iSymphonic Orchestra vs SWAM Viola
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iSymphonic Orchestra
This app provides sophisticated, realistic orchestral sounds for musicians. Connect a MIDI keyboard to your device to access a wide range of instruments for live performance or composition. It supports advanced audio and MIDI connections with other apps.
- Realistic orchestral instrument sounds
- MIDI keyboard connectivity
- Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
- Low latency audio engine
- Integrated effects with presets
- MIDI recording and playback
Read full descriptionHide full description
The ultimate orchestra sound app for sophisticated musicians by award-winning sound designer Kurt Ader, designed as professional sound module for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch by connecting an external MIDI keyboard, using the Apple USB camera adapter or another adapter supported by Apple.¹ Listen to the demo videos on our product website! This app supports Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio for audio & MIDI connections from/to other audio apps, as well as Bluetooth LE MIDI ! iSymphonic Orchestra was designed with the goal to deliver you superb, extremely realistic and stunning orchestra sounds, instantly with the first key being pressed by you on your MIDI keyboard. Just select a sound and you are ready for your live performance or for a boost of creativity while composing new songs. The sounds used in this app were explicitly recorded to fulfill these requirements and involved several months of recording and post processing under supervision of Kurt Ader and included a variety of innovative, new recording techniques. So far these sounds were only available to very few, famous movie composers. Now they are finally available for the first time to everybody. The supreme quality of these sounds, combined with the unique way they were recorded and assembled, gives us confidence that you haven't heard anything comparable as of to date, even not on Mac or PC. 25 Sounds included with base App: • Orchestra Strings Spiccato & Legato 1 - 4 • Orchestra Strings Slow 1 - 3 • Chamber Arco Strings • Legato Orchestra Strings 1 • Full Sordino Strings 1 - 2 • Legato Orchestra • Staccato Orchestra 1 - 3 • Tremolo Orchestra • Pizzicato Strings • Full Strings • Tremolo Strings • All Brass 1 - 2 • Trombone Section • Cello & Woodwinds • Horns & Strings • Full Legato Orchestra 297 additional sounds available as 15 optional in-app purchase sound sets: „Pro-", „Arpa-", „Canto-", „Boato-", „Vento-", „Ottone-", „Voce-", „Varia-", „Perla-", „Aulos-", „Keys-", „Cupra-", „Organ-", „Tosca-" and „Corda Sound Set". You find a detailed sound list & demo videos on our product website. General Features: • Low latency disk streaming. • Very efficient audio engine. • Polyphony of several hundred stereo voices.² • Audio latency down to 1 ms. • Integrated effects with 18 presets. • 16 parts. • Scale Tuning & Master Tune. • MIDI velocity response curve editor. • App States: Save app's entire state as user presets. • Interactive, easy & quick sound finder. • App can keep running in the background, so you can play on your keyboard while e.g. using Safari or another app to display scores or surfing the Internet. • Hermode Tuning: Imitates the tuning behavior of well educated musicians of i.e. orchestras and choirs. • Audio Unit v3 Plugin included. • Supports Apple's "Inter-App Audio" (IAA) system. • Virtual on-screen piano keyboard with velocity support, scalable & scrollable. MIDI Player / Recorder: • Record, save and load your songs in standard MIDI file format. • Share your songs easily as audio file. • Unlimited amount of tracks. • Configurable MIDI channel per track. • Unlimited recording and playback length. • Open MIDI (.mid) files directly from other apps (i.e. from Safari, Mail). • Metronome • Use the "Tempo Zoom" dial knob to i.e. slow down playback at any time and learn your favorite songs easily. ¹ For more information about supported adapters and MIDI keyboards, please visit our product website. ² Sounds are using several voices per note. Polyphony depends on the exact device model being used. You find a polyphony table on our product website. Anti-Spy Commitment: We take your privacy very seriously. None of our apps contain so called „spy” behaviors and we committed ourself to a very high privacy standard. For more information read our „Privacy Policy for Mobile Apps”.
SWAM Viola
This virtual instrument uses physical modeling to generate realistic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your playing style. It offers advanced spatial control with a built-in room simulator and can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. Designed for expressive control, it's suitable for various musical styles and accessible to visually impaired users.
