Synthstation App Reviews

I want to use this app. I even bought a 30pin to lighting converter to use it on my iPhone 5s. But even though capability for the app says IOS 4.3 and up, it totally doesn't work with my IOS 10.3. I have a cool keyboard and this a sweet rig but it's completely useless without a functioning app. Total waste of money and I feel deceived.

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 isn't 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 can't 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, it's 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. That's 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!! There's room for such controls but they're not available. Clearly Akai had this app designed to operate with the keyboard controller's dedicated physical buttons. It's obvious that it wasn't 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, it's 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 won't 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. There's no easy way to switch from page to page in the synth editing area, either) i definitely wouldn't have paid more than $2 for this thing. [since I don't use it, I wouldn't have paid $2 knowing how stupidly designed it is] After using it with the clumsy GUI, I can tell you that I wouldn't buy it a second time. I do have my eyes on the keyboard to see how it does in the market [but I don't need another controller & won't buy Akai's 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 don't 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. It's not ugly looking, but it's 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.

I'd like to get my money back, but I don't know how to do that. Even I can't open app, same time it closing! P.S. It ask me put at least 1 star. For what?!

Needs a new update and make compatible with Retronyms Tabletop.

So when I first downloaded the synth station app I used a mpk25 for controlling midi and everything was going smoothly until I recently updated to the actual synth station49 keyboard and when I did upgrade I lost all sound. Every other app works with their keyboard but the app meant for the keyboard. The whole keyboard turns on and controls all the functions of the app but with no audio these features become useless

Here's 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 don't 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.

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 won't load just immediately crashes! Well maybe it's 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 don't have to be updated every 5 minutes!!!!!!

Won't even open with iPad mini :(

Please upgrade its unusable as is

I contacted akai online tech support. The gentleman I had communication with blamed it on the Apple OS. That response suprised/puzzled me due to the fact akai built this app to run on the ipad mobile OS. I responded with this thought as a question and never heard back. I still own my AX-80 I bought brand new. I have had numerous akai products and have not had any problems. But this new attitude has changed my opinion of akai. I have since bought M-Audio and Arturia devices for my controller needs and have been very happy. Nothing shows unhappiness better than loss of sales.

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 hasn't been updated since 2012. It works if it's the only app running, but with too many other apps going it will crash on opening it. It doesn't 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. It's a shame, because it sounds great. I keep coming back to it with all the other synth apps I've bought. I'd say it's definitely worth the low price point they have it at now. I don't know if the software company that developed it went bust or what, but I hope someday, somehow, Akai picks it back up again.

This thing will not open. Money waisted and I have the latest iPad.

I finally re download my app again for the synth station and it reloaded.. Up and running and now let's see what I can do to make things happen.... I'm deeply sorry for my last comment being rude nasty but yea I should a had waited to see if there will be a up date on it or fix the bugs but yea it's all good and now I'm happy ...

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

I linked my 5th gen iPod via a cable adapter to the Synthstation 49, and it rocks using this excellent app! App also works with a 1st gen iPad on the Synthstation, very professional and excellent integration of software and hardware. Beautiful app! Bravo Akai!

Bugs bugs bugs, if you're using it on iOS7 or later, you're lucky if it works at all. Patch save doesn't work. Notes Hang. Audio inexplicably stops. The sequencing is painful. Akai has gone down the crapper since InMusic took them over. The synth still sounds nice to me, wasted potential.

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.

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

This app has never, Ever worked. Didn't work when I brought the overpriced keyboard that this was supposed to complement from Akai (distorted sound and constant crashing) last year, doesn't work at all now after the last OS update. Won't even start. There have been ZERO UPDATES in two years. What a crap way to treat your customers

I have an iPad Air. I'd like my money back if the app isn't updated ASAP. It crashes everytime I open it.

The app won't even load. I click on it and it shows the loading screen and then it crashes.

Nice

This app and the corresponding hardware are the reasons why I will never buy from Akai again.

I Love the Sound its amazing specially the Drums are incredible, I hate that it has not been updated for IOS11 so I had to buy an iPad 1 the very first one only to use with this app and Synthstation 49 keyboard which is also outstanding.

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

Paid for this to just be on the new iPhone and it don’t work. Wow.

Not able to work, thought it would be okay but it just crashes , spend your $2 elsewhere, I suggest somewhere where you won't be scammed.

Connected iPhone to computer and installed the software - program now works The program hiccoughs and glitches if you do too much at one time, but using this program off and on since '11 - I've learned to work with it Recommended as a sequencer and not with peripherals. With that in mind it's the best value for what you can get from it - you can sequence entire songs, and quite frankly - it has a very fat analogue sound that sounds cool

No updates.

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.

Abandon Much? Last update was in 2012. 2.0.1.2. Let that sink in...

Well... I have iPad 4 and i can not open it at all...?!? Can someone tell me what is it about...?

Abandon Much? Last update was in 2012. 2.0.1.2. Let that sink in...

Doesn't work on iOS 7, so no new phones, iPads, etc. akai should take the app down until they fix this.

When is Akai ever gonna fix this app?!?! It crashes constantly no matter how many times I delete and reinstall it. They have to know this is an issue for many users but do nothing to fix it. I am ready to delete it permanently and never look to their products ever again! So sad!!

What I supposed to do because, you guys don't even have an upgrade so do I get a refund ?

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

I'm giving this three stars for its fat analog sound.The interface its self REALLY NEEDS a face lift as does the sequencer grid .peace Christo

Yeah it's nice my dad bought it for me for Christmas but yeah... I CAN'T SAVE ANYTHING. ANYTHING AT ALL. And it's not like there's a save button right there and I'm having problems with the update. THERE JUST ISN'T A SAVE BUTTON. ANYWHERE. The only way to save it is to download it onto a Mac or PC but once you get out of the project it's hopeless. All the files that you worked hard on are WIPED. I hope they add a save button... Lol wait a minute I found it

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 hasn't 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.

Should of read the review before purchasing. It used it once and that it it won't open again. It crash every time after that.

I need a update can't hear this app on the iPad speakers just in the head phones. This a great app akai please don't give up on it. I paid for it and I'm feeling cheated I can't use it. Your a big company it's just app that needs a few updates with the new iOS 9.3.1 system I love my SynthStation please don't 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 it's beautiful glory this app is a blessing from God how ever created it don't give up on it.

Don't work

I like the app it's designed for producers like me .i would like to see another app like this ..more instruments.. More project storage space..say up to a 200 at least.. And more drum kits or at least where those like me can make , and store our own kits..other than that..it's a excellent buy..and keep it a iOS 4 app..that will make it even more excellent..we buy In to many things that don't work..but this does it more me..was just saying what if this could sample too..I would be in heaven...as a producer..I love the 49 for what it allows me to achieve ..

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

I just purchased this recently and have not been able to get it working once. It just crashes every single time! What the hell Akai!!!

I bought this like when it first came out about 2 years ago ($7) and nothing's changed. It's pretty much gotten worse in my perspective.

☝️⭐️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

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 it's been good since I updated it.