Comparison

76477 Complex Sound Synth vs synthQ

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

Head to head
About

76477 Complex Sound Synth

Create complex sound effects and music with a powerful synthesizer inspired by vintage hardware. Offers extensive modulation, noise generation, and customizable envelopes. Easily share your creations and control it with MIDI devices.

Highlights
  • Three oscillators with multiple wave types
  • Modulation capabilities for oscillators
  • Adjustable noise generator with filter
  • Configurable ADSR envelope
  • Unlimited sound effect generator boards
  • MIDI input support
  • Export/import sound effect boards
Features
Read full description

Synth 76477 is a powerful sound effects generator and synthesizer app, inspired by the famous SN76477 integrated circuit from the 1970s, but containing many enhancements. Features: • Three oscillators, each of which can produce a sine, triangle, sawtooth, or square wave • The outputs of two of the oscillators can be used to modulate the main oscillator • Frequency modulation can be linear or octave based • The duty cycle of the main oscillator can be adjusted in square wave mode • Noise generator, either analog or digital, with an adjustable low pass filter • Oscillator outputs can be mixed to the audio output • Fully configurable ADSR (Attack / Decay / Sustain / Release) envelope, linear or exponential • One shot mode available • Unlimited number of sound effect generator boards • User configurable array of sound effect generator buttons on each board, up to 50 on the iPhone and 150 on the iPad • Boards as well as individual generators can be exported and imported, and transferred to and from your computer via iTunes file sharing, making it easy to share with others Synth 76477 comes with a full set of sample sound generators, making it easy to understand how to use and configure them, and tap the full power of the app. Synth 76477 works with MIDI input devices (keyboards and controllers) in several interesting ways: If you plug a MIDI device into an iPad (via the USB Camera Connection Kit), Synth 76477 will automatically use it. You can plug several MIDI controllers in via a powered HUB, and Synth 76477 will use all of them. You can also use MIDI controllers over WiFi. Midi controllers can be used to trigger chip playback, or set the VCO frequency and volume. They can also be used in the chip editor to adjust the various settings. The app also supports Bluetooth audio devices. Visit the support page for step by step instructions on how to use the app: http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad/complex_sound_synthesizer_FAQ.html Buy your copy right now, and start generating your own sound effects in minutes.

About

synthQ

This music creation tool for iPad offers a unique module queuing system and a customizable interface for dynamic sound design. Create complex sounds with virtual cables, a resizable keyboard, and a wide array of modules for production, performance, and education.

Highlights
  • Customizable module queuing system
  • Virtual cable-based modulation
  • Resizable multi-octave keyboard
  • Extensive module library (oscillators, envelopes, filters, FX)
  • Ableton Link support
  • MIDI input/output
  • Preset sharing and import
Features
Read full description

Introducing the queuing synthesizer for iPad. SynthQ has been designed from the ground up with the touchscreen interface in mind. SynthQ is a subtractive synthesizer with a customizable interface. A unique module queuing system, resizable multi-octave keyboard, and intuitive cable-based modulation controls offer a truly dynamic music-making experience for iOS. Each part of the synth is separated into units called modules. Each module snaps into place along a scrollable surface above the keyboard. Control the number of modules shown on the screen at any time. Control which modules appear for each sound. Tap a button on the module menu to launch a module and add it to the queue. Drag a module up and release to remove it from the queue. Drag a module down to move it within the queue. Add variability to your sound by connecting different modules using virtual cables. Alter the sound with synthQ's movable keys. SynthQ provides an intuitive and engaging way to get started creating your own sounds, and is ideal for production, performance and music education environments. Full feature list: MODULES: —three oscillators — sine, triangle, saw, square, pulse and resonant noise waves —three adsrs — amp, filter and modulation envelopes —filter with lowpass, hipass, bandpass, band-reject and peak filter modes —glide —frequency modulation oscillator —ring modulation oscillator —eight modulation bays with virtual cables enable interactions between modules —three tempo-syncable LFOs with sine, triangle, saw, reverse saw, square, random curve and random step waves —two XY matrix pads —XY keys module turns the keyboard's movable keys into modulation sources —sequencer module with Ableton Link support and built-in arpeggiator mode —vocoder using microphone or Inter-App Audio Effect input —two FX slots with chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb, tremolo, distortion, delay and bitcrush —analog simulation with soft clipping and random pitch wavering —midi module with pitch bender, modwheel and velocity —master volume control INTERFACE: —multi-octave resizable keyboard with 10-voice polyphonic, monophonic and legato modes —optional "sticky keys" mode locks each key to your finger after being pressed —when used as a modulation source, sound can be altered by moving the keys in different directions —unique rearrangeable module queuing area defines which controls are present per preset —fully featured preset menu system with options to share and import via e-mail or iTunes File Sharing —import presets directly from iOS mail by tapping and holding the attachment and pressing "Open in synthQ" —functional graphic design and layout eliminates screen switching by keeping the control modules and keyboard in constant view OTHER FEATURES: —Audiobus 3 support with Inter-App Audio —A=432Hz, A=440Hz and A=444Hz tuning modes —44100k Hz, 32000 Hz and 22050 Hz sampling rate modes —MIDI input and output per channel —basic recording feature to save, play, loop, and share recordings —import .WAV files from iTunes File Sharing for playback —parallax motion effects Follow @synthQ on Twitter for latest announcements and free preset packs, updated regularly! Share your presets with the developer for a chance to get them added to an official update!

Screenshots

76477 Complex Sound Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: synthQ at 80% against 76477 Complex Sound Synth's 50%. synthQ also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0). 76477 Complex Sound Synth's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $5.99) and device support (3 vs 1). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

76477 Complex Sound Synth costs $2.99 and synthQ $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

synthQ holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of 76477 Complex Sound Synth's written reviews are positive against 80% of synthQ's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
76477 Complex Sound Synth versus synthQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter76477 Complex Sound SynthsynthQ
Price$2.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.0 (10 ratings)4.2 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1013 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlack Cat SystemsChris Niven

Customer experience

76477 Complex Sound Synth

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative20.0%

synthQ

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral25.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative8.0%

In-app purchases

None

76477 Complex Sound Synth

No in-app purchases

None

synthQ

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 76477 Complex Sound Synth free?
76477 Complex Sound Synth costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is synthQ free?
synthQ costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 76477 Complex Sound Synth or synthQ?
synthQ is rated higher. 76477 Complex Sound Synth averages 4.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while synthQ averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.
Do 76477 Complex Sound Synth or synthQ have ads?
Neither 76477 Complex Sound Synth nor synthQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 76477 Complex Sound Synth or synthQ?
76477 Complex Sound Synth ships an update every 3 months, and synthQ every 3 months. Most recently, 76477 Complex Sound Synth was updated on September 17, 2026 and synthQ on June 1, 2026.

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