Comparison

Synthecaster vs luapsel

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

Head to head
About

Synthecaster

This app offers a unique polyphonic instrument that blends guitar and keyboard elements, allowing for diverse playing styles and sound generation. It features intuitive controls, motion modulation for expressive performance, and a powerful synth engine with extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • Polyphonic synth engine
  • String-like key rows
  • Motion Modulation for expressiveness
  • MIDI controller functionality
  • Built-in effects (flanger, chorus, delay)
  • Customizable synth presets
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus support
Read full description

Synthecaster fuses elements from guitars and keyboards into a full range polyphonic instrument that is intuitive, accommodates a wide variety of playing styles, and generates an even wider variety of sounds. The instrument allows for technical playing styles such as shredding and complex chord formation and can be used as a MIDI controller. Now with Motion Modulation, Synthecaster is more expressive than ever. - Keys are arranged in string-like rows (tuned in perfect fourths by default) - Sliding across keys in a row results in legato sliding or portamento gliding from note to note - Sliding a key up or down will bend its pitch in the same direction - Several notes can be played on the same row simultaneously - Simultaneously play up to 10 notes on iPad Pro, 7 notes on iPad, or 5 notes on iPhone - The entire keyboard spans over 6 octaves (not including the range added by oscillator tuning) - Tune each row individually - Highlight or show only the notes from any scale How Motion Modulation works: - Any slider-based synth parameter with blue or green text can be tapped to view its motion settings - The parameter can be modulated by the device's roll (tilting vertically clockwise or counterclockwise) or pitch (tilting upward or downward) - The position of the parameter's slider is the base setting for the parameter - Tilting the device modulates the value either from its base setting to its minimum or maximum setting depending on the tilt, the modulation amount, and the modulation direction. Synthecaster's audio is generated by a powerful and highly configurable polyphonic synth engine: - Dual oscillators with individual tuning - Filter with envelope sweeping - Amplifier ADSR envelope - Soft clip, hard clip, bitcrush, and downsampling distortion - LFO assignable to amplitude, filter cutoff, or oscillator tuning - Stereo flanger, chorus, and delay effects - Over 55 preloaded synth presets including 7 motion presets - Create custom presets and share them using AirDrop or Mail - High quality stereo audio output - Inter-App Audio support - Audiobus compatibility with state saving Synthecaster is Core MIDI compatible as a MIDI controller. In Multi Channel mode, MIDI messages are output in OMNI mode, where each MIDI channel represents a synth voice (channels 1-7 on the iPad, 1-5 on the iPhone). To best replicate Synthecaster’s polyphonic expressiveness, try setting a separate instrument voice for each channel. The following MIDI messages are supported: - Note on/off events, by touching and releasing keys - Pitch wheel change, by sliding a key up or down - Polyphonic legato ties by sliding across keys. Compatible with a variety of apps including Animoog and ThumbJam. - Legato pedal on/off for legato ties, by sliding across keys For best results, play through speakers or headphones. Note: Not recommended for iPhone 4 due to performance issues.

About

luapsel

Create calming electric guitar ambience with reversed samples and built-in effects. Offers polyphonic playback, multiple articulations, and real-time sound shaping tools for unique musical textures.

Highlights
  • Polyphonic reversed guitar sounds
  • Round Robin sampling
  • Multiple articulations
  • Built-in delay, reverb, chorus
  • Real-time low-pass filter
  • ADSR Release control
  • Standalone samples available
Features
Read full description

luapsel: Unique Evolving Electric Guitar Ambience luapsel is a collection of Electric Guitar samples, meticulously multi-sampled in Round Robin and reversed in the most transparent way possible to offer your projects an easy-to-use calming vibe. Play around with built-in delay, reverb, and chorus effects, or go au naturel. Sound design is a breeze with real-time filters, release control, and tuning options. Get luapsel for free inside Decent Sampler or just enjoy the raw samples, or grab the new improved app for just $1. Features -Polyphonic reversed guitar sounds -Round Robin sampling for nuanced playback -Four articulations: Original, Looped, Fast, & Slow -Built-in delay, reverb, and chorus effects -Real-time low-pass filter (Tone) -ADSR Release control and real-time sampling tuning -Available for Decent Sampler or as standalone samples

Screenshots

Synthecaster4 screens
luapsel3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: luapsel at every 6 days against Synthecaster's every 2 months. Synthecaster's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (14 vs 4). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Synthecaster costs $0.99 and luapsel $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synthecaster holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, luapsel every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Synthecaster versus luapsel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthecasterluapsel
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating4.9 (14 ratings) — better4.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings14 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB101 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel ResnickOSC Audio

Customer experience

Synthecaster

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative2.5%

luapsel

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Synthecaster

No in-app purchases

None

luapsel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Synthecaster free?
Synthecaster costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is luapsel free?
luapsel costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Synthecaster or luapsel?
Synthecaster is rated higher. Synthecaster averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while luapsel averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Synthecaster or luapsel have ads?
Neither Synthecaster nor luapsel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Synthecaster or luapsel?
Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, and luapsel every 6 days. Most recently, Synthecaster was updated on October 3, 2026 and luapsel on October 9, 2026.

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