Comparison

Peter Vogel CMI vs Synesthesia Synth

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

Head to head
About

Peter Vogel CMI

Experience the legendary sounds of the 1980s Computer Musical Instrument (CMI) with this retro MIDI player. It offers a byte-perfect re-issue of classic CMI voices and includes a play-only demo of the pioneering 'Page R' rhythm sequencer.

Highlights
  • 500+ legendary CMI sounds
  • Byte-perfect re-issue of 80s CMI sounds
  • Play-only demo of Page R sequencer
  • Browse and play CMI IIX Sounds floppy disk library
  • Play CMI voices via external MIDI input
  • On-screen keyboard
  • Authentic CMI user interface
Features
Read full description

Travel back in time to the dawn of electronic music with this strange retro app – a MIDI player preloaded with 500+ legendary CMI (Computer Musical Instrument) sounds. The first byte-perfect re-issue of the classic CMI sounds of the 80s, immortalised by artists including Alan Parsons, Jean Michel Jarre, Trevor Horn, Thomas Dolby, Brian Eno, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder and so many more. 
This app includes a play-only demo of the famous ‘Page R’, which was the world's first screen-based rhythm sequencer. Today every sampler, digital synthesiser, sequencer and audio workstation can trace its lineage back to this legendary machine. Now you can have, in your pocket or on your iPad, a piece of history developed by Peter Vogel and other music nerds who worked on the Fairlight* CMI in the '80s. 
 BUILT-IN FEATURES 
- browse and play the entire original CMI IIX Sounds floppy disk library - 564 voices imported digitally. - play the CMI voices from an external MIDI input (supports Core MIDI devices. Line6 MidiMobilizer II or Akai SynthStation require MidiBridge or similar), or use the on-screen keyboard - display voices graphically using the iconic Page D, and change your viewpoint by tilting your iPhone/iPad.  - play built-in CMI Page R compositions or import and play compositions sent to you by others. 
 - authentic CMI user interface experience, including floppy disk quirks. 


 UPGRADE to PRO VERSION 
Use the in-App upgrade process to add “pro” features for an additional $39.99. Vogel CMI Pro App includes CMI III voices, the ability to compose 8 track songs using the Page R pattern sequencer, sampling your own voices from the microphone or line in and much more. See the “Vogel CMI Pro” app description for details. REVIEWS 
 I would have never dreamt in a million years to own a Fairlight. It is the stuff of legends! Beyond any ordinary man's budget! And for this day to come a reality for a mere $10!! I am in awe and shock! I cannot emphasize how thankful I am to you for releasing this Iconic and Legendary instrument as an iPhone application!! (Imad Hamadieh, Dubai, UAE) When I saw it yesterday and found out about it, I just about fainted!! Very nice app! A complete revival / reissue of the best computer musical instrument ever in a tiny but very useful format. It is a joy to see an epic piece of synthesizer/sampling history as an app for the millions. Finally you can take your Fairlight wherever you are! A Fairlight to go-go-go! (Freek Roffel, Netherlands) 

Again I would like to take a moment and extend a huge THANK YOU to the entire Fairlight team. ... You have taken the time and patience to create an affordable solution for the masses. ... You have given us a gift. I am truly excited to see what users will do with this App to change the future of music once again. Sincerely, thank you. (Zacharia Malakai, USA) 
 All I can say is WOW!! I have put this thru my BIG speakers in my studio and put a little reverb on and the sound is stunning – SO what am I going to do with my Fairlight CMI-IIx now?? (Howard J Smith, USA) DEVICE REQUIREMENTS 

This App will work on any device running iOS 7 or later. However, if you want to use Audiobus or do heavy performance and composing work with the Pro upgrade, we recommend a minimum of iPod Touch 4G, iPhone 4 or iPad 2. *Fairlight is a trademark of Fairlight.au Pty Ltd Australia

About

Synesthesia Synth

An experimental audio-visual instrument that allows users to sculpt evolving spatial audio by manipulating floating capsules. Position, rotation, and pulse changes affect tone, texture, and synchronized particle generation. It's a visual synthesizer, not a game.

Highlights
  • Experimental audio-visual instrument
  • Sculpt evolving spatial audio
  • Manipulate floating capsules
  • Control tone, texture, and particles
  • Visual synthesizer
Read full description

Synthaestesia is a free experimental audio-visual instrument. Three capsules float in space. Every contraction produces sound. Move them, rotate them, reshape their pulse — and sculpt evolving spatial audio. Position changes tone. Rotation alters texture. Delay generates synchronized particles. This is not a game. It’s a spatial synth you can see.

Screenshots

Peter Vogel CMI4 screens
Synesthesia Synth2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Synesthesia Synth at Free against Peter Vogel CMI's $9.99. Synesthesia Synth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Peter Vogel CMI's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.0). On ads 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

Synesthesia Synth is free to download; Peter Vogel CMI costs $9.99 up front. Peter Vogel CMI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Synesthesia Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synesthesia Synth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Peter Vogel CMI has 36 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Peter Vogel CMI ships an update every 3 weeks, Synesthesia Synth every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Peter Vogel CMI versus Synesthesia Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPeter Vogel CMISynesthesia Synth
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.5 (36 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings36 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB141 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter Vogel Instruments Pty LtdMICHELE ZACCAGNINI

Bugs and requests

Peter Vogel CMI

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on startup for some users
  • Keyboard issues and unresponsive controls
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more Fairlight Series III sounds
  • Improve MIDI and Audiobus integration
  • Implement a more modern and intuitive UI
  • Add support for odd time signatures

Synesthesia Synth

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Peter Vogel CMI

One-time1
  • CMI Pro Upgrade$39.99
None

Synesthesia Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Peter Vogel CMI free?
Peter Vogel CMI costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Synesthesia Synth free?
Synesthesia Synth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Peter Vogel CMI or Synesthesia Synth?
Synesthesia Synth is rated higher. Peter Vogel CMI averages 2.5 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Synesthesia Synth averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Peter Vogel CMI or Synesthesia Synth have ads?
Neither Peter Vogel CMI nor Synesthesia Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Peter Vogel CMI or Synesthesia Synth?
Peter Vogel CMI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Synesthesia Synth every 10 days. Most recently, Peter Vogel CMI was updated on October 21, 2026 and Synesthesia Synth on October 3, 2026.

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