Comparison

BK vs AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

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

Head to head
About

BK

Control and edit the real-time performance parameters of your Roland BK-9 Backing Keyboard directly from your iPad. Enhance your playing, practicing, and composing experience with quick access to tone editing, part mixing, and effects.

Highlights
  • Real-time parameter editing
  • Tone editing
  • Part mixing control
  • Effects adjustment
  • iPad touchscreen interface
  • Enhanced performance tool
Read full description

Use the Apple iPad to display and edit the real-time performance parameters of your Roland BK-9 Backing Keyboard. With the BK-9 Performance Editor, you can use your iPad to directly access the BK-9’s real-time performance parameters as you play the keyboard. Via the iPad’s graphic display and large touchscreen, you have quick and convenient control of a wide selection of parameters, including tone editing, part mixing, effects, and much more. Designed for use alongside the keyboard’s own dual display system and extensive onboard controls, the BK-9 Performance Editor gives you a powerful tool for enhancing your BK-9 experience while performing, practicing, and composing. Communication between the BK-9 and iPad requires either of the following: - Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (made by Apple Inc.) and a standard USB cable (Type-A male to Type-B male, readily available at retailers that sell computer accessories) - Roland WNA1100-RL Wireless USB Adapter (connected to the BK-9) and a wireless LAN access point with an Internet connection. - BK-9 Version 1.06 or later (available as a free download from the Roland website) is required in order to use this app with the BK-9.

About

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

Highlights
  • 64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis
  • 1GB+ of original samples
  • Stand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support
  • Vintage-style arp/step sequencer
  • 3 LFOs with fun routings
  • Dual independent per-layer filters
  • Built-in FX suite
Read full description

Epic 64-voice Virtual Analog / PCM iPad Synth Inspired by the Digital Synths of the 80s and 90s - ** TOP 3 iOS MUSIC APPS OF 2018 *** - Music Radar Awards (Computer Music & Future Music Magazine) - * Featured By Apple in "New Apps We Love!" ** "Fans of the D-50, JD-990, 01/W, Wavestation... Rejoice!" - Music Radar FULLY LOADED w/ 500+ presets by Brice Beasley, Matthew Fecher, Red Sky Lullaby, Jakob Haq, Dean Daughters (Electronisounds), Sound of Izrael, Brian Funk, and more DIGITAL D1 is AWESOME: - 64-voice Hybrid Digital Poly Synthesis. - Full 1+ Gigabyte of original samples recorded from analog & fm synths over 30+ years old - Stand-alone iPad Synth, plus IAA & Audiobus - Basic AUv3 Plugin support. Works best with AUM. We're working on upgrading Audio Unit support. - Space-saving Compression - The whole app is under 200mb! - Dual layers per voice. Keyboard splits. Velocity Scaling. - Vintage-style Arp/Step Sequencer that can be routed to specific layers. - 3 LFOs. Fun Routings. LFOs can modify other LFOs. - Dual Independent per-Layer filters - Plus, per-voice Harmonic key-tracked Envelope filters. "Digital D1 Sounds and plays AMAZING!" - The Sound Test Room "Rad retro synth sounds" - Cult of Mac, App of the Week "AudioKit Digital D1 is a beautiful Synthesizer app that recreates the spirit of legendary synths" - Synth Anatomy ADDITIONAL FEATURES: - FX: Glorious Reverb, Phaser, Digital Delay, Distortion, Flanger, Chorus, Crush, and more. - Perfect with a MIDI Keyboard - Ableton Link - All kinds of awesome stuff - The Sound. Oh, the sound. You won't believe it. "Digital D1 synth is pure ‘80s and ‘90s digital lushness" - Computer Music/Music Radar "Beautiful. Lush. Modern and Amazing… An Instant Classic." REQUIREMENTS: Requires newer iPads for best performance. May be slow on iPad 4. IAA is being deprecated by Apple in iOS 13. We're moving to AUv3 as well. Please replace IAA with AUv3 in your projects. GarageBand Audio Unit (AUv3): You can run one instance of D1 as an AUv3 in GarageBand. With a host like AUM, you can run 3 or more instances at once. TROUBLESHOOTING: For iPad 4 - Open the "Settings" button (to the upper left above the keyboard). Turn the buffer to 512 or above. And turn the "CPU Efficient" toggle to on. If still having trouble, try closing other music apps and/or rebooting your iPad. Thanks! - * NOMINATED: Best iOS Music Apps of 2018 ** by Computer Music & Future Music magazine. Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: - Length: weekly or yearly - Free trial: only on selected subscriptions - Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase - Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms & Conditions: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Terms-Conditions-14dcf6557a0880beb991f20561329664?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Terms-Conditions-14dcf6557a0880beb991f20561329664?pvs=21) Privacy Policy: [https://magic-cake-e95.notion.site/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Privacy-Policy-14dcf6557a088042b2beee2382f5d62f?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/AudioKit-Digital-D1-Synth-Privacy-Policy-14dcf6557a088042b2beee2382f5d62f?pvs=21) - * NOTE: This app has no official affiliation with AudioKit Pro, LLC. It was built using the free AudioKit source code.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth at 76% against BK's 33%. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). BK's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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

Both are free to download. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. BK asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth has 2.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of BK's written reviews are positive against 76% of AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BK ships an update every 9 months, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
BK versus AudioKit Digital D1 Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBKAudioKit Digital D1 Synth
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.8 (2.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews76.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB636 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoland CorporationAudiobus Pty Ltd

Customer experience

BK

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

All ratings2,007 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews243 reviews
Positive76.1%
Neutral7.4%
Negative16.5%

Bugs and requests

BK

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Presets not loading correctly
  • MIDI note dropouts and latency
  • Crashes when used with certain DAWs
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Audio Unit (AUv3) support
  • Improve MIDI integration and responsiveness
  • Implement a built-in recording/sampling feature
  • Expand preset library with more genres and styles
  • Add more sound design controls and modulation options

In-app purchases

None

BK

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly premium$4.997 Days
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly premium$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • D1 PCM Expansion-01Free
  • Platinum Expansion PCM EXP-01Free

Questions

Is BK free?
BK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AudioKit Digital D1 Synth free?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BK or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is rated higher. BK averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while AudioKit Digital D1 Synth averages 4.8 from 2.1K ratings.
Do BK or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth have ads?
AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; BK does not.
Which is updated more often, BK or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?
BK ships an update every 9 months, and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. Most recently, BK was updated on October 23, 2026 and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth on October 21, 2026.

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