Photophore Synth vs Poseidon Synth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Photophore Synth
This app uses a unique flock synthesis engine with up to 100 sound generators to create rich, organic synthesizer sounds. Control flock behavior to generate diverse timbres, from choirs to insect swarms. Interact by swiping the screen for pitch modulation and chaotic effects.
- Unique flock synthesis engine
- Up to 100 oscillators per patch
- Polyphonic and monophonic modes
- 12 oscillator waveforms
- Low pass/High pass filter with resonance
- Stereo echo effect
- Arpeggiator
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"The visual interface will draw people in initially, but the wildly diverse sounds you can tease from Photophore will undoubtedly keep you coming back for more." FACT Magazine -- The Ten Best Synths for iPad | factmag.com Photophore is a unique instrument that uses flocks of up to 100 sound generators to create rich, organic synthesizer sounds. By controlling the behavior of the flocks you can make Photophore sound like a choir of synthesizers or, at more extreme settings, a swarm of angry insects. Unlike other digital synthesizers, Photophore creates warmth and character in a completely new way. Instead of modeling analog circuits, it models animal behavior. Photophore’s sound engine is made up of flocks of oscillators that move through a virtual three-dimensional environment. Their motion is controlled by a special behavioral algorithm and physics simulation that keeps the oscillators in tune with each other, but allows for a certain amount of natural drifting and detuning. This creates rich timbres that are perfect for crafting massive bass sounds, complex pads and searing leads. You can interact with the oscillator flocks by controlling their behavior – how much they try to flock together, how much they avoid each other, their speed, and how much turbulence is in their environment. Oscillators will flee from your touch, so you can create extreme pitch modulation and more chaotic effects by simply swiping across the screen. Key Features: • Unique flock synthesis engine • Up to 100 oscillators per patch • Polyphonic operation (up to 6 voices) • Monophonic mode with glide and legato • 12 oscillator waveforms (saw, square, pulse, sine and more) • Low pass/High pass filter with resonance • Dedicated amplitude and filter envelopes • Stereo echo effect • Arpeggiator Connectivity: • Connect any iPad-compatible MIDI keyboard to play notes and perform pitch bends • Use a MIDI controller's modulation wheel to control the flock • AudioBus and Inter-App Audio support for streaming audio to other apps • Control Photophore from other apps via CoreMIDI Tech Requirements: • iOS7 or later required • iPad 2 or later required What Reviewers say: "The sounds in Photophore are big. There is a surprising range, as well. My first impression was that it was going to be very ambient-based, but you can get gritty and dirty here as well. From the beautifully minimal look to the impressive sounds, Photophore is a winner." - iOS Mars | iosmars.com "There is a lot to like about Photophore. The synth engine is clearly ‘different’ from anything else out there but it is presented in away that is both accessible and visually appealing. In terms of both features and sound, Photophore punches well above its price point." - Music App Blog | musicappblog.com
Poseidon Synth
Explore vast sonic landscapes with this advanced synthesizer. It combines analog synthesis with spectral modeling for unique sound design, offering powerful filters, spatialization, and a vast library of presets and sound models.
- Spectral model oscillator
- F-Domain Filter with variable slope
- Spatializer for stereo movement
- Extensive sound browser
- Arpeggiator with programmable sequences
- Built-in effects suite
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Poseidon Synth - The Ocean of Sound For all creatures in the ocean of sound - Sonic textures from other worlds, Analog signature sounds, Cut-through-the-mix leads and silkily smooth pads: Poseidon sets a new standard for sound design and ease of use. All of this was made possible through a combination of the familiar, conceptual simplicity of the analog synthesis and our frequency domain based Spectral modelling synthesis technology. Spectral model oscillator Select a basic sound model from over hundred delivered with Poseidon. The basic sound model determines the sound characteristic you want to start: taking a artificial model like “Sawtooth” gives you analog style sounds. Use complex models from analyzed samples for earth shaking ambients and evolving pads. Model parameters High level controls allow for changing the spectral shape, the harmonicity and balances the level of residual noise and spectral amount of the oscillator model. F-Domain Filter The newly developed F-Domain filter allow for drastic changes in the resulting sound spectrum. Five filter types including lowpass/highpass characteristic can be used to shape the sound. They have the usual controls like cutoff but also very unusual ones like a variable slope ranging from 0 dB to 72 dB / Octave and independent controls for resonance and bandwidth! This kind of controls are only possible in the context of our F-Domain synthesis technology. This results in an extremely clear filter sound with breathtaking fast modulation possibilities. The filter type “Inverse” interprets the sound model as a "Source" and a resonant body "Filter". The cutoff parameter shifts the filterbase - this is the equivalent to making the instrument body smaller or bigger. Spatializer This simple control gives your sound a distinctive moving distribution in the stereo panorama. Every atomic sound particle has it´s own path through the space ! Sound browser The sound browser in Poseidon gives you a fast selection of sounds based on category and timbre. Spectral modelling synthesis • Harmonic/Inharmonic/Noise sound models • 512 oscillators per voice • 300 Sound models / 600 factory presets Unique sound control • Pitch modulation / Harmonicity control • Time machine • Timbre control • Frequency Domain Filter • Spatializer Arpeggiator • Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps. • Can trigger single notes and chords. • Unique randomiser generates Arpeggios with 100% usability. • 32 Arpeggios included, unlimited user arpeggios possible. • For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order Effects • Chorus • Phaser • Flanger • Distortion (aliasing free!) • Equalizer • Echo/Delay • Reverb Global • Audiobus 3 compatible (Input slot) • Audio Unit AUv3 • Inter-app audio compatible (Instrument/Generator) • CoreMIDI / Virtual MIDI / Tempo Sync / MIDI Learn • Audio recorder with Metronome. • Audio pasteboard / File sharing. • Ableton Link support • Bluetooth audio A2DP
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Photophore Synth at 4.5 against Poseidon Synth's 4.0. Photophore Synth also leads on price ($0.99 vs $7.99) and review sentiment (80% vs 59%). On ratings volume, 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
Photophore Synth costs $0.99 and Poseidon Synth $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Photophore Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 33 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Photophore Synth's written reviews are positive against 59% of Poseidon Synth's.
Photophore Synth ships an update every 2 months, Poseidon Synth every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Photophore Synth | Poseidon Synth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $7.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (28 ratings) — better | 4.0 (33 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews — better | 58.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 | 33 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 328 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Taika Systems LLC | Harry Gohs |
Customer experience
Photophore Synth
Poseidon Synth
In-app purchases
Photophore Synth
No in-app purchases
Poseidon Synth
No in-app purchases
Questions
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Is Poseidon Synth free?
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