Computer Music

Cherry Audio Voltage Modular

Get your Eurorack-style fix in software with this colourful new plugin

- cherryaudi­o.com

California­n developers Cherry Audio have released Voltage Modular, their new software modular synthesis platform for Mac and PC. Working as a plugin instrument or effect in VST, AU and AAX formats, as well as standalone, this visually rich sound-design environmen­t aims to “address the shortcomin­gs of other virtual modular synth systems”.

Obviously styled after the enduringly in-vogue Eurorack hardware modular format, Voltage Modular uses drag-and-drop for cable routing and module arrangemen­t, and animated visuals to indicate signal flow along cables. There’s no limit to the number of modules a patch can contain, and all processing is performed at the level of individual samples using 64-bit double precision maths for “fantastic sounding audio-rate frequency and amplitude modulation, oscillator sync, insane delay feedback, and more”.

Voltage Modular ships with a total of 84 modules (69 in the Voltage Core bundle and 15 in the bundled Misfit Audio Electro Drums pack) – which includes oscillator­s and percussion generators, filters, effects, modulators, MIDI processors, a maths module and CV converters – and the built-in shopfront enables access to many more via in-app purchase. The idea is for other developers to be able to build and sell their own modules using Cherry Audio’s Module Designer app.

Currently, the list of third-party contributo­rs comprises just Misfit Audio and PSP Audioware, but with PSP’s contributi­on including various modules from their awesome N2O multieffec­ts plugin, the store looks to be off to a good start. A sizeable library of fully-realised preset patches is also included, giving newcomers to modular synthesis plenty of starting points. Voltage Modular certainly looks the part, and we’ll find out whether or not the sound is equally impressive in our forthcomin­g review. You can buy the base Voltage Modular Core + Electro Drums for $200, with individual modules ranging in price from $10-50, and three PSP bundles available for $120, $175 and $295.

 ??  ?? If the 84 included modules aren’t enough, more are available to buy right from within Voltage Modular
If the 84 included modules aren’t enough, more are available to buy right from within Voltage Modular

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