Comparison

Steel Guitar vs SynthMaster One

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

Head to head
About

Steel Guitar

This app offers a realistic steel guitar experience with a vast collection of instruments, amps, and effects. Craft unique tones with a customizable signal chain and control features via MIDI or accelerometer for authentic pedal steel sounds. It's ideal for musicians seeking diverse guitar tones and advanced sound shaping.

Highlights
  • 10 unique guitars
  • 8 virtual-tube amps
  • 16 classic effects
  • Customizable FX & Amps Signal Chain
  • MIDI and accelerometer control
  • Recording and looping capabilities
  • Inter-App Audio & Audiobus support
Currently charting
Read full description

Introducing the all-new Steel Guitar 2.0 — built COMPLETELY from scratch with bigger tone, more soul, and better features than ever! Combining a large collection of unique guitars, all-new realtime effects and amps processing, and a playing surface more expressive than ever, Steel Guitar is easily the most realistic sounding guitar on iOS. For unprecedented control over your tone, expand to 10 unique guitars, 8 iconic virtual-tube amps, and 16 classic effects! Build up your signal chain any way you want, thanks to a simple drag-and-drop interface that accommodates all your amps & FX connections, in any order. Steel Guitar’s axes range from 6-string electrics to acoustic, 12-string, and to even 8- and 10-string pedals steels. Amps include all the important models of the last 60 years — each one complete with channel switching, adjustable gain, and EQ. The effects include painstakingly designed virtual-analog overdrives, fuzzes, wah, tape delay, reverbs, and more! With the PRO Pack or The Whole Enchilada, gain access to Steel Guitar’s powerful tapedeck complete with recording, looping audio copy/paste and a plethora of other sharing options; or harness Steel Guitar’s powerful, user-friendly MIDI Learn to control your effects, amps and guitar parameters! Use MIDI or the accelerometer to control string-bending pedals for authentic pedal steel sounds — and you can easily configure pedal-to-string assignments via the built-in copedent matrix. Steel Guitar 2.0 is fully connected, too. With Inter-App Audio and Audiobus available out-of-the box, connect Steel Guitar to your favorite iOS DAW and jam away! Whether you’re after the soulful ring of acoustic blues, the mean and dirty crunch of Rock, or dreamy bell-like tones of a pedal steel, Steel Guitar has got your covered. • Expand to 10 unique guitars, 8 amps and 16 effects • Real time FX & Amps processing • Fully configurable FX & Amps Signal Chain • Virtual-Tube amps including classic American and British models • Virtual-Analog effects: multiple overdrives & fuzzes, reverbs, mods, tape delay & more • All new, easy-to-use guitar interface • Configurable note-snapping, normal & damped sustain • Bar slanting & string dampening gestures • String bending via MIDI or accelerometer-controlled virtual “pedals” • Fully controllable copedent (string-bending pedal map) • Inter App Audio & Audiobus • MIDI Learn & Program Changes* • Tapedeck with recording, audio copy/paste, looping and lots of other import/export options* • Save unlimited presets; import/export presets and folders • Metronome with tap tempo • Left-handed mode *Included with PRO Pack or The Whole Enchilada

About

SynthMaster One

This powerful wavetable synthesizer app offers an intuitive workflow for creating unique sounds. It features a rich library of wavetables, inspiring presets, and a semi-modular architecture for deep sound design. Easily sync data across devices and integrate with DAWs.

Highlights
  • Wavetable synthesis
  • Semi-modular architecture
  • 650 factory presets
  • AUv3 support
  • Cross-platform cloud sync
  • Real-time modulation feedback
  • 32-step arpeggiator/sequencer
Read full description

