SynthStation App Reviews

Once is installed i launch the app then i close and everitime i relaunch it crash!!! Updte need!!

These reviews are negative and hurtful, this is still a great app today, i had no problems using it on my iPad Air 2. However it could us ea big update for the new iOS software. please dont give up on this app

UPDATE 3: No update in years. Does not run on iOS versions beyond the last version of iOS 6. I never did get to try it on iPad. Now that I have an iPad Pro, Synth Station isnt functional on the OS that it runs. UPDATE 2: Version 3 on iPhone is absolutely the SAME as version 2 on the iPhone. Still a ridiculously ineffective GUI. These are professionals?? There are first time programmers and self-funded freeware authors who can devise interfaces for their iPhone software that work very well. Why cant Akai get it together?? [UPDATED Review: App LOSES one star because Akai "updated" it with almost no value. They did not change the GUI at all (except you can "audition" patches in the patch selector page). This is absurd. WTH, Akai??] This app is clearly intended to be used primarily with the SynthStation25 controller keyboard. The app is pretty much an advertising medium for the controllers as it even shows you a full-screen advert on app start. Standalone, the app is clumsy (at best). In fact, its rather frustrating). Editing the synths is beyond clumsy. you are forewarned. About auditioning: There are no controls to go to "next" or "previous" presets/patches on the Performance screen. To change patches/presets, you must: 1. tap open the main menu 2. tap select sounds screen 3. tap select a different preset 4. tap open main menu again 5. tap select the performance screen again. Thats FIVE actions, at different positions on the screen. All that, just to go to the next preset. Simple "<" & ">" buttons on the performance page would solve this!! Theres room for such controls but theyre not available. Clearly Akai had this app designed to operate with the keyboard controllers dedicated physical buttons. Its obvious that it wasnt meant to be a standalone app. Without the controller, simple actions are five times the effort in the on-screen GUI. For $2 (was on sale) this was an ok purchase, I guess [UPDATE: actually, no, its not ok, because I never use it due to the horribly clumsy GUI]. The synth on this thing is quite powerful & i can imagine using it standalone just for sounds... But programming custom patches without having the keyboard present to audition changes [is utterly impossible and] I wont try. (There are six separate pages of controls & no way to audition your changes unless you *exit* the editing environment & re-enter the performance screen. Theres no easy way to switch from page to page in the synth editing area, either) i definitely wouldnt have paid more than $2 for this thing. [since I dont use it, I wouldnt have paid $2 knowing how stupidly designed it is] After using it with the clumsy GUI, I can tell you that I wouldnt buy it a second time. I do have my eyes on the keyboard to see how it does in the market [but I dont need another controller & wont buy Akais just to make this app sensible!] If the app is [totally] redesigned, it might be worth buying the keyboard (does it power the phone when hooked up through USB? very little info about the device is available). Still, even WITH the keyboard, I dont feel the design of the user interface is acceptable. There are far better workstation GUIs out there. This one requires far too many steps, touches, repeated menu actions, etc to do simple things that ought be much more accessible. Its not ugly looking, but its not pretty either. More importantly, it could be *far* better at use of screen real-estate. Buttons are too small, sliders are too big & better overall design would allow for more important controls to be on each screen (to cut down on repeat actions). Really, Akai needs to redo this. It needs a *complete redesign* of the GUI.

Should of read the review before purchasing. It used it once and that it it wont open again. It crash every time after that.

First it was crashing all the time...now it would open but makes no sound. I enjoyed it while it lasted...could use an update, Bluetooth sync, 3/4 time... And actually make sound. Too bad, I used to like akai...now I expect no updates or response to customer concerns.

This is actually one of the fattest sounding, authentic sounding synths in the App Store. It really has that Akai kind of sound, the filters especially. I used to have an Akai AX60 that was one of my favorite vintage synthesizers, and this can get some very similar sounds. But, unfortunately it hasnt been updated since 2012. It works if its the only app running, but with too many other apps going it will crash on opening it. It doesnt have some of the features that have become standard in synth apps in recent years, such as AudioBus, InterApp Audio, Midi Learn (for external controllers) etc. Its a shame, because it sounds great. I keep coming back to it with all the other synth apps Ive bought. Id say its definitely worth the low price point they have it at now. I dont know if the software company that developed it went bust or what, but I hope someday, somehow, Akai picks it back up again.

I have an iPad 4 and this is the only application that I have purchased, that crashes like this. I have cleared my app cache, restarted my iPad, nothing works for me. Every time that I click on this application in an attempt to open it, it immediately proceeds to crash and bring me right back to my home screen where I started. When I first purchased the app, I recall actually being able to get into the app and use it. So, I do not know what the developer has done to angle the app this poorly. But, I know they appear to ave completely abandoned the application, as there has not been an update in many months. I would highly suggest to pass up buying this app, or at least hold off for now and check back later to see if they have come back and fixed all of these huge problems. I will never understand a developer who is willing to take someones hard earned money, and not do everything in their power to keep the purchased application up and running. This is what happens when the world no longer has morals and ethics, and a sense of honor. Besides, I believe that you would do a lot better with other Synth apps such as Nave, Alchemy, Thor, et cetera. They cost more but at least they usually are maintained and updated.

How come it wont save my patch settings, for example: a edited a preset and then saved it, but it wont save my filter swatting. I want it to be the 2 pole filter, but it keeps saving it on high pass filter setting, even after I change it to 2 pole and save. Very frustrating and not really worth $1.99. Its sad really...

Solid, with lots of knobs, faders and cool stuff to play with. The overhaul last hear made a world of difference. Now...audiobus!!

Please update this app for the iphone5 And add audio bus or come out with a better app

I have not been able to use this app in months because the app wont open. I got excited when I saw the massive update for the iPad version but it is literally unusable. It just crashes and closes before it loads. It never, ever works. Ever. Deleted.

This app is wonderful...when it works and doesnt crash. Problem is...it crashes all the time!!! I dont understand why AKAI cant fix this issue as I have their other app iMPC and that one works like a dream!!! Nothing frustrates me more than technology that doesnt work properly...

Dont buy it. It does not work.

This would be a cool app if it wasnt so buggy, but as is it is completely unusable. Most of the time it crashes before even opening.

After buying, installing, and using once...it just stopped opening. The splash screen comes up, and then just goes away. What a waste.

So close to being awesome. It falls short in one KEY area...when I tried to save a new project or a sequence....it just wouldnt accept my changes. So basically you are unable to save what youve done. Fix that and its perfect. Other than that, this is super fun. And productive for knocking out ideas.

Can I get a refund. Force closes immediately

Wont even open with iPad mini :(

There are about 50 better synths to get on the App Store than this, and it is NOT needed to use your synth station keyboard, no matter what the packaging says. Get midibridge and you can run any synth app with them.

Heres what I mean. The program is like a started for someone trying to get their feet wet. But the keyboard is great with GarageBand. The transport buttons dont work but the pads work with the drum sounds. And being able the play the piano with the sustain peddle is wonderful. The people at Akia need to think harder about the program. It would make it woth having.