Cherry Audio have released Pentaphonic Synthesizer, available for $59.00.
Cherry Audio’s Pentaphonic is a virtual instrument that emulates the rare 1981 synthesizer originally created by Bob and Al Gleeman of Gleeman Instruments.
The original hardware was known for its five-voice polyphonic DCO architecture, innovative sequencing capabilities, and distinctive black or clear acrylic housing designs.
Cherry Audio has expanded upon the original concept by incorporating modern features such as increased voice count, enhanced LFOs, and improved filter flexibility.
The virtual instrument features three unique user interface themes and includes advanced modulation capabilities like pulse-width modulation, oscillator sync, and noise generation.
Performance expression is significantly boosted with the addition of velocity sensitivity, polyphonic aftertouch, and a 16-step parameter animator for deeper control.
The software comes equipped with a comprehensive effects chain containing 22 studio-quality effects and over 375 presets, including original factory patches.
Features include:
- Based on the early-80s Pentaphonic synthesizers by Gleeman Instruments that originally featured a five-voice polyphonic digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) synth engine.
- Three UI Themes inspired by the history of the Pentaphonic case: black, clear, and “Audities” clear, with click-and-drag opacity.
- Expanded voice options: monophonic mode with last/high settings and retrigger, Unison and Polyphonic voice options with 2 -16 voices.
- Three oscillators per voice based on the DCOs of the original, with the original stair-stepped waveforms for Complex 1, Complex 2, 3% Pulse, 12% Pulse, 50% Pulse, Ramp, Triangle, and Sine.
- Oscillator sync and pulse-width modulation added.
- A second LFO has been added, now offering the same stair-stepped waveform options (beyond just triangle) as the oscillators.
- LFOs can now be applied to oscillators, filter, and amp.
- Original fast/slow chorusing included.
- Velocity added to filter and amp.
- Keyboard pressure with bipolar amount trimmers that provide discrete expressive control for pressure/aftertouch: modulation rate; oscillator 2 sync; oscillator gain and pitch; filter cutoff, resonance, and modulation; and amp modulation and volume.
- The VCF now provides both 12dB 2-pole and the original 24dB 4-pole options, with polarity and key tracking.
- Assignable range for pitch bend and a dedicated mod stick control.
- Dynamic arpeggiator with four pattern modes – Arp, Leap, Order, Random – with swing, chance, and feel to add degrees of randomness to arpeggiated patterns.
- Syncable and transposable 16×4 pattern polyphonic step sequencer with Start, Stop, Auto Start, and humanize options, with accurate DAW clock and step synchronization.
- Parameter Animator, an additional per-layer sequencer that acts as a 16-step x 4-pattern parameter modulation source for cutoff, resonance, pitch modulation, and oscillator gain.
- 22 studio-quality effects for the Effects panel (up to five effects) with a chain that can be arranged, saved, and recalled: BBD Flanger, Compressor, DCO Chorus, Digital Delay, Digital Reverb, Distortion & EQ, Dual Delay, Dual Ensemble, Dual Phaser, Envelope Filter, Flanger & Chorus, Galactic Reverb, Lo-Fi, Lushverb, Panner, Pulser, Ring Modulator, Rotary Speaker, Seven Band EQ, Spring Reverb, Tape Echo, and Wide Phaser.
- Effects control tray for on/off, solo, bipolar modulator amount slider, and dry/wet mix for each effect. Global FX on/off, level, and stereo expand
- Over 375 presets in 14 categories, including the original 50 factory patches.
- Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions included
- User-adjustable oversampling control
- Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping (Preset and Global)
- Cherry Audio’s Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
Watch the intro video HERE.
Pentaphonic is available to PC and Mac users (VST2, VST3, AU, AAX and standalone).
For more information on Pentaphonic, click here:
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