Cherry Audio - Eight Voice

Eight Voice is Cherry Audio's emulation of the Oberheim Eight Voice, a huge polysynth built from eight independent dual-oscillator modules, for anyone after big brassy poly sounds, wide pads and the slightly unruly movement of a pre-microprocessor analogue poly.

The architecture

The original was really eight monosynths in a box, each with two oscillators and Oberheim's state-variable multimode filter, and each set up by hand. That's where the sound comes from and also why it was a pig to programme. Cherry Audio keeps the eight separate modules but adds Voice Link, which ties the modules' controls together so you can set up one voice and have the rest follow, or break them apart for deliberately uneven, detuned stacks. Focus buttons zoom in on any section, and the keyboard assign modes let you split and layer modules across the keyboard.

The sound

The filter modelling is by Mark Barton (MRB), and it shows. It has that open, slightly hollow Oberheim character, and because every module can sit a touch differently, chords breathe in a way a single-engine poly rarely does. Brass stabs cut through a busy mix, pads are wide and warm, and with voices spread across the stereo field it sounds properly expensive. An eight-step mini sequencer, an extra LFO, mod delay and reverb round it off. It isn't the quickest synth to tweak from scratch, even with Voice Link, but the 330-plus presets get you a long way.

Features

• Eight independent dual-oscillator voice modules
• Oberheim-style multimode filter modelled by Mark Barton (MRB)
• Voice Link controls for grouping module settings
• Flexible mono and poly keyboard assign modes with independent key ranges
• Two poly assign buses for stacked patches
• Additional LFO with six waveforms and tempo sync
• Eight-step mini sequencer with quantiser and tempo sync
• Reverb and mod delay with tempo sync
• Focus buttons for instant UI enlargement
• Over 330 presets
• Full MIDI control and DAW automation

System requirements

• Version: 1.4.0
• Mac: macOS 10.13 or later, native on Apple Silicon. AU, VST2, VST3, AAX and standalone (64-bit)
• Windows: Windows 7 or later, including Windows 11. VST2, VST3, AAX and standalone (64-bit)
• Quad-core CPU and 8GB RAM recommended
• Internet connection needed for activation

SOUND7 is an authorised Cherry Audio reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email. See How to Activate Your Cherry Audio Plugins.

Demo