SynthMaster 3 Player vs KeyPad MIDI Controller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SynthMaster 3 Player
This music app allows users to play and tweak a vast library of synthesizer presets. It offers a multi-layer architecture and extensive expansion content for diverse sound design possibilities. Users can easily browse and preview sounds before loading them.
- Tweak existing synthesizer presets
- Multi-layer architecture (up to 16 layers)
- Edit keyboard zones, velocity, voicing, unison, arpeggiator, FX
- Compatible with SynthMaster expansion banks
- In-app shop for purchasing expansions
- Preset previews with audio playback
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SynthMaster 3 Player iOS is the mobile player version of KV331 Audio's flagship synthesizer SynthMaster 3. It is tailored towards user who prefer tweaking existing presets over designing sounds from scratch. It is available for free on Apple AppStore as a standalone app and AUv3 plugin. Free Factory Content: SynthMaster 3 Player iOS comes with 200 presets curated from SynthMaster One, SynthMaster 2 and SynthMaster 3 factory libraries. Once users complete registration, the number of free presets increase to 500. Rich Expansion Content: SynthMaster 3 Player iOS is compatible with SynthMaster One, SynthMaster 2 and SynthMaster 3 expansions. There are currently 60 expansion banks for a wide range of genres to choose from. Users can easily purchase these expansions through the In-App Shop inside the app. Much more than a ROMpler synth: Although users can not edit layer modules and modulation sources, they can edit all other layer parts such as keyboard zones, velocity zones, voicing, unison, arpeggiator, sequencer and insert FX. Multi-layer Architecture: Each SynthMaster 3 Player iOS instance can have up to 16 layers. Users can add new layers by loading existing presets into layers through the preset browser. Preset Previews: Presets in SynthMaster 3 Player iOS have built-in previews. Users can listen to the previews of presets after turning on the preview mode. In-App Shop: Users can easily purchase expansion banks as in-app-purchases.
KeyPad MIDI Controller
Transform your device into a professional MIDI controller with touch-optimized piano keys, drum pads, and performance controls. It supports SFZ, SF2, WAV, and M4A samples, and can control iOS apps, hardware synths, and Mac software wirelessly or wired.
- Touch-optimized piano keyboard
- 9-pad drum grid
- XY performance pad
- Built-in sound engine (SF2, SFZ, WAV, M4A)
- AUv3 plugin support
- Network MIDI for Mac control
- Aftertouch and MPE expression
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Transform your iPad or iPhone into a professional MIDI controller with a touch-optimized piano keyboard, isomorphic grid, drum pads, and XY performance controls. Control iOS apps, hardware synths, and Mac software wirelessly or wired, as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin in your favorite DAW. Perfect for mobile producers, live performers, beat makers, and sound designers. CORE FEATURES • Built-in sound engine for SF2, SFZ, WAV, and M4A. • Piano keyboard, isomorphic grid, 9-pad drum grid, and XY performance pad. • Scale mode with 12 scales and any root key, on both piano and grid. • Aftertouch and MPE with Mono AT, Poly AT, and XY MPE modes. • Aftertouch and Mod Wheel remapping to any MIDI CC or Pitch Bend. • Velocity, Pitch Bend, and Modulation faders, plus a latching sustain button. • AUv3 plugin for GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, BeatMaker, and Drambo. • Network MIDI, OSC output, and 16 MIDI channels + Omni. • Adaptive interface for all iPad and iPhone sizes. VIEW MODES Switch between five layouts from the View menu: Piano: a familiar 2-octave keyboard with height-based velocity. Grid: Isomorphic: every row and column keeps the same interval, so chords and scales have one shape anywhere. Grid: 2 Rows: a piano-style pair of rows, naturals below, sharps above. Grid: Minor Thirds: columns step up by 3 semitones, rows move chromatically. Grid: Big Piano: large naturals with quarter-size sharps. Your view, layout, and root note persist across sessions. SCALE MODE Choose from 12 scales - Major, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Locrian, Pentatonic