Comparison

Marco Synth vs Rithmatic

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

Head to head
About

Marco Synth

This powerful synthesizer app offers a unique dual hard sync engine with four independent oscillators. Explore a vast sonic palette with intelligent randomization and a tactile workflow designed for sound discovery. It's suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Dual hard sync engine
  • Four independent oscillators
  • Intelligent randomization
  • Extensive waveform and filter options
  • Master FX bus
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Built-in keyboard
Features
Read full description

Marco is a powerful 4-oscillator synth built around dual hard sync, with independent shaping on every oscillator. Randomize to spark fresh ideas, then tweak to shape them - a fast, tactile workflow made for finding your own sounds, not just recalling presets. Marco is a new kind of synthesizer built around three breakthrough ideas: • Dual Hard Sync - two parallel hard-sync chains running side by side • Four oscillators, each with its own signal shaping path • Intelligent randomization and tweak system The result is shimmering harmonics, screaming overtones, and evolving timbres no other iOS synth can give you. Whether it's your first synth or your fortieth, Marco meets you where you are. Hit the dice for an instant new sound. Cycle through every valid Dual Hard Sync combination with one tap. Or dive deep into per-oscillator sound design when you're ready. DUAL HARD SYNC • Two parallel hard-sync chains - A, B, or free per oscillator • One-tap cycling through every valid Dual Hard Sync combination • 10 Signature presets built around Dual Hard Sync FOUR INDEPENDENT OSCILLATORS • Waveforms: sine, triangle, saw, ramp, pulse, noise • Filters: LP 6/12/18/24, BP, HP, Notch, Formant • Envelopes: VCA + Filter, linear or exponential, drone mode • LFOs: filter, volume, wavefold, pitch - with phase, reset, fade and clock sync • Glide: exponential, linear, log, S-curve, legato • Master FX bus with drive, compressor, delay, reverb, stereo width and limiter • Hard sync and wavefolding • Link envelopes, filters, LFOs, glide or effects across oscillators when wanting traditional shaping • Monophonic sounds usually only possible in large modular setups INTELLIGENT RANDOMISATION • Musical preset generator - usable sounds, not chaos • Generate by style: Mild, Wild and Recipe • Target by category: Bass, Lead, Pad, Keys, FX, Drone • Tweak system for subtle, context-aware variations • One-tap dice button for instant inspiration EFFORTLESS WORKFLOW • Consistent UI across all four oscillators • Per-oscillator scopes with live visual feedback • Live LFO indicators on every modulated parameter • Expressive XY pad • Built-in keyboard on iPad standalone BUILT FOR REAL MUSIC • 100+ presets, including 10 Signature sounds • Preset import / export • Master Preset import / export • Deep MIDI: full Note + CC mapping (CC mapping AUv3 only) • Dedicated MIDI for Random Generate, Tweak, Dual Hard Sync Cycle, Scope, Preset Browser, XY Pad (AUv3 only) • Clock-synced LFOs lock to host tempo • AUv3 plugin - works in AUM, Loopy Pro, Drambo, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis and more • Built-in song player with public domain tracks (standalone only)

About

Rithmatic

This app is an FM synthesizer featuring a vast library of classic voices. It allows users to explore, learn, build, and blend sounds using an intuitive interface and an AUv3 plugin for DAWs. It offers a comprehensive synthesis engine and various playback options.

Highlights
  • 36,118 classic DX7 voices included
  • AUv3 plugin for DAWs
  • Patch Builder to learn FM synthesis
  • Sound blending feature
  • On-screen and MIDI keyboard support
  • Arpeggiator and latch function
  • WAV export
Features
Read full description

