ARPJAM vs Synth Box
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ARPJAM
This app generates evolving ambient music using two independent arpeggio engines. It features a generative drum machine, sound design tools, and external instrument synchronization. Save and recall your favorite musical setups.
- Dual arpeggio engines
- Generative drum machine
- Sound design controls
- External instrument sync (Ableton Link, MIDI Clock)
- Save and recall presets
- Built-in timer
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ARPJAM is an arpeggio synthesizer that generates ever-evolving ambient music. Layer two independent arpeggio engines, each with its own waveform, scale, and pattern, and let the app weave an endless soundscape that shifts and breathes on its own. ■ Two Arpeggio Engines ARP A and ARP B run simultaneously, each with its own mode, scale, range, waveform, filter, and envelope. Five pattern modes: Random & Chord, Repeat, Random Single, Skank, and Drone. ■ Generative Drums A probability-based drum machine. Tune the firing density, double-hit chance, and open/closed hi-hat ratio for kick, snare, and hihat to create rhythms that evolve naturally alongside the arpeggio. ■ Sound Design Four waveforms — sine, triangle, sawtooth, square. Adjust the low-pass filter, attack, and overdrive per engine. Add depth with ping-pong delay and reverb. ■ Sync with External Instruments [NEW in v1.4] Ableton Link support — wirelessly sync tempo and bar phase with Ableton Move, Live, Koala, and other Link-enabled instruments on the same Wi-Fi network. USB-C MIDI Clock reception is also supported. Sample-accurate timing alignment, with a fine-tune Offset slider for each setup. ■ Redesigned Settings Panel [v1.4] Settings are now organized into five colored sections — Oscillator, Filter, Envelope, Algorithm, and Effects. Each section collapses individually or in bulk, and the state persists between launches. Jump directly to any section via the side rail (iPad) or sticky bar (iPhone). Clear square ON/OFF switches and vivid theme colors — orange for ARP A, lime for ARP B, cyan for Drums — make the whole panel far easier to navigate. ■ Save & Recall Four start presets (Default + SAVE 1/2/3) let you recall your favorite setups with a single tap from the start screen. Presets can be exported and imported as .arpjam files to share with other ARPJAM users. ■ Built-in Timer Choose countdown or infinite mode. The timer fades out with a gentle resolving chord — perfect as a sleep timer or as a companion to meditation. • 8 scales including pentatonic modes • 12 keys (Just Intonation / Equal Temperament switchable) • Groove control for swing feel • BPM 30–200 • English / Japanese language support • Ableton Link / MIDI Clock sync
Synth Box
Transform your device into a versatile synthesizer with a touch-sensitive keyboard, morphing oscillators, and a resonant low-pass filter. Explore 100 presets, add real-time effects, and record your performances. Connect MIDI controllers for expanded creative possibilities.
- Slide-to-play keyboard with pitch/mod wheels
- Dual morphing wavetable oscillators
- Moog-style low-pass filter
- 100 hand-crafted presets
- Real-time effects (reverb, delay, bit-crusher)
- Record and share performances
- MIDI controller support
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Synth Box turns your iPhone and iPad into a beautiful, play-anywhere synthesizer. Tap a key and it sings. Twist a knob, roll the dice, and shape the sound your way. No setup, no complicated menus. Just gorgeous sound, instantly. PLAY • A slide-to-play keyboard with glissando, plus pitch and mod wheels • Two morphing wavetable oscillators, a sub oscillator, FM and noise for huge, fat tones • A warm Moog-style low-pass filter with resonance and an LFO • ADSR envelope, octave shift and zoom for fast, expressive playing 100 PRO SOUNDS • 100 hand-crafted presets across Bass, Lead, Pad, Pluck, Keys, Brass, Arp, Bell, Organ and FX • Roll the dice for instant inspiration • Tweak any sound and save your own patches to build a personal sound library EFFECTS THAT MOVE • Lush reverb, musical delay, bit-crusher and a wide Fatten ensemble chorus • Shape space, movement and grit in real time while you play RECORD & SHARE • Capture your performance to WAV with reverb and delay tails included • Play it back and share it anywhere with a tap MIDI • Connect any USB or Bluetooth MIDI controller • Play Synth Box with external keys, wheels and knobs • Send your notes back out to other apps and gear MADE TO FEEL GOOD • Designed for iPhone and iPad • A clean light theme, plus a dark stage theme with Premium • No account and no sign-up required • No ads and no tracking • Works fully offline FREE TO PLAY. PREMIUM UNLOCKS EVERYTHING. Play the synth, shape sounds and enjoy 20 starter presets for free. Go Premium to unlock all 100 presets, recording and sharing, saving your own patches, MIDI support, the dark theme and the full-screen keyboard. Choose a monthly or yearly plan with a 3-day free trial, or unlock everything forever with a one-time Lifetime purchase. Download Synth Box and make something beautiful in the next 60 seconds. Terms of Use: https://alyakastudio.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://alyakastudio.com/privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
ARPJAM and Synth Box both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Synth Box's written reviews are positive against 33% of ARPJAM's. ARPJAM's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. ARPJAM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Synth Box sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ARPJAM against 5.0 for Synth Box. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of ARPJAM's written reviews are positive against 100% of Synth Box's.
ARPJAM ships an update daily, Synth Box every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | ARPJAM | Synth Box |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Takashi Tsunoda | Alper Kahriman |
Customer experience
ARPJAM
Synth Box
In-app purchases
ARPJAM
- Remove Ads$0.99
Synth Box
- Monthly$3.991 Month
- Yearly3 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Lifetime$39.99