- Physical modeling sound generation
- Real-time dynamic response
- Built-in Room Simulator (Ambiente)
- Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
- Intuitive interface for all users
- MPE and MIDI controller support
- Customizable timbre, vibrato, and dynamics
Read full descriptionHide full description
SWAM Viola for iOS: Unmatched Realism and Expressive Power in Your Hands Experience the cutting-edge Physical Modeling technology of SWAM Viola for iOS, now featuring the revolutionary Room Simulator "Ambiente"! Unlike sampled libraries, this virtual instrument doesn’t play pre-recorded sounds but generates authentic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your every nuance, just like a real violist. These instruments are NOT sample libraries. Unlike sampling, which uses recordings to replicate the sound of an instrument, physical modeling doesn’t generate a sound as such but creates the conditions for the system to create it according to an external input (like someone playing on a keyboard). This means every note is unique, and the instrument responds dynamically to your playing style. With SWAM Viola, you can unleash your creativity across any musical style—from classical to modern, film scoring to microtonal music. Whether you're performing live or producing music on the go, SWAM Viola is your ultimate companion. New Features and Key Benefits: Room Simulator "Ambiente": Take advantage of advanced spatial control with the built-in Room Simulator "Ambiente," which allows you to position the instrument in a realistic acoustic space, interact dynamically with other SWAM instruments in the same virtual room, and create truly immersive performances. Additionally, the legacy Reverb, EQ, and Compressor effects are available for fine-tuning your sound. Standalone and AUv3 Plugin: Perform in real time or integrate SWAM Viola seamlessly into your mobile production workflow. Intuitive, Inclusive Interface: Designed for everyone, including blind and visually impaired users. Expressive Control: Play with unmatched expressivity using the exclusive virtual bowing surface, MPE controllers, keyboards, breath controllers, or other MIDI devices. Top Features at a Glance: Access a library of presets, create your own, or import presets from the desktop version. Customize every detail of your sound, including timbre, vibrato, and dynamics. Micro-tune the instrument with the Pitch Manager, supporting devices like MAQAM for advanced tuning systems. Add built-in effects like EQ, and Compressor. Play with different viola bodies to explore unique tonal variations. Use AUv3 to integrate with your mobile DAW (Logic, Cubasis, AUM) or apps like Camelot PRO for live performances. Who is SWAM Viola for iOS Designed For? Wind Controller Players: Looking for a mobile setup to perform live without needing a computer while still achieving an incredible sound. Keyboard Players: Frustrated by the limited expressive capabilities of normal sample-based plugins? SWAM Viola unlocks the full range of expression. Music Producers: Need a mobile setup to produce music from anywhere without carrying around expensive gear? SWAM Viola is the solution. Musicians Seeking Expressivity: Looking for a virtual instrument that allows you to express the full range of your musicality easily on your iPhone or iPad. IMPORTANT: To fully harness the expressive power of SWAM Viola, a controller capable of continuous expression (such as a breath controller, expression pedal, MPE device, or wind controller) is required. Just like a bow is essential for a real violist, SWAM Viola needs expressive input for maximum realism. With SWAM Viola for iOS, you have the freedom to create lifelike string performances on your iPhone or iPad. Redefine your music with unparalleled realism and expressive depth—anytime, anywhere.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: iSymphonic Orchestra at $9.99 against SWAM Viola's $29.99. iSymphonic Orchestra also leads on ratings volume (103 vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SWAM Viola's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and rating (4.3 vs 3.8). On update cadence, 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
iSymphonic Orchestra costs $9.99 and SWAM Viola $29.99 up front. iSymphonic Orchestra sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. SWAM Viola asks for nothing beyond the download.
SWAM Viola holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSymphonic Orchestra has 103 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of iSymphonic Orchestra's written reviews are positive against 100% of SWAM Viola's.
iSymphonic Orchestra ships an update every 2 months, SWAM Viola every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iSymphonic Orchestra | SWAM Viola |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $29.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (103 ratings) | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 103 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.3 GB | 103 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte | Audio Modeling |
Customer experience
iSymphonic Orchestra
SWAM Viola
Bugs and requests
iSymphonic Orchestra
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes when using multiple AU instances in AUM
- GarageBand integration fails during export and audio merging
- Audio cuts out or plays only partially during export
- Track deletion causes complete app crash and data loss
- Reverberation artifacts on specific notes (C4, C5)
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Loud distortion spikes occurring randomly
- MIDI keyboard connection freezes or stops working
- Settings menu becomes garbled with accessibility features enabled
- App freezes when connecting to certain MIDI controllers
- Audiobus compatibility issues despite advertised support
- Sound packs fail to download or load correctly
- Stuck MIDI notes when changing channels with pedal depressed
- Glitching and connection loss in multi-instance setups
- Export functionality broken in GarageBand AU version
Requested features
15 requests- Ability to hide unowned sound packs for easier navigation
- Zoom function for keyboard section
- Adjustable attack and release envelope controls
- Filter to show only owned sounds
- Dedicated save/record/play controls on main screen
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Bundle pricing option for all sound packs
- Separate woodwinds, horns, and strings-only IAP options
- Improved AU plugin UI closer to standalone version
- Microphone placement and mixing options like Spitfire Labs
- Favorites or custom sound folders
- Better orchestral percussion sounds
- Ability to import files from device without USB
- Export preset functionality between devices
- All-off MIDI signal for all channels simultaneously
- Cheaper entry-level sound pack bundle
SWAM Viola
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iSymphonic Orchestra
- Arpa Sound Set$8.99
- Vento Sound Set$8.99
- Pro Sound Set$11.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Canto Sound Set$11.99
- Boato Sound Set$11.99
- Voce Sound Set$11.99
- Varia Sound Set$11.99
- Aulos Sound Set$11.99
- Corda Sound Set$16.99
- Keys Sound Set$24.99
SWAM Viola
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iSymphonic Orchestra free?
Is SWAM Viola free?
Which has better reviews, iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola?
Do iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola have ads?
Which is updated more often, iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola?
Other comparisons















