SynthStation App Reviews

What I supposed to do because, you guys dont even have an upgrade so do I get a refund ?

This is actually a pretty good sounding synth if you love the Akai sound. I played on an 80s Akai AX-60 for years, and I can get a lot of similar sounds out of this. But there are a lot of great DAWs on the iPad now, and it would be nice to be able to record to them, rather than the horrible sequencer built into SynthStation. Unfortunately, it doesnt even work with GarageBand. Audiobus compatibility would be nice. It does crash if you have a lot of other apps open. The interface is a little confusing, but one you get the hang of it, its quite usable. I love the bouncy ball chaos pads. Update please. :)

Who would have thought that when it came to the iOS platform Akai Professional would have been so..... Un- professional ?

App is still broken: you have to turn on location services for it to even start, but then it can only play sound via the 1/8" stereo headphone output. Unfortunately the app seems to be abandonware at this point in time - Akai hasnt updated it in years in spite of the annoying problems and 1-star reviews. It needs to be fixed to start up without crashing, to play audio through the iPad speaker, and to support AudioBus/ACP/inter-app Audio and iOS 7. The synth engine also needs work - it exhibits annoying aliasing at high pitches.

I bought this when it first came out and it was like $15 or $20. I always thought it was garbage...now Im positive

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 works 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.

Id like to get my money back, but I dont know how to do that. Even I cant open app, same time it closing! P.S. It ask me put at least 1 star. For what?!

Got the app a couple of years ago with my Akai synth station 25 and iPhone 4 worked great, got iPhone 5 and had a few problems which I worked out happy days are here again. Then I had not used the app in a couple months went to use it and it wont load just immediately crashes! Well maybe its my phone so try my iPad Air and does the same thing. So is this thing dead in the water or is there any hope Akai or Apple will find the problem. Thank God I have real synths and keyboards that dont have to be updated every 5 minutes!!!!!!

Love this app, takes a little to figure out but you get jammin quick. Love the authentic sounding drum kits and the pads and the editable synthesizers. A little tricky to make sense of it all at first but worth it to learn. Can make cool beat ideas in no time. Cool app sometimes crashes but its been good since I updated it.

These reviews are negative and hurtful, this is still a great app today, i had no problems using it on my iPad Air 2

why this app that hasn’t been supported in 4 years is still on the app store puzzles me, its utter crap.

Nice

Hi, I just purchased this app and it crashes during operation. Please give me a solution or obviously Ill need a refund:) Thank you

I need a update cant hear this app on the iPad speakers just in the head phones. This a great app akai please dont give up on it. I paid for it and Im feeling cheated I cant use it. Your a big company its just app that needs a few updates with the new iOS 9.3.1 system I love my SynthStation please dont give up on it I love it. Your company is so big you can do this with your eyes closed every product you make is great I have all your apps. Please allow me to keep using the SynthStation in its beautiful glory this app is a blessing from God how ever created it dont give up on it.