Comparison

Addictive Pro vs ShockWave

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

Head to head
About

Addictive Pro

This app offers a powerful hybrid synthesis engine for creating complex and dynamic sounds. Explore wavetable, noise, virtual analog, and FM synthesis with extensive modulation and effects. It includes a polyrhythm arpeggiator and real-time control options for musical inspiration and sound design.

Highlights
  • Hybrid synthesis engine
  • Wavetable spectrum synthesis
  • Virtual Analog synthesis
  • Polyrhythm Arpeggiator
  • Real-time parameter control
  • Studio-standard effects section
  • AudioUnit Instrument support
Read full description

The hybrid synthesis algorithm on which Addictive Pro is based provides you with efficient means for easy control of complex sounds far beyond usual sound synthesis methods: Addictive Pro provides you a with unique form of Wavetable oscillators. These Wavetables are generated from the harmonic content and the free digital filter structure entered by the user. The sound of up to 12 of this Wavetable oscillators is then further refined with a classic analog filter available in several 24dB and 12dB forms. For the optional noise part of the sound you can use the same sophisticated digital filter struct as for the wavetable oscillators allowing for a vast variety of ever changing noisescapes. The intelligent sound and rhythm randomizer can be applied to different sound aspects separately for really useful sound design and inspiration. A four part polyrhythm Arpeggiator creates complex rhythmical structures with a touch of a finger. Features: Hybrid synthesis engine • Wavetable spectrum synthesis • Noise spectrum synthesis • Virtual Analog synthesis • FM and Ringmodulation synthesis Synthesizer details • Twelve wavetable spectrum oscillators per voice. • Morphing between two wave/filter sets. • Waves contain up to 256 partials. • Hand drawn filter structure. • Spectral noise generator using hand drawn filter structure. • Ten major sound parameters each with independent poly LFO and envelope modulators. • Real time parameter control using two X/Y touch pads, the tilt sensors of the iPad and MIDI Controllers.  • Monophonic or polyphonic with up to 16 voices. • 300 factory presets, unlimited user presets can be shared.  Effect section • Seven studio standard effects concurrently usable: • Oversampled distortion with four different algorithms for antialiased sound. • Low / High equalizer • 8 pole analog Phaser • Flanger • Four line chorus • Stereo/Ping-Pong delay with glitch free delay time change. • Hi end reverberation unit.   Four part Polyrhythm Arpeggiator • Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps.  • Can trigger single notes and chords. • Unique randomizer generates Arpeggios with 100% usability. • Factory arpeggios included, unlimited user arpeggios possible. • For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order Global • Play melodies live with the onscreen keyboard. Unique drag function for slides and vibrato. • AudioUnit Instrument • Audiobus 2 with state saving • Inter App Audio • Ableton Link support • Can use CoreMIDI compatible MIDI Keyboard. • Select from dozens of scales and play them with scale optimized keyboard layout. • Audio recorder with share function. • Share user presets. • Support for virtual MIDI input connections. • Multichannel MIDI Learn for external MIDI controllers. • Ableton Link compatible. • MIDI Tempo sync. Start/Stop Arpeggio. • MIDI bank/program change. • Import function for Addictive Synth presets. • File sharing of presets via iTunes possible

About

ShockWave

This app is a monophonic synthesizer for iOS and AUv3 plugins, utilizing Phase Distortion synthesis. It offers dual PD oscillators, sequencers, LFOs, and envelopes for complex sound design. Almost any control can be modulated by multiple sources, with real-time visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Phase Distortion Synthesis
  • Dual PD Oscillators
  • Dual 8-step Sequencers
  • Dual ASR Envelopes
  • Tempo-syncable LFOs
  • Extensive Modulation Matrix
  • MIDI and MPE Support
Features
Read full description

