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashing frequently
- ⚠️ Unstable on newer iOS
- 🎛️ Cumbersome sound switching
- 📉 Poor performance
-  unresponsive controls
- 🚫 No sound issues
- ⏳ Slow envelopes
- 🐞 Bugs in AUv3
- ⚫ Black borders on screen

**Commonly reported bugs**

- No MIDI input after 30 seconds
- Crashing when using multiple AU instances
- Presets disappear after iOS 14 update
- Standalone mode broken on recent iOS
- AU3 not working in Cubasis/NanoStudio 2
- Crashes with iCloud Drive for patch storage on iOS 13
- Preset scroller not accessing sounds
- Stability issues on iOS 12
- UI issues in AU mode on iPhone
- No sound after last update
- Presets not loading
- AUv3 UI lacks preset selection slot
- Preset saving crashes app
- Digital readout under controls obscured by finger
- Latched key graphic disappears
- Legato mode doesn't work with aftertouch
- Pitch bend limited to 12 steps
- Global pitch bend setting disappeared

**Most requested features**

- Two fields for sound forward/backward
- New features and sounds for MPE
- Dedicated strings section in presets
- Randomize function for LFOs/envelopes
- Larger fonts in preset display
- Improve envelope snappiness
- Improve modulation routing options

## Newest reviews (11 of 62)

### 3/5 — WAS Beautiful... no fc's on key touch... latest ios IPhone 12 pro max

*2025-01-18*

See above... can't get it to work anymore, but Will will conter this rating with a fine once usable again... PLEASE UPDATE!!!!!

### 4/5 — Vieles gut

*2023-12-26*

Aber etwas, dass ich komplett unverständlich finde: warum ist es so schwer, zwei Felder für Sound vorwärts und Sound rückwärts zu integrieren? Ich möchte mich nicht entscheiden müssen, ob ich eine Soundanwahl oder den Synthesizer mit seinen Parametern sehe.

Loben muss ich die App für die Integration von MPE, gut gemacht. Klang stimmt auch. Aber ich spiele ihn einfach viel zu selten, wegen diesem umständlichen Soundwechsel. Kann natürlich sein, das ich einfach zu blond bin, um diese Buttons zu finden, aber ich habe mir Mühe gegeben.

### 4/5 — Aggiornate l’app

*2022-02-02, version 1.4.5*

Bella app ma dopo un anno aspettiamo un aggiornamento con qualche feature nuova, specialmente suoni da utilizzare con MPE.

### 3/5 — MPE Not compatible with LUMI

*2021-04-10, version 1.4.5*

I ma trying to use my roli LUMI keyboard with your app’ but seem like it’s not Recognising the MPE feature

### 4/5 — Great Sounds with Caveats

*2021-04-06*

Keyboard performance is laggy and sometimes completely unresponsive in the app. I still recommend it despite the performance issues.

### 3/5 — Good synth, but fixes are badly needed

*2021-02-28, version 1.4.5*

Good sound,  but the standalone mode is broken in recent ios versions.

### 4/5 — Con IOS 14 sono spariti tutti i suoni presets.

*2020-10-01, version 1.4.3*

Con iOS 14 sono spariti tutti i suoni presets di fabbrica e gli acquistati. Se potete provvedere, grazie.
Preciso, su iPhone, ho controllato su iPad ed è tutto a posto.

### 4/5 — Nice sound engine, but slide on roli seaboard doesn’t work properly

*2020-01-24*

Hey guys, really enjoy your Synth, but can you please fix the issue, that the pitch bend via slide is limited to 12 steps? That makes it impossible, to properly glide from note to note, which really messes with the playing experience and usefulness of the synth.
Kind regards

### 4/5 — Sehr guter Synth

*2020-01-03*

Auf dem IPhone gibt es noch einige Probleme mit der UI (Scroll funktioniert teilweise nicht, überlagerte Buttons).

### 4/5 — Wonderful MPE synth with vintage flavor

*2019-04-14*

I’m a ROLI Seaboard player, always looking for instruments that will play nicely with MPE. I mostly use my MacBook for sound generation, but sometimes traveling light is the order of the day, and Volt has fast become a favorite on iOS. 

A lot of MPE-compatible apps sort of end at “compatible” — the function is there, but it’s not very musical in its application. Volt makes is easier than even ROLI to map parameters to and apply modulation using 5D touch, and the sounds are much more geared toward the classic synth tones I’m always chasing. I will say that Roli’s MPE synth offerings are still more responsive to, and integrated with, the Seaboard, but their iOS offerings are inflexible, walled-garden, demo-level instruments. Moog’s Model D app still wins out as far as dead-ringer vintage sounds, but it’s not nearly as natural to play using MPE.

