Core Synth HD vs EduSynth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Core Synth HD
Create music with a powerful monophonic synthesizer for iPad. Explore dual oscillators, customizable filters, and an arpeggiator. Save your custom sounds and enhance your live performances with intuitive controls.
- Dual overlapping oscillators
- Four wave patterns
- Low Pass Filter with ADSR
- Volume Envelope Shaper (ADSR)
- Arpeggiator with multiple modes
- Save unlimited patches
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Top free iPad music app in 5 countries, top 10 in more than 50! Get your groove on with Core Synth HD, the definitive monophonic synthesizer for the iPad. With tons of features packed into a small package, Core Synth is great for live performing. A Pitch Wheel replicates perfectly the real thing! This free app has the following features: - Pitch Wheel - 2 Octave keyboard - Keys light up in different colors when pressed Oscillator Module - Dual overlapping oscillators - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth * Select from 5 octaves * Adjust glide between notes * Fine tune Oscillator 2 with option to sync with Oscillator 1 Volume Envelope Shaper - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Low Pass Filter Module - Adjust Cutoff and Resonance - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Upgrade to the full version within the app for the following additional features: - 7 Octave Keyboard - Octave control to move along entire range - Modulation Wheel Patches Module - Save an unlimited number of individually named patches - Browse through your collection before applying patch - Delete unwanted patches Modulation Module - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth - Modulate Filter, Pitch or Wave - Adjust LFO Rate and amount Arpeggiator Module - Arpeggio moves up to 5 octaves - Four step modes: Up, Down, Up/Down, Random - Adjust rate Many more exciting enhancements to follow! Core Synth HD includes open source code from MobileSynth developed by Allen Porter.
EduSynth
Explore the world of subtractive synthesis with an interactive educational tool. Learn about oscillators, filters, and envelopes through hands-on experimentation and guided lessons. Connect MIDI controllers or use your keyboard to play and create sounds.
- Interactive subtractive synthesis engine
- Three oscillators with multiple waveforms
- Classic Moog-style ladder filter
- Dual ADSR envelopes
- Built-in learning modules
- MIDI controller support
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EduSynth is an educational synthesizer for iOS and macOS that teaches you the fundamentals of subtractive synthesis — by letting you play one. Built around a real-time C++ DSP engine modeled after the classic Moog architecture, EduSynth gives you three oscillators, a 24dB/octave ladder filter, dual ADSR envelopes, an LFO, and a mixer — all with a clean, intuitive interface designed for learning. PLAY & EXPLORE • Three oscillators with saw, square, triangle, and sine waveforms • Classic Moog ladder low-pass filter with resonance and self-oscillation • Separate filter and amplitude ADSR envelopes • LFO with multiple shapes and modulation targets (pitch, filter, amplitude, PWM) • Portamento with off, on, and legato modes • 10+ factory presets to get you started instantly LEARN AS YOU GO • Built-in Learn window with chapters covering signal flow, oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFO, and more • Interactive info popovers on every section explaining what each knob does • Visual signal flow strip showing how sound moves through the synth • Chapters on digital audio fundamentals and real-time audio programming CONNECT & PERFORM • Full MIDI support — connect any MIDI controller • MIDI settings window with per-device enable/disable and live activity monitor • Computer keyboard input — play notes without any hardware • Autoplay mode with selectable demo melodies DESIGNED FOR LEARNING EduSynth is perfect for music production students, audio programming enthusiasts, sound design beginners, and anyone curious about how synthesizers actually work. Every parameter is explained in plain language, and the Learn window goes deeper into the theory and code behind the sound. Available in English and Italian.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: EduSynth at 100% against Core Synth HD's 31%. EduSynth also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Core Synth HD's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price and 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
Both are free to download. Core Synth HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. EduSynth asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Core Synth HD | EduSynth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Core Engine Apps | Davide Fiorino |
Customer experience
Core Synth HD
EduSynth
Bugs and requests
Core Synth HD
Reported bugs
21 issues- No sound on iPad Pro
- No sound on iOS 12
- No sound since last update
- Program doesn't start after update
- Ad blocks view
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- App crashes on load
- App crashed frequently
- Rarely produced sound
- Annoying clicking noise when playing a note
- Stopped playing notes after a while
- App reset to free module after purchase
- Lost saved presets after update
- CS doesn't work after iOS6 update
- Sound quit working suddenly
- No sound after purchase
- No audio on iPad 2
- Keyboard stops making noise after playing
- Crashes on every load
- Clipping pops and clicks
- Audible clicks between notes
- Constant click with the sounds
Requested features
17 requests- Add MIDI support
- Add Audiobus support
- Add recording with copy/paste
- Add sine wave for sub basses
- Add polyphony option
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Add tempo sync delay, flange, chorus
- Add bit reduction
- Fix modulation clipping
- Fix clicking/popping sounds
- Add manual
- Add more presets
- Add noise generator
- Add detuning on both oscillators
- Add ability to map LFO to mod wheel
- Add switch to turn arpeggiator on/off
- Add Core Midi and MIDI over wifi support
- Fix Osc Octave Text numbering
EduSynth
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Core Synth HD
- Full Version Upgrade$1.99
EduSynth
No in-app purchases









