Comparison

Orphion vs SynthMaster One

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

Head to head
About

Orphion

Create expressive music and melodies with a unique virtual instrument. Explore your creativity through intuitive finger movements on virtual pads, generating sounds between string and percussion. Ideal for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Unique string and percussion sound
  • Expressive polyphonic music
  • Intuitive finger pad interaction
  • Customizable pad layouts
  • MIDI and Audiobus support
  • Multiple articulations
Features
Read full description

## Featured by Apple as "Band in your Hand" and 'Explore your creativity' ## Orphion is a musical instrument with a unique sound between string instrument and percussion. Everyone can play expressive, wonderful sounds and easy or virtuosic melodies on it just by moving fingers on virtual pads. This video shows you more: https://vimeo.com/35131490 What can I do with it? • Express the sounds you feel • Play polyphonic music very expressively • Crazy drumming • Dream and relax • Create soundscapes and melodies without musical knowledge • Visually explore music and music theory Features: • Different articulations from soft to plucked to hardly slapped • Natural interaction • Extend your ways of expression as a percussionist, guitarist, pianist or other musician • 15 transposable pad layouts with different tonalities from easy to complex • 8 individual voices for 8 fingers • MIDI support: Play your favorite synth with the revolutionary Orphion interface • Audiobus support: Stream live audio from Orphion directly to other Audiobus-compatible apps • Orphion Editor (availible as upgrade): Create and share your own custom pad layouts. Download new pad layouts from Orphion Universe What others say about Orphion: "We love this instrument! So cool. Great for Deep House, IDM, Ambient, and whatever!" - iPadloops "A simple but profoundly beautiful and expressive music app" - Evolutionaryarts.org "Orphion is very customizable and flexible — truly functioning as a full-fledged electronic instrument" - Harrison Weber, The next web Follow on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Orphion or Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrphionApp

About

SynthMaster One

This powerful wavetable synthesizer app offers an intuitive workflow for creating unique sounds. It features a rich library of wavetables, inspiring presets, and a semi-modular architecture for deep sound design. Easily sync data across devices and integrate with DAWs.

Highlights
  • Wavetable synthesis
  • Semi-modular architecture
  • 650 factory presets
  • AUv3 support
  • Cross-platform cloud sync
  • Real-time modulation feedback
  • 32-step arpeggiator/sequencer
Read full description

SynthMaster One iOS is KV331 Audio's first full blown universal synth app on iOS platform. 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 iOS is a joy. SynthMaster One iOS is feature wise identical to the desktop version except the following: * 16 voice polyphony (32 for the desktop version) * Comes with 650 presets (1250 for the desktop version) FEATURES * Universal App: SynthMaster One is now a universal standalone/AUv3 synth app running on iPhone 7 and above. * 650 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 * Bluetooth LE MIDI Controllers * AirDrop

Screenshots

SynthMaster One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SynthMaster One at 4.7 against Orphion's 4.0. SynthMaster One also leads on ratings volume (743 vs 31) and device support (3 vs 1). Orphion's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and review sentiment (85% vs 64%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Orphion costs $3.99 and SynthMaster One $9.99 up front. Orphion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SynthMaster One sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SynthMaster One holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthMaster One has 743 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Orphion's written reviews are positive against 64% of SynthMaster One's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Orphion versus SynthMaster One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrphionSynthMaster One
Price$3.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.0 (31 ratings)4.7 (743 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.7% of reviews — better63.8% of reviews
Number of ratings31743 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB402 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBastus TrumpKV331 Audio

Customer experience

Orphion

All ratings31 ratings
Positive71.0%
Neutral9.7%
Negative19.4%
Written reviews111 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.0%

SynthMaster One

All ratings743 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews207 reviews
Positive63.8%
Neutral10.6%
Negative25.6%

User reviews

Orphion

From 31 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎵 Unique and expressive musical instrument design
  • 👍 Intuitive touch interface for playing music
  • 🎛️ Customizable pad layouts and configurations
  • 🔌 Works well as MIDI controller for other apps
  • 🎨 Beautiful, simple, and elegant user interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Audio crackling and distortion issues on recent iPadOS versions
  • ❌ App crashes and fails to launch on newer devices
  • 📱 UI rendering problems on iPad mini and newer iPad models
  • 🔧 Abandoned by developer - no updates or support
  • 🚫 Incompatible with latest iPadOS (18+)

SynthMaster One

From 743 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful synth engine
  • 👍 Extensive preset library
  • 🎨 Versatile sound design capabilities
  • 💡 Free desktop version expansions on iPad
  • 🎹 Excellent sound quality and tone

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🔋 Battery drain in background
  • 🤔 Confusing in-app purchase system
  • 👎 UI/UX could use improvement
  • 🔇 Audio issues and no sound

Bugs and requests

Orphion

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Audio crackling and distortion on iPadOS 18 and M4 devices
  • App crashes on startup with recent iPad OS versions
  • UI elements out of place on iPad mini
  • MIDI not working in AUM and other DAWs
  • Virtual MIDI instruments not detected when loaded as IAA
Show 9 more
  • App stops playing audio when iPad is closed
  • Bluetooth headphone connectivity issues
  • Orientation stuck on iOS 11+
  • Pad sensitivity issues after iOS 8 update
  • Velocity feature removed after forced Apple update
  • App crashes intermittently even after reboot
  • Incompatibility with newer iPad models (10.5 inch)
  • SoundCloud upload function non-functional
  • Forum support page returns errors

Requested features

15 requests
  • Recording and export functionality
  • Additional sound patches and voices
  • Custom scale and layout editor
  • Pitch bend and modulation wheel controls
  • AudioCopy/Paste support
Show 10 more
  • AirPlay support for wireless speaker output
  • More velocity increment options
  • Adjustable timbre per touch type
  • Finer sensitivity slider adjustment
  • Support for different scales (Dorian, Hijazkiar, etc.)
  • Sequencing and arranging features
  • iPhone version of the app
  • More pad layout options
  • CC support for different synths
  • Mono output option

SynthMaster One

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Stuck notes and MIDI issues
  • Preset loading crashes
  • Restore purchases not working
  • Incompatibility with certain DAWs

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add custom wavetable support
  • Improve MIDI mapping and MPE functionality
  • Optimize performance on older devices
  • Streamline preset management and browsing

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Orphion

One-time1
  • Orphion Editor$0.99
11 purchases

SynthMaster One

One-time11
  • BigTone Club Construction Set$4.99
  • True Trance Sounds Volume 1$4.99
  • Vandalism Future House$4.99
Show 8 more
  • NatLife Retrowave Sounds Vol.1$4.99
  • Demis Hellen Euphoric Trance$4.99
  • Venus Theory Trap Sounds$4.99
  • Vandalism Shocking Future Bass$4.99
  • NatLife Progressive&Deep Vol.1$4.99
  • Bluffmunkey Cinematic Sounds$4.99
  • Desktop Presets Upgrade$7.99
  • SM One Expansions Bundle$24.99

Questions

Is Orphion free?
Orphion costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SynthMaster One free?
SynthMaster One costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Orphion or SynthMaster One?
SynthMaster One is rated higher. Orphion averages 4.0 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while SynthMaster One averages 4.7 from 743 ratings.
Do Orphion or SynthMaster One have ads?
Neither Orphion nor SynthMaster One shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orphion or SynthMaster One?
Orphion ships an update every 2 months, and SynthMaster One every 2 months. Most recently, Orphion was updated on August 2, 2026 and SynthMaster One on September 28, 2026.

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