Comparison

Jam Synth vs Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

Jam Synth

Transform your guitar into a synthesizer with this app. It accurately tracks pitch and amplitude to control digital oscillators, offering unique synth leads and effects. Go beyond MIDI with expressive, organic sounds and advanced modulation options.

Highlights
  • Monophonic guitar synthesizer
  • Pitch and amplitude tracking
  • Multiple oscillator wave shapes
  • Dynamic filter tracking
  • Advanced FX section (LFO, Delay, Harmonizer, etc.)
  • MIDI output for external synths
  • High-accuracy pitch tuner
Read full description

Jam Synth is a fully featured monophonic guitar synthesizer / multi FX for iOS. It tracks the pitch and amplitude of an incoming guitar signal and uses this information to control digital oscillators, adding a unique guitar infused edge to your synth leads. Unlike typical pitch to MIDI converters, Jam Synth forgoes MIDI altogether when producing sounds internally because it is impossible to shoehorn the expressive pitch and dynamics of a stringed instrument into the MIDI standard. Jam Synth can accurately track string bends and vibrato with the extreme accuracy of a strobe tuner (1/10 of 1 cent) to produce much more organic synth sounds than other guitar to MIDI converters, including its own MIDI output (though its MIDI output still creates quite a unique guitar / synth hybrid sound because of its pitch bend abilities). It also features some of the most esoteric and unique FX you can get for your guitar. Features: • 3 Phase Distortion Oscillators (4 on iPad) with 8 different wave shapes: Saw, Square, Pulse, Double Sine, Saw-Pulse, Resonant 1, Resonant 2, and Resonant 3 • Filter can be set to track picking dynamics • Input section with Gate, Compressor, ADSR, and Input Filter • FX section - A fully featured LFO with 5 wave shapes and an invert switch for a wide range of pulsating effects - Stereo Delay with a stereo width control for ping pong effects and a filter for emulating analog delay - 3D Chorus, a classic "motionless" chorus that adds a stereo DIMENSION to the synth - Intelligent Harmonizer: This creates musically correct harmonies based on the key you are playing in. The harmonies can be altered by choosing a specific interval and one of the seven musical modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. It works on MIDI output using multi-channel pitch bending for synths that support such fancy things. It also works on your dry guitar output using high quality formant corrected pitch shift. It is just the best. - Rotary Vibe: This recreates the swirling psychedelic sounds of the 1960's by combining a thick 12-stage stereo phaser with a 3D rotary panning effect. Create anything from a slow stereo swirl to a futuristic synth organ with this. - Rainbows: Adds analog modeled auto rainbows to your sound. Adds extra rainbows when used with the harmonizer. - Time Stopper: Freezes time... • LFO / Stereo Delay / Rotary Vibe can be synced to tap tempo or incoming MIDI clock sync / Inter App Audio sync • Highly accurate pitch tracking and tuner, accurate to 1/10th of a cent • MIDI OUT and guitar to MIDI conversion for controlling other MIDI synths with your guitar through Core MIDI accessories and Virtual MIDI • string bends and vibrato are converted to MIDI pitch wheel data • picking dynamics are converted to MIDI volume expression data • compatible with guitar and audio interfaces made for iPhone and iPad • detailed user manual • Fat Bass • Super Chip Leads • Beagle Time • Little Cesars Jam Synth is designed to be easy to use even for users who don't have a lot of experience programming or playing synthesizers. When in doubt, just press buttons and turn knobs while plucking a string until you find a sound you like! J a m S y n t h 2 coming soon ---------------- http://www.facebook.com/PrimitiveDigitalSoftware

About

Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer

Transform your guitar or bass into a powerful, expressive polyphonic synthesizer without MIDI. This app synthesizes your instrument directly, capturing every nuance of your playing for rich, responsive synth sounds. No special pickups or hardware needed, just connect to your audio interface.

Highlights
  • Direct guitar synthesis (no MIDI)
  • Metamorphic signal generators (oscillators)
  • Dual filter banks with custom virtual-analog filters
  • Guitar-optimized envelopes with adjustable triggers
  • Powerful arpeggiator with multiple algorithms
  • Modulation matrix for parameter control
Read full description

