AudioKit has launched Synth One J6, a new free synth app for iPhone and iPad, inspired by classic analog hardware and powered by machine learning.
If you’ve used any of AudioKit’s previous iOS instruments (like King Of FM or Retro Piano), you’ll know they lean heavily on sample-based engines with an array of synth-style controls. It’s a combination of sample playback and synth-like programming that makes them perfect for beginners.
J6 continues that tradition but refreshes things with a completely reworked synthesis engine, a new control layout, and a cool analog feel. You’ll get some decent Juno and Jupiter-like sounds on your iPad, minus the price tag.
I’ve used several AudioKit synths in the past and always appreciated how lightweight and easy they are. They’re great for exploring synth sound design without diving into deep menus and needing to know much about synthesis, really.
While I’ve never been blown away by the tone or presets of previous releases, they’re solid tools to sketch out ideas or add color to a mobile setup. With J6, though, there’s a noticeable step up in sound quality and usability.
This isn’t just another taster freebie with intentional limitations. Synth One J6 is fully unlocked, and there are no in-app purchases, no ads, and no feature restrictions.
Synth One J6 is a complete synth with over 400 presets, a full modulation matrix (three LFOs with 60+ destinations), dual touchpads for live FX control, and classic effects like analog-style chorus, reverb, delay, and tape saturation.
The sound engine was trained on recordings of iconic analog synths like the Juno-106 and Jupiter-8. Using ethical AI, the developers captured the characteristics that make those instruments breathe—things like oscillator drift, tuning imperfections, and the warmth of vintage circuits.
The result is a synth that doesn’t just imitate analog through samples. The developers promise that there’s more going on under the hood and that it’s supposed to mimic all the inconsistencies of vintage analog hardware.
The user interface sticks to the one-slider-per-function approach, making it beginner-friendly while still offering enough depth for serious sound design. There’s a built-in sequencer, classic-style arpeggiator, and even a retro-inspired step sequencer for pattern creation. You can also record directly within the app and export your creations.
Synth One J6 works as a standalone app or as an AUv3 plugin inside GarageBand, Logic, AUM, Cubasis, and other compatible hosts on iOS. It supports MIDI input, Bluetooth and USB controllers, and full MIDI Learn mapping.
You can download AudioKit Synth One J6 for free from the App Store. It’s available for iPhone and iPad with AUv3 plugin support built in.
Download: Synth One J6 (App Store)
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Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
