Comparison

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer vs iOptigan

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer

This app recreates a legendary modular synthesizer for mobile devices. Explore its iconic modules, experiment with sound design, and create music with intuitive controls and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Iconic Moog module recreation
  • Monophonic and 4-voice polyphonic operation
  • Integrated Moog keyboard and ribbon controller
  • Sequencing arpeggiator
  • MIDI integration and external control
  • Looping recorder with overdubbing
  • AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions support
Features
Read full description

The Moog Model 15 App is the first Moog modular synthesizer and synthesis educational tool created exclusively for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Each facet of the Moog Model 15 modular synthesizer has been meticulously recreated in this application to ensure the power and transcendent sound quality of each module remains intact. The character, harmonic complexity and mystique of the Moog Model 15’s modules, from the legendary Moog 921–series oscillators and 904A Low Pass Filter, to the coveted 907 Fixed Filter Bank have been painstakingly preserved. In order to develop the most immersive and expressive modular interface possible, the Model 15 App has been designed utilizing Apple’s new Metal advanced graphics engine. This ensures that all zooming, panning and modular patching throughout the application feels completely natural, something that would have been impossible otherwise. The Model 15 App features both monophonic and 4-voice polyphonic operation is easily commanded via 4 seamlessly integrated controllers. Simple swipes and taps provide instant access to a traditional Moog keyboard, 1150 ribbon controller, 8-step sequencing arpeggiator and the award-winning Animoog keyboard with 22 built-in scales and polyphonic modulation capabilities. Also included are extended features which expand the capabilities of the app beyond the traditional offerings of the hardware Moog Model 15. These include total MIDI integration, assignment for external control, use as a MIDI controller, dedicated Audio Bridge and MIDI Bridge modules, looping recorder module with overdubbing, a master ping-pong delay module and a new extension cabinet that includes additional amplifiers and voltage-controlled reversible attenuators that can be used for effects like ring-modulation. Because the Model 15 App utilizes Apple’s Metal technology, only 64-bit devices are supported. Compatible devices include iPhone 5s or newer, iPod touch 6 or newer, iPad Air or newer, and the iPad Pro. The Model 15 App requires iOS version 12.4 or later to work. Additional Features • Ships with over 160 unique presets • Recreates the sound of a hardware Moog Model 15 modular synthesizer • Easily share presets and recordings with anyone • Tutorial patches to assist all experience levels • Intuitive patching and cable coloring • Support for landscape and portrait modes • Voltage-controlled stereo ping-pong delay • Expressive sequencing arpeggiator • Moog 1150 Ribbon controller • Real-time looping recorder with overdub and immediate sharing • Up to two controllers on-screen (iPad only) • Optional left-handed UI operation Supports • AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions • 3D Touch and Apple Pencil integration for after pressure • Note-per-channel MIDI controllers • Ableton Link • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus • MIDI Bridge and Audio Bridge • 7 and 14-Bit MIDI • MIDI Program Change • Bluetooth LE MIDI controllers • Typing keyboards for shortcuts and musical typing • AudioCopy, AudioPaste and AudioShare

About

iOptigan

Experience the unique lo-fi sound of a vintage optical organ on your iOS device. This app faithfully recreates the original instrument's sound and functionality, allowing you to play chord patterns and explore different musical styles. It includes a virtual spring reverb, metronome, and MIDI capabilities for expanded creative control.

Highlights
  • Authentic lo-fi optical organ sound
  • Virtual spring reverb
  • Optical metronome
  • MIDI in/out and chord detection
  • Sequencer with record/playback
  • Audio and MIDI file sharing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This is the Optigan for iOS. The Optigan, short for Optical Organ, was a chord organ from the early 1970’s. It is remembered today for its unique system of sound reproduction using optical discs. These LP-sized film discs were optically encoded with 57 concentric tracks, which contained loops of musical combos playing chord patterns in different styles. Each disc contained a specific style of music (Bossa Nova, Big Band etc) which the user could control by pressing the chord buttons. Changing the discs was as simple as putting a new record on your turntable. Think of it as the 1971 version of GarageBand. Despite this novel technology, the scratchy sound of the Optigan left a lot to be desired. The iOptigan we present here truthfully recreates that lo-fi sound. 25 of the original 40 discs are included, the remaining 15 can be purchased individually or all together in the Complete Pak. Specifications and Features: • Disc loading rigth-side-up or upside-down • Spring Reverb (virtual) • Optical Metronome • Audio Demo for each Disc • MIDI in/out • MIDI chord detection • MIDI File Import • Sequencer with Record and Playback • Sharing for songs as Audio and MIDI File • iTunes File Sharing • Inter-App Audio • Smart background audio • Help overlay • Headphone optimised stereo (optional) • Radio Mode for Chord Buttons or Keyboard • Comfortable speed control in semitones or BPM

