Core Synth Free vs SynthMaster One for iPhone
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Core Synth Free
Create music with a monophonic synthesizer featuring dual oscillators, adjustable filters, and envelope shaping. Explore various wave patterns and octaves to craft unique sounds for live performance or composition.
- Dual overlapping oscillators
- Four wave patterns
- Adjustable low pass filter
- ADSR envelope shaping
- 1 octave keyboard
- Save and load patches
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Get your groove on with Core Synth Free, the definitive monophonic synthesizer for the iPhone and iPod touch. With tons of features packed into a small package, Core Synth is great for live performing. This free app has the following features: - 1 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 Patches Module - Save an unlimited number of individually named patches - Browse through your collection before applying patch - Delete unwanted patches - Backup patches via iTunes File Sharing 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 Free includes open source code from MobileSynth developed by Allen Porter.
SynthMaster One for iPhone
This powerful wavetable synthesizer app offers an intuitive workflow for creating new sounds. It features a rich library of wavetables, inspiring factory presets, and real-time modulation feedback for sound design.
- Wavetable synthesis
- 300 factory presets
- AUv3 support
- Files App integration
- Real-time modulation feedback
- Semi-modular architecture
- 32-step arpeggiator/sequencer
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SynthMaster One for iPhone is KV331 Audio's first full blown synth app for iPhone. It's a powerful wavetable synth with an intuitive workflow. With its simple layout, rich wavetable/waveform content and inspiring factory presets library, designing new sounds with SynthMaster One for iPhone is a joy. SynthMaster One for iPhone is feature wise identical to the desktop version except the following: * 8 voice polyphony (32 for the desktop version) * Comes with 300 presets (1250 for the desktop version) FEATURES * 300 Factory Presets: SynthMaster One iOS comes with inspiring factory presets from a world class team of sound designers: Arksun, Aiyn Zahev, BigTone Studios, Brian Transeau, Bluffmunkey, Bulent Biyikoglu, Gercek Dorman, Dejavu Sound, Fragment Audio, Kurt Ader, Mirko Ruta, Nori Ubukata, Rob Lee, Ufuk Kevser, Selcuk Ergen, The Machine, Vandalism Sound, Venus Theory, Vorpalsound and Xenos Soundworks * AUv3: SynthMaster One iOS supports AudioUnits V3, allowing multiple instances to run under supporting DAW apps like GarageBand, Cubasis or Beat Maker. * Files App Integration: Easily import/export presets, waveforms or scales using the common file browser UI (requires iOS 11+). * Real-time Modulation Feedback: See in real-time how modulation sources and targets change. This is a very helpful feature when designing sounds! * Cross Platform Cloud Synchronization: Easily synchronize your SynthMaster One related data across multiple platforms (Windows, MacOS, iPad, iPhone) * Semi-Modular Architecture: For each SynthMaster One instance, there are 2 oscillators with 2 sub oscillators, 2 Filters, 4 ADSR Envelopes, 3 LFOs, a powerful 16 step arpeggiator/sequencer and also 11 different effects that can be inserted on to 6 FX insert slots. The sub oscillators can be connected to the oscillators in 5 different modes which let you use it as a regular sub oscillator or do complex modulations such as ring modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation or frequency modulation. * 32 Step Arpeggiator/Sequencer: The arpeggiator in SynthMaster One features classic arpeggiator modes such as Up, Down, UpDown, DownUp, UpDown2, DownUp2, AsPlayed as well as Sequence, Chord and Arpeggiate modes. * Wavetable Synthesis: SynthMaster One implements true wavetable synthesis which opens up new possibilities for sound design. It comes with a rich content library with hundreds of waveforms and wavetables. * Stereo Oscillators with up to 16 voices Unison: Each of the 2 oscillators in SynthMaster One have stereo output, and can have up to 16 voices "unison". Using the "voices", "voices mix", "detune curve", "detune spread", "pan stread", "tone spread" and "phase spread" parameters, each oscillator can generate a rich "supersaw" type sound. * Zero Delay Feedback Filters: All of the 4 filter categories in SynthMaster One are developed using the zero delay feedback filter technology. With advanced filter parameters like input gain, drive, acid, filter nonlinearities and up to 4 times oversampling you can get that "analog" sound from the filters! * Rich Set of Effects: SynthMaster One features 11 different effect types: Distortion, LoFi, Ensemble, Phaser, 6 Band EQ, Compressor, Vocoder, Delay, Chorus, Tremolo, Reverb. * Microtuning: SynthMaster One supports Scala tuning, so tuning can be set either for each preset or globally by loading from a Scala tuning file. SynthMaster One comes with 300+ scales ranging from 5 note equal tempered scales to 12 note alternate tuning scales. * Preset Browser: SynthMaster One features a comprehensive preset browser with separate search criterias for instrument type, preset attributes, music style or preset author. SUPPORTS * All 64-bit iPad devices * AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions * Note-per-channel MIDI controllers (MPE) * Ableton Link * Interapp Audio and AudioBus * Bluetooth LE MIDI Controllers * AirDrop
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SynthMaster One for iPhone at 4.8 against Core Synth Free's 2.9. SynthMaster One for iPhone also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (331 vs 8). Core Synth Free's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 10.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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 Free sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SynthMaster One for iPhone sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
SynthMaster One for iPhone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthMaster One for iPhone has 331 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Core Synth Free's written reviews are positive against 66% of SynthMaster One for iPhone's.
Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, SynthMaster One for iPhone every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Core Synth Free | SynthMaster One for iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (8 ratings) | 4.8 (331 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | 66.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 331 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 10.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 297 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Core Engine Apps | KV331 Audio |
Customer experience
Core Synth Free
SynthMaster One for iPhone
Bugs and requests
Core Synth Free
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
SynthMaster One for iPhone
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes when loading saved presets
- App crashes when setting default sound
- AUv3 option disappears in GarageBand
- Inability to reload user patches without crashing
- Inability to purchase certain IAP packs
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- Cells don't save, revert to first synth
- App doesn't function or open in GarageBand
- Every note is 1 note or lower
- GUI is cut off on iPhone SE
- IAA not loading in FL mobile
Requested features
10 requests- Fix in-app purchase issues
- Improve GarageBand AUv3 stability
- Enable saving of custom presets
- Address crashing when loading presets
- Fix note pitch issues
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- Ensure app is not abandonware
- Improve UI scaling on smaller screens
- Fix wavetable scrolling issues
- Make IAA work properly
- Allow recording of music
In-app purchases
Core Synth Free
- Full Version Upgrade$0.99
SynthMaster One for iPhone
- BigTone Club Construction Set$4.99
- True Trance Sounds Volume 1$4.99
- Vandalism Future House$4.99
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- NatLife Retrowave Sounds Vol.1$4.99
- Demis Hellen Euphoric Trance$4.99
- NatLife Progressive&Deep Vol.1$4.99
- Vandalism Shocking Future Bass$4.99
- Venus Theory Trap Sounds$4.99
- Desktop Presets Upgrade$9.99
- SM One Expansions Bundle$24.99
Questions
Is Core Synth Free free?
Is SynthMaster One for iPhone free?
Which has better reviews, Core Synth Free or SynthMaster One for iPhone?
Do Core Synth Free or SynthMaster One for iPhone have ads?
Which is updated more often, Core Synth Free or SynthMaster One for iPhone?
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