Synth vs iMPC Pro 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Synth
This app is a polyphonic synthesizer for iPad, allowing users to create unique sounds. It offers professional control and sound design capabilities, and can be integrated with other music production tools.
- Polyphonic synthesis
- Microphone sound creation
- Parameter editor (in-app purchase)
- Tabletop integration
- Mod wheel
- Pitch-bend wheel
- Adjustable delay and distortion
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Synth is an incredible polyphonic synthesizer for your iPad. Create your own sounds with the microphone, and relive all of your Casio SK1 dreams. Synth was used by Gorillaz in recording their album, “The Fall.” Synth’s parameter editor provides professional control and sound design via an in-app purchase. Connect Synth to drum machines, sequencers, and more in Tabletop for iPad. Tabletop is an expandable studio with over a dozen included musical devices. Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Select from over 40 devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog. Need help? Email support@retronyms.com and we’ll answer your questions. Main Features: - Mod wheel - Pitch-bend wheel - Adjustable delay - Adjustable distortion
iMPC Pro 2
This app is a comprehensive music creation tool that combines a powerful sampler and beatmaker with advanced features for vocal tracks and Audio Units integration. It allows for real-time audio manipulation, flexible song sequencing, and offers a vast library of sound kits and packs to enhance your productions.
- Audio track recording and real-time manipulation
- Audio Units instrument integration
- Advanced song sequencing and mixing
- Extensive sound kits and free sound packs
- Multi-touch audio clip editing
- Tutorial series for music production
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iMPC Pro 2 fuses innovative song creation with the iconic MPC workflow. iMPC Pro gave us a powerful sampler and beatmaker, and now iMPC Pro 2 has evolved into a full fledged song creation tool with the addition of vocal tracks, Audio Units integration, a sleek new design and tons of new features! AUDIO TRACKS: Within the audio tracks, you can time warp, pitch shift, and rearrange your audio clips in real time. The sophistication of real time manipulation is captured in a simple workflow and sleek interface. You can choose from multiple input sources to record, including external mic channels, hardware audio interfaces, and IAA. Import existing projects from iMPC Pro and add your vocal tracks easily. AUDIO UNIT TRACKS: You can now load any Audio Units instrument into an Audio Unit Track! Control your AU instrument with a classic piano keyboard interface and an iMPC interface with note variation, Flux Link, Note Repeat, 16 Levels, and more. The app also features an improvement to the workflow for song creation. Song sequencing is faster, more powerful, and more flexible, so you have complete creative control. 100% NEW SOUND KIT AND MORE: Designed exclusively for iMPC Pro 2, these kits cover some of the most iconic and cutting-edge beat genres available, from producers including ADSR, Rawcutz, SampleTools by Cr2, Niche Audio, and Sample Magic. Each kit includes 16 Hi Quality samples featuring sounds from 808’s to melodic hits and stabs, designed for the best user experience possible. iMPC Pro 2 also comes with 5 additional Sound Packs for FREE (valued at $35). Grab these packs in the AudioCopy Content Store: Essential Club Collection, Classic Cuts, Dub 2 DnB, Melodic Collection, and The Diploma! You can use them in hundreds of AudioCopy compatible apps (including iMPC and iMPC Pro). iMPC UNIVERSITY: Unlock producer secrets and learn how to become a full fledged song creator with this tutorial series. iMPCU unlocks one course per day and gives you the tools you need to take your music to the next level. Fun for both new and experienced users, iMPC Pro 2 offers an expansive dive into the world of beatmaking and song editing through these courses. We’re excited for you to try it! FEATURES: Audio Tracks: - Record from built in mic, external mics, audio interfaces, instruments, etc. - Record from Inter App Audio Apps - Warp Tracks and Clips to match tempo - Access several quick editing features on Audio Clips (Pitch shift, Time Stretch, Amplify, Crop, Split, Duplicate) - Drag to arrange Audio Clips, snap them to an adjustable grid setting - Advanced waveform editing AudioUnit integration: - Audio Unit tweak mode with full keyboard support (including 2 dozen scale modes from Chromatic to Blues to Aeolian) --- - 100% New Sound Set, with 5 additional free Sound Packs - Sample sounds from Spotify - 64 Track Mixer with EQ and 4 FX sends (Reverb, Delay, Chorus/Flange, and one Inter App Audio Effect) - Chop-shop provides intuitive multi-touch editing, trimming, auditioning, splicing, splicing and processing samples - Tracks View shows an overview of all the tracks in your song - 16 Levels mode with attack, velocity, length, and tuning settings for quickly creating variations of sounds - Live Sequence queuing for real-time performance and playback - Time correct: 1/8 note - 1/32T with variable swing - MPC Note Repeat featuring 1/8 note - 1/32T timing with latch - IAA and Ableton Link support - Share beats and songs seamlessly to YouTube - 4 Mute Groups and custom-designed envelopes for all pads - AudioCopy and AudioPaste support - Improved integration and support for iMPC Pro Packs and other Sound Packs from the AudioCopy Content Store - Expert MIDI support including multiple maps and more - New Song Arrangement workflow and integrated Song Mode makes song creation easier than ever Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: iMPC Pro 2 at 4.4 against Synth's 3.1. iMPC Pro 2 also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 20). Synth's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 34%) and price ($0.99 vs $6.29). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Synth costs $0.99 and iMPC Pro 2 $6.29 up front. Synth sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and iMPC Pro 2 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
iMPC Pro 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iMPC Pro 2 has 1.1K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Synth's written reviews are positive against 34% of iMPC Pro 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Synth ships an update every 6 months, iMPC Pro 2 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Synth | iMPC Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $6.29 |
| Rating | 3.1 (20 ratings) | 4.4 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.6% of reviews — better | 34.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 328 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Retronyms Inc | Akai Professional |
Customer experience
Synth
iMPC Pro 2
User reviews
Synth
From 20 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great synth with lots of settings and options
- 🎨 Awesome retro/vintage sounds
- 💡 Useful for creating sound effects
- 🎹 Simple and easy to use keyboard
Room to improve
- 🐛 No MIDI support
- 🔌 Not compatible with other apps like Tabletop
- 🔒 Lacks advanced features like ADSR, filters, LFO
- 🔇 No recording or export functionality
iMPC Pro 2
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great workflow
- 👍 Powerful features
- 🔥 Awesome sound quality
- 💡 Spotify sampling
- 🎨 Attractive interface
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔍 Difficult to import own samples
- 🤔 Confusing UI elements
- 🔇 Lack of metronome in playback
- 🔌 Compatibility issues with controllers
Bugs and requests
Synth
Reported bugs
2 issues- Pitch bend control reverts back to default
- Occasional crashes or freezes
Requested features
4 requests- Add MIDI support
- Integrate with Tabletop and other music apps
- Implement ADSR, filters, LFO, and other synthesis controls
- Add recording and export capabilities
iMPC Pro 2
Reported bugs
4 issues- Audio track recording issues
- Disappearing samples and projects
- Unstable performance on iPad Pro
- Exporting problems with static and glitches
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to customize pad sizes
- Per-track effects and EQ
- Improved MIDI support
- Seamless project transfer from previous versions
- Expanded file management options
In-app purchases
Synth
- Patch Editor$0.99
- Synth Skin Pack$4.99
iMPC Pro 2
- Producer Subscription (Monthly)1 Month trial$7.991 Month
- iMPC Pro Professional Subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
- Producer Subscription (Annual)1 Year trial$69.991 Year
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- Professional Subscription (Annual)1 Year trial$79.991 Year









