Comparison

Patch Base vs Mini Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

Patch Base

This app allows users to visualize, edit, and organize patches for a wide range of hardware synthesizers. It offers real-time parameter editing, patch bank management, and the ability to create random or initial patches. Users can also test sounds with an on-screen keyboard.

Highlights
  • Visualize synth patches
  • Real-time parameter editing
  • Manage patch banks
  • Create random patches
  • On-screen keyboard for sound testing
  • Extensive synthesizer support
Read full description

Patch Base is a collection of patch editors and librarians for new and vintage synthesizers, enabling easy visualization, editing, and organization of patches. * See what patches on your synth look like * Edit the parameters of your synth in real time, while you play * Manage your patch banks directly from the app * Save patches in Patch Base, and back them up using iCloud * Access your patch files on your computer via iCloud Drive * Create random patches, and "init" patches as starting points for new sounds * Play your synth for sound testing using the on-screen keyboard Patch Base currently has editors for the following synthesizers, with more to come: * Access Virus C, Virus TI, Virus TI Snow * Akai Miniak * Alesis Micron * Behringer Deepmind 12 * Casio CZ-1, CZ-101, CZ-1000, CZ-3000, CZ-5000 * Clavia Nord Lead 2, Nord Lead 2X * DSI Mopho, Mopho Keyboard, Evolver, Evolver Keyboard, Tetra * E-mu Proteus/1, Proteus/2 * Ensoniq ESQ-1, SQ-80, and ESQ-M * Korg Volca FM, Volca FM2, Minilogue, microKORG, MS2000, MS2000R, MS2000B, MS2000BR, DW-8000, EX-8000, Prophecy * Novation Circuit, Bass Station II * Oberheim Matrix-1000, Matrix-6, Matrix-6r * Roland JD-Xi, JV-1080, JV-2080, JV-1010, XP-80, XP-60, XP-50, XP-30, D-50, D-550, D-05, D-110, D-10, D-20, D-5, JV-880, JV-80, XV-5080, XV-3080, XV-5050, XV-2020, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, MKS-50, JD-800, JD-990, JX-8P, JP-8080 * Waldorf Blofeld, Micro Q * Yamaha DX7, DX7II, TX7, TX802, TX816, TX81Z, DX100, FB-01, FS1R, TG33, DX200, TG77, SY77, DX21, DX11, Reface DX The app is free for download and to try out, ensuring that the app works with your hardware setup. For full access to all editor features, each editor is available as an individual In-App Purchase, or via an All Access subscription. ** Unlock Every Editor with All Access ** Patch Base now offers the All Access subscription, giving you access to every editor that Patch Base offers for a single subscription price. You can subscribe on a monthly or annual basis. Subscription payment is charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of subscription purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renewal and manage your subscription at any time from your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base-privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base-terms-conditions

About

Mini Synthesizer

This app faithfully recreates a classic analog synthesizer from the 1980s, offering vintage sounds with modern updates. It features intuitive controls for pitch, filters, and delay, allowing for extensive sound shaping and preset saving.

Highlights
  • Faithful analog synthesizer recreation
  • Vintage and modern sound updates
  • Intuitive controls with sliders and switches
  • Extensive sound shaping (pitch, filters, delay, reverb)
  • Preset management with unlimited user storage
  • Audiobus compatibility
Read full description

