SmashCut Visual Synth vs sumFX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | SmashCut Visual Synth | sumFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (14 ratings) — better | 4.4 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 54.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 40 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Secret Base Design | OSC Audio |
Customer experience
SmashCut Visual Synth
sumFX
In-app purchases
SmashCut Visual Synth
- Watermark RemovalFree
sumFX
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SmashCut Visual Synth free?
Is sumFX free?
Which has better reviews, SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX?
Do SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmashCut Visual Synth or sumFX?
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