Comparison

Pentaholic Synth vs Gesture Synth

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

Head to head
About

Pentaholic Synth

This app digitally recreates a classic polyphonic synthesizer, offering authentic sound design and songwriting inspiration. It features a 300-note sequencer, multiple oscillators per voice, and performance controls like a joystick and expression pedal inputs.

Highlights
  • Authentic 5-voice polyphony
  • 3 oscillators per voice with 8 waveforms
  • Component-level circuit modeling
  • Dual ADSR envelopes
  • 300-note polyphonic sequencer
  • Joystick and expression pedal support
Features
Read full description

Pentaholic is the first digital recreation of the Gleeman Pentaphonic. It's audio signal path is traced at the component level and built specifically for Apple Silicon devices utilizing native Metal 3D graphics featuring classic and clear UI. In 1982, the Gleeman Pentaphonic was released as a "sketchpad synth" with a 300-note polyphonic sequencer boasting 5 voices, 3 digitally controlled oscillators per voice, and 8 waveforms per oscillator, all from an 8-bit microprocessor. After DAC, a trio of CEM chips per voice passes the audio: a 3310 envelope generator, 3320 configured as a 24dB low-pass resonant filter, and a 3360 as dual voltage-controlled amplifiers. Each subsequent stage of audio is summed out to a LM348 op amp, stacking saturation through to output. Add performance controls like expression pedal inputs and a joystick for modulation and pitch bend for a performance powerhouse synth. Pentaholic brings the circuit to life in the digital realm for the first time ever on any platform. The concept of a sketchpad synth was the main inspiration for this - getting back to the fundamentals of songwriting and sound design. Pentaholic is meant to inspire ideas faster and prevent Producer Paralysis induced by too many options on the piano roll. Record your idea to the sequencer and play over it - the keyboard takes precedence over the sequencer notes so you can nail down your melody or adjust your groove with the rate and delay of the sequencer. • Authentic 5-Voice Polyphony: True chorusing detune of OSC 2/3 relative to OSC 1's pitch (not BBD!) - oldest note first voice stealing. • 3 Oscillators Per Voice: 8 waveforms CMP 1 CMP 2 3% PULSE 12% Pulse SQR SAW TRI SIN per OSC and a HIGH or LOW octave mode. • One octave of chromatic pitch: transposing progressions or leads just like you put a capo on a guitar. • Component-Level Modeling: The soul of the synth - a 24dB resonant low-pass filter - self-oscillation, and nonlinear harmonic drive of the legendary CEM 3320 filter chip for a distinct bite with each subsequent gain stage pushing into saturation through a LM348 op amp. • Dual ADSR Envelopes: Precise, vintage-snappy envelope generators for exacting control over amplifier and filter contours. Subtle noise and quick snap attacks from resistor-capacitor networks the envelopes pass through. • The Polyphonic Sketchpad Sequencer: A massive 300-note sequencer honoring the original hardware workflow. Recording polyphonic chords in real time and yielding to performance on the keyboard in playback. • Joystick and expression pedal hookups: +/- 5 step pitch bend, modulation of depth of the LFO destination and cutoff expression all from the joystick even more control with expression pedals. Pentaholic honors the original but Gotham Paradise recognizes the value and convenience of advances for performance available from soft-synths, MIDI 2.0 and Bluetooth. • *MIDI Polyphonic Expression - *MIDI Learn - *6 Octave Pitch Change - *Master Volume - *Re-assignable joystick 0 to 5 steps - *Sync'd parameters for glide, sequencer rate/delay, LFO rate - *Game controller performance using scales to the directional pad and ABXY buttons, stick click sequencer recording and playback - Bluetooth MIDI controller Connectivity *Pentaholic is fully functional from download but the following features are accessible with in-app purchase *Sequencer Volume *Keyboard Volume *Master Volume *6 Octave Pitch *Unison *Sync'd Parameters *Recall or Automation of parameters when hosted in a DAW such as Logic for iPad or Garageband *User Preset Saving *MIDI Learn/MIDI CC Parameter Assignment *M.P.E. *Sequencer records and plays back but resets when stopped *MIDI export of recorded Sequences *Game Controller Performance Mode *Reassignable Joystick Pitch bend Keeping Pentaholic's core functionality free for young and new producers who can't afford the full version is important to Gotham Paradise, purchasing the full featured synth helps pay it forward.

About

Gesture Synth

Create music by playing notes with hand gestures and sing along to your favorite songs. Record your performances and share them instantly on social media. Explore melodies and turn your movements into a unique musical instrument.

Highlights
  • Play notes with hand gestures
  • Select musical scales
  • Sing along to songs
  • Record performances
  • Share to social media
  • Turn hands into an instrument
Features
Read full description

Gesture Synth is a creative music app that lets you synthesize notes from a selected musical scale using hand gestures and capture the experience on video with your synthesized sound and singing. - Choose your scale Select a scale and experiment within its notes, making it easy to create musical phrases that stay in key. - Make music with your hands Use hand gestures to play a chord from a selected scale. - Sing along Add your singing to make cover of your favorite songs. - Record your performance When you ready, record your cover that will be immediately ready to share for socials. Whether you're exploring melodies, practicing musical ideas, or simply having fun creating sound through movement, Gesture Synth turns your hands into a musical instrument.

Screenshots

Pentaholic Synth3 screens
Gesture Synth3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gesture Synth at none against Pentaholic Synth's 1. Gesture Synth also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (54 vs 6). Pentaholic Synth's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, monetization model 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. Pentaholic Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Gesture Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Gesture Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gesture Synth has 54 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pentaholic Synth versus Gesture Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPentaholic SynthGesture Synth
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (6 ratings)4.3 (54 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings654 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew StricklandVladislav Dugnist

Customer experience

Pentaholic Synth

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

Gesture Synth

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pentaholic Synth

One-time1
  • Full Features$28.00
None

Gesture Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pentaholic Synth free?
Pentaholic Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gesture Synth free?
Gesture Synth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pentaholic Synth or Gesture Synth?
Gesture Synth is rated higher. Pentaholic Synth averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Gesture Synth averages 4.3 from 54 ratings.
Do Pentaholic Synth or Gesture Synth have ads?
Neither Pentaholic Synth nor Gesture Synth shows ads.

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