Cherry Audio Releases Mercury-8 and Synth Stack 6

Cherry Audio Releases Mercury-8 - Jupiter-8 Emulation with SysEx Support Cherry Audio has announced the release of Mercury-8, a software synthesizer modeled on the architecture and circuitry of the Roland Jupiter-8. Utilizing virtual analog synthesis rather than sampling, the instrument aims to replicate the behavior of the original 1981 hardware while introducing modern workflow enhancements, including expanded polyphony and a dual-layer engine. The core architecture of Mercury-8 features two distinct layers, each capable of 16-voice polyphony. These layers can be stacked for dense unison sounds or split across the keyboard, with independent control over synthesis parameters, effects, and modulation for each layer. The engine models the specific characteristics of the Jupiter-8's dual VCOs, including cross-modulation and sync, as well as the switchable 12dB/24dB resonant low-pass filters. To simulate the variances found in vintage hardware, Cherry Audio has included 'Drift' and 'Condition' controls, allowing users to adjust the stability of oscillators, filters, and envelope generators. A notable feature for hardware owners is the inclusion of SysEx data compatibility. Mercury-8 can import and export System Exclusive data in the format used by Encore Electronics MIDI retrofit kits. This allows users to transfer patches between the software plugin and a MIDI-modified hardware Jupiter-8. Key Features Dual-Layer Architecture: Two independent layers with 16 voices of polyphony each; supports Split, Stack, and Layer modes. Oscillators: Two VCOs per voice with triangle, ramp, sine, sawtooth, noise, and variable pulse waveforms (PWM included). Features exponential FM cross-modulation and hard sync. Filter Section: Modeled High-Pass and Resonant Low-Pass filters with selectable 12 dB/oct and 24 dB/oct slopes. Modulation: Comprehensive matrix with 4 slots per layer, connecting 25 sources to 43 destinations. Sequencing: Integrated arpeggiator and a 16x4 polyphonic step sequencer per layer, syncable to DAW clock. Effects: Three independent effect chains (Layer A, Layer B, Global) with 20 included algorithms, such as the Galactic Reverb, DCO Chorus, and Tape Echo. Hardware Integration: Direct import/export of Encore Electronics format SysEx data for compatibility with modified Jupiter-8 hardware units. Presets: Includes over 600 presets, including recreations of the original factory patches. Pricing & Availability Mercury-8 is available now for $69. {PRODUCT-HEADER-33817-mercury8}. Cherry Audio Releases Synth Stack 6 - Bundle Updated with 6 New Instruments Cherry Audio has announced the release of Synth Stack 6, the latest iteration of its flagship virtual instrument collection. This updated bundle assembles 36 titles, incorporating every major instrument released by the company to date, including the simultaneously released Mercury-8. The version 6 update adds six new instruments to the collection: Mercury-8, Trident Mk III, Crumar Spirit, ODC2800, Yellowjacket, and the KR-55C Drum Machine. With these additions, Synth Stack 6 now comprises 28 vintage synthesizer emulations, three original synthesis concepts (Dreamsynth, Sines, Harmonia), two drum machines, and modeled electro-mechanical instruments including the Wurlybird 140B and Blue3 Organ. The bundle also retains Voltage Modular Core + Electro Drums and includes GPFree, a lite version of the Gig Performer 5 live performance host. The collection provides over 12,000 presets across all included titles. Installation and authorization are managed via the Cherry Audio Sync application. Synth Stack 6 Contents New Additions: Mercury-8: Emulation of the Roland Jupiter-8: Trident Mk III: Emulation of the Korg Trident. Crumar Spirit: Modeled on the rare Bob Moog-designed monosynth. ODC2800: Emulation of the ARP Odyssey. Yellowjacket: Emulation of the EDP Wasp. KR-55C: Emulation of the Korg KR-55 drum machine. Full List of Included Instruments: Voltage Modular Core + Electro Drums, DCO-106, CA2600, Surrealistic MG-1 Plus, Polymode, Eight Voice, PS-20, Memorymode, Mercury-4, Quadra, Dreamsynth, Miniverse, Lowdown, Elka-X, Sines, GX-80, Mercury-6, Novachord + Solovox, Octave Cat, Harmonia, PS-3300, Pro Soloist, Synthesizer Expander Module, CR-78 Drum Machine, Rhodes Chroma, Wurlybird 140B, Blue3 Organ, Atomika, P-10. Pricing & Availability Synth Stack 6 is available now for $599. Read More