Comparison

Knobbler vs Low Poly Synth

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

Head to head
About

Knobbler

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful, auto-labeling control surface for Ableton Live. Seamlessly navigate tracks, control parameters, and build custom interfaces that save with your Live sets. Keep your focus on creativity without leaving the music-making flow.

Highlights
  • Auto-labeling and auto-coloring control surface
  • Multitouch parameter control
  • Customizable interface saved with Live sets
  • Real-time parameter updates with units
  • Fast track, group, and device navigation
  • Channel strip mixer controls
Features
Read full description

Knobbler turns your iPhone or iPad into an auto-labeling, auto-coloring, multitouch parameter control and navigation surface for Ableton Live. 30 day fully-functioning trial of all features. The Mixer, Clips, Session, and Nav pages are available during the trial and after a one-time purchase of Knobbler or a subscription. Ableton Live 12 Suite or Ableton Live 12 Standard with the Max for Live add-on is required. Simply add the free Knobbler4 device to your Live Set and use the Knobbler app to use your iPhone or iPad to control devices and parameters. ** Control every parameter and build a customized interface, including sliders and X-Y pads that is saved with your Live sets. ** Navigate your tracks, groups, racks and devices faster and easier than ever. ** Full screen Cilps and Mixer views keep you connected to your music. ** Session View gives you a combined clips and mixer view for full control. ** Full access to capture and recall rack variations. ** Navigate cue points and locators in your set. ** Engage Spring mode for momentary effects. Visit https://plugins.steinkamp.us/m4l-Knobbler4 to download the Ableton Live device to use with this app. Map parameters in your Ableton Live set to unmapped sliders on the tablet with a single touch. No need to enter and exit a mapping mode. Access every parameter in the currently selected device, directly on the phone or tablet. Parameter mapping configuration is saved with your Live Set, so you can switch between songs with minimal friction. Track, device, and parameter names are kept synchronized with your Live Set as you change them, even track colors! Parameter sliders and values are updated in real time, with the same units (e.g. dB, ms, %) displayed as what you see in Live. Double tap a slider on the tablet to reset the parameter to its default value. Swipe in the Navigation controls on the right side to dive into your tracks, groups, racks, and devices faster than ever before. Swipe in from the left to show a channel strip with familiar mixer controls, including color-coded sends. Works on phones and tablets, even in multi-window view on the latest IOS 26. Knobbler is there to keep you out of the computer and in the creative moment, unlocking more of your music making potential. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Low Poly Synth

Generate unique, atmospheric melodic sounds with billions of presets. Explore new timbres through random generation or precise editing. Record and export your creations in various formats.

Highlights
  • Billions of unique timbres
  • Random sound generation
  • MIDI control
  • Real-time audio recording
  • WAV and SunVox export
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
Features
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Low Poly Synth is a generator of melodic atmospheric sounds with billions of unique timbres. The app is built on modified synthesis algorithms from Fractal Bits, Relic Waves, and Relic Flow, with the addition of pure tone generation code. The sound space is divided into 4294967296 presets, each corresponding to a set of 8 sample textures. The volume of an individual sample can be adjusted in the top panel or via MIDI (Settings -> MIDI Mapping). The bottom panel is a classic musical keyboard that sets the note for the sounds in the set. Each note triggers all 8 samples at once - together they form a complex harmonic pattern that almost never repeats over time due to the different lengths of the looped fragments. Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 8 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters (you can save/copy/paste it as plain text); * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen, PC keyboard, MIDI input; for the on-screen keyboard, you can set the number of displayed octaves and scale; * 20+ parameters can be controlled via MIDI or directly through the app interface: Settings -> MIDI Mapping; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * Audio Unit Extension (AUv3), Wi-Fi export/import. Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

Knobbler4 screens
Low Poly Synth3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Knobbler at Free against Low Poly Synth's $1.99. Low Poly Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Knobbler is free to download; Low Poly Synth costs $1.99 up front. Knobbler sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Low Poly Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Knobbler against 4.8 for Low Poly Synth. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 18 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 88% positive.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Knobbler versus Low Poly Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnobblerLow Poly Synth
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (16 ratings)4.8 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1618 — better
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.112.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZACHARY STEINKAMPAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Knobbler

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral8.3%
Negative4.2%

Low Poly Synth

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Knobbler

Subscriptions2
  • Knobbler Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Knobbler Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Knobbler Lifetime$19.99
None

Low Poly Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Knobbler free?
Knobbler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Low Poly Synth free?
Low Poly Synth costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Knobbler or Low Poly Synth?
Knobbler and Low Poly Synth are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 16 and 18 ratings respectively.
Do Knobbler or Low Poly Synth have ads?
Neither Knobbler nor Low Poly Synth shows ads.

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