Tabletop vs Sync³ Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tabletop
Create music with a modular studio environment. Mix and match over 40 virtual instruments, effects, and sequencers to compose songs, beats, and mashups. Expand your sound palette by purchasing additional devices.
- Modular music creation environment
- Over 40 virtual instruments and effects
- Mix and match devices
- Create beats, songs, and mashups
- Piano roll timeline editor
- MIDI support
- Share music to SoundCloud
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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. Retronyms has partnered with industry giants like Akai Professional and Arturia to create some of the Tabletop-Ready Apps, like iMPC, iMini, and iProphet! Using the Tabletop features of time stretching and pitch shifting, you can slice loops and time stretch them to different tempos and pitches in iMPC Pro. You can also use sliced loops from purchased AudioCopy sound packs inside Gridlock and iMPC Pro. Loops from these sound packs will automatically match the tempo of your sessions. Tabletop is an audio playground where you can create beats, compose songs, mix live, make mashups with samples from your iPod library, and more... the possibilities are endless. Plug the output of a keyboard into a delay to add an echo, or wire it up to a mixer and adjust the pan. Chain up multiple effects to create new and evolving sounds. FEATURES: • 43 devices including effects, sequencers, drum machines, and synths • 14 devices are included for free • 64 bit audio support • Access powerful Tabletop-Ready Apps • Piano Roll style timeline editor • Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and create notes • Control Tabletop’s keyboards, drum pads, knobs, faders, and other parameters • Correct note timing with Fix to Grid • Edit note length and velocity • Undo changes and edits with Tabletop’s History Menu • Features Core MIDI Support • Works with any MIDI-compatible hardware • Customize control mapping with Midi Learn mode • Connect multiple devices • Share your music to SoundCloud and interact with other Tabletop users
Sync³ Remote
This iPad app emulates the original Synclavier® Velocity-Pressure Keyboard interface with modern touch controls. It connects to your Synclavier³ installation via custom MIDI messages, offering full hardware integration. Multiple iPads can be used simultaneously for expanded studio control.
- Recreates Synclavier® Velocity-Pressure Keyboard interface
- Modern touch-screen technology
- Custom MIDI message communication
- Complete Synclavier® hardware integration
- Timbre design and Digital Memory Recorder panels
- Supports multiple iPad control stations
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Sync³ Remote, formerly Synclavier® Touch, is an iPad app that faithfully recreates the original Synclavier® Velocity-Pressure Keyboard button interface using modern touch-screen technology. Sync³ Remote communicates with your Synclavier³ installation using custom MIDI messages. The integration with the Synclavier® hardware is complete - touching a button on the iPad lights the button on the VK for example. The VK buttons are organized in two panels - one for Timbre design, one for controlling the Digital Memory Recorder. And, two - or more - iPads could be used simultaneously to set up multiple remote control stations within your studio. This latest build operates Synclavier³ using the Synclavier Knob attached to the iPad.
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sync³ Remote at 100% against Tabletop's 54%. Sync³ Remote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Tabletop's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 31 months) and ratings volume (85 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Sync³ Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sync³ Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabletop has 85 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sync³ Remote's.
Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, Sync³ Remote every 31 months. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tabletop | Sync³ Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (85 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 31 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.4 GB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Retronyms Inc | Synclavier Digital Corporation Ltd |
Customer experience
Tabletop
Sync³ Remote
Bugs and requests
Tabletop
Reported bugs
3 issues- Synth parameters not saving properly
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable audio export
Requested features
4 requests- MIDI support
- Improved sequencing capabilities
- More free sound modules
- Waveform editing and sample management
Sync³ Remote
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Tabletop
- EKKO$1.99
- WHIRL$2.99
- Verve$2.99
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- XFADE$2.99
- TT-303$2.99
- Cueboard$2.99
- GLITCHBOARD$3.99
- Deadbeat$3.99
- X0X Drum Deranger$7.99
- RS4000$9.99
- Bundle E$24.99
Sync³ Remote
- Synclavier® Touch Full Feature$79.99








