Comparison

AudioPocket for volca sample vs SynthMaster Player

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

Head to head
About

AudioPocket for volca sample

Easily transfer audio samples from your iPhone to a KORG volca sample device. Record, trim, and normalize your own sounds, or import them via iTunes File Sharing or a factory preset library. Supports various common audio file formats.

Highlights
  • Record and edit samples
  • Import samples via iTunes File Sharing
  • Access KORG factory presets
  • Supports multiple audio formats
  • Connect iPhone to volca sample
Read full description

Send sample data directly from your iPhone to your volca sample! AudioPocket enables you to program your volca sample memory with audio samples from the following: • The app. Record on-the-spot with the app, where you can preview, trim and normalize your impromptu sample recording. • Your computer. Using iTunes File Sharing, just drag and drop into “AudioPocket documents” • Factory presets. Choose from a library sound-designed by KORG. Compatible audio files: “aif”, “aiff”, “wav”, “mp3”, “caf”, “aac”, “m4a” What is volca sample? The volca sample is a sample sequencer that lets you edit and sequence up to 100 sampled sounds in real-time for commanding live performances. It’s powerful on its own or as an addition to any existing volca setup. The volca sample lets you recapture the excitement of the first generation of samplers where any sound - vocals, spoken words, ambient sound, or glitches – can be used for your creations! See more at: http://www.korg.com/volca_sample/ Notes: ● To use AudioPocket with the volca sample, the operating system for the volca sample must be "System Version 1.20 or later. ● You will need a stereo mini jack cable to connect your iPhone to your volca sample. Follow us on: ● Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/korg.iapps ● Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/korg_iapps

About

SynthMaster Player

This mobile synthesizer app provides a vast library of sounds for music production. It allows users to play presets, make limited edits, and access additional sound banks through in-app purchases. It integrates with other music apps and offers a built-in keyboard for immediate playability.

Highlights
  • Preset-based sound library
  • Limited parameter editing
  • XY pads for modulation
  • AUv3 and InterApp Audio support
  • Audiobus integration
  • Built-in keyboard with pitch/mod wheels
  • Scales functionality
Read full description

SynthMaster Player for iOS received "2016 Editor's Choice Award" from Electronic Musician Magazine! SynthMaster desktop version is voted as "The Best VST/AU Synth Plugin" by MusicRadar readers and also received "Gear of the Year" award from MusicTech Magazine for "Best Software Instrument" category. SynthMaster has received very positive reviews from acclaimed music technology magazines: "SynthMaster: The most powerful softsynth you may not have heard of" Keyboard Magazine "If ever there was a desert island synth, SynthMaster is it, covering all sonic bases with authority and a superb tone" Computer Music Magazine "Many developers say that they've produced the one and only synth you'll ever need, but we've always felt that was a dubious claim. In SynthMaster’s case, though, it’s one that rings true" MusicRadar INTRODUCTION SynthMaster Player for iOS is the MOBILE PLAYER VERSION of the award winning SynthMaster software synthesizer. It is targeted towards users who prefer to use presets rather than designing their own sounds during music production. Although it is a preset based player, users can edit the following preset parameters: 1) 8 easy parameters assigned by the sound designer 2) 2 XY Pads assigned by the sound designer 3) Effect bypass states and send amounts 4) Layer bypass states and volumes 5) Master volume, polyphony The free app comes with 100 factory presets. When users complete registration by entering their names and email addresses they receive another 100 factory presets as a bonus! After completing registration, users can upgrade to the Pro version of the app by purchasing the "Factory Presets" bank via In-App-Purchase (IAP). With the Pro Upgrade all of the 800 factory presets are loaded and also the following features are unlocked: 1. Users can save the changes they have made to the presets. 2. Users can purchase additional preset banks via In-App-Purchase (IAP). We currently have 28 additional preset banks that contain 1750 presets for various genres/styles. 3. Existing SynthMaster users can download their previously purchased SynthMaster preset banks inside the app, so that they don't have to purchase them again. 4. Existing SynthMaster users can export their own presets in SynthMaster v2.x and import them into SynthMaster Player for iPad using iTunes. AUv3 SynthMaster Player for iOS supports AUv3, you can add multiple instrument instances to your tracks. INTERAPP AUDIO SynthMaster Player for iOS acts as an source/instrument in InterApp Audio. We demonstrate in our user manual how to connect it to InterApp enabled DAW apps. AUDIOBUS SynthMaster Player for iOS acts as a source/instrument in AudioBus, with state saving enabled. We demonstrate in our user manual how to connect it to AudioBus enabled DAW apps. BUILT-IN KEYBOARD The built-in 2 octave keyboard with pitch and modulation wheels lets users play notes without having to connect an external MIDI controller to their iPad. With its Scale functionality, it shows the users the notes on the scale, and with its Chord functionality the user can play a certain chord by pressing a single note. MIDI SETTINGS SynthMaster Player for iOS supports CoreMIDI and also virtual MIDI. It acts as a virtual MIDI destination for other DAW apps. Midi input device, midi input channel, and receive midi beat clock settings can be adjusted from the MIDI Settings window. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Minimum Operating System Supported: iOS 9 Minimum Hardware Supported: iPad4, iPhone 5 and above Recommended Hardware: iPad Air and above, iPhone6 and above

