Best iOS Synthesizer releases 2024 with AUv3 plugin support

The year is ending, and it’s time to crown the best iOS Synthesizer releases of 2024 in one article supported by the Patreon community.

Since its foundation, Synth Anatomy has significantly emphasized iOS/iPadOS app releases, particularly the synthesizers launched for the mobile platform. Apple’s mobile OS has developed impressively for music production, mainly thanks to the introduction of the Apple Silicon M processors and the AUv3 plugin format.

You can also see this in the Synthesizer releases of the last few years. They sound better, are more complex, and more exciting. If you compare the market 10 years ago with today, most current Synthesizer apps are undoubtedly on the same sound level as any VST.

This year, numerous new synthesizers for iOS or iPadOS have come onto the market. Although the number is slightly less than in previous years, many exciting ones have been added. A few major updates have also been very well received.

To give you an overview, here are Synth Anatomy’s best iOS Synthesizer releases of 2024. 

Best iOS Synthesizer Releases 2024

Even though the app market is continuously growing, reporting on it has become increasingly difficult as a medium. Coverage has changed with the discontinuation of the Apple Affiliate System in 2018. 

Thanks to the Synth Anatomy Patreon community, I have been able to continue reporting on it all these years. Thank you very much. Just as much thanks goes to the community that made this article possible.

I have compiled my 10 best iOS synthesizer releases of 2024 with AUv3 support for this article. The order in which the synthesizers appeared does not matter.

Baby Audio Atoms (iPhone/iPad)

In 2024, many synths appeared on the Apple AppStore, many of them iOS originals. However, it was also a year with many VST ports.

One of these is the Baby Audio Atoms. It’s a fascinating, experimental physical modeling Synthesizer initially released for macOS and Windows in February 2024. Nine months later, the developers published the iOS version. 

Atoms is an AUv3 synth powered by a mass-spring interaction physical modeling engine. Its unique feature is its engine, which can generate organic soundscapes, experimental FXs, and sounds you would never get with a classic analog-style synth.

At $29.99, Atoms is not a one-click, no-brainer iOS synth app. However, you get a high-quality, fascinating synth that is difficult to compare with other iOS synths.

Baby Audio Atoms (iPhone/iPad) is available on the Apple AppStore for $29,99.

4Pockets RingFX (iPhone/iPad/macOS) 

Let’s stick with physical modeling. This year, 4Pockets released the RingFX, another physical modeling synthesizer for iOS. 

RingsFX brings classic physical modeling synthesis to the iOS platform. It’s based on the famous open-source Mutable Instruments Rings. At its core is a resonator that can be excited or strummed in various ways: MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation.

In addition to its Mutable core, it offers two LFOs, four envelope generators, a matrix, and a global FX section. Compared to Baby Audio Atoms, the RingsFX is a synth that offers the classic, bread-and-butter physical modeling synths: organic drums, plucks, strings, etc. 

4 Pockets RingFX is available now on the Apple AppStore for $12,99. It runs on iPhones and iPads. As a big bonus, every purchase includes a macOS (Apple Silicon) version.

Alternative: If you own the Virsyn Tera Synthesizer, you can also check out the RingZ in-app purchase, which adds the Mutable Rings to the engine.

ToyBox Audio FM Zone (iPad)

The new app from ToyBox Audio was released late this year, but it was still in time for the best iOS Synthesizer release 2024 list. To be more precise, they released the FM Zone at the beginning of December.

FM Zone is a sophisticated FM Synthesizer with many hybrid elements. Its dual-layer engine combines FM synthesis with samples/transients.

On the other hand, the available algorithms break FM synthesis out of its traditional structure, offering the user virtual analog, additive, or physical modeling concepts in the chosen algorithm. Different filters from the East and West Coast fields are also available to shape the sounds even further.

Nine multi-segment envelopes round off the synth and provide tons of movement fun for the parameters. This is a very powerful iOS Synthesizer with an easy-to-use interface.  I’ve had a lot of fun with FM Zone on iOS.

ToyBox Audio FM Zone is available now for $9,99 on the Apple AppStore and runs only on iPads.

RTMS VAPolyWest (iPhone/iPad/macOS)

The Japanese developer RTMS (Ryo Togawa) was previously known for his virtual analog synthesizers. This year, however, he released two unique synths, VAPolyWest and VAPolyFM, which took a new direction.

VAPolyWest was one of the best iOS synthesizers released in 2024 because of its unique synthesis structure. The core consists of three distinct oscillators (continuously variable, mod oscillator, and complex OSC), allowing you to start either subtractive or Buchla-like. 

It also has a wave folder and two lowpass gates with three modes, giving you much flexibility. For additional creative fun, it hosts a step sequencer and envelopes designed for generative music.

I guess VAPolyWest hasn’t been a massive success for the developer because there hasn’t been much discussion about the synth. But the synth was able to convince me very much this year.

RTMS VAPolyWest is available now for $14,99 (now on holiday sale for $5,99) on the Apple AppStore. It runs on iPads, iPhones, and macOS (Apple Silicon).

Waldorf Microwave 1 (iPad)

The Waldorf Microwave 1 Synthesizer port should be included in the list. In August 2024, Waldorf released the macOS/Windows version, followed by the iOS version in October.

This is an authentic emulation of the legendary hybrid Waldorf microwave 1 Rack synthesizer from 1989. The iOS version offers the same functionality and engine as the computer counterpart. 

I was able to test both versions for a long time this year. Both sound excellent. If I had to choose between the two versions, I would choose the mobile version. I find programming with the touch display much more fun and intuitive than handling it with the mouse.

For me, the Waldorf microwave 1 app is a big highlight of 2024. 

