Cherry Audio Releases GX-80 Synthesizer

[rsaintjohn]

https://youtu.be/5h-oki0UOFg

Cherry Audio is kicking off the 2022 holiday season with the release of GX-80, their visionary flagship synthesizer, over a year in the making. GX-80 is a transformative virtual instrument that combines the unparalleled sound and features of the fabled GX-1 “Dream Machine” and its renowned descendant the CS-80, to create a powerhouse hybrid. Featuring the carefully crafted and intensely circuit-modeled DSP designs of award-winning developer Mark Barton, Cherry Audio has replicated every subtlety of the classics to create the most authentic emulation of its kind.

GX-80 is not just another CS-80 emulation. GX-80 adeptly integrates the GX-1's distinctive feature set into the CS-80 architecture; most significantly, the massive dual-layer architecture that effectively made the GX-1 the equivalent of two CS-80s and then some. The GX-1's unique resonant highpassed pulse and resonant bandpassed sawtooth waves, octave-up triangle wave, and filter envelope inversion are incorporated, opening up a new universe of sonic experimentation. Most notably, GX-80 includes an expert reproduction of the legendary GX-1 filter, delivering exquisite timbres that even the mighty CS-80 cannot produce.

"With the GX-80, Cherry Audio have modeled and captured the nature of the GX-1 while bringing so much usability to it," praises Michael Whalen, the Emmy® Award-winning film and television composer, and international recording artist. "What's interesting is that by putting the GX-1 roar under the hood, their CS-80 emulation sounds so much more realistic. The CS-80 is quirky and too many companies have 'smoothed out' the sound of it in trying to capture its nature. On the GX-80, Cherry Audio have really brought out the raw nature of the synth engine while giving the user so much more control. Frankly, this is the instrument that Yamaha should have built."

A virtual reproduction of the CS-80 has long been the most popular request from Cherry Audio fans. The company began work in 2021 to make the dream a reality. DSP designer and developer Mark Barton's extensive research of the original CS-80 and its schematics led him back to the CS-80's predecessor, the indomitable GX-1. As a result, GX-80 combines all of the sonic characteristics of the originals with exceptional accuracy. When enhanced with GX-80's discrete layer volume and panning controls, the result is a colossal dual-layer voicing architecture, 16 polyphonic voices per layer, capable of sounding two different CS-80 style sounds simultaneously in a split or stacked layer mode.

But Cherry Audio didn't stop with the extraordinary sound, as the originals were also revered for their magnificent, expressive performance features. To provide the ultimate experience as close as possible to the original hardware, GX-80 adds a split keyboard mode and support for both polyphonic and monophonic aftertouch controllers. Further, Cherry Audio has added an innovative "last-note priority" mode for simulated poly aftertouch response with a monophonic channel aftertouch controller. With its dual-layer interface, over 1,000 stunning presets from expert sound designers, and integrated studio-quality effects, GX-80 is a singular effort worthy of the "flagship" label.

"I have used both the both the GX-1 and the CS-80 for many years, and they are both absolute monster synths that do not sound or perform like anything else," notes Vince Pupillo Jr, synth enthusiast and Associate Director of EMEAPP (Electronic Music Education Preservation Project). "GX-80 uncannily captures the essence of Yamaha’s polyphonic heyday in the mid-70s and the results are so powerful, expressive, and flexible. By adding so many great extra features while still staying faithful to the original hardware, Cherry Audio has untapped so much potential, essentially improving upon vintage perfection! GX-80 is a dream to play, record, and program."

At last count, only a dozen operating GX-1s have been accounted for, and used CS-80s are rarely listed for less than $60,000. The rarity and exorbitant cost of both instruments has made it impossible for musicians to experience these legendary instruments. That's why Cherry Audio is making its flagship GX-80 synthesizer available at an astoundingly low price that anyone can afford: only $59! GX-80 is also available as part of Cherry Audio's new and comprehensive Synth Stack 3 collection, which features all of its virtual instruments to date at an even more affordable price.

