IVCS3 App Reviews

Amazing tool and very fun. I can't believe nobody else has reviewed this app yet. It easily makes the top five best synth apps for iOS. I have most of them. This is easily as interesting as anything moog is putting out if not more so. There is a lot of variety and programmability and its well worth the price in my opinion. I have not yet encountered any bugs but will report if I do.

Yamaha MD-BT01. Still can't imagine, how do i can use it with Yamaha MD-BT01, effortless and with the full support of Core MIDI.

Won’t open. I just got a iPad Pro 12.5 and the app won’t open then crashes over and over ☹️ why?

So powerful. This app is an intense recreation of a truly classic synth. Be prepared to spend some time with the manual and even a few video tutorials though, it's difficult to master. Personally I'm only starting to scratch the surface, but every moment I spent with it is worth it.

Affordable. The closest you’ll get to a real one for way cheaper .

No longer works!. After several updates it has become impossible to select any presets. All purchases are now inaccessible!!! Just blank pages when navigating to a set pf presets. Same problem iOS 16 & 17.

Makes me happy inside.... I am a sucker for emulations of classic synths and this one is quite historical and fun. Plus, it may be one of the more useful recreations I have come across. I really enjoy having it in my arsenal. Just playing around with it for a couple of days has produced some interesting results. Even if I never use it in a song, it will be worth the price just from the fun of exploring this little beast.

Faithful and Better. I used a VCS-3 for a few years and owned an AKS (more portable version of the VCS-3) for over 30 years. I used the AKS professionally for about 18 of those years. So I have a pretty good handle on what this app should be. I am happy to say, iVCS-3 is stunning in it's faithfulness to the original. The sound quality is 99% identical to the original. (You can even set the spring reverb to "glow" when you rattle your iPad!!) And the ranges and response of the various functions are almost exactly identical to the original. The biggest difference is that while my beloved AKS gradually decayed, iVCS-3 will not be subject to the laws of thermodynamics. It will work just as well 30 years from now as it does today. The added functionality of the dual sampler, additional effects and the editable note values of the sequencer extend well beyond the hardware version. The VCS-3 was both deep and simple at the same time. This software version does not disappoint. My only criticism is that the "back pannel" where the samplers, effects and sequencer reside is somewhat confusing. But it's not impossible to master. VERY well done indeed.

Very, very good. I suppose I can be a little hyperbolic sometimes, but I do believe this is the absolute best purchase I've made in the synth app realm. As the owner of a modern hardware modular, I have always longed for a selection of the legendary machines of the past, but there aren't many around, and when they do pop up, only people like Trent Reznor can afford them. So to be presented with this app for a whopping $15, and have it be such a loving recreation of the very unique sound of this psychotic instrument, is really a gift. Shockingly legit-sounding. Behaves like I'd expect an original to. So now can you make me a Synthi 100 for the Mac? :)

Incredible!!!. It’s going on 2 years of use and this is still my favorite synth app.

Having never read the user manual.... This is still some of the best sounding, most incredible fun I've had with exploring sound (on iOS or otherwise)! The version 2 features are impressive. As a Brian Eno fan, this app helps me understand much more about how the EMS synths were used in the '70s. Brilliant!

So unique. I love this app not only does it have all the components of the VCS; it’s beautifully laid out. There are not many synths that allow external inputs and user supplied samples including the ability to record them directly, as nd sequencer. I wish it were also available as a native mac app. I’d buy it in a heartbeat!

Full AUv3!. My favorite iOS synth just got even better - thanks Ape for migrating this to full AUv3! Awesome!!

Unbelievable!!!. Amazing sound quality! I have been programming for hours on this and just listening to the sound. I could live inside this synth! My iPad will only need one synth from now on.... The iVCS3. Thank you guys so much for your labor of love, so that I could finally experience THEE monophonic classic!

Thank you!!!. This is still one of the best ios music apps. I just had to write a review to give props to Apesoft for adding AUv3 support and pinch zoom in v3. Thank you!

Love it!. Please make available on all Apple Silicon. Would LOVE to use this on a desktop or laptop!

...And Now For Something Completely Different. No problem with the update here (Air 2). Many make the claim that their synth app is different from the rest, but in this case, it is most assuredly true! This thing is raunchy! I mean that in a good way... It feels and sounds like a vintage hardware synth and makes no apology for the kind of chaos that entails. If you want wild, "out there" sounds, this is the synth app for you.

Stunningly good app. This app was a long time in the making, but has delivered. This is a synth that can create sounds like no other. While it does include some great presets (think Pink Floyd and the Who), the real joy is in the discovery of your own sounds.