So all hail Volt, and kudos to any developer who puts in the hours to make something as expressive, versatile, and sleek as this synth. Any instrument this good at this price is a no-brainer. Enjoy it!

### 2/5 — Crashes

*2019-04-13*

This app sounds good but locks up.  It does not save the tempo with the patch and as far as I can see it doesn’t the tempo at all. Needs work!

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Crashing

*2024-08-17*

I haven’t used for while but when I play it now it wont take midi input after about 30 seconds. Controls still work but no audio. Input via hardware keyboard and app in AUM.

### 1/5 — 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

*2023-11-13, version 1.4.5*

Not a trustable developer doesn’t fix bugs

### 1/5 — Does not work on iOS 13. Changing presets does nothing.

*2022-07-03, version 1.4.5*

It used to work OK. Too crashy for real time use. Shockwave has the same issues.

### 1/5 — Pop ups

*2022-05-10, version 1.4.5*

Nags you to rate when you’re playing

### 1/5 — Stand alone doesn’t work

*2022-03-17*

Emailed the developer several times over the last year but apparently he has no interest in fixing it or responding to emails. I have several of his apps and have no trouble with them but I can’t recommend this one.

### 1/5 — Kräftig, aber...

*2020-10-02*

Auf dem iPhone nicht mehr schön. Leider kann kein Preset mehr ausgewählt werden. Auch findet man seine Patches nicht mehr, da sie einfach nicht mehr angezeigt werden. Denke, dass die App auf dem iPad sehr gut bedient werden kann, aber für den Preis lohnt sich die Anschaffung nicht, wenn man nur über ein iPhone verfügt, schade....

### 1/5 — Rubbish

*2020-07-16*

Does not connect via AU to ableton so if you want to use it like a VST, you can forget it. It says you can but you can’t. There is no instruction how to make it work and nothing on the internet that shows it connected like a vst in ableton. I think it is a waste of money.

### 1/5 — Best synth now unusable

*2020-01-10*

I used to be able to set the global pitch bend rating to 24. And for no reason, it disappeared. Developer won’t respond to this and my shockwave emails. It’s a shame because these were my go to synths for giging with my mope controller. It’s useless as an MPE synth now.

### 1/5 — Non funziona con iOS 12.4

*2019-08-25, version 1.4*

Per gli sviluppatori, attenzione che con iOS 12.4 non funziona bene. Non emette piú suoni.

### 1/5 — Legato problem

*2019-07-28*

1. When setting after touch to control the filter, legato mode does not work. I get a bunch of stuttering notes.
2. How do I map breath control to filter cutoff?
Trying to assign breath in the map controller section but can’t figure out how... tapping, hold press, swiping, nothing works.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — A truly beautiful synthesizer

*2025-01-22*

This developer is an awesome musician, and every one of his inventions are not only unique in their own right, but highly intuitive and extremely useful. This particular GEM is a Godsend. Thank you!!!!!

### 5/5 — Easy to use and great sounds

*2023-05-06*

Volt is a fun to use synth that makes it easy to create great sounds fast! Love it.

### 5/5 — Still the best.

*2022-04-22*

For an “all purpose” synth this thing is my number 1 choice by a large margin. Whenever I just want a voice or pad without wanting to experiment much or design or get into the weeds this is the silver bullet.

### 5/5 — So buggy

*2021-02-15*

Still...  just like the rest

### 5/5 — Troubles playin

*2020-05-04, version 1.4*

Hanging notes every time!!!!

### 5/5 — Great

*2020-04-20*

Sounds great.  Can’t afford a ROLI but still a great synth without it.

### 5/5 — AU3 not working properly

*2019-07-23, version 1.4*

I can use is as an AU3 extension in Garageband but not in Cubasis or NanoStudio 2.
My error.
Wonderful synth

### 5/5 — Great synth but issues with iPad OS 13.

*2019-07-13*

Running two iPads Air 2 & 3...Volt crashes with beta OS 13 firmware. Seems like the main problem occurs when choosing iCloud Drive for patch storage. Tried deleting & re-installing several times - with no joy. Hope this bug is fixed soon. Cheers!

### 5/5 — Waouuuh...

*2019-04-22, version 1.4*

On ipad pro, sounds terrific, big sound and MPE, even better when triggered with KB1 & MPE KBD! Will will my Rolli block asap... *<;-)

### 5/5 — Cool

*2019-04-11*

Hört sich gut an

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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 2026-08-25.*