Electro-Harmonix, a pioneer since 1968 in the field of sound effects pedals for musicians, has produced an app which is a faithful digital re-creation of their circa 1980 analog cult-classic, The MINI-SYNTHESIZER. Available for iPad and iPhone (IOS version 15.0 or later), the EHX MINI-SYNTHESIZER accurately delivers all the vintage synth sounds of the original plus modern updates. EHX President and Founder, Mike Matthews stated: “Fans of vintage synths will appreciate the apps ability to recreate the original’s warm analog sounds and deep funky bass, but because it’s so affordable ($2.99 for phone, $4.99 for tablet) and user-friendly, parents, educators and non-musicians will love it, too.” The MINI-SYNTHESIZER app comes with 25 presets and the ability to store an almost unlimited number of user presets programs. Audiobus capabilities are also included. Intuitive, flexible and powerful control are provided by the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s 12 sliders and nine switches. Here’s a breakdown of the user interface: OSC Section - PITCH slider lets the player raise or lower the pitch of the note by +/- 1 octave - SUB-OCTAVE slider introduces a note one octave below what’s being played for extra bottom - OCTAVE UP switch causes the note being played to jump up one octave. - TUNE knob lets the player tune the MINI-SYNTHESIZER to other instruments and sound sources over a +/- 50 cents range. FILTERS Section - PHASE RATE slider adjusts the speed of the phase shifter - FILTER START sets the start frequency of the filter sweep - FILTER STOP sets the stop frequency of the filter sweep - SWEEP RATE controls the speed of the filter sweep - PHASE switch turns the effect on/off - 2X FILTER switch changes how the audio passes through the filters (either in parallel or in series) - Q switch sets the amount of resonance on the filter sweep - RETRIGGER switch turns the filter retrigger on/off DELAY Section - TIME slider adjusts the delay time up to two seconds - FEEDBACK controls the number of echo repeats - BLEND adjusts the mix of the original signal and the echo repeats - DELAY switch turns the effect on/off - TIME label can be tapped for tap tempo REVERB Section - AMOUNT slider adjusts the reverb effect level - BLEND slider controls the mix of the wet and dry signals - REVERB switch turns reverb on/off - REVERB>DELAY switch lets the user place either Delay or Reverb first in the effects chain for a variety of cool sound effects. MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS - VOL (Volume) slider adjusts the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s overall sound output level - POLY/MONO switch toggles between polyphonic (four notes can be played simultaneously) or monophonic (only one note can be played at a time) modes - PRESETS pop-down menu displays the presets available and allows the user to instantly select one - HORIZONTAL slider lets the player adjust the keyboards sounding range over an expansive eight-octave range. - RIBBON Interface lets the player perform portamento (glide up or down to pitch), vibrato and other expressive playing. The easy-to-use Electro-Harmonix MINI-SYNTHESIZER App is loaded with great sounds and features and is sure to appeal to serious musicians and non-musicians alike. LIMITATIONS - InterApp Audio experiences periodic crashes and graphics issues. - The MINI SYNTH runs at 48 kHz sample rate; using the MINI SYNTH in an environment with 44.1 kHz sample rate (such as Garageband for iOS) may cause aliasing. - Presets saved in the standalone app cannot be accessed when using the MINI SYNTH as an AudioUnit, and vice versa.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Patch Base at Free against Mini Synthesizer's $4.99. Patch Base also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (85 vs 12). Mini Synthesizer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 31). On rating, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Patch Base is free to download; Mini Synthesizer costs $4.99 up front. Patch Base sells 31 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Mini Synthesizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.4 for Patch Base against 3.5 for Mini Synthesizer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patch Base has 85 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 53% of Patch Base's written reviews are positive against 44% of Mini Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Patch Base ships an update every 3 weeks, Mini Synthesizer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Patch Base versus Mini Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatch BaseMini Synthesizer
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.4 (85 ratings)3.5 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews — better44.1% of reviews
Number of ratings85 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCoffeeshopped LLCElectro-Harmonix

Customer experience

Patch Base

All ratings83 ratings
Positive56.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative39.8%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral3.8%
Negative43.3%

Mini Synthesizer

All ratings12 ratings
Positive58.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral8.8%
Negative47.1%

Bugs and requests

Patch Base

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 14.2 and other versions
  • MIDI buffer full errors with DX7IIFD
  • Sysex transfer stalls and timeouts
  • Cannot access operators 4-6 on Volca FM
  • Algorithm changes crash app
Show 7 more
  • Patches randomly deleted after app restart
  • MIDI port assignment not persisting
  • Unable to send patches to synths
  • App hangs during patch transitions
  • Unmute function unavailable while editing
  • iCloud file synchronization not working
  • XV-5080 editor stuck on loading screen

Requested features

13 requests
  • MFB Dominion 1 editor
  • Arturia Microfreak randomizer
  • Novation Circuit Tracks support
  • Korg Wavestate editor
  • Roland MKS-70 and MKS-80 controllers
Show 8 more
  • Access Virus Ti2 character section and banks
  • Custom randomization options
  • Yamaha EX5/r and Motif XF editors
  • Prophet 6 support
  • Korg Minilogue enhancements
  • Undo button functionality
  • Pass-through MIDI option
  • Dropbox and Google Drive cloud support

Mini Synthesizer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

31 purchases

Patch Base

Subscriptions2
  • Patch Base: Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • All Access: Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time29
  • Casio CZ-101$29.99
  • Oberheim Matrix-6r$29.99
  • Yamaha DX7$29.99
Show 26 more
  • Yamaha TX7$29.99
  • Ensoniq ESQ-1$29.99
  • Korg Volca FM$29.99
  • Korg microKorg$29.99
  • Roland JD-Xi$29.99
  • Korg Minilogue$29.99
  • Roland JV-1080$29.99
  • Waldorf Blofeld$29.99
  • Roland D-50$29.99
  • Roland D-05$29.99
  • Roland D-110$29.99
  • Novation Bass Station II$29.99
  • Yamaha DX100$29.99
  • Access Virus TI Snow$29.99
  • Yamaha TG33$29.99
  • Roland JV-1010$29.99
  • Yamaha SY77$29.99
  • Roland XV-5050$29.99
  • Yamaha TX81Z$29.99
  • Oberheim Matrix-1000$29.99
  • Korg Volca FM2$29.99
  • Oberheim Matrix-6$29.99
  • Yamaha DX7II$29.99
  • Roland JV-880$29.99
  • Yamaha Reface DX$29.99
  • All Access$99.99
None

Mini Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Patch Base free?
Patch Base is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mini Synthesizer free?
Mini Synthesizer costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Patch Base or Mini Synthesizer?
Mini Synthesizer is rated higher. Patch Base averages 3.4 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Mini Synthesizer averages 3.5 from 12 ratings.
Do Patch Base or Mini Synthesizer have ads?
Neither Patch Base nor Mini Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Patch Base or Mini Synthesizer?
Patch Base ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mini Synthesizer every 4 months. Most recently, Patch Base was updated on September 23, 2026 and Mini Synthesizer on September 21, 2026.

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