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Best iOS Digital Synths - Suggestions Please
Hi Peeps
I have some great sounding virtual analog synths on my ipad now but i want to balance this with one or two great digital synths (i know all ios synths are digital of course but, you know what i mean - digital in sound/ structure e.g. additive or wavetable etc).
What i most look for in synths:
First class in terms of sound quality (as with model 15 or Zeeon on the VA side).
Good midi implementation.
Friendly and enjoyable to use UI.
AU would be a very happy bonus but actually they way i use ios synths is to record my jams to audio quickly, and then use in my projects, so this is not so much of an issue for me right now.
Any advice or suggestions much appreciated.
Comments
I thought I had a Deja Vu (or that there was a glitch in the matrix) but no, this was discussed just the other day, you might find something of use in here: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/417165
There was another thread about this recently, but I will sum up my favs here too:
I will only list AU synths.
PhaseMaker: FM synth that I find easy to use and makes sounds that cut nicely through an analog mix of synths.
PPG synths: great range of synths IMO. Yes they can be head scratching at times, but if you ever remember the PPG synths of the 80’s you will love their sound! WaveMapper is my favourite for ease of use and just making great sounds easily.
IceGear Synths: LaPlace etc. They are a range of 4 quirky modelling synths that are just that little different from the pack. Buy them all!
Addictive Pro: simply lush to ear piercing sound. Takes time to go in-depth, or just simply get the app to make some sounds for you then tweak. It can be overbearing in a mix unless you reign it in!
Phosphor 2: can create so much. I don’t find it the easiest here, but it can make sounds that are as lovely as PhaseMaker or it can make sounds that will freighter away aliens!
KASPAR: while some may say this is not strictly a digital synth, I think of it as similar to some of the digital sounding synths of the 90’s. Nice for built up complex sounds.
Ok lots of other digital synths in iOS land, but I simply don’t use synths that are not AU anymore in my work flow except for some occasional Korg apps.
I'll suppose you want to cover some of the area that VAs simply can't. Since you seem to like Zeeon and Model 15, which is perfectly understandable i can kinda guess what you're going for.
The first App that came to my mind reading your priorities was FM4, a 4-operator FM synth with the best UI of all FM-synths. Sounds absolutely vintage, filthy, organic. Obviously great for basses, bells, especially sequences/arpeggios.
The second was Waldorf Nave, a comprehensive Wavetable Synth with a great UI that can ranges from metallic/bright, to lush, noisy atmospheric textures.
Also worth considering is SynthScaper, which uses a very interesting form of Sample Synthesis for a unique sound. A very deep synth for pads and textures, layered sounds, where you can import your own samples to create new sounds.
I do wish they were AUv3, but these are too good to dismiss. I think they are so good, that they might even warrant a dedicated iPad!
Thanks man, i'll check the thread!
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm really interested in the PPG synths but the UI looks a bit... unintuitive perhaps. Still drawn by the quality of the sounds i've heard though.
Phosphor 2 is a definite contender for me. It sounds unlike any on the synths i've got right now.
Nave?
Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I've been thinking about FM4 and Nave as possibly fitting the bill for quality digital synths so good to get some feedback on these. Was actually considering Soundscaper for something a bit different.
Glad i wasn't too far off with my suggestions! I like your priorities, and FM4 just has the best UI for an FM synth, because you can tweak everything at the same time, no menus, no pages, just sliders and dials, maybe a little like the Akemis Castle Eurorack module.
It does of course sound totally different than Nave, which is very awesome too. It's so good that Waldorf is building a kinda Hardware Version now, called Quantum for like 3000.- € bucks. A crazy journey, from an iPad App, to a VST, to now a Hardware Monster with analogue filters.
SynthScaper is a weird anomaly though, it sounds incredibly good and i don't know why. It has this Lo-fi character that i love.
When we're talking about digital synths, you have to consider iM1 and iWavestation as well. It doesn't get any more vintage digital. These aren't just romplers, they're monsters.
I just realized i forgot an obvious mention: Thor. While also a little outdated, it deserves a mention for a perfect UI, and all kind of digital oscillators, wavetable, FM, PM, etc.
Some other digital monsters not mentioned above: Virsyn stuff is typically classed as digital sounding, and their microTERA, and Cube synth are amazing examples of this. No other iOS synth can achieve sounds like these two.
TF7 is another FM option to add to FM4 mentioned above.
Z3ta+ is a top tier all-arounder with very detailed and thick digital sounds and textures.
Another option is EGSY01- digital and slightly out of control
Cheers man. Yeah i've not yet dug into the Virsyn stuff but Cube looks like it probably ticks a lot of the boxes for me. I wonder how it is to operate in practice.. I think my lack of familiarity/ being unsure about UI on a lot of the digital synths has kept me back from delving more.
Cube and microTERA are more accessible than they appear, and both ship with about 400 presets each, Ive had much joy reverse engineering included sounds. Both are huge favorites and I found they really reward the delving. Both can make sounds that will take your head off
The first iteration of their Addictive synth is also a first tier gem, and that GUI is pretty easy to get into for fooling around.