Support

Hi! I'm the developer of SpellSynth. If anything isn't working or you have an idea, the fastest way to reach me is by email.

Email: zhiii0x@gmail.com
Response time: usually within 2–3 working days.

Please include:

• Device model (iPhone 15, iPad Pro 13", etc.)
• iOS / iPadOS version
• SpellSynth version (Settings → SpellSynth → About, or from the App Store page)
• Steps to reproduce the issue

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SpellSynth work offline?
Yes. The app does not make any network requests. It works fully in airplane mode after install.

Does SpellSynth collect any data?
No. See the privacy policy — we collect nothing.

The voice for my custom word sounds different — why?
SpellSynth ships with 400+ pre-recorded words across 20+ themes, in a warm retro voice. For any word not in the built-in library, the app falls back to the iOS speech synthesiser so it still plays something. On-device only; no audio leaves your phone.

How do I use SpellSynth as an Audio Unit instrument?

• Install SpellSynth on an iPad (iPhone works too, but most AUv3 hosts ship on iPad).
• Open GarageBand (or Logic Pro, AUM, Loopy Pro, Cubasis, etc.) and create a new instrument track.
• Choose "External instrument" or "AUv3 Instrument" and pick SpellSynth from the list.
• Play notes on the keyboard — each MIDI note triggers a voice sample. Use the parameters in the AU UI to pitch, stretch, and warp the voice.

What MIDI features does the AUv3 support?

• MIDI Note On / Off; 16-bit velocity scales the envelope.
• Two triggering modes: Pitch Trigger (note shifts playback pitch relative to the user's transpose knob) and Letter Map (notes 60–85 play letters A–Z).
• MIDI pitch bend (±2 semitones).
• MIDI Learn: arm any of Pitch / Speed / Crush / Cutoff / Resonance, send a CC from your controller, done. The binding saves with your preset.
• Host tempo sync for the Stutter (1/4, 1/8, 1/16 note), or Free-running at 10 Hz.
• Panic CCs: 120 (All Sound Off), 121 (Reset Controllers), 123 (All Notes Off).

Does the AUv3 come with presets?
Yes — six factory presets: Default, Robot Voice, Tape Warp, Telephone, Tempo Stutter, and Classic 1978. You can save your own via your host's preset browser.

Can I type words inside the AUv3 plugin?
Yes — as of 1.0.5. The plugin has a LIBRARY / LETTERS mode switch. In Library mode, a text field takes any word and plays it back as a single retro sample from the built-in 500+ word library (unknown words gracefully fall back to spelling). A View list link opens the full library. In Letters mode, the yellow A–Z keypad is front and centre — tap a letter and hear it spoken, like the original toy.

The AUv3 plugin sounded an octave higher than the main app in 1.0.3 — is that fixed?
Yes, that was a bug. The bundled voice samples are 24 kHz but the plugin was reading them at the host's rate (typically 48 kHz), which shifted every sound up a full octave. 1.0.5 compensates for the sample-rate mismatch, so the plugin sounds at its intended pitch on any host.

Can I add my own word list?
Yes. The Mystery and Say It modes read from the built-in dictionary plus any custom words you add. Custom words persist locally on your device.

Why is my child seeing the word but not hearing anything?
Check that iPhone's ring/silent switch is not set to silent, and that the volume is turned up. Some iOS hosts mute app audio when another audio session is active — try restarting the app.

Do I need to create an account?
No. SpellSynth has no account system, no email signup, no login. You install it and play.

Is there an Android / Mac / Web version?
Not at the moment. SpellSynth is iOS / iPadOS only. It does run on Macs with Apple silicon via "Designed for iPad" mode.

Bug reports & feature requests

I read everything. Please write in — even small things are useful. If you've found a bug that blocks you from using the app, mark the subject line [bug] and I'll move faster on it.