Krill Synthesizer vs GSDSP Quantum Distortion
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Krill Synthesizer
This virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer offers a streamlined interface for creating quick synth sounds on iPad. It features two oscillators, an LFO, a low-pass filter, two envelopes, and stereo effects, all accessible from a single screen.
- Virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer
- Single-screen interface
- Two oscillators
- One LFO
- Low-pass filter
- Stereo chorus and ping-pong delay
- 64 presets
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The GSi Krill Synthesizer was born from a design originally conceived to work as a mono synthesizer on an embedded processor (RP2040), then it was modified to be polyphonic for a more powerful processor (ARM H7) and finally we thought it would be perfect as a AUv3 for iPad, for those quick and dirty synth sounds you sometimes need without getting lost in endless parameter navigation and menu diving. So here it is, just one screen, one knob - one function, what you see is what you get. Two oscillators, one LFO, one low pass filter, two envelopes, stereo chorus, ping-pong delay, 64 presets. Have fun!
GSDSP Quantum Distortion
Explore four distinct distortion effects—Saturation, BitCrush, Ring Modulation, and Downsampling—blended and controlled via an intuitive XY pad. Shape harmonics, reduce digital resolution, introduce inharmonic motion, and create classic digital degradation for unique audio textures.
- Four distortion algorithms (Saturation, BitCrush, Ring Modulation, Downsampling)
- Intuitive XY pad for blending effects
- Custom waveshaping saturation
- BitWarp for tonal variation
- Tunable oscillator for ring modulation
- Adjustable downsampling rate and jitter
- AUv3 audio effect plugin
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Four complementary distortion algorithms — Saturation, BitCrush, Ring Modulation, and Downsampling — blended and shaped through an intuitive XY pad. Saturation Shape harmonics using Quantum Distortion’s custom waveshaping saturation. Adjust Drive to set the intensity from subtle warmth to strong coloration, and use Asymmetry to introduce controlled even-harmonic emphasis of vintage tube characteristics. BitCrush Reduce digital resolution using BitCrush and reshape the crushed signal with BitWarp, which bends the quantization curve for additional tonal variation. This combination allows precise control over both the amount of reduction and the character of the resulting digital artifacts. Ring Modulation Introduce inharmonic motion using ring modulation, generated by multiplying the input with a tunable oscillator. Adjust frequency and amount in real time to create anything from light metallic shading to dense, shifting sidebands. Downsampling Lower the sample rate using Downsampling, reducing temporal resolution for classic digital degradation effects. Set the rate down to 200 Hz or introduce Jitter for controlled randomness, adding instability and movement to the downsampled signal. XY Pad Blending Navigate between the four distortion algorithms using the XY pad, allowing smooth transitions or static blends across the processing modes. The background updates to reflect the current region, providing clear visual feedback while exploring hybrid distortion shapes and interactions. Quantum Distortion is an AUv3 audio effect plugin compatible with Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, GarageBand and many more. A Desktop version is also available for Windows and macOS (VST3 / AU / AAX). More information here: https://gs-dsp.com/products
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Krill Synthesizer at weekly against GSDSP Quantum Distortion's every 5 weeks. Krill Synthesizer also leads on price ($11.99 vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). 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
Krill Synthesizer costs $11.99 and GSDSP Quantum Distortion $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Krill Synthesizer against 5.0 for GSDSP Quantum Distortion. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 10 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Krill Synthesizer ships an update weekly, GSDSP Quantum Distortion every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Krill Synthesizer | GSDSP Quantum Distortion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 10 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Genuine Soundware | Gustav Scholda |
Customer experience
Krill Synthesizer
GSDSP Quantum Distortion
In-app purchases
Krill Synthesizer
No in-app purchases
GSDSP Quantum Distortion
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Krill Synthesizer free?
Is GSDSP Quantum Distortion free?
Which has better reviews, Krill Synthesizer or GSDSP Quantum Distortion?
Do Krill Synthesizer or GSDSP Quantum Distortion have ads?
Which is updated more often, Krill Synthesizer or GSDSP Quantum Distortion?
Other comparisons