Screenshots

AudioPocket for volca sample3 screens
SynthMaster Player3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SynthMaster Player at 4.4 against AudioPocket for volca sample's 2.3. SynthMaster Player also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 27 months) and review sentiment (52% vs 22%). AudioPocket for volca sample's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. SynthMaster Player sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. AudioPocket for volca sample asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SynthMaster Player holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 55 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of AudioPocket for volca sample's written reviews are positive against 52% of SynthMaster Player's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AudioPocket for volca sample ships an update every 27 months, SynthMaster Player every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AudioPocket for volca sample versus SynthMaster Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioPocket for volca sampleSynthMaster Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (59 ratings)4.4 (55 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.4% of reviews52.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings59 — better55
Update frequencyEvery 27 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB308 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKORG INC.KV331 Audio

Customer experience

AudioPocket for volca sample

All ratings59 ratings
Positive23.7%
Neutral18.6%
Negative57.6%
Written reviews116 reviews
Positive22.4%
Neutral19.0%
Negative58.6%

SynthMaster Player

All ratings55 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral5.5%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews261 reviews
Positive52.1%
Neutral16.1%
Negative31.8%

User reviews

AudioPocket for volca sample

From 59 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy sample transfer
  • 👍 Works for some users
  • 👍 Good for on-the-go editing
  • 👍 Files.app integration appreciated

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes on startup
  • 🐛 Audio recording/saving issues
  • 🐛 Sample transfer errors
  • 🐛 No USB support for Volca Sample 2
  • 🐛 Outdated for Volca Sample 2

SynthMaster Player

From 55 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great sounds
  • 👍 Fantastic presets
  • 🚀 Excellent sound quality
  • 👍 Inspiring sounds
  • 👍 Rich and full synth sounds

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Buggy performance
  • 🐛 Presets not loading
  • 🐛 Unstable on newer devices
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues

