ButterSynth vs TROOPER Synthesizer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ButterSynth
This powerful synthesizer app offers a hybrid approach, combining wavetable, FM, and sample-based synthesis. Create unique sounds with a vast sonic range, advanced modulation, and a built-in effects rack. It caters to both experienced sound designers and beginners with extensive presets.
- Hybrid 6-oscillator synthesis (wavetable, FM, sample)
- Built-in wavetable editor
- FM engine with 4 operators
- Sample and Granulator engines
- 32-slot modulation matrix
- Internal FX rack with 16 modules
- Extensive preset library
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ButterSynth is a hybrid 6-oscillator wavetable/FM/sample-based AUV3 and standalone synthesizer with a vast sonic range, from gentle pads to screaming leads and basslines. Mix any combination of wavetable, FM, sample and other synthesis engines for one truly massive sound. For the more advanced users, you'll love using ButterSynth's thoughtfully designed interface, incredibly powerful modulation matrix, fully-featured internal FX rack, factory waveform and sample libraries, and almost limitless scope for fun, experimentation and sound design. For less experienced synth programmers, ButterSynth includes a library of hundreds of ready-to-use presets, sparking your creativity to start making music right away. Headline features include - Mix and match any combination of 6 synthesis engines to either emulate your favourite synths of yester-year or build a synth ready for the future. - Dual-wavetable engines also feature 9 phase modes, wave folding, and deep unison controls modelled on vintage hardware synths. - Built-in wavetable editor gives you the ability to tweak, morph, and hand-draw your own custom wavetables, with each wavetable supporting up to 256 frames. - FM engine offers 4 operators with a selection of 12 modulation paths. Each operator can be loaded with any waveform from the factory or user library, and can also self-modulate via the feedback dial. - Sample and Granulator engines both let you load samples (either imported or from the factory library) and control precisely how they are chopped, triggered and layered. Both also feature the same powerful unison modes available in the WT engine. - Highly configurable 32-slot modulation matrix featuring precise mix/max ranges, self-modulation (via the amount target), plus configurable response curves and layer modes. Simply long-tap any parameter to set it as a Mod destination! - Full suite of versatile control sources which includes: 4x MSEG-style looping curve envelopes, 4x LFOs, 4x step sequencers, X/Y pad with motion recording, 8x Macro dials and a powerful arpeggiator inspired by Kirnu Interactive’s Cream. - The EFX rack lets you build your own insert effects chain using any combination of the 16 built-in FX modules. Modules available at launch include delay, reverb, distortion, chorus, OTT compression etc. Note - FX parameters can also be targeted by the mod matrix, unlocking the possibility to program ‘per voice’ modulated effects. - All presets, wavetables, samples and other settings are stored in the Files app, making bulk import/export, backup and community sharing quick and easy. - All of this is housed in an irresistibly designed 4-tab UI that makes synth programming quick and fun.
TROOPER Synthesizer
This app offers a powerful yet user-friendly synthesizer experience, delivering thick basses, leads, and pads with analog warmth and surprising tonal variety. Explore unique parameter interactions, advanced modulation options, and creative tools like an arpeggiator and effects processor for an all-out sonic assault.
- Thick basses, leads, and pads
- Interactive oscillator volumes
- Audible LFO for sound and modulation
- Throaty, self-oscillating filter
- Virtual VCA with "fat" tones
- Arpeggiator with five algorithms
- Texturizer effects suite
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Thick basses, buttery leads, feathery pads — Trooper is a total synth explosion that crams it all and more in a neat little package. It sounds HUGE, yet tweaks easy. It’s coated in analog “fat,” yet bursts with tonal surprises nestled across its controls. Get ready for an all-out sonic assault, because Trooper is here and it's our meanest, beastliest, user-friendliest synth yet! Many of Trooper’s parameters are meant to interact and meld together in novel ways. For example, the oscillator volumes —beyond just acting as mere blend knobs— vary the characteristics of the basic signal depending on how far they are “pushed". The emphasis is on providing warm and round basic tones with lots of variable harmonic content. The primary oscillators are backed by an audible LFO that is both a sound source and a wide frequency range modulator. This lets FM-based sounds to combine with traditional waveforms. A pink/white noise generator helps out pads and percussions, and insidiously changes tonality when added in small amounts. A new filter implementation complements the pugnacity of the signal generators. In its middish settings, the resonance can be characterized as “throaty.” The filter is capable of self-oscillating, and can be controlled via the keyboard. The mated ADSR envelope is shaped to provide tonal ‘immediacy’ and smooth frequency shifts. The amount knob has a wide range that changes the feel and shape of the envelope, especially when pushed above the mid-level. The output stage features a virtual VCA that imparts tones colloquially termed as “fat”. Extra modulation is provided by a non-audible LFO and a dedicated envelope. The LFO offers numerous wave shapes, BPM syncing, and key tracking. Its output is controllable via the mod wheel, velocity, or aftertouch. The Esprit parameter helps deploy some of the Trooper “special sauce.” Highly interactive with the stages preceding it, Esprit is known to be handy in tightening up bass tones, and in adding the "je nais se quois” to presets at large. The Get6 parameter is a one-touch ticket to big, mix-filling synth sounds. So whenever