Rithmatic is an FM synthesizer with 36,118 classic DX7 voices built in, and an AUv3 plugin for GarageBand on iPad and your DAW on the Mac. Browse them by family and by character, learn how FM works by watching it shape each one, build and blend your own, and play them from the on-screen keys or a MIDI keyboard. No account, no ads, nothing locked. Built for iPhone Duo: half open, it stands like a keyboard synth, the waves above the fold and long keys on the flat half. IN YOUR DAW • Put it on a track in GarageBand on iPad, or in an Audio Unit host on the Mac such as Ableton Live. • Its window is the app's own Patches screen and Patch Builder, with your library. • Your bank appears as the plugin's presets, and Brightness, Attack, Decay, Release and Feedback can be automated. The patch is saved with your project. A LIBRARY THAT SHIPS FULL • 36,118 unique DX7 voices come with the app: no download, no account, no network. • Start with Essentials: the famous sounds and the songs they're on. • Browse by family, or by character: percussive, plucked, metallic, bright, sustained, swell, evolving, mellow. Or search by name. • Patch of the day: one classic voice each day, in the app and in a widget for iPhone, iPad and Mac. PLAY IT • A DX7-compatible synthesis engine runs inside the app, so every patch plays with nothing plugged in. • Play from the on-screen keys, your Mac's keyboard, or any MIDI keyboard you connect. • Pitch bend, mod wheel, breath, sustain and aftertouch, with aftertouch set to vibrato, tremolo or swell. • Velocity from a MIDI keyboard, or turn it off and choose how hard every note plays. • An arpeggiator (up, down, up and down, random or as played, over up to three octaves) and a latch that holds each key. • Record what you play and share it as a WAV. • Five tunings: equal, just, and Wendy Carlos's Alpha, Beta and Gamma scales. • Light or dark, as your device is set or as you choose. Drag the keys taller or shorter. SEE THE SOUND The waveform follows what you play: each operator's envelope, how hard you hit, the pitch, the LFO's wobble, and a chord as one layer per note. Resize it, go full screen, or watch the output itself in the Scope look. PATCH BUILDER: LEARN HOW FM WORKS FM is famous for being hard to program. The Patch Builder shows you why a sound sounds the way it does. • All six operators on a graph, each cable carrying its wave: see a modulator reshape its carrier as you drag. • Draw a cable and the builder snaps to the nearest of the 32 algorithms, so you learn routing by doing it. • Plain words beside the jargon. Edit each operator's ratio, level, envelope and tuning, the LFO and pitch envelope, or use FEEL: thickness, touch and brightness. BLEND Pick two patches and Rithmatic blends them into eight new ones. Play each, and keep the ones you like. YOUR BANK AND FILES • Gather patches from anywhere into your bank, then drag pads to swap or reorder them. • Export the bank as standard DX7 .syx files. Open .syx banks, or a .zip of them, from Files, Mail, AirDrop or the Finder. • Share a sound as a short clip of it playing, with a card and a code that brings the patch into anyone's Rithmatic. WITH A SYNTH, IF YOU HAVE ONE Hardware is optional. Choose your synth in Settings: • Korg Volca FM2 (firmware 1.10 or later, over MIDI): read its current patch, write to any of its 64 memory slots, back up and restore all 16 sequencer patterns, and capture the whole instrument to a snapshot. • DX7 family: send patches and 32-voice banks to a DX7, TX7, TX802, the original Volca FM or the M-VAVE FM-1 over standard Yamaha voice dumps. FREE AND PRIVATE Every feature is free; tips are optional and unlock nothing. Rithmatic works offline and collects no personal data: no account, no analytics, no ads. KORG and volca are trademarks of Korg Inc., DX7 and TX of Yamaha Corporation, M-VAVE of its owner. Rithmatic is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.

Screenshots

Marco Synth4 screens
Rithmatic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Rithmatic at Free against Marco Synth's $4.99. Rithmatic also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and device support (4 vs 2). Marco Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Rithmatic is free to download; Marco Synth costs $4.99 up front. Rithmatic sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Marco Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Marco Synth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Marco Synth's written reviews are positive against 67% of Rithmatic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Marco Synth ships an update weekly, Rithmatic every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Marco Synth versus Rithmatic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarco SynthRithmatic
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.6 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings49 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlenn VassalloMADE WITH BEST PRACTICE LLC

Customer experience

Marco Synth

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Rithmatic

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Marco Synth

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Rithmatic

One-time4
  • Comrade!$4.99
  • Major Supporter$9.99
  • Supporting Member$19.99
Show 1 more
  • Underwriter$49.99

Questions

Is Marco Synth free?
Marco Synth costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rithmatic free?
Rithmatic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Marco Synth or Rithmatic?
Marco Synth is rated higher. Marco Synth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Rithmatic averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.
Do Marco Synth or Rithmatic have ads?
Neither Marco Synth nor Rithmatic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Marco Synth or Rithmatic?
Marco Synth ships an update weekly, and Rithmatic every 2 days. Most recently, Marco Synth was updated on October 24, 2026 and Rithmatic on October 24, 2026.

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