Bugs and requests

AudioPocket for volca sample

Reported bugs

46 issues
  • Crashes on startup (iOS 11)
  • App does not record or save audio
  • Cannot work with prerecorded audio
  • Error when uploading samples to Volca Sample 2
  • Audio Pocket does not record audio
Show 41 more
  • Audio Pocket won't let work saved audio samples
  • No USB support for Volca Sample 2
  • No support for new iPhones without headphone socket
  • Audio transfer function does not work on iPad Pro
  • No support for USB file transfer on Sample 2
  • App not updated for Sample 2 (200 spaces)
  • App not updated for Sample 2 (200 slots/presets)
  • Obsolete, no updates
  • Firmware update not current for Sample 2
  • Only provides first 100 slots for Sample 2
  • Error pops up when transferring samples
  • Won't sync to device
  • Essentially non-functional, cannot transfer files
  • Only factory presets transfer
  • App needs upgrade
  • Limited to 100 sample slots
  • Reverted Volca Sample 2 to Sample 1
  • Lost sample slots and factory samples won't download
  • Cannot load anything onto extra sample slots
  • Cannot record with this app
  • Useless for Volca Sample 2
  • Sampler without ability to sample
  • App not updated for new hardware
  • Sample library for Sample V2 not available
  • Support for banks over 99 (to 149) not available
  • Only capable of saving 00-99
  • No way to link iPhone to Volca Sample 2 other than stereo jack
  • Error message when trying to transfer samples
  • App is crap, error messages
  • App is slow
  • Only works on iPhone, useless on iPads
  • Cannot edit sample after saving
  • Error dcod when loading sounds
  • CRC error when loading or erasing samples
  • App says v1.22, Volca is v1.3
  • Err dCod message on sampler
  • Error d whilst trying to transfer samples
  • Samples do not transfer
  • App deletes sample slots
  • No transfers working
  • Doesn't seem to work with iPhone 4s

Requested features

21 requests
  • Update for Volca Sample 2 support (200 slots)
  • USB file transfer support
  • Support for newer iPhones without headphone jack
  • Improve user interface and user experience
  • Add editing features (trimming, cropping)
Show 16 more
  • Allow editing of imported samples
  • Transfer multiple samples at once
  • Support for cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud)
  • Direct computer transfer to Volca Sample
  • Allow editing of in/out points of recorded samples
  • Direct recording into memory slot without computer/iOS
  • Audio Share or 'open in' support
  • Ability to type location number for samples
  • Zoom and marker resolution improvements
  • Zero crossing detection
  • Normalize selected part
  • Slice loops and assign to slots
  • Looping helper for drones/pads
  • Automatic saving to multiple devices (phone/iPad)
  • Edit samples after saving
  • Preview cropped section before saving

SynthMaster Player

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Purchased presets not loading
  • Stuck notes
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Audiobus and IAA issues

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to edit and create own sounds
  • Improved preset management
  • Better integration with DAWs and Audiobus
  • Background playback support
  • Larger on-screen keyboard
Show 1 more
  • More customization options

In-app purchases

None

AudioPocket for volca sample

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

SynthMaster Player

One-time13
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol 1$1.99
  • BigTone Signature Sounds Vol1$4.99
  • MK Expansion 2$4.99
Show 10 more
  • Nori Ubukata Art Rock Basics$4.99
  • Sounds of the World$4.99
  • Factory Presets (PRO Upgrade)$4.99
  • SynthMaster 2.7 presets$4.99
  • SynthMaster 2.8 Presets$4.99
  • Extra Factory Presets Bundle$9.99
  • SynthMaster EDM Bundle 1$13.99
  • Dawn Of Electronic Bundle$13.99
  • Synth Giants Bundle$13.99
  • Rob Lee EDM Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is AudioPocket for volca sample free?
AudioPocket for volca sample is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SynthMaster Player free?
SynthMaster Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AudioPocket for volca sample or SynthMaster Player?
SynthMaster Player is rated higher. AudioPocket for volca sample averages 2.3 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while SynthMaster Player averages 4.4 from 55 ratings.
Do AudioPocket for volca sample or SynthMaster Player have ads?
Neither AudioPocket for volca sample nor SynthMaster Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AudioPocket for volca sample or SynthMaster Player?
AudioPocket for volca sample ships an update every 27 months, and SynthMaster Player every 3 months. Most recently, AudioPocket for volca sample was updated on October 9, 2026 and SynthMaster Player on October 5, 2026.

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