SynthMaster One iOS is KV331 Audio's first full blown universal synth app on iOS platform. It's a powerful wavetable synth with an intuitive workflow. With its simple layout, rich wavetable/waveform content and inspiring factory presets library, designing new sounds with SynthMaster One iOS is a joy. SynthMaster One iOS is feature wise identical to the desktop version except the following: * 16 voice polyphony (32 for the desktop version) * Comes with 650 presets (1250 for the desktop version) FEATURES * Universal App: SynthMaster One is now a universal standalone/AUv3 synth app running on iPhone 7 and above. * 650 Factory Presets: SynthMaster One iOS comes with inspiring factory presets from a world class team of sound designers: Arksun, Aiyn Zahev, BigTone Studios, Brian Transeau, Bluffmunkey, Bulent Biyikoglu, Gercek Dorman, Dejavu Sound, Fragment Audio, Kurt Ader, Mirko Ruta, Nori Ubukata, Rob Lee, Ufuk Kevser, Selcuk Ergen, The Machine, Vandalism Sound, Venus Theory, Vorpalsound and Xenos Soundworks * AUv3: SynthMaster One iOS supports AudioUnits V3, allowing multiple instances to run under supporting DAW apps like GarageBand, Cubasis or Beat Maker. * Files App Integration: Easily import/export presets, waveforms or scales using the common file browser UI (requires iOS 11+). * Real-time Modulation Feedback: See in real-time how modulation sources and targets change. This is a very helpful feature when designing sounds! * Cross Platform Cloud Synchronization: Easily synchronize your SynthMaster One related data across multiple platforms (Windows, MacOS, iPad, iPhone) * Semi-Modular Architecture: For each SynthMaster One instance, there are 2 oscillators with 2 sub oscillators, 2 Filters, 4 ADSR Envelopes, 3 LFOs, a powerful 16 step arpeggiator/sequencer and also 11 different effects that can be inserted on to 6 FX insert slots. The sub oscillators can be connected to the oscillators in 5 different modes which let you use it as a regular sub oscillator or do complex modulations such as ring modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation or frequency modulation. * 32 Step Arpeggiator/Sequencer: The arpeggiator in SynthMaster One features classic arpeggiator modes such as Up, Down, UpDown, DownUp, UpDown2, DownUp2, AsPlayed as well as Sequence, Chord and Arpeggiate modes. * Wavetable Synthesis: SynthMaster One implements true wavetable synthesis which opens up new possibilities for sound design. It comes with a rich content library with hundreds of waveforms and wavetables. * Stereo Oscillators with up to 16 voices Unison: Each of the 2 oscillators in SynthMaster One have stereo output, and can have up to 16 voices "unison". Using the "voices", "voices mix", "detune curve", "detune spread", "pan stread", "tone spread" and "phase spread" parameters, each oscillator can generate a rich "supersaw" type sound. * Zero Delay Feedback Filters: All of the 4 filter categories in SynthMaster One are developed using the zero delay feedback filter technology. With advanced filter parameters like input gain, drive, acid, filter nonlinearities and up to 4 times oversampling you can get that "analog" sound from the filters! * Rich Set of Effects: SynthMaster One features 11 different effect types: Distortion, LoFi, Ensemble, Phaser, 6 Band EQ, Compressor, Vocoder, Delay, Chorus, Tremolo, Reverb. * Microtuning: SynthMaster One supports Scala tuning, so tuning can be set either for each preset or globally by loading from a Scala tuning file. SynthMaster One comes with 300+ scales ranging from 5 note equal tempered scales to 12 note alternate tuning scales. * Preset Browser: SynthMaster One features a comprehensive preset browser with separate search criterias for instrument type, preset attributes, music style or preset author. SUPPORTS * All 64-bit iPad devices * AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions * Note-per-channel MIDI controllers (MPE) * Ableton Link * Bluetooth LE MIDI Controllers * AirDrop

Screenshots

Steel Guitar4 screens
SynthMaster One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SynthMaster One at 4.7 against Steel Guitar's 3.7. SynthMaster One also leads on ratings volume (744 vs 60) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Steel Guitar's advantage is chart position (#148 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 10.0). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Steel Guitar costs $0.99 and SynthMaster One $0.99 up front. Steel Guitar sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and SynthMaster One sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SynthMaster One holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthMaster One has 744 ratings behind it against 60, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Steel Guitar's written reviews are positive against 64% of SynthMaster One's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steel Guitar ships an update every 4 months, SynthMaster One every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Steel Guitar versus SynthMaster One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteel GuitarSynthMaster One
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating3.7 (60 ratings)4.7 (744 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.3% of reviews63.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings60744 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#148 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB402 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYonac Inc.KV331 Audio

