SmashCut Visual Synth vs AirFreek
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
AirFreek
Explore independent radio stations from around the world, featuring college, community, and underground music. Enjoy authentic DJ sets without algorithms or ads, enhanced by beautiful, real-time audio visualizations. Seamlessly listen in the background and discover new genres.
- Independent radio station discovery
- College and community broadcasters
- Underground music genres
- Audio-reactive visualizations
- Background listening with lock screen controls
- Save favorite stations
- Add custom station URLs
Read full descriptionHide full description
Discover the world of independent radio with AirFreek - your gateway to college stations, community broadcasters, and underground music from around the globe. REAL MUSIC, REAL DJS No algorithms, no ads - just authentic radio. Connect with college and community stations worldwide where real DJs play music you won't find on streaming services. Support independent broadcasters and discover what you've been missing. BEAUTIFUL VISUALIZERS Watch your music come alive with stunning audio-reactive visualizations. Choose from multiple visualizer styles including Spectrum Bars, Waterfall, and Particle Field. Enjoy a full-screen immersive experience that responds in real-time to every beat. NEVER MISS A TRACK Curious about that song? Built-in Shazam integration lets you instantly identify what's playing, so you can track down every hidden gem the DJs spin. SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE Listen in the background with full lock screen controls. Save your favorite stations for instant access and seamlessly switch between discoveries. The clean, intuitive interface keeps the focus on what matters - the music. CARPLAY READY Take independent radio on the road. Full CarPlay support means your favorite stations and discoveries are right there on your dashboard for the perfect drive-time soundtrack. ON YOUR WRIST Control your listening from anywhere with the Apple Watch companion app. Browse stations, play and pause, and switch between your favorites - all right from your wrist. GLOBAL DISCOVERY Browse our carefully curated station directory to discover new genres and underground scenes. Add your own station URLs to listen instantly, and submit them to be featured in our directory for the whole community to enjoy. Share great finds with friends. From campus radio to pirate broadcasts, there's always something new to explore. Break free from corporate playlists. Experience radio the way it was meant to be - diverse, authentic, and surprising. Download AirFreek and rediscover the magic of radio. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AirFreek at none against SmashCut Visual Synth's 1. AirFreek also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 40 months). SmashCut Visual Synth's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. SmashCut Visual Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AirFreek asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SmashCut Visual Synth against 5.0 for AirFreek. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
SmashCut Visual Synth ships an update every 40 months, AirFreek every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmashCut Visual Synth | AirFreek |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (14 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 40 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Secret Base Design | Nsonia LLC |
Customer experience
SmashCut Visual Synth
AirFreek
In-app purchases
SmashCut Visual Synth
- Watermark RemovalFree
AirFreek
No in-app purchases









