Cherry Audio - Rhodes Chroma

Rhodes Chroma by Cherry Audio recreates the Rhodes Chroma of 1982, an ambitious analogue polysynth designed by the team at ARP, for rich pads, expressive leads and deeply programmable analogue sound design. It's now officially branded in collaboration with Rhodes Music.

The architecture

The Chroma was years ahead: 16 voices with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch, and 16 preconfigured signal paths, from simple oscillator-filter-amp chains to sync, filter FM, ring mod and serial or parallel filter routings. Its modulation system was close to modular in flexibility. Cherry Audio replicates all of it with clear menus and displays, and adds the Chroma Expander as a second complete synth for layering or splitting.

The sound

Big, warm and very flexible, with a polished character that sits somewhere between American and Japanese polys of the era. Velocity and poly aftertouch make it properly expressive. Hardware owners can import SysEx banks directly. With 700 presets, including the original 250 factory sounds, there's a lot to explore.

Features

• 16 voices with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch
• 16 configurable signal paths including sync, filter FM and ring mod
• Full Chroma modulation system
• Chroma Expander for layer and split modes
• Distortion, phaser, flanger/chorus, delay and reverb, plus EQ and limiter
• SysEx import from Chroma and Expander hardware
• 700 presets, including the 250 original factory presets

System requirements

• Version: 1.1.3
• 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