AudioKit King of VHS: VCR synth is a new retro-inspired Lo-FI Synthesizer for iOS AUv3 with plenty of ready-to-use sounds.
Matthew Fecher from AudioKit Pro has been teasing the long-awaited SynthOne J6 app for some time now. The release date is now known: May 1st, 2025. Before that, AudioKit released something new and surprising.
AudioKit King of VHS: VCR synth is a new AUv3 Synthesizer focusing on retro Lo-Fi sounds.
AudioKit King of VHS: VCR synth
King of VHS: VCR Synth is the successor to the VHS synth app. The original app was bought by another company and released with a subscription, which angered people. AudioKit King of VHS: The VCR synth has been rebuilt and is available without a subscription.
According to AudioKit, they have re-engineered the UI and VCR effects and rewritten the app from scratch. Like the original app, it’s a standalone and AUv3 synth plugin that captures the sound of vintage synthesizers recorded through a VCR.
The dual engine uses a combination of virtual analog synthesis and sample playback. Each layer can host one PCM sample from the over 400 new samples (into 40 multi-sampled PCMs). and over 160+ multi-sampled PCM instruments, including 2500+ high-quality VCR/VHS recorded samples.
You can modify each layer with various controls, including level, tune, fine, and pan. Each layer also has a dedicated ADSR envelope.
Then, it features a multimode filter per layer with a linking option and cutoff and resonance controls. Three LFOs with advanced mod routings give you additional modulation capabilities. For example, you can modulate an LFO with another LFO or the sequencer.
On the dedicated VCR page, the Lo-Fi retro fun starts. It bundles a selection of effects that colorize the sounds with a distinct warm flavor: bit-crusher (Lo-Fi), VCR tape, multi-tap delay, reverb, heat (distortion), tremolo, phaser, and a harmonic filter with an ADSR envelope.
Further, it comes with a straightforward step sequencer with an adjustable rate, gate, and modulation option. VCR Synth ships with plenty of new sounds.
First Impression
I’m happy King of VHS: VCR synth is back as a new app without an unnecessary subscription. The app has many great-sounding retro sounds. Compared directly to other AudioKit apps, it’s the best sounding one, in my opinion.
AudioKit King of VHS: VCR synth is available now for an introductory price of $3,99 instead of $19,99. As a bonus, you’ll receive Brian Funk’s 80s VHS ($15) + VCR Wave OP-1 ($15) + new samples. It runs on iPhones and iPads in standalone and as an AUv3 plugin.
More information here: AppStore
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