Addictive Synth vs Phosphor 3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Addictive Synth
Create unique sounds and driving loops with a powerful wavetable synthesizer. Explore a vast sonic universe with dynamic oscillators, spectral noise generation, and intelligent randomizers. Play live with an onscreen keyboard or connect a MIDI controller.
- Dynamic wavetable synthesis
- Spectral noise generator
- Intelligent randomizer for sounds and arpeggios
- Onscreen keyboard with live playing capabilities
- MIDI keyboard compatibility
- Programmable arpeggiator
- Audiobus and Inter-app audio support
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It was never so easy to create beautiful sounds and driving loops. The unique dynamic wavetable synthesis allows you to explore an unprecedented wide range of sonic territory. From acid loops, crystal clear percussions, realistic human choirs to complex musical soundscapes nothing seems impossible with only a handful parameters to tweak. The new spectral noise generator adds a new dimension to the already huge sound universe of Addictive Synth. This generator is the first of its kind and allows for extraordinarily detailed control over the dynamic spectrum of the noisy part of sounds. Despite its complexity it's pretty easy to use and integrates naturally into the sound design philosophy of Addictive Synth. Together with the intelligent randomizer for both sounds and arpeggios you will loose any sense of time and space while exploring unknown sonic territories. Right from the beginning you'll understand why it's named Addictive. ***Best iPad Apps of the Week*** AppAdvice.com "Addictive Synth fixes your craving for a massively customizable synthesizer experience on the iPad." - AppAdvice.com "App Of The Week" at iDesignSound.com Features: Dynamic wavetable synthesizer • Six dynamic wavetable oscillators per voice, up to 48 total. • Continuous morphing between two oscillator sets. • Realtime editing of up to 128 partials (overtones). • Realtime editing of filter structure to create arbitrary body resonances. • Extensive modulation possibilities using up to 4 LFOs and 4 Envelopes. • Control matrix allows real time control of five parameters using the X/Y touch pad, the modulation wheel and the tilt sensors of the iPad. • Monophonic or polyphonic with 8 voices. • 128 factory presets, unlimited user presets can be shared. • Up to three effects concurrently usable selected from: equalizer, phaser, flanger, chorus and stereo/cross delay. Live • Play melodies live with the onscreen keyboard. Drag fingers for slides and vibrato. • With the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit you can use a CoreMIDI compatible MIDI Keyboard to control Addictive Synth. • Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer compatible. • Velocity sensitive keyboard. • Select from dozens of scales and play them with scale optimized keyboard layout. Full featured programmable Arpeggiator • Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps. • Can trigger single notes and chords. • Unique randomizer generates Arpeggios with 100% usability. • 32 Arpeggios included, unlimited useer arpeggios possible. • For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order Global • Audiobus 2 compatible (Output) (requires iOS7 or newer). • Inter-app audio compatible (Instrument/Generator) • Export loops as audio and midi files. • Audio pasteboard for exchange with other Apps • Exchange user presets with File Sharing in iTunes.
Phosphor 3
This app recreates a vintage digital synthesizer, offering a faithful emulation of a classic sound engine. It includes modern features like MPE, extensive modulation, and a new UI for sonic exploration.
- Vintage digital synthesizer emulation
- Additive synthesis engine
- MPE support
- Extensive modulation routing
- Preset manager
- Tuning tables
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Glow in the dark synthesis. Phosphor 3 is a dual-oscillator additive synthesizer that puts the raw building blocks of sound at your fingertips. Draw, randomize, or select up to 64 harmonics per oscillator, then shape them with envelopes, LFOs, cross-modulation, and a flexible mod matrix. Originally inspired by the alphaSyntauri, a rare digital additive synth from the early 1980s, Phosphor 3 takes that concept far beyond its origins with modern MPE expression, polyphonic modulation, and a full effects engine. --- Additive Oscillators Two identical additive oscillators, each with up to 64 individually editable harmonics. Start from classic shapes: sawtooth, triangle, square, or draw your own harmonic spectrum directly in the partial editor. The intelligent randomizer generates musically useful timbres with variable rolloff, density, and formant peaks, so every click produces something worth exploring. Choose 16, 32, or 64 partials per oscillator to balance complexity against CPU. Each oscillator has independent level, pan, transpose, fine tune, a noise generator with lo-fi downsampling, and cross-modulation (FM) for pushing timbres into harsher, more complex territory. Modulation Two ADSR envelopes with adjustable attack, decay, and release curves. Two LFOs with four waveforms (pulse, sine, saw, random), tempo sync, and the option to run polyphonically, a separate LFO per voice, or globally. An 8-source modulation matrix routes velocity, pressure, pitch bend, mod wheel, CC 74, triggered random, and both LFOs to destinations across the oscillators and effects. Effects Stereo delay with independent left/right time, feedback, and cross-channel feedback for ping-pong and rhythmic patterns. Tempo sync locks delay times to your DAW. Dual band-pass filters after the delay let you carve the wet signal into resonant, frequency-specific textures. Expression Full MPE support with per-note pitch bend, pressure, and slide across 16 polyphonic voices. Mono legato and mono retrigger modes with adjustable portamento. Unison mode for thick, detuned stacks. A scrollable 128-key on-screen keyboard with velocity from touch position, pitch bend from horizontal drag, and channel pressure from vertical drag, no hardware controller required. Tuning MTS-ESP client support for real-time microtuning from any MTS-ESP master. TUN file import for custom scales. Standard 12-TET with adjustable A4 reference. Supports AUv3 for use in GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, and other AUv3-compatible hosts.
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Addictive Synth at every 4 months against Phosphor 3's every 11 months. Addictive Synth also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.0). Phosphor 3's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $6.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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
Addictive Synth costs $6.99 and Phosphor 3 $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Phosphor 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 78% and 79% positive.
Addictive Synth ships an update every 4 months, Phosphor 3 every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Addictive Synth | Phosphor 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (15 ratings) | 4.7 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 78.1% of reviews | 78.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Harry Gohs | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
Addictive Synth
Phosphor 3
Bugs and requests
Addictive Synth
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes upon opening on iOS 15.1
- Static/audio glitches on startup
- Keyboard width inconsistency across pages
- Stuck notes with external MIDI controllers
- Audio playback at 2x speed when pasting from certain apps
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- Backing track audio silences when switching apps
- Recording menu doesn't allow selection of new recordings
- Monophonic playback over virtual MIDI with chords
- Keyboard lag behind keystrokes
- Oscillator phase inconsistency
- Fundamental sine wave audible even when all harmonics disabled
- Flaky sequence saving functionality
- App crashes during audio recording/export
Requested features
19 requests- MIDI learn functionality
- Audiobus and IAA sync support
- MIDI clock/start/stop synchronization
- Ableton Link integration
- White/pink noise generator
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- Better patch/preset organization and banking
- Undo button for waveform/filter drawing
- WiFi and email export options
- Improved recording with flexible bar counts
- Drawable modulation signals
- Traditional filter types (LPF, HPF, BPF)
- MIDI volume control (CC7)
- Metronome on/off toggle
- Better visualization of harmonics/partials
- Evenly spaced harmonic controls
- Click track during looping
- Tempo saving with presets
- More modulation options and FM synthesis
- Hardware synth versions
Phosphor 3
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Addictive Synth
No in-app purchases
Phosphor 3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Addictive Synth free?
Is Phosphor 3 free?
Which has better reviews, Addictive Synth or Phosphor 3?
Do Addictive Synth or Phosphor 3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Addictive Synth or Phosphor 3?
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