Comparison

KASPAR vs ShockWave

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

Head to head
About

KASPAR

This powerful synthesizer app offers 8 polyphonic engines with extensive morphing, layering, and modulation capabilities. Create complex sounds with 24 oscillators, 8 filters, and built-in stereo effects. It integrates seamlessly with DAWs and other music apps.

Highlights
  • 8 polyphonic synth engines
  • Multi-Engine Automorphing
  • Extensive modulation system
  • Poly aftertouch support
  • 2 stereo FX busses
  • Audio Unit plugin integration
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus support
Read full description

Harness the enormous power of 8 polyphonic synths: meet KASPAR Supersynthesizer! Featuring our cutting edge Multi-Engine Automorphing SuperSynthesis technology, KASPAR is a gigantic machine. A total of 24 oscillators, 8 filters, 8 arps; extensive morphing, automorphing, and layering abilities; a powerful modulation system; poly aftertouch; 2 FX Busses filled with fully stereo Yonac effects — just a few of the amazing features of this behemoth synth! KASPAR comes with tons of pro features. In addition to extensive MIDI capabilities, Inter-App Audio, and Audiobus, it also works as an Audio Unit plug in. Just fire it up in GarageBand or your favorite DAW for even more KASPAR goodness! Top Notch Sound Generation • 8 fully-featured polyphonic synth engines, each with, — 3 oscillators (24 systemwide total!) — Over 20 unique waveforms per oscillator — Special 6-stage ‘dADSHR’ envelopes — 14 types of filters to choose from — Dedicated filter envelope — Arpeggiator with multiple modes — Chordmaker - easily program & play chords by touching a single key — Powerful modulation features (see below) Extensive Modulation • Each synth has a dedicated mod assign matrix with 6 slots • 20 mod targets to choose from, including pitch, timbre, filters and more • Each target can be modulated by a continuous signal, as well as a control signal • 2 LFOs per synth • Modulation envelope • Poly aftertouch • Velocity, Mod Wheel & Key Tracking Morphing • 4 morph groups with onscreen control pad • Automorphing: simply draw a figure on the pad and KASPAR automatically tracks it • Modulate the morph using the x- and y-controls • 6 automorph trigger modes • 4 automorph looping modes • Adjustable, beat-syncable pathread & modulation speeds Layering • Combine the 8 KASPAR synth engines in infinite ways • Each synth comes with dedicated volume and panning, as well as FX1 & FX2 send controls • Conveniently map the synths to regions of the keyboard: great for ‘splitting’ or ‘layering’ multiple synth patches • Each engine has its own transpose & drift controls, as well as adjustable pitch bending, velocity, and aftertouch ranges Professional FX • Two independent FX busses • Each bus contains 8 state-of-the-art stereo FX specially designed for KASPAR • Simply drag-and-drop to change FX signal flow • FX include: — Analog-modeling compressor — 6 band parametric EQ with 9 filter options per band — Stereo chorus with 10 parameters — Stereo phaser — Stereo flanger — Amplifier with 4 virtual circuit types and 4 cabinet types — Stereo delay with BPM syncing — Algorithmic reverb with 14 parameters Professional Features • Standalone app features Inter-App Audio, Audiobus, and Ableton Link • Comes packaged with FREE Audio Unit plugin, with native processing at any standard sample rate • Crystal clear, super high quality audio generation • Virtual ribbon control with polyphonic aftertouch, as well as classic keyboard • Virtual KB velocity with adjustable sensitivity • Extensive MIDI Learn options • MIDI Maps manager with MIDI CC profile saving • Over 300 high quality presets, including an exclusive bank by New Wave Presets • Powerful preset management system: save, share & edit presets System Requirements • Recommended for iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini 2, or newer

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 update cadence: ShockWave at every 2 months against KASPAR's every 16 months. ShockWave also leads on device support (3 vs 1). KASPAR's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 54%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

KASPAR costs $19.99 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 — 4.6 for KASPAR against 4.6 for ShockWave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 91 and 188 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of KASPAR's written reviews are positive against 54% of ShockWave's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KASPAR ships an update every 16 months, ShockWave every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
KASPAR versus ShockWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKASPARShockWave
Price$19.99$19.99
Rating4.6 (91 ratings)4.6 (188 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better54.0% of reviews
Number of ratings91188 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYonac Inc.Kai Aras

Customer experience

KASPAR

All ratings91 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral4.4%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral10.7%
Negative14.3%

ShockWave

All ratings188 ratings
Positive89.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive54.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative34.9%

User reviews

KASPAR

From 91 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Incredible power and depth
  • 🔊 Amazing and unique sound quality
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive UI
  • 💡 Highly configurable and flexible
  • 🎛️ Advanced sound shaping possibilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and instability
  • 💻 High CPU usage
  • 🐞 Bugs in AUv3 implementation
  • 🖼️ UI scaling issues in some DAWs
  • 🤔 Presets can be uninspired or limited

ShockWave

From 188 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Unique and amazing sounds
  • 🔊 Heavy and brutal tones
  • 💡 Innovative phase distortion synthesis
  • 🎨 Beautiful and deep sound sculpting
  • 🎹 Great for bass sounds

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
  • ❌ Not working in AUM/AUv3
  • 🔇 No sound output in certain apps
  • ❓ Difficult to use without a manual
  • 📉 Laggy UI and slow patch loading

Bugs and requests

KASPAR

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Sound muted in solo mode for some synths
  • Synth crashes when loading as AUv3 in Roland Zenbeats
  • FX chain not working
  • Program change messages not followed as AUv3 in Cubasis internal track
  • UI does not scale to full screen in Cubasis 3
Show 7 more
  • App crashes when clicking 'help' offline
  • Random crashes inside host (GarageBand/Cubasis) as AUv3
  • Multiple instances play simultaneously when track is not armed
  • Keeps crashing in BeatMaker 3 as AUv3
  • Does not fit screen correctly in Cubasis 3
  • Modulation matrix has issues with aftertouch modulating cutoff frequency
  • Copying presets between layers gets messed up with aftertouch modulation

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add a step sequencer
  • Improve preset variety and inspiration
  • Fix AUv3 program change issues
  • Address UI scaling problems in DAWs
  • Implement MIDI out functionality
Show 6 more
  • Expand modulation matrix capabilities
  • Fix aftertouch modulation issues
  • Integrate help within the app
  • Relocate performance buttons to Morph page
  • Add master volume control to Morph page
  • Add Bluetooth audio support

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

KASPAR

No in-app purchases

None

ShockWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KASPAR free?
KASPAR costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShockWave free?
ShockWave costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KASPAR or ShockWave?
KASPAR and ShockWave are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 91 and 188 ratings respectively.
Do KASPAR or ShockWave have ads?
Neither KASPAR nor ShockWave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KASPAR or ShockWave?
KASPAR ships an update every 16 months, and ShockWave every 2 months. Most recently, KASPAR was updated on October 6, 2026 and ShockWave on October 6, 2026.

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