Comparison

VOLT Synth vs VAPolyMkII

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

Head to head
About

VOLT Synth

This app is a virtual analog synthesizer designed for expressive sound creation. It supports multidimensional polyphonic expression (MPE) and offers a variety of synth voice features, built-in effects, and keyboard layouts. It's compatible with MPE hardware and software, as well as standard MIDI controllers.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog synthesizer
  • Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE)
  • Expressive synth engine
  • Multiple keyboard layouts
  • Built-in stereo effects
  • 100+ factory presets
  • Standalone and AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

VOLT is a virtual analog synthesizer designed to create classic synth sounds while emphasising expressive play. With full support for multidimensional polyphonic expression (MPE) - VOLT is a great companion to any Seaboard player. Overview: * Polyphonic Virtual Analog Synthesizer * Expressive synth engine with MPE, poly-, channel aftertouch & 4D touch keyboard * 5 Keyboard Layouts (Classic, Uniform, String, Scale & Chord) * Built-in stereo effects * 100+ fine tuned factory presets * Supports ROLI Seaboard, LinnStrument, Geoshred and others out of the box * Standalone operation with support for USB audio interfaces, wired, network & bluetooth MIDI * Audio Unit v3 Extension * Inter App Audio support * Audiobus support * Ableton Link Synth Voice: * Variable waveshape * Variable pulse-width (on all waves) * Detunable sub & noise source * SEM style state-variable filter * LFO per voice * Dual ADSR * Poly drive (per voice distortion) * 8x Polyphony / Unison * Detune / Slop * Pan Spread * Arpeggiator Effects: * 3x stereo effect units * Vintage Chorus * Digital Delay (syncable) * Epic Reverb Input/Expression: * MPE MIDI hardware including but not limited to ROLI Seaboard Rise, Seaboard Block, Lightpad Block * MPE MIDI software including but not limited to Geoshred, Geoshred Control * Regular MIDI keyboards featuring channel or poly aftertouch, pitch- and mod wheels * Onscreen 2D Touch Keyboard (supports slide and glide) * Plain MIDI Input Presets: * Factory bank including 100+ expressive presets ready to play out of the box * Preset Management with Templates & Categories * Shared User Presets between Standalone and AUv3 versions * Preset Export & Import via Files.app, Airdrop etc. * iCloud Drive Support Connectivity: * Standalone * AUv3 Instrument * Inter-App Audio Instrument * Audiobus Instrument

About

VAPolyMkII

This virtual analog synthesizer offers a 16-voice bitimbral polyphonic sound engine with two distinct filter models and extensive modulation options. It includes a built-in sequencer, various effects, and supports AudioUnit Extension for integration with DAWs. Projects can be synced across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.

Highlights
  • 16-voice bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer
  • Two analog-modeled filter types
  • Extensive modulation capabilities
  • Built-in piano roll sequencer
  • Multiple audio effects
  • AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
  • iCloud Drive project syncing
Features
Read full description

VAPolyMkII is a virtual analog bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features 16 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The synthesizer consists of two 8 voice synthesizer, which features two oscillators, two ADSR envelopes, resonant high pass and low pass filter and an amplifier per voice. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on the Sallen-Key filter circuit and cascaded OTA filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and parameter automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. - Main Features - Virtual analog 16 voice bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer Two type of Lowpass filter, cascaded OTA model and Sallen-key model. Patch points for modulation. Support MIDI 2.0 New User Interface built by SwiftUI for improved performance. Built-in Sequencer. 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 8 clips. Piano Roll and Parameter automation. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. - System Requirements - A13 Fusion or above is recommended. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension.

Screenshots

VOLT Synth4 screens
VAPolyMkII4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VAPolyMkII at none against VOLT Synth's 3. VAPolyMkII also leads on price ($14.99 vs $19.99) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). VOLT Synth's advantage is ratings volume (193 vs 11) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On rating, review sentiment, 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

VOLT Synth costs $19.99 and VAPolyMkII $14.99 up front. VOLT Synth sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. VAPolyMkII asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for VOLT Synth against 4.5 for VAPolyMkII. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VOLT Synth has 193 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of VOLT Synth's written reviews are positive against 67% of VAPolyMkII's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VOLT Synth ships an update every 2 weeks, VAPolyMkII weekly. Both last shipped on September 20, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
VOLT Synth versus VAPolyMkII: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVOLT SynthVAPolyMkII
Price$19.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.6 (193 ratings) — better4.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews62.9% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings193 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasRyo Togawa

Customer experience

VOLT Synth

All ratings193 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral4.1%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive62.9%
Neutral14.5%
Negative22.6%

VAPolyMkII

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

VOLT Synth

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • No MIDI input after 30 seconds
  • Crashing when using multiple AU instances
  • Presets disappear after iOS 14 update
  • Standalone mode broken on recent iOS
  • AU3 not working in Cubasis/NanoStudio 2
Show 13 more
  • Crashes with iCloud Drive for patch storage on iOS 13
  • Preset scroller not accessing sounds
  • Stability issues on iOS 12
  • UI issues in AU mode on iPhone
  • No sound after last update
  • Presets not loading
  • AUv3 UI lacks preset selection slot
  • Preset saving crashes app
  • Digital readout under controls obscured by finger
  • Latched key graphic disappears
  • Legato mode doesn't work with aftertouch
  • Pitch bend limited to 12 steps
  • Global pitch bend setting disappeared

Requested features

7 requests
  • Two fields for sound forward/backward
  • New features and sounds for MPE
  • Dedicated strings section in presets
  • Randomize function for LFOs/envelopes
  • Larger fonts in preset display
Show 2 more
  • Improve envelope snappiness
  • Improve modulation routing options

VAPolyMkII

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

VOLT Synth

One-time3
  • Dub PackFree
  • haQ attaQ paQ$3.99
  • Red Sky Lullaby Pack$3.99
None

VAPolyMkII

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VOLT Synth free?
VOLT Synth costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyMkII free?
VAPolyMkII costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VOLT Synth or VAPolyMkII?
VOLT Synth is rated higher. VOLT Synth averages 4.6 out of 5 from 193 ratings, while VAPolyMkII averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do VOLT Synth or VAPolyMkII have ads?
Neither VOLT Synth nor VAPolyMkII shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VOLT Synth or VAPolyMkII?
VOLT Synth ships an update every 2 weeks, and VAPolyMkII weekly. Most recently, VOLT Synth was updated on September 20, 2026 and VAPolyMkII on September 20, 2026.

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