Not for the feint of heart, but worth it!. This is not your typical iOS synth. I cannot testify to its accuracy because I have never used an original VCS. However, what this does is extraordinary and unique on the iPad. It will provide hours, if not days/weeks/months, of sonic exploration. The visual experience is truly exceptional as well. I love the knobs for oscillator pitch! If you're looking for something that seems to have a will of its own, but can be coaxed into something that you like, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with what this has to offer. It's quite an experience!

One of my favorites. I like it .the interface is cool . it has a uniqueness from other apps .

Modern take on a classic. Having grown up and Arps and Moogs this machine is in a class by itself. The add on mods and other modern enhancements takes it to a whole new level. The JEC PF sounds are a blast.

Keeps getting better.. ApeSoft is keeps giving back to this already get Synth App. Thank You.

Amazing Modular Synth App. iVCS3 is an amazing modular synth app. Its detailed graphics, the unbelievable power of its sound, and the additional features added with the latest update makes this synth app a incredibly powerful sound generator. You will not believe you are using an iPad. Absolutely recommended to anyone who loves synths.

Best in my app collection!!. It’s been a go to since day one!! Thank you so much!

If you like Legendary Synths, get this one.. I was born at the dawn of the CMI and digital synths, and also the prices for the real instruments are prohibitive. It is nice that we can get the feel of tweaking and building sounds on these virtual machines. Just in the first couple of minutes, I was able to make some weird sounds that changed along as time progressed. Getting to add a new, or old, palette of sounds is always good for the synth enthusiast.

Stellar. Absolutely Fantastic.

IAP are stupid. This app was already expensive, the $4 IAP for the "essential upgrade" is just saying I bought something incomplete and now I better pay for more. No thanks.

Every sound you could ever think of, and many you can't!!. What an amazing app. I've had it for I think a year now and it just keeps getting better. There is simply no sound that can't be made with this unique, old school modular synth with the kitchen sink thrown in. Not sure what they are charging, but way back I think I paid $6.99. I purchased all the sound packs and downloaded the free as well, which is quite generous of the factory. The additional presets provide's hours of working out my own. Simply, nothing else is quite like this app. It is very easy to attach via midi adapter and Bluetooth so I appreciate that as well! Great job, no matter what the price is up to now!

Great synth, but the matrix.... I like this synth but I don’t like the matrix, so I hardly ever use it. You can zoom in on the matrix but still it’s difficult to see where you need to put the pins. I always trace them by hovering with my finger. Basically the farther the hole from the labels, the harder it is to see which two items it connects. Don’t get me wrong, the holes are big enough for the finger, so when you tap on the one you intend to put the pin into, there’s no problem there, it’s precise. But to visually find where you need to put the pin is a challenge and always takes too long. Looking up and left a few times, and ultimately ending up having to hoover my finger over the holes to visualize the signal flow. It’s a bad design, humans need visual queues. Take Factory (by Sugarbytes) for example, it's got about the same overall size of its matrix but it’s so clear to use. I look, and then tap to place the circle, without having to figure out which hole connects what. Glancing at the matrix, to figure out what’s going on in the patch... is not something I’m able to do in iCVS3, and that’s pretty much kills all the joy of using this synth for me. I get that it’s looks were modeled after hardware but that doesn’t change my experience using this app on (10.5”) iPad. Using this matrix is frustrating because there’s too much visual information to process/interpret for my mind, and there are no visual queues to help. Perhaps if a different “skin” for the matrix was available as an option, it would make things clearer. If you look at the screenshot of the matrix, try to visualize the connections. If you find it effortless or not a big deal, then I’m sure you’ll love this app as the rest of it is actually very well made.

Feels Like Vintage Hardware. IVCS3 really provides the sound and experience of playing a real vintage hardware synth. One of the best software emulations of an old analogue synth I have found on any platform. Sound quality is just fantastic and the possibilities of sound manipulation feel almost limitless. It is even unpredictable like old analogue hardware. Would love to see a polyphonic version but understand the adherence to the monophonic gem it emulates. Basses, leads and atmospheres are flat out stellar.

Awesomely Fun and Useful!. I've only been using the app for a day, and already I'm finding it an integral addition to my workflow. Well-built and fun to use. I can't speak to the quality of the emulation of the original hardware, since I've never had the opportunity to use one, but this app is spectacular on its own, and I really enjoy working sounds out of it. Visually it looks spot-on. It took me a bit to figure it out, but it comes with a decent manual to help you figure out all the knobs and such.