Waldorf microwave 1 is available now for $24,99 on the Apple AppStore and runs only on iPads. 

Yonac Thereminator 2 (iPhone/iPad/macOS)

Making music on iOS isn’t a thing of the recent past. With iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches, you’ve been able to make music on the go for over 10 years. Thus, there are still many iOS synth relics in the Apple App Store—for example, the Yonac Thereminator from 2011. 

This year, Yonac gave the synth app a major makeover and replaced it with the Thereminator 2 Synthesizer.

Like the original v1 app, Thereminator 2 is a lovely touch-controlled virtual Theremin Synthesizer that is playable horizontally (pitch) and vertically (expression). 

Yonac has taken this opportunity to supercharge the app with new features, including an advanced analog-modeling engine, musical scales, MPE support, and more. However, the features have been expanded so that they don’t overload or completely change the app—a lovely app upgrade.

Yonac Thereminator 2 is available now for $7,99 (now for $3,99 during the holiday sale) on the Apple AppStore. It runs on iPads, iPhones, and macOS (Apple Silicon). 

Bram Bos Solderbox (iPhone/iPad/macOS)

The much-respected app developer Bram Bos (developer of the Hainbach granular app Fluss and others) also has a highlight in 2024.

Solderbox is the result of a collaboration between Bram and YouTuber/musician Jakob Haq. It’s a new Synthesizer, you guessed it.

It’s not a super traditional synth but a semi-modular Synth with bi-coast ideas inspired by Jakob’s hardware Eurorack DIY setup. The engine table includes two oscillators, various shapers, multimode filters, two LFOs, and more that are patchable using a patch matrix. 

To spice things up, it has a generative generative that is driven by a pulse sequencer with a built-in quantizer. Regarding features, it doesn’t compete with VCV Rack or other massive modular environments. It’s an excellent semi-modular Synthesizer with a focused feature set and great usability.

Bram Bos Solderbox is available now for $12,99 on the Apple AppStore. It runs on iPads, iPhones, and macOS (Apple Silicon). 

Audio Damage Quanta 2 (iPad)

The second VST port in my best iOS synthesizer releases 2024 list comes from Audio Damage. Two years ago, in August 2022, Audio Damage released Quanta 2, a major upgrade for its hands-on granular Synthesizer/sampler.

For a long time, it was unclear whether Quanta 2 would be released for iPads. After two years of waiting, Audio Damage released it for iPads last October.

Like the original Quanta app, Audio Damage Quanta 2 is characterized by its simple but versatile granular/VA engine and fast operation.

Load a sample and enjoy the granular process. For extra richness, activate the straightforward two-oscillator virtual analog engine. Quanta 2 is perfect for anyone exploring granular synthesis without delving too deeply.

Audio Damage Quanta 2 is a standalone app and  AUv3 plugin for iPads. It is available on the Apple AppStore for $19,99.

AudioKit NERD Synth A2X (iPhone/iPad)

Matthew Fecher and his company AudioKit Pro are closely linked to the international iOS community. With their help, the developers have released numerous iOS apps in recent years. 

In 2024, AudioKit Pro also unveiled a brand-new Synthesizer app called NERD Synth A2X. 

NERD Synth A2X is a Synthesizer based on the Nord Lead A1 but is not a 1:1 emulation. It has 64 voices with two multi-wave oscillators offering classic waves and 40+ modeled Nord Lead A1 waveforms, including the popular super waves.

The synth can be described as a one-stop point for ready-to-use modern sounds. NERD Synth A2X is ideal for iOS music producers who prefer to get sounds quickly without spending a long time tweaking many parameters. 

AudioKit Pro NERD Synth A2X is available now for $19,99 ($4,99 on holiday sale). It runs as a standalone app on iPhones and iPads and as an AUv3 plugin.

discoDSP Discovery AUv3 (iPad)

Lastly, another developer has dedicated himself to the Clavia Nord Lead synthesizers. This year, discoDSP ported its Discovery Synthesizer plugin (macOS/Windows) to iOS. 

This is the standard version of the Discovery Synthesizer, not the Pro version available for macOS or Windows. The app had some quirks at release but has been running more stable since numerous updates. 

discoDSP Discovery is an authentic emulation of the Clavia Nord Lead 2. It offers the same features as the original hardware, including the four layers and some extras. The emulation is so advanced that you can load hardware patches via the sysex import function.

With over 3,500 presets, the app provides musicians plenty of ready-to-use sounds to explore. You can also play with the original hardware sounds on this list. At $19.99, the Discovery Synthesizer sits in the higher-priced app section, but you get one of the best-sounding VA synths on iOS.

discoDSP Discovery is a standalone app and AUv3 plugin for iPads. It is available now on the Apple AppStore for $19,99.

Worth Mentioning Updates/Upgrades

These were my 10 best iOS synth releases for 2024. There were many others. Also worth mentioning are these updates/upgrades for existing iOS synths

• Korg Gadget v3, a free update with finally AUv3 support for the Gadgets
• On April 1st, 2024, Korg iM1 got AUv3 support. It was a big surprise and not an April joke.
• discoDSP released OB-Xd 3.5 for iOS with a significant sonic boost but as a new $19,99 app purchase. 
• Virsyn Tera Pro 2.1 update with the new RingZ in-app purchase that infuses the physical modeling synthesis of  Mutable Instruments Rings into the modular synth.

Overall, it was another prosperous iOS synthesizer year with many exciting releases. I hope 2025 will stay the same and the interest in the mobile platform will grow even more.

The Synth Anatomy Patreon supporters support this article and the year’s iOS news coverage. Thanks again for your continuous support.