Customer experience

Steel Guitar

All ratings60 ratings
Positive61.7%
Neutral11.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive60.3%
Neutral6.9%
Negative32.8%

SynthMaster One

All ratings743 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews207 reviews
Positive63.8%
Neutral10.6%
Negative25.6%

User reviews

Steel Guitar

From 60 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎸 Realistic and convincing steel guitar sound quality
  • 👍 Intuitive touch-based interface and controls
  • 🎵 Extensive customization options for tuning and effects
  • 💰 Great value for price, especially with IAP bundles
  • 🔧 Wide variety of guitar models and amp/effect choices

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues - disconnects AirPods when app opens
  • 🐛 App crashes and freezes, especially on newer iOS versions
  • 💸 Expensive IAP model with features locked behind paywalls
  • 🔄 Poor upgrade path - IAPs don't transfer to new app versions
  • 📱 Compatibility issues with iPhone 6S and newer models

SynthMaster One

From 744 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful synth engine
  • 👍 Extensive preset library
  • 🎨 Versatile sound design capabilities
  • 💡 Free desktop version expansions on iPad
  • 🎹 Excellent sound quality and tone

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🔋 Battery drain in background
  • 🤔 Confusing in-app purchase system
  • 👎 UI/UX could use improvement
  • 🔇 Audio issues and no sound

Bugs and requests

Steel Guitar

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Bluetooth headphones disconnect when app opens
  • App crashes on iPhone 12 and iPhone 6S
  • MIDI functionality non-functional despite being advertised
  • App freezes and requires restart
  • Slide bar locks and becomes unresponsive
Show 7 more
  • No sound output in some configurations
  • Sample rate conflicts with other apps cause lockout
  • App permanently displays upside down on some devices
  • IAA and Audiobus compatibility issues
  • Download fails with error dialog
  • App doesn't work as IAA instrument in BM3
  • Performance issues causing excessive heat on device

Requested features

13 requests
  • Full MIDI keyboard support for playing notes
  • Bluetooth/AirPods compatibility fix
  • Ability to save and switch between presets
  • Recording and audio export functionality
  • Multi-touch chord support
Show 8 more
  • String muting capability
  • Additional guitar types (Stratocaster, Nylon string, Resonator)
  • AU/VST3 plugin for Logic Pro X integration
  • Musical scales display on fretboard
  • Landscape orientation auto-rotation
  • MIDI out for recording in DAWs
  • Improved tuning text display
  • Gyroscope tilt and rotation controls

SynthMaster One

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Stuck notes and MIDI issues
  • Preset loading crashes
  • Restore purchases not working
  • Incompatibility with certain DAWs

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add custom wavetable support
  • Improve MIDI mapping and MPE functionality
  • Optimize performance on older devices
  • Streamline preset management and browsing

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Steel Guitar

One-time5
  • Guitar Bundle$2.99
  • Amp Bundle$2.99
  • FX Bundle$2.99
Show 2 more
  • PRO Pack$2.99
  • The Whole Enchilada$9.99
10 purchases

SynthMaster One

One-time10
  • BigTone Club Construction Set$4.99
  • True Trance Sounds Volume 1$4.99
  • Vandalism Future House$4.99
Show 7 more
  • NatLife Retrowave Sounds Vol.1$4.99
  • Demis Hellen Euphoric Trance$4.99
  • Venus Theory Trap Sounds$4.99
  • Vandalism Shocking Future Bass$4.99
  • NatLife Progressive&Deep Vol.1$4.99
  • Desktop Presets Upgrade$7.99
  • SM One Expansions Bundle$24.99

Questions

Is Steel Guitar free?
Steel Guitar costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SynthMaster One free?
SynthMaster One costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Steel Guitar or SynthMaster One?
SynthMaster One is rated higher. Steel Guitar averages 3.7 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while SynthMaster One averages 4.7 from 744 ratings.
Do Steel Guitar or SynthMaster One have ads?
Neither Steel Guitar nor SynthMaster One shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steel Guitar or SynthMaster One?
Steel Guitar ships an update every 4 months, and SynthMaster One every 2 months. Most recently, Steel Guitar was updated on November 6, 2026 and SynthMaster One on November 11, 2026.

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