Comparison

iACID8 vs DynaSynth

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

Head to head
About

iACID8

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iACID8 — Hardware roots. Pocket acid. Born from the beloved Twisted Electrons Acid8 family, iACID8 brings the Acid8 to your iPhone—built directly from the uAcid8 Slim Synth’s original firmware, with its distinctive digital grit and hands-on sequencing intact. The filter gets a serious upgrade: a modern, TB-303-inspired algorithm delivers richer resonance, more expressive squelch and extra acid bite. Crunchy oscillators feed a smoother filter and cleaner output stage, keeping the low-fi character while letting every slide and accent shine. Start with 16 factory grooves, twist your sound into shape and build your own basslines. Record notes live, add slides and accents, or chain patterns and key changes into evolving arrangements. Play standalone or load iACID8 as an AUv3 instrument in your favourite host. Each plugin instance keeps its own patterns and sound settings, with optional host transport following and independent Run control. • 12 level-balanced waveform variations with distinctive digital character • Enhanced resonant filter with envelope, decay and accent controls • 16 editable patterns with slides, swing and live recording • Pattern chaining and recorded key changes • Arpeggiator, bit crushing, wobble and performance effects • MIDI input on channel 1 for notes and sound control • Standalone app and AUv3 instrument, designed exclusively for iPhone • Warm tube-style saturation in the upper third of the volume knob • Tactile haptic feedback in standalone mode • Ableton Link for jamming with apps and devices on the same network • Life slider for live rhythmic variations without rewriting your patterns • Illustrated playing guide and printable cheat sheet Your pocket acid machine—reborn for iPhone.

About

DynaSynth

This virtual instrument plugin offers a unique sound synthesis experience with dual analog-flavored oscillators. Its dynamic modulation system allows for complex sonic textures that evolve with the sound itself. It's compatible with AU hosts and can be used standalone with a MIDI device.

Highlights
  • Dynamic shape synthesizer
  • Dual analog-flavored oscillators
  • 8-voice polyphonic
  • Velocity-sensitive MIDI instrument
  • AUv3 compatible
  • Standalone operation
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DynaSynth Dynamic Shape Synthesizer (AUv3) DynaSynth is a virtual instrument plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Please note that the standalone version does not include a built-in keyboard - you need to connect a suitable MIDI device to play the synth. Overview DynaSynth is an original design based on variable shaped dual analog-flavoured oscillators for each of its 8 voices, that uses its own output to modulate parameters dynamically. This can produce interesting sonic results that would be very difficult, if not impossible to achieve using traditional fixed LFOs and envelopes. That's because: As the sound changes, so does the modulation amount, which changes the sound, which affects the modulation amount... Dynamic / Modulation & Display At the top of the UI is a realtime display of "dynamics", wave shapes and all the modulation being applied. The (D) dynamics indicator is essentially an envelope follower with variable damping that is used as a modulation source for the oscillator shapes (1/2), vibrato (v) and filter (f) cutoff. MIDI Implementation DynaSynth is an 8 voice polyphonic velocity-sensitive MIDI instrument and is playable over a keyboard range from A0 (21) to C7 (96) on any MIDI channel. DynaSynth also responds to mod wheel, expression (CC#11), sustain (CC#64), channel aftertouch, all notes off (CC#123) and pitch-bend. DynaSynth vs. DynaSinth While they can be confusing, the names are very similar on purpose, representing a shared design theme, i.e. a synth that is dynamic. The DynaSynth design actually came first, and it is based on fairly traditional analog-flavoured oscillators. DynaSinth shares the same dynamics engine but with a modified set of parameters designed to complement the sound of its sine wave oscillators. While I like to think both synths have their own character, and can sound fairly unique, DynaSynth is probably more capable of producing familiar analog synth tones, and DynaSinth lends itself more to keys and pads. Both synths are also good for those who like to experiment with "out there" / "Sci-Fi" type sounds, and DynaSynth is probably better suited for that sort of thing. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson

Screenshots

iACID82 screens
DynaSynth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: DynaSynth at 4 against iACID8's 1. DynaSynth also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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

iACID8 costs $2.99 and DynaSynth $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
iACID8 versus DynaSynth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriACID8DynaSynth
Price$2.99$2.99
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTwisted-ElectronsRob Jackson

In-app purchases

None

iACID8

No in-app purchases

None

DynaSynth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iACID8 free?
iACID8 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DynaSynth free?
DynaSynth costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do iACID8 or DynaSynth have ads?
Neither iACID8 nor DynaSynth shows ads.

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