Cherry Audio Year Three Collection

Important Note: Voltage Modular is required in order to use this product.

Cherry Audio Year Three Collection for Voltage Modular assembles all of Cherry Audio’s killer “high-end” Cherry Audio/MRB brand modules from Voltage Modular’s third year including VM900 Collection, VM2500 Collection and Synthesizer Expander Module Bundle, at huge savings over the individual purchase prices.

VM900 Collection (for Voltage Modular)

With the sound, look, and feel that started it all, the Cherry Audio/MRB VM900 Collection delivers the audio and visual experience of the legendary 1960s and 1970s-era Moog 900-series modules with spine-tingling impact and accuracy. Every detail has been expertly reproduced, for a virtual window into the halcyon days of early analog synthesis. Award-winning synth designer Mark Barton’s (MRB) proprietary DSP coding reproduces each and every sonic nuance with unprecedented accuracy.

The VM900-series designs remain true to the originals and have not been altered or updated to reflect modern trends. Panel layouts and operation have been preserved in order to present a one-to-one early analog experience like no other. From oscillator drift to warm mixer overdrive to painstakingly reproduced panel art, it’s all there. And with 27 modules, the Cherry Audio/MRB VM900 Collection represents all of the commonly produced 900-series modules, including the early 901-style and later 921-style oscillators, both in single and “ABBB” grouped module versions.

The coveted 904 ladder filter is also included in lowpass and highpass versions as well as an “ABC” combo version with the 904C Coupler module for endless filter curve flavours. The famous CP3 Mixer includes both early and later circuit styles for vintage-correct overdrive or purer tones. Cherry Audio also included a unique Keyboard/VCO Interface module that allows three-voice chordal “paraphonic” operation and three highly-adjustable independent glides.

A classic modular system couldn’t possibly be complete without the 960-series sequencer. Originally used by Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Kraftwerk, this is the eight-stage step sequencer that set the standard, and Cherry Audio replicated it exactly (along with the accompanying 962 Sequential Switch module). Actually, Cherry Audio added one extra feature – a 1/12 V quantized output for each sequence row, which greatly simplifies the creation of chromatic melodies.

Perhaps the star of the show is the VM1630 Frequency Shifter. Notoriously difficult to properly emulate in software and hardware, Mark Barton’s advanced DSP replicates every nuance of this incredible-sounding module. From subtle vibrato, to wild phaser-like tones, to ring modulation-style alien swoops and metallic clangs, the VM1630 absolutely nails the jaw-dropping sound of this rare and desirable classic.

The Cherry Audio/MRB VM900 Collection is simply a “must-have” module set for all purveyors of vintage analog synthesis. It’s a no-brainer for existing Voltage Modular users, with no operational limitations. The Cherry Audio/MRB VM900 Collection for Voltage Modular includes all 27 modules, plus hundreds of presets and variations.

VM2500 Collection (for Voltage Modular)

Cherry Audio and MRB are thrilled to announce the release of the VM2500 Collection, an incredible set of 21 modules for the Voltage Modular virtual modular synthesizer platform that painstakingly recreate the coveted, and incredibly rare, vintage ARP 2500 modular synthesizer.

An Early Innovator

Tonus Systems was founded in 1968 by engineer and businessman Alan R. Pearlman, with the “ARP” brand taken from his initials. At the time, Moog was the only other company producing voltage-controller analog synthesizers. Using cutting-edge space-race technology, Pearlman set out to improve upon existing Moog designs with the release of the massive 2500 series modular synths in 1970.

Because of their inherent temperature sensitivity, the tuning stability of early Moog oscillators wasn’t especially good. ARP was able to greatly increase tuning stability by encasing the oscillator modules in blocks of epoxy (with the added bonus of concealing the design from competitors and making servicing next to impossible). ARP also sought to eliminate the maze of panel-concealing patch cables inherent to Moog modulars. They accomplished this via a “matrix-patching” system – all module control and audio connections were internally connected to numerous twenty-position (!) slide switches above and below the single row of modules. Though the matrix switch system succeeded in eliminating cable-clutter, it was subject to crosstalk issues as the number of interconnected module signals increased, as well as additional issues as the switch contact surfaces wore out.

In its day, 2500 was conceived as an innovative, price-is-no-object technological tour-de-force. Its designers used the very best components available to them, including high-fidelity op-amps for superior sound quality, cutting-edge logic chips for the sequencer modules, and more. As a result, 2500 remains one of the fattest, punchiest analog synths ever made, but as a result of its sky-high price, only about 100 were produced during its roughly ten-year production run.

A Rarity Lives On

Cherry Audio and MRB have collaborated to deliver the 2500’s unique module features, stunning sound quality, and overall user experience to the Voltage Modular platform. All 18 modules originally produced for the ARP 2500 system have been recreated in perfect detail, plus a couple that were planned but never produced (including a full-function oscilloscope and a spring reverb) and a mixer module that never existed, but should have! Cherry Audio eliminated the matrix-switch I/O scheme and replaced all connections with standard CV jacks, and added bi-polar CV attenuators to all modulation inputs for full compatibility with all Voltage Modular modules. But most importantly, the tremendous analog sound and unique features of the original modules have been retained in their entirety, with a few small tweaks to improve the practicality of these 50-year-old designs.

The recreation of the 2500 modules was a team effort, combining Cherry Audio’s extensive design experience with award-winning synth designer Mark Barton’s (MRB) DSP coding sorcery. The result is a virtual time machine of fat, impactful early electronic music history for the ears!

An Incredibly Affordable Legend

It has been estimated that there are roughly 50 functional ARP 2500 instruments remaining in the world, and these currently trade in the six-figure area (if you can ever find one for sale). The Cherry Audio/MRB VM2500 Collection for Voltage Modular includes all 21 modules, plus hundreds of presets and variations.

Synthesizer Expander Module Bundle (for Voltage Modular)

Cherry Audio is thrilled to announce the release of the Synthesizer Expander Module Bundle for Voltage Modular, which includes both the Synthesizer Expander Module and the Poly Synthesizer Expander Module, along with 50 presets.

These modules meticulously emulate the immense sound of the classic Oberheim Synthesizer Expander Module, aka the “SEM.” Originally released in 1974, the keyboardless, monophonic SEM module was intended as a companion to the Oberheim DS-2, one of the earliest digital sequencers. Soon thereafter, Oberheim realized they could interface a digitally scanned keyboard, mount the whole mess in a big box, and create polyphonic synthesizers, beginning with the Two Voice, followed by the Four Voice, and finally the beastly Eight Voice.

Though it was a relatively simple monosynth, the SEM sounded fantastic, and had a tone quality very different than the common fuzzy, fat Moog sound, thanks to its 12 dB/oct state-variable filter. With lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and notch modes, this flexible filter was the star of the show.

Cherry Audio has carefully modeled every detail of the original SEM module, while adding new features, including a noise source and a square-wave LFO option. Cherry Audio precisely recreated the SEM’s unique filter experience, courtesy of a detailed emulation created by award-winning synth designer Mark Barton (MRB). Cherry Audio also added an extensive complement of patch points for full Voltage Modular integration. Finally, the Poly Synthesizer Expander Module makes analog rock-and-roll dreams come true with a full sixteen voices of vintage polysynth madness!