Cherry Audio Releases GX-80 Synthesizer

[HunterKiller]

Exactly what we needed just after Arturia released their updated CS-80.

Does the Arturia have a way of simulating polyphonic aftertouch? This is the most compelling feature for me, the thing that set the CS-80 apart from other analogs.

This caught my eye as well. Very clever hack to get polyphonic response from channel pressure. I'm amazed no one has thought of this before.

I have a Hydrasynth Deluxe, so I don't need it, but still. It's so simple, but brilliant.

Thought of and implemented long ago in the ME-80.

[Arashi]

aftertouch mode "last" is something unique isn't it?

or is there any other synth that does this ?

The Arturia PolyBrute has a mode that only applies aftertouch to the highest note, so you can hold a chord with your left hand and play a lead with the right hand, and only use AT for the lead.

[Arashi]

A few pointers for people trying to figure out how to create or tweak presets:

The filter envelope is unusual. The cutoff slider sets the sustain level (that's why there's no S slider). If you want the filter to start below that point, you use the IL (initial level) slider to subtract from the cutoff. The AL (attack level) sets the envelope depth. The envelope applies to both filters (LPF and HPF). I think they used this style across the entire early CS lineup, because my CS-10 works like this too.

Levers (the weird sliders that tilt) are "backwards" — the value increases as you move it down. This mirrored how controls on organs worked. Most of the controls in the global section are levers. They're meant to be performance controls; on the real hardware, they have some nice resistance.

Some features have non-standard names. A lot of now-standard terminology hadn't been established yet.

• Velocity is in the "Touch Response" section under "Initial", and "After" means aftertouch, of course. I don't think either of those features existed on anything before the CS-80.
• Brilliance basically means filter cutoff. It's technically an additional amount of modulation added or subtracted from it. You can apply it with velocity or aftertouch (positive only), and control the global amount with the Brilliance lever in the global section (positive or negative).

Your sustain pedal might not work the way you expect. You have to enable the Sust(ain) button in the bottom left (the button should be tilted down…it's hard to describe, but the flat part should be at the bottom)…and it still might not do anything! You also have to increase the sustain slider, which sets the maximum sustain time (which is only 6 seconds; you can't sustain notes forever).

Keyboard tracking is more advanced and also applies to the amp. It's a global setting (the Keyb(oard) Control section), and has separate controls for how it affects low notes and high notes. Most synths have a single keyboard tracking knob. When the knob is at 0, there is no adjustment to the cutoff based on which key you play. As you turn it up, playing higher notes increases the cutoff. The CS-80 lets you set a positive or negative amount for each end of the keyboard, so you can control not only the amount but also the start/end values and even invert it so higher notes have lower cutoff values. You can also apply keyboard tracking to the amp (volume).

There's a lot more to learn on this strange, awesome beast, but maybe that will help a few people at least get started with it.

[Chris-S]

Voice drift seems to be static (random detune amount for each new note) instead of dynamic (variations over time).

I have no clue how the original CS80 behaved in this matter.

[WatchTheGuitar]

Voice drift seems to be static (random detune amount for each new note) instead of dynamic (variations over time).

I have no clue how the original CS80 behaved in this matter.

As it had VCOs and not DCOs I’d assume a little of both.

[dave dove]

Voice drift seems to be static (random detune amount for each new note) instead of dynamic (variations over time).

I have no clue how the original CS80 behaved in this matter.

lol
cs80 (i had a cs50) has a separate board for each voice - with loads of trim pots on the boards
as they get older - or if you move it - everything drifts: oscillators, filter response, envelopes etc.
getting 16 (cs80) boards exactly the same is difficult enough on a new one
my cs50 (4 boards) had a weird thump on one board could never tune out
as they play round robin you can get some lovely variations

[Sinisterbr]

You know, this synth does sound good. I think it's on the thin side, lacks some weight, but I understand this is purely a matter of personal taste.
However, such heavy CPU load can't be justified, especially when compared to OB-E.

[Erik_Lucas]

You know, this synth does sound good. I think it's on the thin side, lacks some weight, but I understand this is purely a matter of personal taste.
However, such heavy CPU load can't be justified, especially when compared to OB-E.

Precisely my take. Sounds great, but holy moly that CPU hit...

[sbj]

Your sustain pedal might not work the way you expect. You have to enable the Sust(ain) button in the bottom left (the button should be tilted down…it's hard to describe, but the flat part should be at the bottom)…and it still might not do anything! You also have to increase the sustain slider, which sets the maximum sustain time (which is only 6 seconds; you can't sustain notes forever).

Thanks for clarifying this. I wish Cherry audio would implement a normal sustain pedal behaviour in an update.

[hurricaneaudiolab]

Needs some optimization for sure. The audio coming out of my speakers doesn't sound like it would be the highest CPU synth I own. I mean it sounds good, but not blowing up a single thread good.

[zzz00m]

You know, this synth does sound good. I think it's on the thin side, lacks some weight, but I understand this is purely a matter of personal taste.
However, such heavy CPU load can't be justified, especially when compared to OB-E.

Precisely my take. Sounds great, but holy moly that CPU hit...

I noticed that CPU usage varies by patch. And oversampling quality makes a HUGE difference.

I can't run it at x4 at all. x1 is much lighter, around 30% for me. X2 sounds a bit better, but can run that only if it's the only plugin running.

[Chris-S]

I compared the BRASS1 panel preset between GX80 and ME80.
While ME80 sounds brassy, the GX80 does not sound like a brass at all.

Brass1 settings CS80 original vs. GX80:

brass1settings.png

[zammo]

Hows the cpu compared to Arturia CS-80 V? my old mac struggles with some Cherry Audio synths.

[wagtunes]

Hows the cpu compared to Arturia CS-80 V? my old mac struggles with some Cherry Audio synths.

I had to freeze all my tracks in order to use the Grand Strings patch. Some patches aren't too bad but some are brutal on my CPU. Arturia doesn't even come close to this much usage.

[zammo]

Hows the cpu compared to Arturia CS-80 V? my old mac struggles with some Cherry Audio synths.

I had to freeze all my tracks in order to use the Grand Strings patch. Some patches aren't too bad but some are brutal on my CPU. Arturia doesn't even come close to this much usage.

That was my worry, I guess i need a newer mac for these recent Cherry audio synths