Cherry Audio’s Polymode VST takes after the classic Moog Polymoog
Available now for just $29
Cherry Audio’s Polymode is a faithful software recreation of the Moog Polymoog. Touted to keep the architecture of the 70s polysynth, the VST also makes some notable improvements to the original.
Polymode offers 32 voices of polyphony, has a classic 24db/octave ladder filter and packs a Solina-style tri-chorus, plus ensemble, phaser, echo, and reverb effects.
The newly added modulation matrix lets you easily assign synth parameters to a number of sources, including two LFOs, VCF, amplifier envelopes, white and pink noise, and more. The synth also expands on the original’s resonator section (low, mid and high state-variable filters) by adding a 24 dB/oct mode and dedicated LFO.
The original Polymoog offered eight presets as jumping off points for sound design, Polymode ups this number to 150. Take a listen to the synth in action below:
The Moog Polymoog launched in 1975 during the salad days of polysynths. Although revolutionary for its time, the synth isn’t without criticism. With its use of divide-down sound generation – more commonly found on organ synths and string machines – the synth offered unlimited polyphony, though at the cost of more complex timbres Moog was known for.
Compared to synths that arrived slightly after it – such as the Sequential Prophet-5 and Yamaha CS-80 – it was considered shallow in programmability. Add to this, the hefty price tag of $5,295 that wasn’t easy to swallow.
But despite all this, the Polymoog was a success, with the likes of Gary Numan and Cat Stevens being some of its most famous adopters.
Cherry Audio’s Polymode Synthesizer is available for an intro price of $29 (usually $49).
Learn more at cherryaudio.com
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