Comparison

SmashCut Visual Synth vs sumFX

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

Head to head
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.

About

sumFX

This app is a versatile audio effects processor for musicians. It offers a modular design with multiple high-quality FX modules and customizable slots, allowing for quick creation of unique sounds. Focus on your music with intuitive controls and visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Modular multi-FX processor
  • 8 high-quality FX modules
  • 8 FX slots with Wet/Dry control
  • 2 LFOs per slot
  • 50+ cross-platform presets
  • Pre/post waveform view
Features
Read full description

sumFX is a modular multi-FX processor for Mac/PC and iOS. Designed with simplicity in mind, to help keep you focused on the music and the sum of your efforts. Packed with 8 high quality FX modules and an available 8 slots, each loaded with Wet/Dry control, Global Wet/Dry, and 2 LFOs per slot, creating new unique sounds is quick and easy. 50+ cross-platform slot & chain presets are included to get you to any sound you need quickly and we’ve packed in an easy to use pre/post waveform view to help keep you focused on the result of your FX. Modules: -syncDynamics - Multimode dynamic FX with BPM sync attack/release (Noise Gate, Expander, Compressor, Limiter) -stereoFilter - Stereo filter with link or individual channel controls (LPF12, HPF12, BPF12, LPF24, HPF24, BPF24, Notch, & Formant options). -variMod - Multimode modulation FX with stereo offset (Chorus, Flanger,  Vibrato, Phaser, Tremolo,  & Auto Pan) -EQuator - Full high quality EQ module (3 Parametric Bands, High/Low Shelf, & HPF/LPF). -frostReverb - Multi-Mode (Original, Plate, Spring, Room) Stereo Reverb.  -bucketDelay - Stereo Analog Style Delay with individual channel control. -variPitch - Stereo Pitch Shifter with 3X Modes (Doubler, Harmonizer, & Full Control) -powerPhase - Multimode Saturation, Utility Gain In/Out, Mono Maker, Channel msDelay, & Phase inverter.

Screenshots

SmashCut Visual Synth3 screens
sumFX3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SmashCut Visual Synth at 100% against sumFX's 55%. SmashCut Visual Synth also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (4.9 vs 4.4). sumFX's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 40 months). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

SmashCut Visual Synth is free to download; sumFX costs $9.99 up front. SmashCut Visual Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. sumFX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SmashCut Visual Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SmashCut Visual Synth's written reviews are positive against 55% of sumFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmashCut Visual Synth ships an update every 40 months, sumFX every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SmashCut Visual Synth versus sumFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmashCut Visual SynthsumFX
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.9 (14 ratings) — better4.4 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better54.5% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 40 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSecret Base DesignOSC Audio

Customer experience

SmashCut Visual Synth

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

sumFX

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SmashCut Visual Synth

One-time1
  • Watermark RemovalFree
None

sumFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmashCut Visual Synth free?
SmashCut Visual Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is sumFX free?
sumFX costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX?
SmashCut Visual Synth is rated higher. SmashCut Visual Synth averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while sumFX averages 4.4 from 12 ratings.
Do SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX have ads?
Neither SmashCut Visual Synth nor sumFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX?
SmashCut Visual Synth ships an update every 40 months, and sumFX every 6 months. Most recently, SmashCut Visual Synth was updated on September 18, 2026 and sumFX on September 7, 2026.

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