Major, Pentatonic Minor, Blues, and Whole Tone - in any of the 12 root keys. On the grid, cells remap so only in-scale notes are laid out, putting every note under your fingers. On the piano, the keyboard keeps its familiar shape - the black and white pattern is how you find your place without looking. Rather than move notes around, out-of-scale keys dim and stop responding to touch, so only the keys in your key are labelled and playable. Wrong notes are simply out of reach. Switch back to Chromatic anytime for the full keyboard. GRID EXPRESSION Every grid layout includes a dedicated mod-wheel row. A vibrant gradient highlights roots and notes, optional labels show note names, and per-note MPE with pitch bend gives each finger independent control. BUILT-IN SOUND ENGINE Play sounds directly without any external app. Load SF2 SoundFonts with multi-preset selection, or import SFZ, WAV, and M4A samples. The low-CPU engine maps samples across the keyboard automatically, and sound files persist across sessions. AFTERTOUCH & MPE EXPRESSION Add expressive depth with four aftertouch modes. Mono AT applies uniform pressure across chords, Poly AT sends independent pressure per note, and XY MPE allocates per-note MIDI channels (2-16) with Y on CC74 and X on Pitch Bend. Remap aftertouch or mod wheel to any MIDI CC or Pitch Wheel. A green gradient on pressed keys shows pressure in real time. CONNECT TO YOUR MAC Control Logic Pro, Ableton Live, or any Mac music software from your iPad or iPhone. Connect wirelessly over your local network with Bonjour, or plug in via USB for a rock-solid, zero-latency link. STANDALONE OR AUV3 Load KeyPad inside GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, BeatMaker, Drambo, or any AUv3 host to play your instruments without switching apps, with settings saved in your project. Or run it standalone to drive hardware synths, route MIDI to other iOS apps, or control your Mac. TOUCH-OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE Height-Based Velocity: Touch keys at different vertical positions for dynamic velocity, with three curves to shape the response. XY Performance Pad: Control two parameters at once with multi-touch. Assign any MIDI CC to each axis for filter sweeps, effect morphing, or live sound manipulation. Smart Layout: Scales to the window, keeping the full layout with controls and pads on iPhone, iPad, Split View, and AUv3 plugin.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KeyPad MIDI Controller at none against SynthMaster 3 Player's 14. KeyPad MIDI Controller also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). SynthMaster 3 Player's advantage is ratings volume (55 vs 13). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. SynthMaster 3 Player sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. KeyPad MIDI Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.
KeyPad MIDI Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of SynthMaster 3 Player's written reviews are positive against 100% of KeyPad MIDI Controller's.
SynthMaster 3 Player ships an update weekly, KeyPad MIDI Controller every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SynthMaster 3 Player | KeyPad MIDI Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (55 ratings) | 4.9 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 86.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 55 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2.2 GB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KV331 Audio | DiscoDSP LLC |
Customer experience
SynthMaster 3 Player
KeyPad MIDI Controller
In-app purchases
SynthMaster 3 Player
- New Loops Psytrance Sounds Volume 1$2.99
- NatLife Melodic Techno Sounds Vol 1$2.99
- New Loops Cinematic Sounds Volume 1$2.99
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- New Loops Synthwave Sounds Volume 1$2.99
- Loopsy Rave Sounds Volume 1$2.99
- Luftrum 33$2.99
- SynthMaster 2 Factory Presets$4.99
- SynthMaster 3 Factory Presets$4.99
- Loopsy Tech House Sounds Volume 1$4.99
- Loopsy House Sounds Volume 1$4.99
- SynthMaster 3 Expansions Bundle$12.99
- SynthMaster One Expansions Bundle$14.99
- SynthMaster Factory Presets Bundle$14.99
- SynthMaster Everything Bundle$69.99
KeyPad MIDI Controller
No in-app purchases





