Comparison

MATRIX A8 vs SmashCut Visual Synth

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

Head to head
About

MATRIX A8

Features
Read full description

MATRIX A8 device is dedicated music, paging, discussion and zone management solutions for Commercial Audio applications.
Easy to use and to implement, MATRIX-8 offers state-of-the-art signal processing in a cost effective package. Projects using DSP platforms usually require a minimum number of inputs and outputs. This determines the choice of dedicated matrix models. MATRIX-A8 offers a large choice of I/O options in order to cover most of applications: Open the app, it will display the IP Setup interface, and connect to the LAN via WIFI. It will automatically search for the devices that have connected to Matrix A8 in the LAN of this interface. If no device is found, click the Refresh button to manually search. Select the device and click the Connect button to connect the device. When the indicator lights green, it indicates that the device is successfully connected. The Volume interface displays the gain value and channel name of each channel. You can select and change the channel name, adjust the gain value, and mute the channel in this interface. The Routing interface displays and adjusts multiple input channels assigned to the output channel. Specifically, the output channel can be selected through the “routing to” button in this interface. Select the input channel by clicking on the buttons in the list below. The Scene interface can control the device to save, delete and read the corresponding presets. The preset contains all the settings of the device. You can determine the saving location of the preset by selecting Device or Local. Click Lock System to lock the device so that the app cannot change its parameters. If the device is locked, you can only unlock or change the password by entering the password already set or super password “MA88”.

About

SmashCut Visual Synth

Control video playback and transformations using MIDI messages, similar to how musicians control audio samplers. Set cue points, trigger playback, and manipulate video in real-time for presentations, live streaming, or creative video art.

Highlights
  • Load and cue video from camera roll
  • Control playback with MIDI notes
  • Transform video with MIDI CC messages
  • Built-in MIDI controller for second device
  • Wi-Fi based device connection
  • Universal app for iOS and Mac
Features
Read full description

Musicians have used audio samplers for decades, triggering drum sounds, pianos, and hundreds of other instruments using MIDI keyboards and sequencers. SmashCut brings the same sort of functionality to video content. Load in any video from your camera roll, easily set cue points in the video, and you're ready to play with video in a new way. The app responds to MIDI note messages to seek to cue points, and start or stop playback. With MIDI CC messages, you can scale, rotate, and transform the video in a live and interactive way. And if you don't have a MIDI keyboard, you can still use all of the features of the app -- there's a built-in MIDI controller that you can use on a second iOS device. What can you do with SmashCut? If you're making a presentation using video, you can trigger play and stop using the remote, and move to different cue points easily. If you stream video or podcast, you can use SmashCut to cue to a video clip with no hassle or headache. The iPad version of the app runs on a Silicon Mac, and works well with streaming software such as OBS. If you have a band, and are putting on a show, you can sequence video to keep in time with the music. SmashCut is a great way to put together a music video, or to just cut, splice, and glitch video for fun. Instead of trimming video clips in a conventional editor, you can play with video like you would a musical instrument. There's full support of MIDI, and also an easy Wi-Fi based connection system; if you have two devices on the same Wi-Fi network, they'll connect in seconds. You can use the iOS built in screen recorder to capture video and audio from the app. The app is universal, running on iPad, iPhone, and Silicon Macs. There's a watermark on-screen that can be removed with an in-app purchase.

Screenshots

MATRIX A81 screens
SmashCut Visual Synth3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MATRIX A8 at none against SmashCut Visual Synth's 1. MATRIX A8 also leads on update cadence (every 6 months vs every 40 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. SmashCut Visual Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MATRIX A8 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MATRIX A8 ships an update every 6 months, SmashCut Visual Synth every 40 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MATRIX A8 versus SmashCut Visual Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMATRIX A8SmashCut Visual Synth
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 months — betterEvery 40 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSEIKAKUSecret Base Design

In-app purchases

None

MATRIX A8

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SmashCut Visual Synth

One-time1
  • Watermark RemovalFree

Questions

Is MATRIX A8 free?
MATRIX A8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmashCut Visual Synth free?
SmashCut Visual Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MATRIX A8 or SmashCut Visual Synth have ads?
Neither MATRIX A8 nor SmashCut Visual Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MATRIX A8 or SmashCut Visual Synth?
MATRIX A8 ships an update every 6 months, and SmashCut Visual Synth every 40 months. Most recently, MATRIX A8 was updated on September 17, 2026 and SmashCut Visual Synth on September 18, 2026.

Other comparisons