ShockWave is a monophonic Synthesizer designed to bring modular style workflow to the world of iOS & AUv3 plugins. Built around the concept of Phase Distortion (PD) Synthesis, Shockwave includes a pair of PD Oscillators each capable of creating everything from pure Sine Waves over smooth Sawtooth and Square Waves to Resonance & Sync sweeps, filtered Noise and more. In addition to the Synth Voice, ShockWave includes a dedicated control section housing a pair of 8 step sequencers, a sample & hold module as well modules for trigger divisions, logic comparisons and controlled randomness. A pair of Low Frequency Oscillators and 2 Attack/Sustain/Release (ASR) Envelopes serve as main modulation sources and can be used in a number of ways. Envelopes can be triggered from a number of internal sources including other modules such as trigger divider, logic or chance module but can also be connected to each other allowing for a wide range of patches usually only possible in large modular systems. LFOs are individually tempo sync-able and capable of producing total of 5 different waveforms each. The two sequencers can run independently or combine to one 16 step sequence where rate and length can be controlled independently for each of the two. In true modular nature almost any control within ShockWave can be modulated with up to 11 sources - simultaneously. Modulations are setup simply by holding a control and dialling in the desired amount in a list of all available sources. A special X-Ray mode adds a realtime display of all currently active modulations right at their corresponding control making it easy to understand what's happening inside the synthesizer at any given time. Synth Voice and Control Section are accompanied by built-in Delay and Reverb sections placed on send busses with all of their controls including the send levels being available as mod destinations. Last but not least, ShockWave features a solid MIDI implementation including support for, aftertouch, velocity, wheels, custom CC mappings and up to 4 dimensions of expression when using MPE compatible controllers, such as the Roli Seaboard, Linnstrument, Geoshred, KB-1 and others. MIDI Output is supported as well and includes Note and Control Change output generated from various internal sources including Sequencers, Envelopes and LFOs making it possible to control external MIDI gear or chain multiple plugin instances for advanced, self driving patches. Overview: - Semi Modular Monophonic Synth Voice - Phase Distortion Synthesis (PD) - Dual PD Oscillators with 5 Waveforms + Noise - Dual ASR Envelopes with variable trigger source - Dual LFO with Tempo Sync - Cross Modulation with Linear/Exp. FM, PM, AM & RM - Mixer section with individual pan and level controls per oscillator - Output VCA with variable control source - Pattern Generator for generating sequences from various internal sources - Quantizer to force note input into a specific scale (19 Scales + User Scales) - Step Sequencer with 2x8 or 1x16 steps, individual rate and number of steps per row - Trigger Divider for dividing internal trigger sources - Probability Gate for adding controlled randomness - Sample & Hold for additional randomness - Logic Module to create triggers from various internal sources - Built-in Delay & Reverb Effects - MIDI Note and CC output for controlling external gear or chaining multiple instances - Semi Modular Architecture - 11 Modulation Sources - 40 Modulation Destinations - 2 Color Themes MIDI Input: - 4D Expression (Glide, Slide, Pressure & Velocity) - Mod & Pitch-Wheel - Tempo Sync - Custom CC Control MIDI Output: - Note - Control Change Connectivity: - Standalone - AUv3 - AudioBus - IAA

Screenshots

ShockWave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Addictive Pro at $5.99 against ShockWave's $19.99. Addictive Pro also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 53%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). ShockWave's advantage is ratings volume (190 vs 18) and device support (3 vs 1). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Addictive Pro costs $5.99 and ShockWave $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Addictive Pro against 4.6 for ShockWave. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShockWave has 190 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Addictive Pro's written reviews are positive against 53% of ShockWave's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Addictive Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, ShockWave every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Addictive Pro versus ShockWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAddictive ProShockWave
Price$5.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.7 (18 ratings) — better4.6 (190 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better52.5% of reviews
Number of ratings18190 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry GohsKai Aras

Customer experience

Addictive Pro

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%

ShockWave

All ratings190 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral2.6%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive52.5%
Neutral11.9%
Negative35.6%

Bugs and requests

Addictive Pro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ShockWave

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • "Bad Signal" errors in AUM, stops sound generation.
  • Intermittent "bad signal" prompt in AUM, requires reloading.
  • Sounds awful, very distorted with glitchy UI.
  • App crashes frequently.
  • No sound coming out of AUv3 in GarageBand.
Show 15 more
  • More than half of the sounds do not play.
  • Performance remains but synth loads blank when returning to work after closing.
  • App stops producing sound after a few minutes of use.
  • Preset browser causes the app to stop producing sound.
  • No audio output on iPhone 6 & 7 plus, sometimes noise when changing presets, keyboard doesn't work.
  • Randomize button not viewable on iPhone 6.
  • App crashes when returning to a project.
  • App crashes on the loading screen on iPhone 11, but works on iPhone 7.
  • Hangs and freezes, won't load/work in AUM or GarageBand.
  • Horribly laggy, almost unusable.
  • Volume is noisy and glitchy.
  • Response on dials needs more work.
  • Modulation tab issues, unable to turn other knobs properly.
  • DAW incompatibility issues.
  • App crashing, won't even load.

Requested features

6 requests
  • Provide a proper manual detailing all parameters and sections with examples.
  • Implement a key trigger option for the sequencer to allow MIDI controller playback.
  • Add a poly mode.
  • Improve documentation and tutorials.
  • Standardize knob appearance and response.
Show 1 more
  • Increase the number of available patches beyond 128.

In-app purchases

None

Addictive Pro

No in-app purchases

None

ShockWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Addictive Pro free?
Addictive Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShockWave free?
ShockWave costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Addictive Pro or ShockWave?
Addictive Pro is rated higher. Addictive Pro averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while ShockWave averages 4.6 from 190 ratings.
Do Addictive Pro or ShockWave have ads?
Neither Addictive Pro nor ShockWave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Addictive Pro or ShockWave?
Addictive Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, and ShockWave every 2 months. Most recently, Addictive Pro was updated on June 11, 2026 and ShockWave on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons