SynthMaster Player vs Aparillo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Aparillo
This advanced FM synthesizer creates complex soundscapes, atmospheres, and a wide range of timbres for film, TV, and games. It features two interacting FM synths, integrated effects, and an intuitive 'Orbiter' for one-touch sound morphing. Seamlessly integrate with your mobile studio setup via MIDI and Audio Unit v3 support.
- 16-voice FM Synthesizer
- Complex sound design
- Integrated FX (Filter, Delay, Reverb, Spacializer)
- Orbiter for sound morphing
- Standalone & Audio Unit v3 support
- MIDI and Ableton Link integration
- iCloud Preset Sync
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The Cinematic Machine Aparillo is an advanced 16 voice FM synth tailored for complex sound structures , majestic motions, moving and evolving soundscapes and atmospheres that are perfect for film, TV or games. It‘s not limited to the conventional fm sounds but also delivers a huge range of styles from basses to brasses, pads to leads to even percussion. ••• SYNTH ••• It is based on two interacting FM Synthesizers capable of forming the most complex timbres. A clever arrangement of synthesis, wave shaping, filtering, FX and modulation unfolds into a serious sound design tool for epic sonic creation. Aparillo uses many parameters that can be modulated for individual adjustments PER voice. Each of the sixteen voices interact with almost two dozen targets in a variety of ways for a continuous transformation and to create endless rhythms and melodic progressions. ••• FX ••• The integrated effects include a free-signalflow Filter/Spacial Comb device, a polyphonic Auto Pan with multiple waveforms, the obligatory Delay, our finest Reverb algorithm, and a Sugar Bytes innovation, the Spacializer. This is a very special breed of delay based effect, which can work as a delay, reverb or tuned comb filter and can add room, plucked strings or even pinged percussion to your sound. ••• ORBITER ••• The superstar of Aparillo is the Orbiter, an instinctual "mass-controller" you move through Aparillo's endless sonic universes for one-touch sound morphing. That finally gives you unlimited control over new grounds of sound manipulation. Aparillo for iPad will seamlessly integrate with your mobile studio setup. We built in MIDI support (Virtual, Network, External, Bluetooth), Audio Unit v3 and Ableton Link. Syncing your presets to use them accross other devices couldn't be easier with iCloud. Enjoy Aparillo, the more you dig into it the more you fall in love with it! Features: • Standalone & Audio Unit v3 • FM Synthesizer with 16 Voices • Formant Shifting, Wave Folding & Shifting • Multi-Mode Filter with Spacializer • Orbiter for one-touch Sound Morphing • 500 handpicked Presets • Ableton Link Support • Full MIDI Support (Virtual, Network, External, Bluetooth), MIDI Learn & Host Automation • Preset iCloud Sync • Preset Share
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aparillo at 88% against SynthMaster Player's 52%. Aparillo also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (506 vs 55). SynthMaster Player's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, 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
Both are free to download. SynthMaster Player sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and Aparillo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Aparillo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aparillo has 506 ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of SynthMaster Player's written reviews are positive against 88% of Aparillo's.
SynthMaster Player ships an update every 3 months, Aparillo every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SynthMaster Player | Aparillo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (55 ratings) | 4.9 (506 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | 88.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 55 | 506 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 308 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KV331 Audio | Sugar Bytes GmbH |
Customer experience
SynthMaster Player
Aparillo
User reviews
SynthMaster Player
From 55 App Store ratingsWhat 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
Aparillo
From 506 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful sound design capabilities
- 👍 Intuitive and creative interface
- 🎨 Cinematic and otherworldly sounds
- 💡 Innovative orbit and spatial features
- 🔥 Excellent presets and sound quality
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Lack of clear documentation and tutorials
- 📱 UI not optimized for larger iPad screens
- 💰 Paid upgrade required for full functionality
Bugs and requests
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
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- More customization options
Aparillo
Reported bugs
2 issues- Saved patches not compatible across versions
- Orbiter parameters not accessible on latest iOS
Requested features
4 requests- More preset packs and sound libraries
- Improved MIDI and automation support
- Custom tuning and scale options
- Expanded keyboard and note range
In-app purchases
SynthMaster Player
- Historical Synth Giants Vol 1$1.99
- BigTone Signature Sounds Vol1$4.99
- MK Expansion 2$4.99
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- 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
Aparillo
- Aparillo Full Version$24.99
Questions
Is SynthMaster Player free?
Is Aparillo free?
Which has better reviews, SynthMaster Player or Aparillo?
Do SynthMaster Player or Aparillo have ads?
Which is updated more often, SynthMaster Player or Aparillo?
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