iKnow! vs Synth Brain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iKnow!
Master Japanese, Chinese, and English with this app's adaptive learning engine. It offers multiple study modes and synchronizes your progress across devices for flexible learning. Ideal for anyone looking to efficiently acquire new vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Adaptive learning engine
- Spaced rehearsal pattern
- Five study modes
- Vocabulary and sentence mastery
- Progress synchronization
- Audio playback with speed control
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Enjoy the iKnow! experience on your phone or tablet! All your iKnow! study progress is automatically synched across devices, so you can study in the way that best matches your needs and lifestyle. “Japanese, Chinese, and English” Official courses are offered for studying Japanese, Chinese, and SAT English. The Japanese courses cover the 6,000 most commonly used words in Japanese. The Chinese courses cover the 2,000 most commonly used words in spoken Chinese and over 1,200 words commonly used in newspapers and magazines. (All Chinese courses are available in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.) All words have sample sentences and audio. “The iKnow! Learning Engine” iKnow! presents items in a spaced rehearsal pattern optimized for efficient learning. iKnow! adapts to differences in learning speeds and item difficulty, constantly measuring memory and predicting performance across all of your items. iKnow! does this by tracking your performance and then predicting your optimal review time on an item-by-item basis. All you have to do is push the study button, and iKnow! tells you what to learn. ************** Features: - Five study modes: iKnow!, Rapid Choice, Self Check, Sentence Trainer, and Listening. - iKnow!: Master words and phrases with our patented learning algorithms. - Rapid Choice: Fast-paced quizzing and review. - Self Check: Judge yourself on what you know and how well. - Sentence Trainer: Master sentence patterns by listening and then dictating. - Listening: Listen to content on the go. You can slow down and loop any audio. - Study progress synched across supported devices.
Synth Brain
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Learn synthesis by connecting what you see, hear, and change. Synth Brain is a step-by-step learning app for understanding synthesizers and sound design through concise visual lessons, A/B listening, hands-on patch labs, and focused ear training. Memorizing knob names is not enough. Synth Brain connects every control you change with the result you hear. Listen to a target, shape the sound yourself, and check the difference by ear. Follow one structured path from the fundamentals to advanced synthesis techniques. HOW YOU LEARN • Concise visual lessons organize the signal flow and the role of each parameter • A/B comparisons help separate loudness differences from timbral differences • Hands-on labs let you move the controls toward a target sound • Ear-training quizzes develop recognition of brightness, attack, beating, modulation, and more • A built-in synth playground lets you explore each technique freely CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS • Pitch, loudness, timbre, harmonics, and gain staging • Basic waveforms, noise, octaves, detuning, beating, and PWM • Low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass filters; cutoff, resonance, and key tracking • Amp and filter envelopes, including ADSR • LFO routing, vibrato, tremolo, wah, and modulation depth • Patch design for basses, leads, pads, plucks, and drums • Layering, chorus, delay, and reverb • FM, hard sync, ring modulation, and additive synthesis SYNTH BRAIN IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO • Understand what the controls on a synthesizer actually do • Move beyond presets and build sounds yourself • Train your ears for music production and sound design • Learn foundations that transfer between hardware and software synthesizers MORE FEATURES • Japanese and English • Designed for iPhone and iPad • No account required • Learning progress stored on your device • A safety limiter that reduces sudden output peaks Protect your hearing and begin at a low listening level. For subtle comparisons, use headphones or wired earphones at a comfortable level. Turn visible controls into knowledge you can hear. Start shaping sound with Synth Brain.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: iKnow! at Free against Synth Brain's $14.99. iKnow! also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Synth Brain's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads 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
iKnow! is free to download; Synth Brain costs $14.99 up front. iKnow! sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Synth Brain asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | iKnow! | Synth Brain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (490 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 490 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DMM.com LLC | Code and DESIGN inc. |
Bugs and requests
iKnow!
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on startup
- Blank screens during multiple-choice questions
- Issues with typing answers and registering input
- Audio not playing for some example sentences
Requested features
7 requests- Add more languages beyond Japanese and Chinese
- Improve community course integration
- Implement a dark mode
- Add more example sentences per word
- Provide an option to learn without kanji
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- Implement a notification system for review reminders
- Add grammar drills and kanji writing practice
Synth Brain
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iKnow!
- 3 Month Plan$23.99
- 12 Month Plan$39.99
- 12+1 Month Plan$39.99
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- 6 Month Plan$47.99
- 6+1 Month Plan$47.99
- 12+3 Month Plan$54.99
- 12 Month Plan$59.99
- 12 Month Plan$64.99
- 12+1 Month Plan$64.99
- 12 Month Plan$69.99
Synth Brain
No in-app purchases









