Comparison

Bumbly Synthesizer vs Emperor PolySynth

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

Head to head
About

Bumbly Synthesizer

Create unique sounds by drawing waveforms or using motion controls. This app offers a versatile synthesizer with customizable touch interfaces and a sequencer for composing music.

Highlights
  • Draw custom sound waves
  • Customizable touch interfaces (ribbon, piano, guitar)
  • Sequencer for drawing music playback
  • Motion control for sound expression
  • Wingbeat-inspired sound generation
  • Adjustable synthesizer parameters
Features
Read full description

- Draw the sound waves you want to hear in Bumbly Synthesizer. - Play music with customizable touch interfaces like ribbon, piano, guitar, and more. - Draw lines on the sequencer and hear your music play back exactly the way you drew it. - Tilt your device and express music through your body movements. 1. Synthesizer - Bumbly Synthesizer makes sound by simulating the movement of the wings of insects. - Draw single-cycle waveforms inspired by how insects (bees, mosquitoes, flies) create airflow with their wings, or sketch classic waveforms to hear them in action. - You can modify sound using pitch modulation of wings, pitch variation between two wings, wing size filter, room reverb and amplitude envelope. - Experiment with the synthesizer parameters and enjoy interesting sound variations. 2. Musical Instrument - Use Bumbly as a musical instrument. - Play music with 6 customizable sound panels. - Customize size, position, pitch range, velocity control(on/off), horizontal/vertical, continuous/discrete pitch, appearance(grid,note names) of sound panels. - Make familiar instruments (piano, guitar) or your own creative instrument. 3. Sequencer - Draw lines on the sequencer grid. - Bumbly will play what you draw. 4. Motion Mode - You can play Bumbly using your movements. - Tilt the device to control the pitch and create the sounds you want. * Bumbly has 6 monophonic sound generators. Make harmony (polyphonic sound) using multiple generators. * We recommend using device speakers or wired earphones. Bumbly Synthesizer: https://www.pogpalelabs.com/bumbly User Manual: https://www.pogpalelabs.com/bumbly-manual

About

Emperor PolySynth

Create evolving soundscapes, sequences, and leads with a powerful synthesizer offering multiple synthesis types and a modular patch bay. Explore a vast array of effects and expressive performance features for both standalone and AUv3 use.

Highlights
  • Dual-layer synthesis engine
  • Modular patch bay
  • Multiple synthesis types (VA, Wavetable, FM, Additive, PD)
  • Extensive effects suite
  • Arpeggiator and sequencer
  • MPE support for expressive control
  • AUv3 instrument compatibility
Features
Read full description

An instrument for sounds that keep unfolding. EMPEROR brings cinematic depth and expressive synthesis to iPhone and iPad. Build evolving pads, hypnotic sequences, powerful basses and responsive leads with two independent layers, a modular patch bay and a tactile 3D interface. Start with 287 factory presets, follow the guided tour, or build a sound from the ground up. Play standalone or use EMPEROR as an AUv3 instrument in a compatible host. TWO LAYERS. FIVE WAYS TO CREATE. Combine virtual analog, wavetable, FM, additive and phase distortion synthesis. Each layer has two main oscillators, a sub-oscillator and noise. Stack both layers or split them across the keyboard, learn the split point from a played note and assign morph to a controller. Shape FM with 2–6 operators, eight algorithms, feedback, fixed frequencies or harmonic ratios, and individual operator envelopes. Play with up to 16 voices, mono and legato modes, plus three-voice unison. FILTERS WITH CHARACTER Two filters per layer offer state-variable, transistor ladder, diode-inspired, comb and formant circuits, with serial or parallel routing. PATCH MOVEMENT INTO EVERY SOUND Connect assignable sources and destinations through a 16-slot modulation matrix with interactive cables. Modulate synthesis and effect parameters. Each layer has a per-voice LFO and a global LFO, with classic shapes, sample & hold, smooth random and custom stepped waveforms. Sync, Retrigger and Follow Swing keep movement under your control. EXPRESSION, NOTE BY NOTE MPE support adds per-note pressure, slide and pitch bend, alongside velocity, release velocity and mod wheel. Explore expressive factory patches with a compatible MPE controller, or play directly from the onscreen keyboard. RHYTHM THAT EVOLVES An arpeggiator with six modes and up to four octaves meets a sequencer with up to 32 steps. Record step by step or in real time, then shape velocity, gate, probability, ratchets, ties, scales and playback direction. HOLD supports sustained playing and pattern performance. THREE EFFECTS. ENDLESS ATMOSPHERE. Choose from 22 algorithms and place any effect in any of three slots. Explore chorus, ensemble, flanger, phaser, rotary, tremolo, ring modulation, stereo, tape and BBD delays, multitap, reverse and pitch-shifted echoes, Hall, Plate, Room, Shimmer and Dream Cloud reverbs, cassette lo-fi, bitcrushing, saturation and a tuned resonator. OPEN THE CHASSIS The Tweaks view reveals the circuitry beneath the panel. Adjust vintage tolerance, component wear and power-supply sag, then save that character with your preset. AN INSTRUMENT YOU CAN EXPLORE Animated section views bring knobs, sliders, interactive displays and patch cables into focus. Browse factory sounds by category and save, recall or delete your own USER presets. AUv3 use requires a compatible host app. Per-note MPE performance requires a compatible MPE controller or MIDI source. Neither is required for standalone playing. ### Whats New EMPEROR arrives on iPhone and iPad with standalone and AUv3 operation, five synthesis engines, two layers, MPE, modular modulation, 22 effects and 287 factory presets.

Screenshots

Bumbly Synthesizer4 screens
Emperor PolySynth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Bumbly Synthesizer at $3.99 against Emperor PolySynth's $29.99. Emperor PolySynth's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Bumbly Synthesizer costs $3.99 and Emperor PolySynth $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Emperor PolySynth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bumbly Synthesizer versus Emperor PolySynth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBumbly SynthesizerEmperor PolySynth
Price$3.99 — better$29.99
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 41 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPOGPALE Labs Inc.Mike Gazzaruso

In-app purchases

None

Bumbly Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

None

Emperor PolySynth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bumbly Synthesizer free?
Bumbly Synthesizer costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Emperor PolySynth free?
Emperor PolySynth costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bumbly Synthesizer or Emperor PolySynth?
Emperor PolySynth is rated higher. Bumbly Synthesizer averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Emperor PolySynth averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Bumbly Synthesizer or Emperor PolySynth have ads?
Neither Bumbly Synthesizer nor Emperor PolySynth shows ads.

Other comparisons