GX-80 is more than a best-of-both-worlds interpretation of the past, and far more than a replicant. Cherry Audio's GX-80 is an unprecedented gateway to the sounds and music of an unrealized future.

GX-80 is available now at cherryaudio.com and authorized resellers worldwide for Windows and macOS, with macOS 13 Ventura and native Apple M1 processor support, including Apple M1 Ultra. GX-80 is provided in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats, and a free 30-day demo is available.

[Halonmusic]

wow!!

[gentleclockdivider]

Richard d James just called me telling it sounds nowhere close to his GX1.
Did Mark Barton got hold of a gx1 to analyse ?
I guess not .

[sacer]

no MPE

[Vortifex]

Some decent presets but for me even when the UI is as big as I can comfortably fit within my DAW the font is fuzzy, too small and hard to read.

[tony10000]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVJoT--Ix_w

[plexuss]

I can't wait for the first "it aliases" post. We already got a critical-of-the-UI post and a it-doesnt-sound-like so that's a good start.

I am beginning to think the aliasing, UI and sound complainers are bots...

[mholloway]

I can't wait for the first "it aliases" post. We already got a critical-of-the-UI post and a it-doesnt-sound-like so that's a good start.

I am beginning to think the aliasing, UI and sound complainers are bots...

the UI is poor and hard to see.... are you suggesting this thread should be 'positive comments only' and nobody should point out issues they are having with a new synth, in a forum about discussing new synths? if so, I recommend you start a "let's only say good things about the new cherry audio synth" thread, so you can live in peace.

[plexuss]

I can't wait for the first "it aliases" post. We already got a critical-of-the-UI post and a it-doesnt-sound-like so that's a good start.

I am beginning to think the aliasing, UI and sound complainers are bots...

the UI is poor and hard to see.... are you suggesting this thread should be 'positive comments only' and nobody should point out issues they are having with a new synth, in a forum about discussing new synths? if so, I recommend you start a "let's only say good things about the new cherry audio synth" thread, so you can live in peace.

That wasn't a useful post. You didn't mention that it aliases. Ok Ok I'll stop and let you peeps complain to your hearts content, as per usual.

[FotoxBr]

This thread should be positive only. Even if it isn't

[mholloway]

I can't wait for the first "it aliases" post. We already got a critical-of-the-UI post and a it-doesnt-sound-like so that's a good start.

I am beginning to think the aliasing, UI and sound complainers are bots...

the UI is poor and hard to see.... are you suggesting this thread should be 'positive comments only' and nobody should point out issues they are having with a new synth, in a forum about discussing new synths? if so, I recommend you start a "let's only say good things about the new cherry audio synth" thread, so you can live in peace.

That wasn't a useful post. You didn't mention that it aliases. Ok Ok I'll stop and let you peep complain to your hearts content, as per usual.

Clearly you didn't take my point at all, just ignored it to continue your ongoing whining about complainers

[briefcasemanx]

Haven't demo'ed yet but presets sound cool! Square and triangle waves sound very nice. Most synths have boring sounding raw square and triangle waveforms.

[cyberheater]

Sounds really nice. I've got the Arturia CS80. I know the Cherry version has more options but I wonder how they stack up sonically.

[Vortifex]

I can't wait for the first "it aliases" post. We already got a critical-of-the-UI post and a it-doesnt-sound-like so that's a good start.

I am beginning to think the aliasing, UI and sound complainers are bots...

Am I not supposed to mention any issues with the UI? It sounds fine from my run through of the presets but the fonts are hard to read, on my system at least.

[Uncle E]

the UI is poor and hard to see....

This is what the Focus zoom-in is for. It's designed to give you the best of both worlds, you can see all parameters at once with a quick glance (no menus or sub-panels) and then can use Focus to see the parameters you want to edit more clearly.

The polyphonic aftertouch deserves some discussion:

"Support for both polyphonic and monophonic aftertouch, plus a unique "last-note priority" mode for simulated polyphonic aftertouch response"