The 11 best (mostly) synth emulation apps
The emulation of classic synths might be dominated by some key developers, but these companies have brilliantly brought back the vintage sounds of yesteryear so you can experience some amazing keyboard history…
01 MINIMOOG MODEL D $7.99 AU3/AB/IAA/AL | iPAD/iPHONE | 160+PRESETS, 4-VOICE, ARPEGGIATOR
One of the very first hardware synths of all time, the 1970 Moog Minimoog Model D, gets a fantastic emulation by the very company that made it in the first place. The wonders of tech add presets, polyphony, the ability to run it in any iOS DAWs (thanks to AU3 support, which the more expensive Arturia version lacks) and effects, plus you can add more presets via IAPs. A classic synth and future classic iOS app. moogmusic.com
02 ARTURIA IPROPHET £9.99 IAA/AB | iPAD/iPHONE | 380+PRESETS, N/S-VOICE
Arturia’s i-emulations have been out for a while but still do a great job of bringing back some classic sounds. Alongside the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey, the Prophet V is probably the other must-have – but hugely pricey – synth of days gone by. iProphet includes modern flourishes like a vector screen for mixing parameters, effects and a flexible and detailed modulation matrix area. It could do with AU3 support in the next update but at less than a tenner for some incredible vintage Prophet sounds, it’s well worth a punt. arturia.com
03 ARTURIA iSEM £9.99 AU/IAA/AB | iPAD | 500+PRESETS, 4- OR 8-VOICE, ARPEGGIATOR
Arturia’s second i-emulation in this roundup is of the classic Oberheim SEM, a much-loved 1974 synth as used by Jan Hammer, 808 State, Vince Clarke and Depeche Mode. iSEm is notable among all of Arturia’s iOS apps as being AU3-compatible so scores much higher than the rest on the Apple Store, reviewswise. But that’s not its only plus point. It sounds magnificent, has loads of modern twists including effects and chord modes, and is one of the best emulations that you’ll find on the iPad, simple as that. arturia.com
04 OMENIE MELLOTRONICS STREETLYTRON PRO $14.99 AB/IAA | iPAD/iPHONE | 90 TAPES, POLYPHONEY NOT STATED
OK, it’s not a synth but the Mellotron is still a legendary keyboard and this is “the most authentic Mellotronics experience”. It was developed with Streetly Electronics, the inventors of the original, and 65 of its 90 ‘tapes’ (presets if you like) come from the original machine. omenie.com
05 APESOFT iVCS3 $14.99 AUV3/ IAA | iPAD/iPHONE | N/S PRESETS, N/S POLYPHONY
iVCS3 is described as “the official EMS VCS3 emulator”, the original synth being a 1969 legend featuring a Battleship-style patch matrix with plug ‘n’ route pins. It was used by luminaries like Brian Eno (in Roxy Music), Pete Townshend, Pink Floyd and Delia Derbyshire (not to mention being present and correct in our studio at college). This is a completely faithful recreation with three oscs (including an LFO), a noise generator, ring mod, and switchable lowpass filter. There’s little in the way of modern additions although the iOS feel adds zoom and ease of use. Authentically analogue. apesoft.it
06 KORG ODYSSEi $29.99 AB/IAA | iPAD/iPHONE | 100 PRESETS, 2-VOICE
We could pretty much fill these two pages with Korg (or Arturia) apps if we wished but we’re limiting their number, just so we can include others (although that’s not to say the ones we don’t include are not worthy). Odyssei is, of course, a faithful recreation of the original screaming ARP Odyssey synth as made famous by the likes of Ultravox’s Billy Currie, and also recreated by Korg in just about every shape and size in hardware. It’s expensive for an app but just try getting hold of the original hardware. You also get effects and optional sounds to buy as IAPs. Get this app and Moog’s MiniMoog and you have two of the greatest synthesisers of all time within touching distance. korg.com
07 KORG iMS20 $29.99 AB/IAA | iPAD | N/S PRESETS, MONOPHONIC, DRUM MACHINE, SEQUENCER
We’ll return to their analogue synths with our next Korg choice, although this features a six-part drum machine, mixer, step sequencer, effects and even Korg KAOSS pad features thrown in. And while you’re at it, you can use the patch bay to learn a bit of modular synthesis too! And why not? Which takes away the real message here that iMS20 sounds incredible and utilises Korg’s Component Modeling Technology to the max in order to recreate the sound of the 1978 original in impeccable detail. korg.com
08 KORG iMONOPOLY $29.99 IAA,/AB | iPAD/iPHONE | 128 PRESETS, 4/8/32-VOICE, KAOSS PADS
You know the Korg score by now. It’s a recreation of an analogue classic – the last before we go digital (see below) – with all the features of the original plus some modern twists, in this case two multi-effects units, eight virtual patches and a KAOSS pad additions. This has a very fat sound thanks to its polyphony choices (massive and thick mono being an option) and some very comprehensive modulation possibilities make it one of the most flexible in Korg’s – actually anybody’s – synth arsenal. A cracker. korg.com
09 KORG iWAVESTATION $29.99 IAA,/AB | iPAD/iPHONE | 1000+ PRESETS, 32-VOICE, RANDOM SEQUENCE ENGINE
If you want a slice of 90s nostalgia updated, you could go for Korg’s marvellous iM1 recreation of the classic hardware synth [actually
released in 1988 – pedant Ed], but this has just that bit more power and flexibility for that full-on decades-old experience. By now you’ll realise you have to pay big-ish bucks for a Korg revival, but within the remodelled-for-touch-UI – including a new wave sequence view – you get an amazing 1000-odd sounds (1500 including the $4.99 IAP), 55 effects and a stunning amount of polyphony. Some say those 90s workstations did too much and filled up your mixes in an instant. Those people were absolutely right, although you’ll still fall (back) in love with them. korg.com
10 MOOG MODEL 15 $29.99 AUV3/AL/AB/IAA | iPAD/iPHONE | 160 PRESETS, 4-VOICE POLYPHONY
Model 15 not only recreates the legendary modular synth on an iPhone and iPad – complete with modules including the Moog 921– series oscillators, 904A Low Pass Filter and 907 Fixed Filter Bank – but also adds features like MIDI integration, external control and loop recording. As well as being an educational tool – you’ll learn a lot just by loading in presets – the patching system is well implemented, and of course it sounds amazing. Goodness knows what an original Moog Modular will set you back but even the relatively high (for an app) $30 is a bargain, not to mention the saving in weight. A must-have for modular heads. moogmusic.com
11 SYNCLAVIER GO! $19.99 AUV3/AL/AB/IAA | iPAD/iPHONE | 979 PRESETS, , MULTITIMBRAL (NOT IPHONE)
The original early-80s Synclavier was an FM/Additive synth with sampling capabilities that took the studio and music worlds by storm. Not only was its sound very much the stuff of genre-moulding but its price was almost as mythical, reaching well into six figures. Desktop users have been able to enjoy a recreation by Arturia for a while but this iOS version – developed with a DSP engine “re-engineered from the original hardware” – retains many of the classic features with added iOS usability. There are loads of on-board presets and you even get 16-part multitimbral playback on an iPad for full-on 80s tracks. synclavier.com