Screenshots

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer4 screens
iOptigan3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iOptigan at $5.99 against Model 15 Modular Synthesizer's $29.99. iOptigan also leads on chart position (#116 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). Model 15 Modular Synthesizer's advantage is ratings volume (898 vs 114). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer costs $29.99 and iOptigan $5.99 up front. Model 15 Modular Synthesizer sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and iOptigan sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Model 15 Modular Synthesizer against 4.8 for iOptigan. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Model 15 Modular Synthesizer has 898 ratings behind it against 114, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Model 15 Modular Synthesizer's written reviews are positive against 92% of iOptigan's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Model 15 Modular Synthesizer versus iOptigan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel 15 Modular SynthesizeriOptigan
Price$29.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.9 (898 ratings) — better4.8 (114 ratings)
Positive reviews86.5% of reviews92.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings898 — better114
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#116 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.48.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size857 MB179 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperMoog Music Inc.Stefan Stenzel

Customer experience

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer

All ratings896 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews480 reviews
Positive86.5%
Neutral4.0%
Negative9.6%

iOptigan

All ratings114 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral4.4%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive92.2%
Neutral6.3%
Negative1.6%

User reviews

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer

From 898 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Incredible sound quality
  • 👍 Authentic Moog emulation
  • 💡 Great for learning modular synthesis
  • 🎨 Beautiful and detailed interface
  • 🎹 Expressive MIDI capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate on smaller screens
  • 🕹️ Challenging to patch and tweak
  • 🔋 High CPU usage

iOptigan

From 114 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Incredible sound quality
  • 🎶 Unique musical instrument recreation
  • ✨ Dream come true for musicians
  • 🎹 Great for experimentalists
  • 👍 Well-executed and fun

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Stuck/phantom keys
  • 🐛 Audio clipping issues
  • 🐛 Left-only headphone audio
  • 🐛 Touch issues on bottom row
  • 🐛 InterApp Audio broken in Garageband

Bugs and requests

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Arpeggiator direction not working as expected
  • Distortion and audio issues on latest iOS versions
  • Incompatibility with certain DAWs

Requested features

5 requests
  • More in-depth tutorials
  • Ability to customize module layout
  • Zoom/overview option for entire system
  • Expanded preset library
  • Midi mapping for arpeggiator

iOptigan

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Stuck/phantom keys on M1 iPad Pro
  • E major plays D Diminished sample
  • Bottom row of controls unresponsive
  • Audio level clipping, especially when slowing playback
  • Left-only headphone audio output
Show 5 more
  • InterApp Audio broken in Garageband
  • InterApp Audio buggy in n-Track Studio Pro
  • App doesn't fill modern screen sizes
  • Vamp loop section bug with 5th switch
  • Gay 90's Waltz disc has incorrect flasher count

Requested features

19 requests
  • Update codebase with AudioKit Engine
  • Allow app to run in background
  • Add AudioUnit Extension support
  • Include newly released sound packs
  • Clarify chord identification methods
Show 14 more
  • AUV3 version
  • Audiobus compatibility
  • Virtual MIDI support
  • Ableton Link support
  • MPE support
  • Stacking discs for combined playback
  • Add Orchestron sounds
  • Add iChliton
  • Add Talentmaker discs
  • Update for larger screen compatibility
  • Export WAV functionality
  • Limit loudness of pops and scratches (equalizer?)
  • Set release of keys
  • MIDI program changes support

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Model 15 Modular Synthesizer

One-time11
  • Symbiotic EquationsFree
  • Synthesist ToolkitFree
  • Angular Arps$1.99
Show 8 more
  • Sonic Mayhem$2.99
  • Sinfonietta Sintesi$2.99
  • Psychotropic Synthesis$2.99
  • Alien Systems$3.99
  • Textural Points$4.99
  • Mid-Century Moog$4.99
  • Dynamic Drones$4.99
  • Mercurial Strategies$5.99
16 purchases

iOptigan

One-time16
  • Champagne Music$0.99
  • Country Waltz$0.99
  • Romantic Strings$0.99
Show 13 more
  • Big Top Marching Band$0.99
  • Polynesian Village$0.99
  • Singing Rhythm$0.99
  • Rollin’ Easy$0.99
  • Movin'$0.99
  • Cathedral Organ$0.99
  • Vox Humana$0.99
  • Country Sunshine$0.99
  • Down Home$0.99
  • Gospel Rock$0.99
  • Guitar Boogie$0.99
  • New Orleans Blues$0.99
  • Complete Disc Pak$5.99

Questions

Is Model 15 Modular Synthesizer free?
Model 15 Modular Synthesizer costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is iOptigan free?
iOptigan costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Model 15 Modular Synthesizer or iOptigan?
Model 15 Modular Synthesizer is rated higher. Model 15 Modular Synthesizer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 898 ratings, while iOptigan averages 4.8 from 114 ratings.
Do Model 15 Modular Synthesizer or iOptigan have ads?
Neither Model 15 Modular Synthesizer nor iOptigan shows ads.

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