Comparison

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth vs ToneWave Pro

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

Head to head
About

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

Highlights
  • 64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis
  • 1GB+ of original samples
  • Stand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support
  • Vintage-style arp/step sequencer
  • 3 LFOs with fun routings
  • Dual independent per-layer filters
  • Built-in FX suite
Read full description

Epic 64-voice Virtual Analog / PCM iPad Synth Inspired by the Digital Synths of the 80s and 90s - ** TOP 3 iOS MUSIC APPS OF 2018 *** - Music Radar Awards (Computer Music & Future Music Magazine) - * Featured By Apple in "New Apps We Love!" ** "Fans of the D-50, JD-990, 01/W, Wavestation... Rejoice!" - Music Radar FULLY LOADED w/ 500+ presets by Brice Beasley, Matthew Fecher, Red Sky Lullaby, Jakob Haq, Dean Daughters (Electronisounds), Sound of Izrael, Brian Funk, and more DIGITAL D1 is AWESOME: - 64-voice Hybrid Digital Poly Synthesis. - Full 1+ Gigabyte of original samples recorded from analog & fm synths over 30+ years old - Stand-alone iPad Synth, plus IAA & Audiobus - Basic AUv3 Plugin support. Works best with AUM. We're working on upgrading Audio Unit support. - Space-saving Compression - The whole app is under 200mb! - Dual layers per voice. Keyboard splits. Velocity Scaling. - Vintage-style Arp/Step Sequencer that can be routed to specific layers. - 3 LFOs. Fun Routings. LFOs can modify other LFOs. - Dual Independent per-Layer filters - Plus, per-voice Harmonic key-tracked Envelope filters. "Digital D1 Sounds and plays AMAZING!" - The Sound Test Room "Rad retro synth sounds" - Cult of Mac, App of the Week "AudioKit Digital D1 is a beautiful Synthesizer app that recreates the spirit of legendary synths" - Synth Anatomy ADDITIONAL FEATURES: - FX: Glorious Reverb, Phaser, Digital Delay, Distortion, Flanger, Chorus, Crush, and more. - Perfect with a MIDI Keyboard - Ableton Link - All kinds of awesome stuff - The Sound. Oh, the sound. You won't believe it. "Digital D1 synth is pure ‘80s and ‘90s digital lushness" - Computer Music/Music Radar "Beautiful. Lush. Modern and Amazing… An Instant Classic." REQUIREMENTS: Requires newer iPads for best performance. May be slow on iPad 4. IAA is being deprecated by Apple in iOS 13. We're moving to AUv3 as well. Please replace IAA with AUv3 in your projects. GarageBand Audio Unit (AUv3): You can run one instance of D1 as an AUv3 in GarageBand. With a host like AUM, you can run 3 or more instances at once. TROUBLESHOOTING: For iPad 4 - Open the "Settings" button (to the upper left above the keyboard). Turn the buffer to 512 or above. And turn the "CPU Efficient" toggle to on. If still having trouble, try closing other music apps and/or rebooting your iPad. Thanks! - * NOMINATED: Best iOS Music Apps of 2018 ** by Computer Music & Future Music magazine. Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: - Length: weekly or yearly - Free trial: only on selected subscriptions - Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase - Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms & Conditions: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Terms-Conditions-14dcf6557a0880beb991f20561329664?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Terms-Conditions-14dcf6557a0880beb991f20561329664?pvs=21) Privacy Policy: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Privacy-Policy-14dcf6557a088042b2beee2382f5d62f?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Privacy-Policy-14dcf6557a088042b2beee2382f5d62f?pvs=21) - * NOTE: This app has no official affiliation with AudioKit Pro, LLC. It was built using the free AudioKit source code.

About

ToneWave Pro

Features
Read full description

ToneWave Pro is a powerful and intuitive tone generator that delivers precise audio frequencies with stunning visual feedback. Whether you're a musician tuning instruments, a sound designer creating effects, a meditation practitioner, or an audio engineer testing equipment, ToneWave Pro offers the tools you need in a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. Key Features: • Precision Tone Generation: Generate frequencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz with decimal precision • Multiple Waveforms: Choose between sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth waves • Beautiful Visualizations: See your sound come to life with responsive, real-time waveform displays • Extensive Preset Library: Access over 30 carefully crafted presets for music, meditation, sound design, and testing • Custom Presets: Save your own frequency configurations for quick access • Background Audio: Continue playback when using other apps or when your device is locked • Inter-App Audio Support: Use ToneWave Pro with other audio apps • Adjustable Amplitude: Fine-tune the volume level of your tones • Dark Mode Support: Enjoy a sleek interface that's easy on the eyes Perfect For: • Musicians: Tune instruments with precision using reference tones • Sound Designers: Create and test audio effects with different waveforms • Meditation & Sound Healing: Access Solfeggio frequencies, binaural beats, and other healing tones • Audio Engineers: Test speakers, microphones, and room acoustics • Education: Demonstrate sound wave principles and frequency concepts ToneWave Pro combines professional audio capabilities with an intuitive interface, making it accessible for both professionals and enthusiasts. Generate the perfect tone for any situation with just a few taps.

Screenshots

ToneWave Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth at Free against ToneWave Pro's $0.99. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.1). ToneWave Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download; ToneWave Pro costs $0.99 up front. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. ToneWave Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, ToneWave Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth versus ToneWave Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioKit Digital D1 SynthToneWave Pro
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.8 (2.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size636 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudiobus Pty LtdKaila Consulting Inc.

Bugs and requests

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Presets not loading correctly
  • MIDI note dropouts and latency
  • Crashes when used with certain DAWs
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Audio Unit (AUv3) support
  • Improve MIDI integration and responsiveness
  • Implement a built-in recording/sampling feature
  • Expand preset library with more genres and styles
  • Add more sound design controls and modulation options

ToneWave Pro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly premium$4.997 Days
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly premium$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • D1 PCM Expansion-01Free
  • Platinum Expansion PCM EXP-01Free
None

ToneWave Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AudioKit Digital D1 Synth free?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ToneWave Pro free?
ToneWave Pro costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or ToneWave Pro have ads?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; ToneWave Pro does not.
Which is updated more often, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or ToneWave Pro?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, and ToneWave Pro every 2 months. Most recently, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth was updated on November 2, 2026 and ToneWave Pro on November 4, 2026.

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