iOptigan vs SyndtSphere
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- Spherical sound exploration
- AUv3 plugin compatibility
- High-quality audio engine
- Stereo ping-pong delay
- Legato mode with glide
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | iOptigan | SyndtSphere |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (114 ratings) — better | 3.7 (18 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 92.2% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 114 — better | 18 |
| Update frequency | — | Every 23 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #64 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Stefan Stenzel | Klevgrand Produkter AB |
Customer experience
iOptigan
SyndtSphere
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
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- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
iOptigan
- Champagne Music$0.99
- Country Waltz$0.99
- Romantic Strings$0.99
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- 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
SyndtSphere
No in-app purchases









