Comparison

Sylo Synthesiser vs touchscaper

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

Head to head
About

Sylo Synthesiser

Design and play unique sounds from scratch or by modifying existing ones. Capture audio from your environment or import files to craft custom instruments and sound effects with advanced synthesis and modulation tools.

Highlights
  • Design sounds from scratch
  • Capture audio via microphone
  • Import audio files
  • Granular synthesis
  • Live time-stretching
  • MIDI support
  • FX units
Features
Read full description

Sylo Synthesiser allows you to play music, or create sound effects, using sounds you can design yourself. Sylo Synth includes a collection of pre-designed sounds which you can use as they are, tweak them to your heart's desire, or you can make new sounds from scratch. Build sounds from basic waveforms, or capture them from the world around you using the iPad's built-in microphone. Then, tinker with Sylo Synthesiser's filters and other settings to make a sound all your own. Sylo Synthesiser features live time-stretching technology based on granular synthesis and a suite of filters: • Speed up or slow down a recorded sound to use as an instrument • With a regular wavetable synthesiser, higher-pitched notes are also faster, like chipmunks, and lower-pitched notes are also slower, as though they are moving through treacle • But enable Sylo's "Sync Speed" feature, and lower or higher-pitched notes still play back at the same speed, keeping them in sync with each other • Fiddle with the speed control even while you're playing notes: Slow, stop or even rewind the sound in the middle of notes — without changing the pitch • Granular synthesis allows you to create instruments or effects from a recording, that do not sound like the original, yet retain its realistic, natural sound • FX units: Frequency modulation, ring modulation, echo/delay, distortion, and a low-pass filter with resonance control Sylo Synthesiser also supports Core MIDI: play music from another device via MIDI. Additional features: • Use existing audio files as the building-blocks of your instrument: import audio from wave, aiff, mp3 and aac/m4a files • Save recordings to your iPad or to online storage providers • Save your new instruments to the preset list for quick access • Exchange audio with other apps via AudioCopy/AudioPaste or "Open in..." (where supported) Please note: The microphone button in Sylo Synthesiser is for recording sound into the synth, to use as the basis for new instruments — not for making a permanent record of what you play! (We've heard from a couple of people confused about this so we thought we'd make it clear!) If you wish to record your performances, you can use the Record button in the toolbar for this purpose.

About

touchscaper

Create music on your iPad by simply touching the screen. This app offers a semi-generative engine to guide note selection and allows for deep customization of chords, keys, and scales. Explore a variety of built-in sounds and effects to craft unique musical pieces.

Highlights
  • Multi-touch interface with radar, ribbon, and keyboard surfaces
  • Semi-generative engine for note selection
  • Full control over chords, keys, and scales
  • Layerable built-in sounds and effects
  • Chord navigator and looper with Ableton Link
  • Sequencer for touch, drums, and synth automation
  • Inter-App Audio and MIDI out support
Read full description

Touchscaper is an instrument designed for anyone who wants to make music on their iPad simply by touching the screen. You don’t have to be a serious musician to enjoy touchscaper, but if you are, touchscaper is highly configureable under the hood. Main features: • Multi-touch based interface with “radar”, “ribbon” and keyboard surfaces • Touch the screen to play a note, move your fingers to change the sound • Semi-generative engine selects the “good notes” for you • Touch movement can control volume and pan for each individual note • Total control over chords, keys and scales (fully chromatic) • Multiple chords can be generated from keys and scales to create “scenes” • Chord "navigator" helps you create inspiring chord progressions • 40 built-in sounds can be combined in 2 layers to create “instruments” • Built-in sounds include samples from moodscaper, pianoscaper, numerous analog synths and guitars • Comes with preset example scenes and instruments • Random instrument generator function with one tap of a button • Hold and orbit modes for hands-free evolving soundscapes • Ribbon style keyboard with touch vibrato • Chord looper with Ableton Link support • Arrangement view for longer / more complex chord progressions • 16 step probability-based sequencer for touch, drums, percussion and synth automation • "jam grid" sequencer view for live performances • Supports file sharing for scenes and instruments • Built-in effects including ping-pong delays, reverb, limiter and EQ • Supports IAA (Inter-App Audio) as a generator • Control other music apps using MIDI out and CCs with optional MPE support There are several demo videos in circulation which should give you a better idea of what touchscaper can do - just search for “touchscaper”. *** Please note that this app is now in maintenance mode / updates for bug fixes only. This is due to the heavy dependency on deprecated technology such as IAA ***