Wonderful VCS 3 port to iPad - out of the ballpark!!!. This is a labor of love recreating the VCS3 synth used on many tracks over time. Its sonic possibilities are endless and it provides a wealth of aural soundscapes to be discovered. One of the best vintage synth recreations apps to hit the iPad. Great job! Well worth the cost. Will take some learning if you are used to presets, but the investment in time to do so will pay off. The addition of LFO modulation potential to almost every parameter expands the sound creation possibilities well beyond the orignial hardware. The add-on IAPs are fantastic additions too. Highly recommended!

This is a classic app that keeps on giving-growing!. From the start I was excited to have access to such an incredibly rare synthesizer experience as the hardware version of this model is next to impossible to find even in a synth Mueseum! But the roster of artist who have used this is as long and thick as an old phone book! The icing on the cake is apesoft and especially James Edward Cosby continuing to support and build upon this synth with updates and presets that customize and help any sound designer and synth musicians from newbie analog programmers to the geniuses that understand the deep complexity of the real wires and patches of CV and modulation “electronic goodies” that make this such a special secret weapon to any kit! Roger Waters was the artist famous for saying “there are lots of electronic goodies made available for us to be bothered with....and we will be bothered!” From the documentary “Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii” when Roger was positively inspired creatively when he says ‘bothered’ in a most noble way ....with parts of the film showcasing Roger programming and playing this very synth in what would become “The Darkside of the Moon” album of all time! When I saw this strange synth I never realized how rare it was but since technology has made it possible with programming and development by apesoft and James Edward Cosby (Jim Cosby)! This is after many years of surprise and intrigue oh and much joy in sound design playing this instrument that I finally wrote a good review in honor of yet another addition in “captivity” to blow my mind yet again! So this review is well past due and much deserved! Bravo! Bravo! And Bravo, indeed!

A labor of love. ...and a laboratory of love. I probably won't ever own the real thing, and I've always had GAS for one. Especially watching the likes of Brian Eno play it! Exceptional sound, and yes very odd. If you just want quick electronic dance sounds ermm...this is Not your synth. Surely those sounds can be coaxed, but this is a wild sonic monster that is best used to unleash mayhem and to make grown men cry. iVCS3 has to be one of - if not THE best sounding synths I've heard on iOs. In fact I bought a sonic couture version of this synth and while very nice I much preferred this experience and dare I say sound. ----UPDATE---- The update is outstanding in the most SICK way possible. I don't even use the word SICK as a slang word but it's an appropriate description of the sound. This synth creates other worldly sounds. Use it in the forefront or even in the background to transform your tracks into another dimension. When you hear the real thing and this lovingly made official emulation the sound is more than comparable. Of course I still lust after the real thing, but who is to say this isn't real when sound is the most important result.

Wonderful, with issues. First, I love the sound of this synth! It is nostalgic while remaining useful. That said, I have some issues using it as an AUv3 plugin in Cubasis 2. No presets show up and there are no controls beyond a scant few. All I am left with is a never ending tone that can be selected by Cubasis’ keyboard. I hope there is a fix for this or one is in the works. As of now, I cannot use it as an AUv3 which was what I purchased it for. If this gets fixed, instant 5 star synth.

Fun. I have spent quite some time with this app and it continues to amaze me. Worth the price!

Great Wayback machine. The thing I love most about this synth is that it takes me back in time, when most “electronic” music was made with a tape recorder and a razor blade for editing. The VCS3 arose about the same time as the original minimoog and the ARP2600. All were out of reach for financial reasons at that time. Now I have two out of three to experiment with sounds as I see fit. The iVCS3 has been the best source for the arcane sounds I like the most.

Best of the best. This modular synth is amazing. I have all ipad synths and nave from Waldorf was my fav one before i got this :) Like someone said, its worth buying an ipad for this. While i cant get a buchla this will bring me some comfort . Thank you so much for bringing this to the ipad.

Fantastic recreation of a classic. I had the good fortune of using an original vcs3, well actually a synthi, in college and have long since looked for one to add to my studio. I tried other soft synth emulations and none came close to recreating that sound. Within minutes of getting this I was able to start dialing in all of those great sounds from my past uses with the real hardware. It may not be for the faint of heart but nothing else sound anything like it. You can route external audio through the unit just like the hardware which is great. This version also adds many new useful features that I always wanted and some I never knew I needed. I think the essential mods are a must buy. So consider that when you get it. They do seem to continue to support the software. They recently announced a new 2.0 version that is due in the coming months which I am excited about. I am vey rarely impressed with software recreations of analog synths. This may be my my first time to actually be completely content with one. I even bought a new ipad and sound card to go along with it.

