It seems everytime I sync after adding the first visuals (5) the visual amounts double each time I sync, after 3 syncs I get 20 from an original 5.

Did you do what I suggested in this FAQ entry? Or are you still hand-editing the favorite visuals list?

Emplode no longer supports hand-editing of the favorite visuals list, you must erase it and start over again using the tool that's built into emplode beta 11 now.