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sylo Synthesiser at Free against touchscaper's $4.99. Sylo Synthesiser also leads on iOS requirement (10.3 vs 12.0). touchscaper's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Sylo Synthesiser is free to download; touchscaper costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

touchscaper holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: touchscaper has 156 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Sylo Synthesiser's written reviews are positive against 93% of touchscaper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sylo Synthesiser ships an update every 2 months, touchscaper weekly. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sylo Synthesiser versus touchscaper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSylo Synthesisertouchscaper
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.1 (25 ratings)4.9 (156 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.0% of reviews93.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25156 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS10.3 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB359 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWooji Juice LtdRob Jackson

Customer experience

Sylo Synthesiser

All ratings24 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive79.0%
Neutral10.1%
Negative10.9%

touchscaper

All ratings147 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive93.2%
Neutral1.4%
Negative5.5%

User reviews

Sylo Synthesiser

From 25 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎵 Unique grain synthesis capabilities
  • 🎹 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • 🎤 Built-in sampling and recording features
  • ⚡ Quick sound creation and manipulation
  • 🎚️ Extensive parameter tweaking options

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
  • 🔌 No Audiobus support
  • 🔗 Limited connectivity with other apps
  • 📱 iPad-only (no iPhone version)
  • 🎵 Audio quality issues with pops and crackles

touchscaper

From 156 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Beautiful and inspiring sounds
  • 👍 Easy to use, yet deep
  • 💡 Innovative and unique instrument
  • 🚀 Creates beautiful music easily
  • 💰 Great value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 MIDI connectivity issues
  • 🐛 MPE via MIDI out not working
  • 🐛 Pops when adding multiple sounds
  • 🐛 Hold Mode design is awkward
  • 🐛 App can become unstable after long use

Bugs and requests

Sylo Synthesiser

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes on startup or when opening microphone
  • Crashes when rotating dials or using extreme control settings
  • Pops and clicking noises during playback
  • Audio distortion and warbling when holding keys
  • Freezing when using polyphony or complex loops
Show 6 more
  • Keys remain pressed when scrolling between octaves
  • App won't load certain WAV files
  • Sound function fails requiring app reboot
  • Recording playback not functioning
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Update-related stability issues

Requested features

16 requests
  • Audiobus integration
  • AU/IAA plugin support
  • iPhone version
  • Save custom sounds functionality
  • Larger, more playable keyboard keys
Show 11 more
  • Stereo microphone input support
  • Expanded sound library
  • MIDI connectivity improvements
  • Metronome feature
  • Sequencer integration
  • Waveform trimming in sample editor
  • Core MIDI support
  • Wave shape editor
  • Modulation matrix
  • Hardware compatibility with modern devices
  • Preset settings for specific sounds

touchscaper

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Does not show up as an available audio unit in Logic or GarageBand
  • Cannot get any MIDI connectivity to work
  • MPE via MIDI out does not work if there is no MIDI out for the app
  • Pops when adding more than 2 sounds
  • Hold Mode design is awkward, especially for note placement
Show 1 more
  • App lost its mind and control animations ran wild after 10 hours of use

Requested features

12 requests
  • AUv3 version/compatibility
  • More sophisticated mixer
  • Second bank of patterns
  • Panels to tweak oscillators, LFOs, etc.
  • Orchestral type sounds
Show 7 more
  • Light background theme in UI
  • Attack vector like ADSR function
  • Variable Release function
  • Mixer for each drum line
  • MIDI out functionality (mentioned multiple times)
  • Toggle on/off for Hold Mode
  • Ability to nudge/fine-tune node placements in Hold Mode

In-app purchases

None

Sylo Synthesiser

No in-app purchases

None

touchscaper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sylo Synthesiser free?
Sylo Synthesiser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is touchscaper free?
touchscaper costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sylo Synthesiser or touchscaper?
touchscaper is rated higher. Sylo Synthesiser averages 4.1 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while touchscaper averages 4.9 from 156 ratings.
Do Sylo Synthesiser or touchscaper have ads?
Neither Sylo Synthesiser nor touchscaper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sylo Synthesiser or touchscaper?
Sylo Synthesiser ships an update every 2 months, and touchscaper weekly. Most recently, Sylo Synthesiser was updated on October 22, 2026 and touchscaper on October 22, 2026.

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