Cherry Audio has launched the Synthesizer Expander Module plugin, a free emulation of the classic Oberheim® self-contained synthesizer module. This plugin is a recreation of the original module, which was released in 1974 and used by legendary artists such as Joe Zawinul, Steve Porcaro of Toto, Styx, and Jan Hammer.
The Synthesizer Expander Module was a keyboardless, mono module designed to accompany one of the earliest digital sequencers, the Oberheim DS-2. Oberheim later linked multiple Synthesizer Expander Modules to an early digitally scanned keyboard, creating some of the first polyphonic synthesizers. Despite its simplicity, the Synthesizer Expander Module was known for its unique tone quality, which was attributed to its 12 dB/oct state-variable filter. This filter, with lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and notch modes, was the highlight of the module. Cherry Audio has meticulously recreated this filter section and Phasor effect, with programming by award-winning synth designer Mark Barton (MRB).
Synthesizer Expander Module features:
- Ultra-accurate dual oscillators
- Multi-mode filter emulation by award-winning synth designer Mark Barton (MRB)
- Massive unison mode
- 100 presets for Basses, Leads, and Percussion
- Unique “Phasor” effect section emulating the vintage Oberheim stomp box, also replicated by Mark Barton
- Studio-quality Echo effect with tempo sync
- Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping (Preset and Global)
- Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
- Complete documentation available directly online from the instrument or in downloadable PDF format
- Highly optimized DSP for optimal performance
- User-adjustable oversampling control
- And it’s totally free
For those seeking more, Cherry Audio also offers Eight Voice, a polyphonic virtual synthesizer that emulates the sound of the Eight Voice, one of the world’s rarest and most desirable vintage instruments. The Synthesizer Expander Module is a standalone virtual instrument and plugin, not a module for Voltage Modular. For Voltage Modular, Cherry Audio/MRB offers the Voltage Modular Synthesizer Expander Module Bundle with extensive patch panels for modular flexibility, including the Poly Synthesizer Expander Module. The Synthesizer Expander Module is available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats.
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