Aalto vs SynthMaster One

Aalto is a semi-modular software synthesizer by Madrona Labs, built around a patchable interface. Its complex oscillator offers FM, timbre, and waveshape controls, calculating sound dynamically rather than using static wavetables. Every voice has a built-in sequencer with independently controllable, patchable rate and offset. Voice modules include a lowpass gate with vactrol emulation and a patchable waveguide or delay whose feedback loop contains a waveshaper and peaking EQ. A state-variable filter provides simultaneous mixable outputs. Aalto runs on macOS and Windows as a plug-in: Mac provides VST and AU installers, while Windows provides VST. There is no standalone app. A free trial is available, but demo mode plays a reminder sound about every minute and disables patch saving. The listed Aalto license costs $99 as a one-time purchase. It permits installation on any number of computers, though simultaneous use requires one license per computer.

SynthMaster One is a wavetable software synthesizer for shaping and sequencing sounds. Its desktop version includes 1,250 factory presets, two oscillators, two sub oscillators, two filters, four ADSR envelopes, two LFOs, a 16-step arpeggiator/sequencer and 11 effect types per instance. Users can import wavetable files and extend the library by placing files in the SynthMaster One Waveforms folder. It supports Scala tuning files and drag-and-drop import of MIDI patterns into the arpeggiator. The maker says presets, waveforms, samples, favourites and MIDI programs can sync across machines and platforms. Desktop runs as a VST instrument on Windows and Mac, and as an Audio Unit instrument on Mac; Windows also has a standalone application. On iOS, AudioUnits V3 supports multiple instances in compatible DAWs, and the Files app can import and export presets, waveforms and scales on iOS 11 or later. The iOS version has 16-voice polyphony and 650 presets, compared with 32 voices and 1,250 presets on desktop. The iPhone-only app is free; the universal iOS app costs $9.99, paid once, and the desktop version costs $49, paid once.