Crystal Synth XT vs Bumbly Synthesizer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Crystal Synth XT
Create lush, evolving soundscapes with a powerful semi-modular synthesizer for mobile devices. Explore subtractive and FM synthesis, extensive modulation, and built-in effects. Share sounds with the desktop version and connect MIDI keyboards for a full hardware synth experience.
- Semi-modular synthesis engine
- Subtractive and FM synthesis
- Extensive modulation control (>90 parameters)
- Multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors
- Tempo-synced envelopes, LFOs, and delays
- Built-in effects (chorus, flanger, echo)
- MIDI keyboard input and virtual MIDI support
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Crystal Synth XT is a full featured semi-modular synthesizer, ideally suited to creating lush evolving soundscapes. Crystal VST has long been a popular synthesizer on the desktop. Crystal Synth XT brings that same powerful synthesis engine to the iPad and iPhone. Crystal Synth XT features MIDI keyboard input via Apple's camera adapter and sharing of sounds with the desktop version of Crystal. == Features == Browse through the included sounds and use the 2 octave keypad or keyboard to trigger notes to produce evolving, rhythmic, or melodic sounds. Create your own sounds with a single button press using the breed feature. When using an iPad, you can delve into a tweaker's dream by using the extensive editing features to sculpt sounds to your heart's content (editing features are only available when used on an iPad). Crystal features both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lfo rates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band. Not only that, Crystal has wave sequencing and granular synthesis. The musical applications for Crystal are literally boundless. == MIDI == With MIDI keyboard input, you can connect a MIDI keyboard to your iPad or iPhone and play Crystal Synth XT like a hardware synth. == Virtual MIDI == Use virtual midi to play Crystal Synth XT from a midi controller app. Use the Settings app to turn on the Background Audio mode to enable Crystal to play audio when in the background. You can then play Crystal from a midi controller app which supports virtual midi. == Sharing == With patch sharing you can create sounds on your iPad or iPhone while away from the studio, then transfer them to the desktop Crystal when you get back to the studio to use in recording projects. Or, create banks of sounds on the desktop Crystal, then transfer them to the iPad/iPhone Crystal to use in a live performance for a truly portable rig. Use Audio copy/paste to record your performance on Crystal and transfer that performance to another app. Or copy your recorded performance to your computer. == Inter App Audio and Audiobus == To use IAA or Audiobus to record into other apps, turn on Background Audio for Crystal Synth XT in the Settings app. See demonstration videos on the greenoak.com website. == Different Versions == If you don't need all the features of Crystal Synth XT, try the basic version of Crystal, also available in the app store from Green Oak Software. With the basic version you can browse sounds, play notes, and create new sounds, taking advantage of its powerful semimodular synthesis engine. The XT version adds features like MIDI keyboard input via the iPad's camera adapter, IAA/Audiobus, and patch sharing with the desktop version. Choose the app that is best for you! == Notes == Important note for iPhone users: Crystal Synth XT runs on both the iPad and the iPhone. Because of the limited screen space on the iPhone however, the editing pages, which contain the edit controls, are not available when running on that device. However, on the iPhone you can still browse sounds, play notes from the keypad, create new sounds with the Breed feature, modify patches with the Design feature, and share sounds with desktop Crystal VST. For videos and information about Crystal Synth XT, visit: http://www.greenoak.com
Bumbly Synthesizer
Create unique sounds by drawing waveforms or using motion controls. This app offers a versatile synthesizer with customizable touch interfaces and a sequencer for composing music.
- Draw custom sound waves
- Customizable touch interfaces (ribbon, piano, guitar)
- Sequencer for drawing music playback
- Motion control for sound expression
- Wingbeat-inspired sound generation
- Adjustable synthesizer parameters
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- Draw the sound waves you want to hear in Bumbly Synthesizer. - Play music with customizable touch interfaces like ribbon, piano, guitar, and more. - Draw lines on the sequencer and hear your music play back exactly the way you drew it. - Tilt your device and express music through your body movements. 1. Synthesizer - Bumbly Synthesizer makes sound by simulating the movement of the wings of insects. - Draw single-cycle waveforms inspired by how insects (bees, mosquitoes, flies) create airflow with their wings, or sketch classic waveforms to hear them in action. - You can modify sound using pitch modulation of wings, pitch variation between two wings, wing size filter, room reverb and amplitude envelope. - Experiment with the synthesizer parameters and enjoy interesting sound variations. 2. Musical Instrument - Use Bumbly as a musical instrument. - Play music with 6 customizable sound panels. - Customize size, position, pitch range, velocity control(on/off), horizontal/vertical, continuous/discrete pitch, appearance(grid,note names) of sound panels. - Make familiar instruments (piano, guitar) or your own creative instrument. 3. Sequencer - Draw lines on the sequencer grid. - Bumbly will play what you draw. 4. Motion Mode - You can play Bumbly using your movements. - Tilt the device to control the pitch and create the sounds you want. * Bumbly has 6 monophonic sound generators. Make harmony (polyphonic sound) using multiple generators. * We recommend using device speakers or wired earphones. Bumbly Synthesizer: https://www.pogpalelabs.com/bumbly User Manual: https://www.pogpalelabs.com/bumbly-manual
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Crystal Synth XT at 78% against Bumbly Synthesizer's 0%. Crystal Synth XT also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 41 months). Bumbly Synthesizer's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99). 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
Crystal Synth XT costs $4.99 and Bumbly Synthesizer $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Crystal Synth XT holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crystal Synth XT has 22 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Crystal Synth XT's written reviews are positive against 0% of Bumbly Synthesizer's.
Crystal Synth XT ships an update every 4 months, Bumbly Synthesizer every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Crystal Synth XT | Bumbly Synthesizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (22 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 41 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 105 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Green Oak Software | POGPALE Labs Inc. |
Customer experience
Crystal Synth XT
Bumbly Synthesizer
Bugs and requests
Crystal Synth XT
Reported bugs
15 issues- App not working, splash screen disappears
- Screen in background
- Envelope points not moving
- Breed fan not working properly
- Crashing on launch
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- Clicks and crashes when adjusting parameters
- Sounds distorted and buggy
- Won't play any sounds
- Crashes when hitting record
- Play surface stopped responding
- Crash when trying record function
- Crackles and pops in sound engine
- Audiobus fails, breaks up when switching apps
- Preset name editing gone after iOS 7 update
- Splash screen appears for a second, then disappears
Requested features
22 requests- AUv3 support
- Update to an AU3 standard
- Newer interface
- Fix breed fan access to all presets
- Fix preset system variations between devices
Show 17 moreShow fewer
- AUv3 implementation
- Update the envelope points
- AUv3 standard transformation
- Multiple instances in DAWs
- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Fix preset name editing
- In-app purchase for a second instance
- Load/Save banks
- Metronome or timer capability
- Newer app icon
- Redesign for Retina Display
- Polyphony on iOS version
- Recording facility
- Keyboard option
- Virtual MIDI support
- Advanced patch editing on iPod version
Bumbly Synthesizer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Crystal Synth XT
No in-app purchases
Bumbly Synthesizer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Crystal Synth XT free?
Is Bumbly Synthesizer free?
Which has better reviews, Crystal Synth XT or Bumbly Synthesizer?
Do Crystal Synth XT or Bumbly Synthesizer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Crystal Synth XT or Bumbly Synthesizer?
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