Every nun needs a Synthi. Holy wow. This is a gorgeous emulator of a weird and wonderful synthesizer. I discovered this while browsing through the Trunk Records online catalogue, and now it’s my favorite app by a lot. Made with love by and for music nerds.

Favorite synth I own (I own them all...). Truly is my favorite iOS synth, with the exception that the UI is super confusing. I know its a faithful recreation of the synth its modeled after, but I’d still like to see a few “modern” improvements to the UI/UX. Overall tho a 5 star synth for what the amazing sounds it can make. Highly recommend!

Quit the pretension and fix the interface. Said all that needs saying

Worth the cost of an iPad!. Wow! I almost don't know where to start. This emulation of the VCS3 is absolutely incredible! The sounds it can make are fantastic, and you really do get the feeling you are controlling a real analogue synthesizer. If you are even remotely interested in synthesis, get this! Buy an iPad if you don't have one, but get this app.

Excellent synth with tons of detail. You can tell right off that iVCS3 is a labor of love by people who are passionate about the VCS3. It portrays the original in detail as well as emulates it. This app has depth and usability features far beyond what you would expect from an initial release. Excellent!

A must have!. Have always wanted this since finding out it would be made available. Highly recommended! Thank you so much for bestowing this wonderful app upon our creativity. Kudos to the developers! :)

Incredible. So much fun and it sounds sooooo good.

Fantastic. This is a mind-blowingly interesting synth for anyone who loves the magical relationship between controls (knobs, switches, pinboard) and sounds. I've been using this app for more than a year, and it always functions great. The sounds one makes are unusual, surprising and sonically high quality. And I keep discovering new ways all its features can play off each other. Whenever I get bored of all the other music apps, I always come back to this one.

Stellar!. Being a lifelong pink floyd and Richard Wright fanatic,this is the closest most will come to obtaining an instrument that Richard used. The sound is amazing and it works great. Took years to write this review lol but well deserved!

Dope A F. Title says it all. Makes wanna mill some nice spruce sides to affix to my iPad. This really,to me, makes any and every reason to own iPads. Really sounds monstrous through some choice plug ins via AUM then into a good P A. Thanks for the killer app and let’s get going on the CS-80 emulator!

Magic. This app is a showcase of technical sound wizardry. There is so much going on with this synth it can be a bit overwhelming to program at first, but well worth the effort to learn. Welcome to the machine.

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Benchmark for emulation. This is a wonderful example of engineering software built for purpose - so many features to uncover in here, excellent integration to network and Bluetooth MIDI including fine 14-bit controllers, AUv3/DAW integration, Ableton, accelerometers, LFO automation on all parameters, audio sharing apps too! With so many vintage instruments out there still to be emulated and this should be the reference of how it’s done! Great work

Worth the wait. After much anticipation the iOS version of a classic arrives. This is a gem and it's clear to see that a lot of effort and love has gone into getting it right. Well done to ApeSoft and everyone involved in this app. Even though the original machine was released in the late 60's this version feels very 21st century. Current price for the hardware, if you can find one, is around $15k so this is a steal. A must for everyone's collection.

Totally unique and powerful. This is not your average synth, and that’s what makes it so valuable. It’s capable of really unusual sounds and fantastic variation. The fact that this is an app is really quite astounding. It is so powerful and versatile and the sound is fantastic. Highly recommended for those who are really adventurous in the sounds they want to create.

Sounds great and it's fun to explore. I don't have a VCS3 handy to compare the sounds, but this little app sounds great! Just modulating one osc with another has a liquid analog sound. You end up with unexpected patches. Love this.

Epic must have iOS synth. This is one of the best app purchases I've made. Incredible attention to detail from developer with its gorgeous replica interface and classic analog goodness this is the must have synth for iOS. I've taught myself the basics and more of modular synth patching and sound synthesis. I've got all the korg iOS apps. Moog ones. Thor and every soft synth you can name. This is my go to for sonic mayhem. A++++

Fantastic iOS synth. This is great. I've used a real VCS3 & this works exactly the same way + it has some very cool additional features that really add to the idea & scope of what the hardware unit could do. I'm not sure how much it actually sounds like the real thing. But it does sound great & easily generates the kind of sounds the original is famed for. A bit difficult to get your head around. Not as immediate as some iOS synths. But perseverance will reward. Fantastic stuff ;-)

