Ampz vs Aether Synth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ampz
This app offers ultra-low latency guitar amp modeling on iOS, functioning as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. It supports custom neural network models and includes a comprehensive effects chain, preset system, and practice tools.
- Native NAM processing
- Ultra-low latency
- 10-slot effects chain
- 100-slot preset system
- IR loader
- Chromatic tuner
- MIDI control
- Drum machine and looper
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Real amp tone in your pocket. Ampz runs Neural Amp Modeler captures natively on iPhone and iPad, so the same .nam models guitarists use on desktop sound just as good on iOS. Plug in, pick an amp from thousands on Tone3000, and play through a full pedalboard with ultra-low latency. Use it on its own, no DAW required, or load it as an AUv3 plug-in in your favorite Audio Unit host to record and mix through your rig. KEY FEATURES • Native NAM Processing — Runs WaveNet and LSTM .nam models at full fidelity using a C++ inference engine optimized for Apple silicon • Ultra-Low Latency — 64-sample buffers at 48kHz through Core Audio. Under 2.5ms total roundtrip • 10-Slot Effects Chain — Reverb, delay, chorus, compressor, EQ, noise gate, IR loader, and more • 100-Slot Preset System — 100 user slots • Tone3000 Integration — Browse, search, and download NAM models and IRs directly in the app • Low-Latency Pitch Shifter: Drop tuning, virtual capo and harmonies. Includes a gritty Analog Octave mode. • IR Loader — Load third-party impulse responses for cabinet simulation • Chromatic Tuner — Built-in, always accessible • MIDI Control — Map any parameter to MIDI CC, program change support • Drum Machine — Built-in patterns for practice and jamming • Looper — Record, overdub, and playback loops • Multi-Channel Support — Works with USB and Thunderbolt audio interfaces • AUv3 effect plug-in Ampz is a one-time purchase. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. Everything is included.
Aether Synth
This music creation app offers a professional synthesizer engine with dual-layer sound design and rhythmic motion. It can be used as a standalone workstation or as an AUv3 instrument within compatible iOS hosts for recording and production.
- AUv3 instrument support
- Standalone synth workstation
- Dual preset layering
- Melodic and drum sequencers
- Sampler tools
- Multitrack audio workspace
- Arpeggiator and motion controls
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Aether Synth is an AUv3 synthesizer, sequencer and sampler for iPhone and iPad, built for creating expressive sounds that move. Start with a sound, combine two sounds into something new, introduce motion, build a pattern, capture a sample, or simply play. Aether brings synthesis, sequencing, sampling and performance together in one instrument designed to keep ideas moving. CREATE YOUR OWN SOUND Build rich synth patches for pads, basses, leads, textures, atmospheres and evolving sounds. Aether is designed to make sound creation immediate. Shape a patch directly, explore presets for inspiration, or use Random Sound to discover combinations you might not have reached manually. The result can become a finished sound or the starting point for something completely different. DUAL — TWO SOUNDS BECOME ONE Dual lets you combine two independent sounds into a new composite instrument. Choose a sound for A. Choose another for B. Blend between them and shape the result. The two sides can complement each other, contrast with each other, or create something that neither patch produces alone. Save your favorite Blends and return to them later. MAKE SOUNDS MOVE Aether is built around motion as part of the instrument. Use Motion and Random Motion to animate sound over time and create patches that evolve rather than remain static. Movement can be subtle and organic or become a major rhythmic part of the sound. This makes Aether especially suited to evolving pads, shifting textures, rhythmic sounds and patches that respond like performances rather than snapshots. SEQUENCE IDEAS Turn sounds into patterns with Aether's built-in sequencer. Create melodic and rhythmic phrases, experiment with different rates and musical feels, and develop ideas without leaving the instrument. The arpeggiator provides another immediate way to transform held notes and chords into movement, while tempo synchronization keeps rhythmic material locked to the music. SAMPLING Capture and work with audio directly inside Aether. Use sampling alongside synthesis to bring recorded material into the same creative environment as your patches, patterns and performances. A sample can become part of a larger musical idea instead of living in a separate workflow. PERFORM Aether is designed to be played. Use the keyboard and performance controls to shape sounds in real time, then connect a MIDI controller when you want a more traditional playing experience. Velocity, sustain and expressive controls allow patches to respond dynamically instead of behaving like static presets. DISCOVER INSTEAD OF SEARCHING Sometimes you know exactly what sound you want. Sometimes you don't. Random Sound and Random Motion make exploration part of the workflow. Generate a new direction, keep what works, reshape it, combine it with another sound in Dual, and continue from there. The goal is not randomness for its own sake. It is getting from a blank idea to something musically useful quickly. STANDALONE OR AUV3 Use Aether as a standalone instrument on iPhone and iPad, or load it as an AUv3 instrument inside compatible hosts and DAWs. That means the same sound-design environment can work as an instrument on its own or become part of a larger mobile production setup. BUILT FOR MUSICIANS Aether brings together: • Synthesizer sound design • Dual layered instruments and saved Blends • Motion and evolving sound • Random Sound and Random Motion • Preset exploration • Sequencing • Arpeggiation • Sampling • Performance controls • MIDI • Standalone operation • AUv3 plugin support Whether you're designing an evolving ambient texture, building a bass or lead, creating a rhythmic patch, experimenting with layered sounds, or starting a new musical idea from scratch, Aether is designed to keep the distance between inspiration and sound as short as possible. Create a sound. Make it move. Turn it into music.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Aether Synth at $2.99 against Ampz's $9.99. Aether Synth also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Ampz's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 67%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Ampz costs $9.99 and Aether Synth $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Aether Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Ampz's written reviews are positive against 67% of Aether Synth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Ampz ships an update weekly, Aether Synth every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ampz | Aether Synth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (4 ratings) | 4.7 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LNH Enterprises LLC | Jacob Kirk |
Customer experience
Ampz
Aether Synth
In-app purchases
Ampz
No in-app purchases
Aether Synth
No in-app purchases









