Comparison

apeDelay vs SynthScaper

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

Head to head
About

apeDelay

This audio effect app transforms sound by converting it to the frequency domain for manipulation, then back to the time domain. It offers advanced spectral effects like blur, granulation, and filtering, with extensive control over delay lines and feedback.

Highlights
  • Spectral delay with up to 2048 lines
  • STFT analysis/re-synthesis
  • Spectral Blur, Granulate, Decimator, Freeze
  • Brick-wall filters
  • AudioUnit V3 (FX) and Inter-App Audio (FX) support
  • Audiobus (Full) and Ableton Link integration
  • Built-in Stereo Sampler
Features
Read full description

apeDelay - spectral Delay implements up to 2048 delay lines with feedback or up to 2048 Brick-wall filters. The algorithm is based on the STFT (i.e. Short Time Fourier Transform) analysis/re-synthesis. The audio signal is converted in abstract ‘Frequency Domain’, where is manipulated and transformed back again in ‘Time Domain’. You can draw the Time and Feedback shapes for both stereo channels. This is achieved from the multi sliders, who provide a great tool to manage the huge numbers of parameters. You can also benefit of more advanced spectral manipulations like the Spectral Blur, Granulate, Bins Decimator, Noise Gate, Spectral Freeze and Brick-wall filters. + AudioUnit V3 (FX) + Inter-App Audio (FX) + Audiobus (Full) + Ableton Link + Audio Interface support + Microphone input + Built In Stereo Sampler with varispeed and scrubbing + Control Manager LFO for all the Parameters + Midibus, Virtual Midi and Network: 14 bit NRPN controllers + Sample Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy + Snapshots Presets Morphing Pad + Post Fx: Stereo Delay, Amazing ClassicVerb Low/Hi Shelving and Dynamic Processor + etc...

About

SynthScaper

Create unique ambient soundscapes with a powerful synthesizer. Experiment with multi-layered oscillators, filters, and effects to generate everything from melodic instruments to abstract noises. Features a neural network for generating new presets and extensive MIDI/screen keyboard control.

Highlights
  • Multi-layered oscillators
  • Chains of filters and effects
  • Envelope generators and LFOs
  • Designer tool for preset generation
  • Flexible screen and MIDI keyboard control
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus 3 support
Features
Read full description

Synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between. The sound engine of SynthScaper has its own unique sounding differ from any other software synths. You can construct outstanding melodic pads or atonal soundscapes from different kind of built-in or downloaded samples by using all power of multi-layered oscillators, chains of filters and effects, envelope generators and low frequency oscillators. Or you can create your own sound scenes combining oscillators presets from build-in library. Or just use predefined scenes. Very flexible settings of each module give you a great opportunity for creating unique and colorful sounding from usual instruments or natural samples and adding automated changes and spatial effects for an endless variations. Different ways of assigning screen and MIDI keyboards to the oscillators provide very advanced features to control the sound. The on-screen keyboard is adapted to create special effects and varying the continuous textures and drones. The Designer tool uses the neural network to generates new presets based on already existing by adding some random variations and checking the result so that the new preset remains similar to the selected pattern. Key features: - Three independent oscillators. - Three layers for each oscillator. - Six voices for each layer. - Six envelope generators. - Six low frequency oscillators. - Arpeggiator / sequencer for each oscillator. - Designer tool for generate scenes and presets. - General processing of level, balance, LPF, HPF for each layer. - Three slots for filters and effects after each oscillator. - Twenty additional selectable filters and effects. - Spatial mixer with two different sound space. - Screen keyboard adapted for continuous textures and soundscapes. - Predefined set of keyboard scales and custom scales. - Full screen, double and split features for screen keyboard. - Options of screen keyboard for pitch, continuous, modify, velocity. - Supports for two virtual and two MIDI keyboards at the same time. - Flexible assigning keyboards and controls to the oscillators. - Two main effects controls can combine several parameters. - Uploading samples thru Dropbox, Web access, clipboard. - Auto and manual tuning of samples with frequency analyzer. - Set of predefined and ready-to-use scenes and presets. - Built-in library of samples of instruments, synths, noises, etc. - Possibility to pack and share scenes and samples as single file. - Supports loop points and note info in WAV files. - Detailed application description (built-in and PDF file). - Inter-App audio compatible (with transport and BPM controls). - Supports Audiobus 3 with "State Saving" and MIDI features. - Supports Ableton Link with start / stop sync. Requirements: Recommended at least iPhone 6 / iPad Mini 4 / iPad Air 2 and higher. You can find more details about SynthScaper on the website: http://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com Overview and demo video: Preview - http://youtu.be/qqeWdFVfBCg Preview - http://youtu.be/vyKX0ZfJ_n8 Sound design demo - http://youtu.be/oqCz7ALNhOM Presets demo - http://youtu.be/-pflmiFtHnc Presets demo - http://youtu.be/InWOcfHS6rA

Screenshots

apeDelay4 screens
SynthScaper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: apeDelay at $7.99 against SynthScaper's $14.99. SynthScaper's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (72 vs 17). On rating, review sentiment, 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

apeDelay costs $7.99 and SynthScaper $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for apeDelay against 4.6 for SynthScaper. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 72 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 87% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

apeDelay ships an update every 4 months, SynthScaper every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
apeDelay versus SynthScaper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterapeDelaySynthScaper
Price$7.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.6 (17 ratings)4.6 (72 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews — better86.8% of reviews
Number of ratings1772 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

apeDelay

All ratings17 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

SynthScaper

All ratings71 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive86.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative8.8%

Bugs and requests

apeDelay

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SynthScaper

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashing issue (resolved)
  • Laggy response to key touch
  • App doesn't stop in background
  • Clipping and digital distortion on iPad Pro
  • Modal dialogue boxes require multiple dives

Requested features

14 requests
  • AUv3 compatibility
  • Audio Unit support
  • Update or new version
  • MPE keyboard support
  • Export files to lite version
Show 9 more
  • UI color palette customization
  • Loop start/end point management
  • Pitch modulation (added in update)
  • More lighter sounds/textures
  • Ableton Link support
  • Extendable keyboard for performance
  • Spatial controller under voltage control
  • Recorder for manual movement
  • Easier interface

In-app purchases

None

apeDelay

No in-app purchases

None

SynthScaper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is apeDelay free?
apeDelay costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SynthScaper free?
SynthScaper costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, apeDelay or SynthScaper?
SynthScaper is rated higher. apeDelay averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while SynthScaper averages 4.6 from 72 ratings.
Do apeDelay or SynthScaper have ads?
Neither apeDelay nor SynthScaper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, apeDelay or SynthScaper?
apeDelay ships an update every 4 months, and SynthScaper every 2 months. Most recently, apeDelay was updated on October 21, 2026 and SynthScaper on October 26, 2026.

Other comparisons