Synth love. A breath of fresh air in the clinical world of iOS synth apps

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No end to the tweaking spectacularity in this beautiful beast!. A stunner, as many predicted. A beautiful looking behemoth, with incredible flexibility, sonic character and depth. You will not come close to realizing this thing's potential in a few minutes. A keeper, like ALL of the other apeSoft Apps, which are the Gold Standard for all sounds organic, occasionally gritty, obscure and wonderfully evolving. PIck one: iDensity, iPulsaret, or Stria. All of them, fantastic applications that you owe it to yourself to get if you want to discover some synth options that should help to finally dispel the widespread notion that iOS synths are a bunch of toys. This iVCS3 ain't no toy...

Thunderballs9000. Beautiful app! Great analogue emulation. Hugely flexible. Highly recommend.

Beautiful. One of the very best iOS music apps imo. I have a lot of them. This is one I will be able to appreciate for a long time. Really really great job. Thank you. 5 stars for sure. And....update...keeps getting better

Crash. Every time i try to load ivcs3 it crashes immediately…i paid a decent amount of money for this with all the packs. Is there a fix for this? It is an awesome sound generator, but it must work…

Divorce. Your wife won't be happy your not paying attention to her anymore.

A winner for what it is. If you want to dive deeply into sound making/creation/design/tweaking/obliterating then this guy is for you. You will learn what synth parameters can do. You could say it has a steep learning curve but not because it is badly designed. It's because there is so much that can be controlled.

Best app ever!. The interface on this would take a lifetime to master, but with 160 free starting points, it was easy to come up with happy accidents that were every bit as fun as pink floyd riffs, only without having to manually set up every switch, know, etc to geta sound going. My GOD this thing is SO FUN I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

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Holy Floyd. This emulation nails this vintage synthesizer. If you like early synthesizer work of classic rock bands of the early 70s, you will not be disappointed.

Honestly 1 of my top fav Synths. I love this thing. Amazingly well done. The code just works and it makes a big difference. It sounds incredible. So very different from anything else on iOS and its a legend in its own right too. In no particular order, my favorite synths are: iVCS3, iSEM, Sunrizer, ims20, Grain Science, Animoog.

Crashes in iOS 8 please fix. Yep. Crashes in iOS when going to the settings page. iPad Air. Also audiobus cannot be initiated - gives me an popup error . I have high hopes for this app! Please fix and I will raise my low rating!

IAP are stupid. This app was already expensive, the $4 IAP for the "essential upgrade" is just saying I bought something incomplete and now I better pay for more. No thanks.

Deep. This one gets me into scientist mode.

This thing is wild. Apparently this is a very accurate recreation of the VCS3. I've never heard one, so I can't speak to that. However, it does sound authentically 70s analog crazy. Nothing else like this out there. Moog Model 15 is also great, but lacks the insane West Coast vibe of this thing. The interface is great (even though I'm not usually a fan of this style of interface), and easy to navigate. It feels authentic when you're playing with this thing. What is particularly impressive is how they've modernized certain features, while keeping it old skool. So you can feed in external sounds and feed them into anything, and you even can use samples. And it just works. Obviously midi just works There are some oddnesses with this thing, but as far as I can tell these are authentic to the VCS3. Check out the videos on youtube to help with those (particularly to get the keyboard working, and to get the most out of it's capabilities. The essential EMS modifications are just that.

Awesome. It could possibly be my favorite iOS synth. Deep, flexible, sounds amazing. Perfect recreation of a classic!

Don't read just buy. It's that good

Great. Needs vertical orientation too.

Moves with the flow of your intuition. This gigantic volcano of noise is ALSO the example for ALL OTHER app makers. Why? Because they care about their users enough to make sure that as the touch device it lives on evolves ..so does their baby ..the beautiful VCS3! I love these guys! Please! Give more step by steps on how the sampler and such on the backside work on some thing like utube for us non manual kind of "I want to see how it's done first "people.many thanks christo

AWESOME. Get everyone of their apps... they are amazing!

Fun. I have spent quite some time with this app and it continues to amaze me. Worth the price!

Pretty Rad!. Takes you on a time trip... This thing rolls Philip K. Dick, Dr. Who, THX 1138, and other dystopian fantasies into an audio acid trip

Best in Class. This might be the best music app ever....!

Test. Cool app

More Patches Please!. A panel of more playable patches (maintaining the unique timbres possible with this device) would be an awesome addition to a wonderful simulation.

Simply amazing. This is an unbelievable recreation. Breathtaking!