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Cherry Audio Synth Stack 3 $299
Cherry Audio’s product line has exploded recently. Si Truss asks if Synth Stack can now rival the likes of the V Collection…
CONTACT WHO: Cherry Audio WEB: cherryaudio.comKEY FEATURES 16 virtual instrument plugins, including 15 self-contained instruments and Voltage Modular Core + Electro Drums. Formats: PC/Mac, VST/AU/AAX
US developers Cherry Audio first made waves releasing Voltage Modular back in 2018, but their rate of output in recent years has been eye-watering. In 2022 alone, they released seven plugins – not including the new batches of modules added to Voltage – bringing their catalogue up to a total of 19 products in less than five years. As a result, the company’s Synth Stack bundle has rapidly grown from a mere bulk-buy deal to a comprehensive package that looks like a legitimate rival to Arturia’s V Collection or Roland Cloud.
This latest Stack launches with 16 instruments, adding six since version 2 was released in late 2021. These are, broadly speaking, inspired by vintage hardware instruments, although some of them play the emulation game straighter than others.
Let’s start at the more conventional end of things. First up is Miniverse, which is Cherry’s take on the Minimoog Model D. Most electronic musicians will be familiar with the Minimoog design these days, thanks both to its influential role in the history of synth development and its status as one of the most commonly emulated instruments in both hardware and software. Cherry’s take both looks and sounds bang on the money, capturing the authentic essence of the classic hardware while adding some handy – if not groundbreaking – extras, such as 16 voices of polyphony, a virtual feedback loop and master limiter.