Comparison

Ephemeral vs Discovery AUv3 Synth

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

Head to head
About

Ephemeral

Explore a collection of digital musical instruments playable in augmented reality. Unleash your creativity anytime and anywhere with immersive sound experiences.

Highlights
  • Augmented Reality instruments
  • Digital music creation
  • Playable anywhere
  • Creative sound experiences
Features
Read full description

Ephemeral is a playful music maker for iPhone and iPad. Tap out a beat, record your own samples, build a melody, and turn a small idea into a song!

About

Discovery AUv3 Synth

This powerful virtual analog synthesizer offers a vast sound library and advanced features for musicians and sound designers. Create complex sounds with multi-layering, morphing parameters, and built-in effects. Import classic synth patches and utilize rhythmic tools for unique sonic exploration.

Highlights
  • 4 Layers Per Patch
  • Over 3,500 Presets
  • Nord Lead 2 Patch Import
  • Parameter Morphing
  • Built-in Effects (Chorus, Phaser, Delay)
  • Advanced Filters (8 types)
  • Gate and Arpeggiator
Features
Read full description

Discovery Synth AUv3 is a powerful virtual analog synthesizer, inspired by the iconic Clavia Nord Lead 2. With a robust feature set designed for musicians and sound designers, it delivers exceptional sound quality and flexibility. Key features include: • 4 Layers Per Patch: Stack layers to create complex, evolving sounds. • Over 3,500 Presets: Explore a vast collection of sounds, including percussion sets and Nord Lead 2 patches. • Nord Lead 2 Patch Import: Seamlessly import patches from the Clavia Nord Lead 2 and 2X for authentic sound recreation. • Parameter Morphing: Smoothly transition between parameter states for dynamic, evolving soundscapes. • Built-in Effects: Includes Chorus, Phaser, Panning Delay, and Gate for creative sound manipulation. • 128 Patch Memories per Bank: Organize and store your sounds efficiently. • Advanced Filters: Choose from 8 filter types, including LowPass, HighPass, BandPass, Formant, and an 8-tap Phaser. • Gate and Arpeggiator: Create rhythmic patterns with the built-in gate and arpeggiator synced to your host tempo. • Automation via MIDI CC (check the MIDI CC table in the PDF manual on the discoDSP Discovery page). Whether standalone or integrated as an AUv3, Discovery Synth provides all the tools you need to craft unique, high-quality sounds with ease. Dive into its intuitive interface and unlock your creative potential today!

Screenshots

Ephemeral4 screens
Discovery AUv3 Synth1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ephemeral at Free against Discovery AUv3 Synth's $19.99. Discovery AUv3 Synth's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (76% vs 50%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Ephemeral is free to download; Discovery AUv3 Synth costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Discovery AUv3 Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Ephemeral's written reviews are positive against 76% of Discovery AUv3 Synth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ephemeral ships an update every 5 days, Discovery AUv3 Synth weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ephemeral versus Discovery AUv3 Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEphemeralDiscovery AUv3 Synth
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating3.5 (2 ratings)4.3 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews76.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperphelgoDiscoDSP LLC

Customer experience

Ephemeral

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Discovery AUv3 Synth

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.8%

In-app purchases

None

Ephemeral

No in-app purchases

None

Discovery AUv3 Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ephemeral free?
Ephemeral is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Discovery AUv3 Synth free?
Discovery AUv3 Synth costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ephemeral or Discovery AUv3 Synth?
Discovery AUv3 Synth is rated higher. Ephemeral averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Discovery AUv3 Synth averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.
Do Ephemeral or Discovery AUv3 Synth have ads?
Neither Ephemeral nor Discovery AUv3 Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ephemeral or Discovery AUv3 Synth?
Ephemeral ships an update every 5 days, and Discovery AUv3 Synth weekly. Most recently, Ephemeral was updated on November 6, 2026 and Discovery AUv3 Synth on October 30, 2026.

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