VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave vs Somnideck
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave
This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.
- VHS-recorded and resampled synths
- Over 280+ presets
- Standalone app and AUv3 plugin
- VCR sound effects
- VCR FX section for customization
- Free expansion pack included
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VHS Synth features synths recorded with a VCR, then resampled. Perfect for Synthwave, Hip Hop, Indie, Rock, Movie Soundtracks, Lo-Fi, Ambient, Vaporwave, Retro Pop, and more. Create instant lo-fi and cool retro vibes. Press a key. Elevate your music. Includes over 280+ Presets by Jakob haQ, Red Sky Lullaby, The GarageBand Guide, DJ Puzzle, Sound of Izrael, DJ Montra, Marc Hupkens, AnalogMatthew, JEC, Da Fingaz, Brian Funk, and more. "BEST Lo-Fi instrument I’ve ever played, seriously good sounds!" - The SoundTest Room "VHS Synth is a Retrowave dream!" - iPad Loops "Turns Your iOS Device Into An 80s Time Machine" - Synthtopia Classic Synths were recorded to VHS Tape with a VCR, then re-sampled. "VHS Synth is the ULTIMATE Retro Synth App" - The GarageBand Guide FEATURES: • Standalone app + iOS AUv3 Plugin • Over 280+ presets to inspire you • Compressed to under 140mb to save space • VCR Sound Effects (Buttons, Tape Hiss, More) • VCR FX section to customize the sounds • FREE Expansion Pack: OP-1 recorded with a VCR ++ iPhone & iPad version included for one low price Real analog feel and dirt. Vintage hardware was recorded into a VCR and then re-sampled. Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: - Length: weekly or yearly - Free trial: only on selected subscriptions - Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase - Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms & Conditions: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Terms-Conditions-150cf6557a0880aca270f4f8ccee8d3e?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Terms-Conditions-150cf6557a0880aca270f4f8ccee8d3e?pvs=21) Privacy Policy: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Privacy-Policy-150cf6557a088019bec6ccb33ae5bb09?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/VHS-Synth-80s-Synthwave-Privacy-Policy-150cf6557a088019bec6ccb33ae5bb09?pvs=21) * NOTE: This app has no official affiliation with AudioKit Pro, LLC. It was built using the free AudioKit source code.
Somnideck
Record, loop, and shape sounds for sleep, creativity, or professional audio. Features include waveform trimming, pitch shifting, EQ, reverb, and a library of original synthetic and field recordings.
- Record and loop audio
- Trim loops with waveform editing
- Adjust pitch, speed, and playback direction
- Apply EQ, reverb, and saturation effects
- On-device noise reduction
- Library of synthetic and field recordings
- Create custom ringtones
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A tape-deck-inspired looper that puts any sound on repeat – to settle someone to sleep, or to start your next song. No setup, no fuss, nothing to learn. Built for creatives and tired people alike. Open the app, press record, and ten seconds later you're up and running. But underneath, it's a real instrument – a real tool. LOOP MODE Some features require Studio. - Trim your loop on a draggable waveform, with visible, adjustable crossfade regions as the tape spins - Tune the pitch, shift the speed, or flip playback in reverse. Three controls for finding sounds you didn't expect - Drop in any audio file – a song, a sample, a voice memo – and shape it with the same tools - High-pass and low-pass EQ filters that snap to useful presets – or slide anywhere you want them - Powerful on-device denoise that reduces unwanted background noise – fans, traffic, or whatever is humming in the room – all without sending your audio anywhere - Studio-quality reverb, delay and tape-style saturation, each with presets that turn even the smallest sound into something with weight and atmosphere - Save a loop to a slot and find it where you left it, two hours or two months later NOISE MODE, DONE DIFFERENTLY Every sound in Noise Mode is original. Some features require Studio. Three categories: - 5 synthetic colors, each generated and tuned, live, in a real audio engine running on your phone - 9 field recordings captured on location with some of the world's quietest microphones – wind in an ancient forest canopy, the comforting crackle of a fire pit, the warm sonic embrace of a road trip, the waves lapping next to a Hawaiian lanai at night, and more – each held to AAA audio standards in capture and post-production. - Nocturne, a 45-minute original composition that loops seamlessly. Written to settle a newborn – and now, anyone who listens. Layer it under any synthetic color or field recording for a soundscape mix that's entirely yours. These sound good out of your phone speaker. Out of headphones, they sound extraordinary. TAKE IT WITH YOU Somnideck doesn't stop at the app's edge. - You're only ever five taps away from turning your latest masterpiece – be it the old-timey horn on your bike, or your child's bubbly laugh, into a custom ringtone you can keep and use forever. And Somnideck automatically boosts it as loud as it can be, so it stands the best chance of cutting through from your pocket. - For creatives: Export any loop as a seamless WAV with the crossfade baked into the audio, so the loop-point is invisible the moment it lands in Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton, or GarageBand. Normally a complex process in expensive desktop software – Somnideck does it in a handful of taps. STUDIO Studio gives you the full audio creation suite – all 9 field recordings, Nocturne, the complete effects rack, pitch and speed, reverse playback, export, audio import, the sleep timer, and expanded loop storage. The looper, the synthetic noise generator, and one field recording are always free. Available monthly, annually, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. WHO IT'S FOR - Creatives who want a real, inspirational audio sketchpad that lives natively on their phone - Parents at 3 a.m. who need calm, fast - Anyone looking to settle, focus, or wind down at the end of the day PRIVACY Somnideck collects no data. No accounts, no third-party SDKs, no analytics, no tracking. Your recordings stay on your device, and denoise runs locally. A powerhouse that can stay shallow or go as deep as you need. Press record and you're done – or disappear into it for an hour. Both paths are first-class.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Somnideck at 100% against VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's 52%. Somnideck also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and monetization model (freemium vs subscription). VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's advantage is ratings volume (135 vs 11) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and in-app purchases 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. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Somnideck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Somnideck holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave has 135 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's written reviews are positive against 100% of Somnideck's.
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave ships an update every 2 weeks, Somnideck every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave | Somnideck |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (135 ratings) | 5.0 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 135 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.5 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 167 MB | 110 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Audiobus Pty Ltd | Oscar Dog, Inc. |
Customer experience
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave
Somnideck
Bugs and requests
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave
Reported bugs
11 issues- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand
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- Duplicate track sounds different from original
- Display shows 'Welcome' instead of loaded patch
- Thin black keys difficult to hit on keyboard
- Missing top C key on keyboard
- Sounds inconsistent when exported from GarageBand
- App disappears from projects after ownership change
Requested features
7 requests- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode
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- Access to original synth parameters instead of sample-based playback
- Direct routing to IAA output for FL Studio Mobile
Somnideck
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave
- Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Weekly premium$4.997 Days
- Yearly premium$9.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Yearly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Somnideck
- Studio – Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Studio – Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Studio – Lifetime$69.99
Questions
Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?
Is Somnideck free?
Which has better reviews, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave or Somnideck?
Do VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave or Somnideck have ads?
Which is updated more often, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave or Somnideck?
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