Introducing a revolutionary new way to turn your guitar or bass into a fully featured polyphonic synth: Roxsyn, the world’s first metamorphic guitar synthesizer. Expressive, fast and responsive to every nuance, it is a league apart from all other guitar synths to date. Unhappy with cold and temperamental guitar-to-MIDI synths that dominate the market, we developed a completely new approach to guitar synthesis. Our all-original technology synthesizes your guitar directly, without the use of MIDI notes. Rescued from being a poor keyboard substitute, your guitar suddenly becomes an integral part of the synth. It's alive! There is no pitch tracking involved. There are no pitch estimation errors, octave glitches, or garbled chords. There is no over-complicated G2M between your guitar and synth to destroy everything human about your playing. Instead, Roxsyn’s metamorphic sound generation technology retains all the personality of your sound: vibrato, slides, bends, dynamics, even extended technique. The result is a polyphonic synthesizer that is as fast and accurate as it is richly expressive. No need for special MIDI pickups or hardware, either: just plug into your favorite Lightning/USB audio interface, and start synthing! ::Powerful Synth Engine:: Roxsyn’s big synth heart is its three metamorphic signal generators (AKA oscillators). Each generator offers 5 unique waveforms, and has a 4+ octave range to cover a wide spectrum of frequencies. They also feature stereo panning, and can route into either of Roxsyn’s dual filter banks. You can even dial in your guitar directly into the synth engine for even bigger sounds. ::Dual Filter Banks:: Each containing four custom virtual-analog filter types and dedicated envelopes, the filter banks help sculpt the synth generators in countless new ways. The envelopes are specially designed for the guitar, and are driven by a fully adjustable automatic trigger generator controlled by your playing dynamics. Envelopes offer original features like finite-duration sustain stages, as well as the ability to receive or ignore trigger-off messages. They can also be triggered externally via MIDI controllers like an expression pedal. An additonal envelope controls the amplitude of the signal, giving you even more options in creating synth sounds. ::Arpeggiator:: Instantly transform sustained guitar notes into fast (or slow), complex patterns with Roxsyn’s powerful yet easy to use arp. There are 8 stepping algorithms to choose from, as well as settable note value, swing, and note repeats. You can even route the arp to any combination of the 3 voice generators — enabling you to layer a non-arpeggiated sound with an arp pattern. What's more, the arp can send trigger signals into any of Roxsyn’s 4 envelopes, and even reset the LFOs. So it’s also a handy rhythmic / trance tool as well! ::Modulation & FX:: Roxsyn’s user friendly modulation matrix lets you manipulate parameters (pitch, amplitude, filters, etc) using its two LFOs and mod envelope. Add subtle vibrato, even glide simulation, or go full-on berserk. LFOs each have 9 waveforms, and feature beat syncing. Each matrix row can take LFOs or the mod envelope as a modulator or control, and can even use external control sources. And if you like your synths on the spicy side, Roxsyn comes with top-notch stereo FX specially developed to evoke extra synthiness: Powerful algorithmic reverb with the sound of countless rooms, phasing, modulating, 2-channel delay, and graphic EQ. ::Pro Features:: 500+ factory presets with bass, lead, pad, arp sounds & more. Easily create & share your own presets. Audio Unit v3, Ableton Link. Native 64-bit processing at up to 96kHz. 160+ MIDI controllable parameters; MIDI learn & map save/share; tapedeck (in the standalone app), so you can record, loop & share your ideas on the go, and many more handy features.

Screenshots

Jam Synth4 screens
Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Jam Synth at Free against Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer's $19.99. Jam Synth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (90 vs 28). On ads 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

Jam Synth is free to download; Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer costs $19.99 up front. Jam Synth sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Jam Synth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 90 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Jam Synth's written reviews are positive against 75% of Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jam Synth ships an update every 4 months, Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Jam Synth versus Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJam SynthRoxsyn Guitar Synthesizer
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating5.0 (28 ratings) — better4.7 (90 ratings)
Positive reviews84.2% of reviews — better74.5% of reviews
Number of ratings2890 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDerek MesecarYonac Inc.

Customer experience

Jam Synth

All ratings28 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive84.2%
Neutral10.5%
Negative5.3%

Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer

All ratings90 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.3%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive74.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative16.4%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Jam Synth

One-time4
  • Intelligent HarmonizerFree
  • Rotary VibeFree
  • RainbowsFree
Show 1 more
  • Time StopperFree
None

Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Jam Synth free?
Jam Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer free?
Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Jam Synth or Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer?
Jam Synth is rated higher. Jam Synth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer averages 4.7 from 90 ratings.
Do Jam Synth or Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer have ads?
Neither Jam Synth nor Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Jam Synth or Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer?
Jam Synth ships an update every 4 months, and Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer every 9 months. Most recently, Jam Synth was updated on September 18, 2026 and Roxsyn Guitar Synthesizer on September 24, 2026.

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