Comparison

Photophore Synth vs ID700

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

"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

About

ID700

This app is a software synthesizer that recreates the voice architecture of the Buchla 700. It offers hybrid FM and waveshaping synthesis with extensive customization options for sound design. It functions as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin for music production software.

Highlights
  • Hybrid FM and waveshaping synthesis
  • AUv3 and Standalone support
  • Twelve voices with unique algorithms
  • Fourteen complex envelopes per voice
  • Two waveshapers per voice
  • MPE capability
  • Scala scale file support
Features
Read full description

ID700 is a hybrid FM/waveshaping software synthesizer based on the voice architecture of the Buchla 700. ID700 runs in standalone mode and as an AUv3 plugin (Logic Pro, GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis 3). HISTORY In 1987 Don Buchla released the Buchla 700 synthesizer. It was the next logical step from Don's previous digital synths (the Buchla 400, Touché, Buchla 500) but was also influenced by the synth trends of the 1980's, specifically FM synthesis and the all-in-one workstation concept. As usual, Don was ahead of the curve and the 700 never took off. Very few were sold and even fewer functioning units exist today. I always loved the sound of Don's digital oscillators, and combined with the scarcity of the instrument it seemed like a fun project to recreate it in software and reintroduce its concepts to the world. FEATURES * AUv3 and Standalone support on iOS * twelve voices of four operator FM with twelve unique algorithms * fourteen complex envelopes per voice * two hundred professionally designed presets * two waveshapers per voice * preset randomizer * over forty factory wave shapes plus an editor for user created shapes * Scala scale file support with over four thousand included tunings from the Scala scale archive * MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) capability for MPE controllers like the Roli Seabord, Linnstrument, and Sensel Morph * advanced MIDI implementation (including 14-bit CCs and Program Change) * an in-depth manual (60+ pages) is available in the app and from our website * iCloud support for sharing presets, waveshapes, and tunings between devices * up to 16x oversampling

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Photophore Synth at $0.99 against ID700's $12.99. Photophore Synth also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). ID700's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (130 vs 28). On review sentiment, 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

Photophore Synth costs $0.99 and ID700 $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ID700 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 130 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Photophore Synth's written reviews are positive against 88% of ID700's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photophore Synth ships an update every 2 months, ID700 monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Photophore Synth versus ID700: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhotophore SynthID700
Price$0.99 — better$12.99
Rating4.5 (28 ratings)4.8 (130 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.3% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28130 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTaika Systems LLCJonathan Schatz

Customer experience

Photophore Synth

All ratings28 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive80.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative14.8%

ID700

All ratings128 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral3.1%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative7.5%

User reviews

Photophore Synth

From 28 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Unique and atypical synth
  • 🎶 Great sounds and engaging
  • 💰 Good value for the price
  • 💡 Innovative sound design approach
  • 🔊 Lush and evolving ambient sounds

Room to improve

  • 🤏 Small keyboard size
  • 📉 Limited sound variety initially
  • 😵‍💫 Overly dark color scheme
  • 🤔 Some find it a toy, not powerful
  • 🎛️ Basic sound design parameters

ID700

From 130 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Unique and beautiful sounds
  • 💡 Inspiring and experimental sound design
  • 🎹 High-quality instrument
  • ✨ Intuitive and well-designed UI
  • 🚀 Deep and complex synthesis

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Some users experience crashes on startup
  • 🤏 Tiny UI elements (harmonics, font size)
  • 🎨 Dark interface can be difficult for visually impaired users
  • 🎚️ Knobs can be jumpy/sensitive
  • 👆 Sliders not functioning properly (earlier reviews)

Bugs and requests

Photophore Synth

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Doesn't show in Cubasis 3 under audiobus or inter-app
  • Receives MIDI on all channels even when selecting a specific channel (iOS 14.4)
  • Dies when screen sleeps even with 'Run in background' checked
  • Keyboard is an afterthought
  • App frozen on welcome page (iOS 7)
Show 1 more
  • Won't play any sound

Requested features

20 requests
  • AUv3 support
  • MIDI out
  • Ableton Link
  • More presets and synths
  • Update for newer screen sizes
Show 15 more
  • Multi-octave keyboard
  • More time-domain variable controls
  • Chordion compatibility
  • Midi Learn function
  • Arpeggiator sync to external time clocks
  • Swarmatron type mode with legato bend
  • More waveforms
  • Ability to draw own waveform
  • LFO modulation
  • More filter choices
  • More randomization with controls
  • Volume modulation/trem per voice (flock)
  • Rename patches
  • In-app record/save/export
  • iPhone version

ID700

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • MIDI cannot select a channel, responds to all
  • App does not launch when plugged into an audio interface
  • Sliders not functioning properly (combined left/right and up/down movement)
  • Takes value from where slider is touched, preventing adjustment

Requested features

8 requests
  • Option for sliders to behave like faders
  • Expandable harmonics section for precision
  • On-screen mod wheel and pitch bend
  • Option for different color schemes/themes
  • Ability to make certain sections bigger for finer control
Show 3 more
  • Mod wheel within on-screen keyboard or option to enable vertical/horizontal axis
  • Four outputs with circular spatialization
  • Option to double-tap to zero controls

In-app purchases

None

Photophore Synth

No in-app purchases

None

ID700

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Photophore Synth free?
Photophore Synth costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ID700 free?
ID700 costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Photophore Synth or ID700?
ID700 is rated higher. Photophore Synth averages 4.5 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while ID700 averages 4.8 from 130 ratings.
Do Photophore Synth or ID700 have ads?
Neither Photophore Synth nor ID700 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photophore Synth or ID700?
Photophore Synth ships an update every 2 months, and ID700 monthly. Most recently, Photophore Synth was updated on November 1, 2026 and ID700 on November 3, 2026.

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