you’re lost in an empty mix…it’s got your six. The arpeggiator inspires rhythms with five algorithms, variable note value, octave range, and gate. The “Texturizer" purveys a wide range of modulation effects that include chorus, flanging, variable comb, resonant delay, and stereo imaging. The BPM-syncable two-tap delay has time and feedback controls per channel, and is tuned a little darker than our usual offerings. Trooper can run in monophonic or polyphonic mode, the latter providing up to 12 voices. Legato is available in either mode. The robust MIDI implementation also includes MPE support, and the synth is able to I/O MIDI performance data. The “MagTouch” virtual controller lets you to play and record (in AUv3 hosts so enabled) over the MPE protocol. MIDI learn is made easy via a visual interface, and users can save, patch-link, and share MIDI CC maps. Bluetooth MIDI input is also supported. The AUv3 implementation lets you to run multiple instances of Trooper in DAWs. Trooper’s fluid UI accommodates a wide variety of screen sizes and view configurations. Feature navigation is designed to be nonintrusive so that parameters can be accessed easily. The iPad implementation supports portrait layout, so that pretty much all is on one screen. Included are over 250 presets that range from deep basses to weird so-and-so's, stopping by many other sounds along the way. The powerful YPAT2 system helps you save, catalog, and share presets with ease. The standalone app provides a “Tapedeck” to record, save, and share your ideas on the quick. It features a built-in looper, and a metronome with configurable time signature. The standalone also features tap tempo, and MIDI clock syncing. DSP is in high resolution 64-bit, with native processing at up to 96kHz.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TROOPER Synthesizer at 4.8 against ButterSynth's 4.0. TROOPER Synthesizer also leads on price ($14.99 vs $19.99) and review sentiment (73% vs 59%). ButterSynth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support 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
ButterSynth costs $19.99 and TROOPER Synthesizer $14.99 up front. TROOPER Synthesizer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ButterSynth asks for nothing beyond the download.
TROOPER Synthesizer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63 and 71 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of ButterSynth's written reviews are positive against 73% of TROOPER Synthesizer's.
ButterSynth ships an update every 2 months, TROOPER Synthesizer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ButterSynth | TROOPER Synthesizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $14.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (63 ratings) | 4.8 (71 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | 73.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 63 | 71 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 468 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arto Vaarala | Yonac Inc. |
Customer experience
ButterSynth
TROOPER Synthesizer
Bugs and requests
ButterSynth
Reported bugs
39 issues- App crashing with AUM
- Disappears in Cubasis randomly
- Crashes all the time inside Logic
- Changing a patch spikes CPU to 99%
- Crashes on every patch change
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- No audio when rendering or freezing track
- Keyboard doesn't load on iPhone
- iOS18 broke ButterSynth (audio recording issues)
- Failed to load as Auv3
- Crashes as soon as a preset is selected
- Some patches hanging/sounding without input
- CPU spikes to 100% on preset switching
- Audio crackles on preset switching
- Sample module has consistent buzz
- LFOs are extremely simple (no phase offset)
- Square wave LFO is not square (has slew)
- Step sequencer always has glide/slew
- Cannot save custom presets
- No undo function in wave table editor
- AUv3 plugin resets when ButterSynth crashes
- Does not show up as auv3 in Cubasis, AUM, or Audio Evolution
- Crashes regularly even on newest iPad
- Preset changes every time play is pressed
- Not resizing appropriately on smaller screens
- Crashes with unison function in AUM
- White noise on crash with unison
- Sound continues after song stops in GarageBand
- Preset changes on stop, rewind, or play in GarageBand
- Keeps crashing in GarageBand (AUv3)
- Patches in standalone sound different as AUv3
- Crashes when hitting play with arpeggiator/sequencer on iPhone
- No keyboard appears in iPhone standalone mode
- Audio Unit Extension quit error on export
- Lots of crashes in standalone and hosted in AUM
- MIDI not working
- Automation still doesn’t work in Logic Pro
- Random LFO is great for recording sequences
- Preset browser closes each time a new preset is selected
- Works as AUv3 after starting in standalone mode
Requested features
20 requests- MPE popup possible on top of the auv3
- Button to hide built-in keyboard
- Buffer size option
- Additional MIDI mappings (e.g., arpeggiator toggle)
- Sustain pedal support
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- Longer LFO speed for evolving soundscapes
- Alternative skins/color themes
- Pinable preset browser
- Virtual keyboard to remain active while browser is pinned
- Make app take up whole screen (no black borders)
- Master detune
- Parameter lock
- More presets
- Fix square wave LFO to be truly square
- Fix step sequencer glide/slew for discrete steps
- Undo function in wave table editor
- Filter key follow button
- Adjust envelope curves (especially release)
- Easier way to adjust modulation matrix amount
- Phase distortion inclusion
TROOPER Synthesizer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ButterSynth
No in-app purchases
TROOPER Synthesizer
- Magnum Load$1.99
- Slow Burn$1.99
- The EDC$1.99
Questions
Is ButterSynth free?
Is TROOPER Synthesizer free?
Which has better reviews, ButterSynth or TROOPER Synthesizer?
Do ButterSynth or TROOPER Synthesizer have ads?
Which is updated more often, ButterSynth or TROOPER Synthesizer?
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