Comparison

iOptigan vs SyndtSphere

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

Head to head
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

About

SyndtSphere

Explore a novel approach to sound design with this synthesizer. Rotate a sphere with over 70 presets to discover ideal sounds, enhanced by a stereo ping-pong delay and global settings. It's AUv3 compatible for use within other music production apps.

Highlights
  • Spherical sound exploration
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • High-quality audio engine
  • Stereo ping-pong delay
  • Legato mode with glide
Features
Read full description

This synthesizer offers a brand new way of finding the optimal sound. By rotating a sphere that consists of more than 70 professionally created states anyone can dial in the perfect sound. In addition to the sphere, a ping-pong delay and a few more global settings are available. SyndtSphere is based on the more traditional polyphonic synthesizer Syndt (also available on the App Store). A video demo is available at the developers website. Features: • AUv3 Compatible - use it as a plugin inside Garageband or any other AUv3 compatible host app. • High quality internal audio engine. • Stereo ping-pong delay • Optional legato mode with glide speed setting. Feedback or suggestions? Drop us a mail: support(at)klevgrand.se or @klevgrand on Twitter

Screenshots

iOptigan3 screens
SyndtSphere4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iOptigan at 92% against SyndtSphere's 40%. iOptigan also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). SyndtSphere's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and price ($1.99 vs $5.99). On ads and device support 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

iOptigan costs $5.99 and SyndtSphere $1.99 up front. iOptigan sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. SyndtSphere asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iOptigan holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iOptigan has 114 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of iOptigan's written reviews are positive against 40% of SyndtSphere's.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iOptigan versus SyndtSphere: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriOptiganSyndtSphere
Price$5.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.8 (114 ratings) — better3.7 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews92.2% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings114 — better18
Update frequency—Every 23 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#64 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB15 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperStefan StenzelKlevgrand Produkter AB

Customer experience

iOptigan

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

SyndtSphere

All ratings18 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral5.6%
Negative27.8%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

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

SyndtSphere

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

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
None

SyndtSphere

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iOptigan free?
iOptigan costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SyndtSphere free?
SyndtSphere costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iOptigan or SyndtSphere?
iOptigan is rated higher. iOptigan averages 4.8 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while SyndtSphere averages 3.7 from 18 ratings.
Do iOptigan or SyndtSphere have ads?
Neither iOptigan nor SyndtSphere shows ads.

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