Comparison

Tabletop vs iMini Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

iMini Synthesizer

This app recreates a legendary 1971 synthesizer, offering unparalleled sound quality and over 500 presets. Compose music, create custom sounds, and integrate with other studio apps. Compatible with MIDI keyboards and other iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Classic 1971 synthesizer sound
  • Over 500 preset sounds
  • Create and save custom sounds
  • MIDI keyboard integration
  • Tabletop app integration
  • Arpeggiator and repeat functions
  • Virtual analog chorus and delay
Read full description

iMini offers a level of sound quality never before found on the iPad, as well as over 500 sounds by leading sound designers. iMini is a recreation of the legendary synthesizer created by Bob Moog in 1971, one of most iconic synthesizers of all time. Use it in Tabletop to compose your music. Need help? Have an issue or question? Please email us at support@retronyms.com. The 1971 reference of the iMini was made famous by artists and bands such as Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Keith Emerson, Devo, Jean Michel Jarre and more. We brought the features and sound of this classic to the iOS platform! iMini not only recreates the look and feel of the most legendary synthesizer, it does it with unparalleled sound quality. iMini is based on the award winning Arturia Mini V software that was created in partnership with Dr. Robert Moog himself, back in 2003. Thanks to this heritage, continuous research and refinements over the years, iMini comes with amazing sound quality and a large collection of preset sounds created by top sound designers such as Klaus Schulze (Tangerine Dream) and Geoff Downes (Asia). You can play iMini’s numerous sounds from the iPad keyboard. You can create your own sounds and start building your personal sound palette. If you are an owner of the Arturia Mini V software on your Mac or PC, you can import and export sounds between your laptop or desktop Mini V and iMini. You can also control iMini from a MIDI keyboard via CoreMIDI and integrate it into your studio or live performances. iMini is a Tabletop Ready app. The connect menu allows you to connect iMini to the Retronyms Tabletop app, giving you an integration with a complete studio environment. You can use multiple instances of iMini; record your performance into a real-time sequencer; automate any of the parameters; add effects; process other modules through the iMini filters, and more. Tabletop also features add-ons for more effects and instruments from other 3rd party companies. iMini is compatible with as old as iPad Mini, iPad 2, and newer. iMini supports iOS 8 and higher. iMini supports InterApp Audio and Audiobus. Features: - Classic sound of the 1971 legendary synthesizer - 3 Oscillators - 24db per octave filter - Simulated headphone jack/external input feedback - 2 Assignable XY pads - Chromatic or tuned scale keyboard modes - Polyphonic mode - Full featured arpeggiator - Repeat - HOLD and MEMORY latch modes - Octave span - 5 note order modes - Speed and sync controls - Virtual analog chorus and analog delay - Owners of both the iMini and Mini V software apps can transfer sounds from one platform to the other via iTunes. - Full user MIDI mapping of panel controls - Supports WIST sync with other iOS devices - Tabletop Ready app - Soundcloud seeder (via Tabletop) - Render to .wav file (via Tabletop) - AudioCopy to paste your audio into another iPad application (via Tabletop)

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tabletop at Free against iMini Synthesizer's $9.99. iMini Synthesizer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 11.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Tabletop is free to download; iMini Synthesizer costs $9.99 up front. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. iMini Synthesizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.3 for Tabletop against 3.4 for iMini Synthesizer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 32 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 58% of iMini Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, iMini Synthesizer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Tabletop versus iMini Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabletopiMini Synthesizer
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating3.3 (85 ratings)3.4 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.9% of reviews58.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings85 — better32
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS11.07.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.4 GB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRetronyms IncArturia

Customer experience

Tabletop

All ratings85 ratings
Positive54.1%
Neutral9.4%
Negative36.5%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive53.9%
Neutral13.5%
Negative32.6%

iMini Synthesizer

All ratings32 ratings
Positive53.1%
Neutral12.5%
Negative34.4%
Written reviews167 reviews
Positive58.1%
Neutral16.2%
Negative25.7%

User reviews

Tabletop

From 85 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful features
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 💡 Innovative modular design
  • 🎨 Versatile music creation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🔋 High CPU usage
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🔇 Poor sound quality

iMini Synthesizer

From 32 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎹 Excellent Moog emulation
  • 🎨 Impressive sound quality and presets
  • 🎚️ Intuitive and responsive interface
  • 🔊 Authentic analog-like tones
  • 💰 Great value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🔇 Audio crackles and distortion
  • 🔌 Lacks Audiobus and core MIDI support
  • 🔒 Restricted MIDI functionality
  • 🔋 Battery draining issues

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

iMini Synthesizer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when changing tempo or saving patches
  • Stuck notes and MIDI connectivity problems
  • Incompatibility issues with certain iOS versions and devices
  • Unreliable performance in Tabletop environment

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Audiobus and core MIDI support
  • Improve MIDI implementation (channel selection, mod wheel, etc.)
  • Implement better power management and reduce battery drain
  • Add more effects and sound shaping options
  • Expand polyphony and oscillator capabilities

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Tabletop

One-time11
  • EKKO$1.99
  • WHIRL$2.99
  • Verve$2.99
Show 8 more
  • 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
None

iMini Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tabletop free?
Tabletop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iMini Synthesizer free?
iMini Synthesizer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tabletop or iMini Synthesizer?
iMini Synthesizer is rated higher. Tabletop averages 3.3 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while iMini Synthesizer averages 3.4 from 32 ratings.
Do Tabletop or iMini Synthesizer have ads?
Neither Tabletop nor iMini Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tabletop or iMini Synthesizer?
Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, and iMini Synthesizer every 4 months. Most recently, Tabletop was updated on October 11, 2026 and iMini Synthesizer on October 15, 2026.

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