Arctic ProSynth vs VAPolyMk3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Arctic ProSynth
Create bold and tough electronic music with a modern subtractive synthesizer. Explore rich sound design with powerful oscillators, dual filters, and versatile effects. Record and share your creations easily.
- HyperOscillators for fat sounds
- Dual multi-mode filters
- Master effects with adjustable order
- Integrated Vocoder
- 16x4 gated step sequencer
- Live audio and MIDI recording
- Preset and bank sharing
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Be rude. Be rough. Be bold. Be tough! Arctic Pro Synthesizer / Vocoder is a modern subtractive synthesizer. It does not aim to accurately model or re-create vintage synths of yesteryear. Instead Arctic Pro offers the contemporary synthesist a rude, rough, bold and tough palette of sound to get stuck into. Including two massively fat HyperOscillators, dual filters, and easy to re-order master effects. While the Vocoder, used in conjunction with a suitable microphone, adds an extra dimension to your musical performance. HyperOscillators =========== Combine two HyperOscillators and one Sub Oscillator for some seriously fat sounds. Layer up to 8 oscillators in unison to create very thick and powerful tones. Spread detune and Mix these separate oscillators in real-time. More than just a "SuperSaw" - it's also a Super-square and Super-triangle. Powerful Presets =========== Legendary sound designer John ‘Skippy’ Lehmkuhl has exclusively designed the factory presets. John has worked as a professional sound designer since 1988 for Korg - making patches, combinations, drum kits as well as creating the sample data for almost every synth Korg has released since the M1. If you have owned one of these historic synthesizers you have heard John's presets. Sharing ===== Arctic Pro includes everything you need to record and share your audio and MIDI with others. Live record to WAV and MIDI files. Use AudioCopy, open audio directly in apps, or share with Kymatica AudioShare. Presets and Banks can be emailed and transferred via Wi-Fi and iTunes Files Sharing. And of course we also support Audiobus. SPECIFICATION ========== • Synthesis: analog modelling • Polyphony: up to 4 voices • HyperOscillators: 2 per voice, alias free, saw, triangle and square with pulse width, hard sync, ring mod, noise generator, sub-oscillator • Filter: 2 multi-mode resonating filter with 4 filter types and variable routing • Envelopes: mod, filter and amp ADSR envelopes with adjust curve • Modulation: 2 LFOs with multiple wave shapes, sample and hold, 3 routable destinations per LFO, independently sync-able • Effects: stereo master effect processors with adjustable order: 3-band EQ, Distortion, Chorus, Phaser, Vocoder, Delay, Reverb • Arpeggiator: classic arpeggiator with octave shift, MIDI-sync-able • Sequencer: 16 x 4 gated step sequencer with multiple modulation destinations, MIDI-sync-able • Keyboard: glissando, scroll, multi-touch poly pitch bend and aftertouch • Works with Wizdom Music's Geo Synthesizer continuous pitch bend • Polyphonic Aftertouch for use with CME Xkey FEATURES ======== • Inter-App Audio for iOS 7 • Audiobus • AudioCopy 2.0 • MIDI Learn • Live phrase recorder with audio and MIDI export • File and patch sharing via iTunes File Sharing, e-mail and Wi-Fi • Supports external MIDI in and out via CoreMIDI Networking and USB with the Camera Connection Kit • Audio background operation • Virtual MIDI Ports • Open Music App Collaboration compliant Requirements: iPad 2 or later recommended iOS 7.0 or later
VAPolyMk3
This polyphonic synthesizer offers multi-synthesis capabilities inspired by classic analog synths. Explore subtractive and modular FM synthesis with extensive oscillator routing, built-in effects, and an analog-style sequencer. Save projects via iCloud for seamless cross-platform use.
- Multi-synthesis (Subtractive & FM)
- 3 Oscillators + 3 Modulation Oscillators
- Resonant Low/High Pass Filters
- Analog Style CV Sequencer
- Built-in Effects (Delay, Chorus, Reverb, etc.)
- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Support
- iCloud Project Sync
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VAPolyMk3 is a multi synthesis polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Inspired by the last generation of classic analog synthesizers in the late 1980’s such as Oberheim Matrix series synthesizers, It offers Subtractive Synthesis and modular FM Synthesis. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Oscillator Section features 3 Oscillators and 3 Modulation Oscillators. Each Oscillator has envelope and amplifier. Oscillators can be routed for Subtractive Synthesis and FM Synthesis. Signal from Oscillators are routed to mixer, resonant low pass filter, resonant hight pass filter and amplifier. The synthesizer also features two ADSR envelopes per voice, two LFO and analog style sequencer. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. VAPolyMk3 also includes sequencer which features piano roll editor and parameter automation. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features 3 oscillators and 3 modulation oscillators can be routed for Subtractive Synthesis and FM Synthesis. Analog Style CV Sequencer. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Built-in effects and sequencer. Support MIDI 2.0. Support Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) and Per Note Control. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Option to turn off anti-aliasing for devices with less CPU power. Include 271 Factory Presets. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later This app requires a lot of CPU power. Devices with Apple Silicon or equivalent A series chip are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. If sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, turn Anti-Aliasing-Option off or reduce number of voices. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: VAPolyMk3 at 4.5 against Arctic ProSynth's 3.3. VAPolyMk3 also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Arctic ProSynth's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $14.99) and review sentiment (71% vs 50%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Arctic ProSynth costs $9.99 and VAPolyMk3 $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VAPolyMk3 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Arctic ProSynth's written reviews are positive against 50% of VAPolyMk3's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Arctic ProSynth ships an update every 4 months, VAPolyMk3 every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Arctic ProSynth | VAPolyMk3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 3.3 (8 ratings) | 4.5 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | One Red Dog Media | Ryo Togawa |
Customer experience
Arctic ProSynth
VAPolyMk3
In-app purchases
Arctic ProSynth
No in-app purchases
VAPolyMk3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Arctic ProSynth free?
Is VAPolyMk3 free?
Which has better reviews, Arctic ProSynth or VAPolyMk3?
Do Arctic ProSynth or VAPolyMk3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Arctic ProSynth or VAPolyMk3?
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