Iconic Intergalactic Synthesis in an Earth-bound Package
Technological innovation and development of the 1980s led to a revolution in digital sound and the introduction of MIDI, forever altering the landscape of synthesizers to all but abandon analog architecture for digital frontiers. Fortunately, Cherry Audio’s Mercury-6 soft synth faithfully and meticulously re-creates and preserves the vaunted analog, planetary sonics of its iconic predecessor with exacting detail. From its multi-waveform, polyphonic bi-layer architecture to FM cross-modulation and hidden arpeggiator features, Mercury-6 brims with character. Production pros and synthesists at Sweetwater appreciate the accuracy with which Cherry Audio re-created the original while supplementing it with modern features to make for a truly space-faring soft synth.
Related Videos: Mercury-6 Synthesizer Software Instrument
Authentic aural architecture
Like its physical predecessor, Mercury-6 features a bi-layer architecture, complete with 16 polyphonic layers per voice and two per-voice VCOs. Five total waveform options exist across the VCOs, including sine, ramp sawtooth, noise, and square, with a dedicated PWM option, all capable of combined playback for unique waveform configurations. You can also access the original’s cutting-edge FM cross-modulation, running from VCO-2 to VCO-1, for soaring, harmonic-heavy tones. Portamento and glissando modes have been carefully re-created to match the precise playback of the original, with easily toggled solo and polyphonic unison modes available for rich, stacked sounds that exude ‘80s arena-sized performances. Cherry Audio even incorporated per-layer drift controls for the filter frequencies and oscillators to preserve the distinctive analog characteristics, allowing you to dial in precise, vintage imperfections.
Sculpt and shape with finesse
With 500 onboard presets, it can be tempting to find one that works, but that would mean missing out on Mercury-6’s extensive sonic shaping tools. Its multimode filter is loaded with a 24dB/oct lowpass, 24dB/oct highpass, and 12 dB/oct bandpass choices, while its two tempo-syncable LFOs have three waveforms, sync and retrigger modes, and a randomizer. For the rhythmically inclined, the MIDI-syncable arpeggiator even features the same hidden up/down mode found on the original, as well as its own random mode. Since each layer is given panel controls, sound design opportunities abound, with deep utility functions to quickly duplicate or swap parameters from synthesis, FX, presets, and more, producing near-endless mileage for the Split and Layer modes.
Contemporary accommodations, timeless spirit
Though many laud the synthesizers of yesteryear, the workflow and experience of the modern musician do not always complement the reality of recording and using a 35-pound, 61-key analog synthesizer. While Mercury-6 does away with all that, it’s not the only contemporary benefit this plug-in offers. Unlike its predecessor, you’ve got immediate access to high-fidelity, studio-grade effects, including multiple flavors of syncable delays and reverbs, flanger, chorus, a 4-/8-/12-stage phaser, and distortion to punch your sound into the stratosphere. Of course, these are painlessly modifiable at global and per-layer levels to diversify sound design. Plus, the carefully optimized coding means extremely low CPU loads, coupled with variable zoom-in, Focus, and resizing features for personalizing the UI.
Cherry Audio Mercury-6 Features:
- Meticulous engineering means a faithful re-creation of the original polyphonic analog synth with exacting precision and welcoming contemporary accommodations
- 500+ presets cover a broad swath of faithful yet compelling sonic territories designed by synthesis veterans
- 5 total oscillator models allow for variable recombination across both VCOs, with noise and PWM for extra flavor
- FM cross-modulation from VCO 1 to VCO 2 evokes rich harmonics and soaring leads
- Bi-layer architecture includes 16 polyphonic voices for each layer, with 2 VCOs per voice, allowing for deep synthesis and personalization
- Streamlined UI accommodates per-layer modification features, preset swapping, and parameter duplication
- Rich studio-grade FX include multiple delays, reverbs, variable-stage phaser, flanger, chorus, and distortion
- 2 tempo-syncable LFOs and a flexible multimode filter encourage vast modulation and thorough sound design
- Drift can be attenuated for oscillators and filter frequencies of each layer to evoke vintage analog imperfection
- Portamento and glissando modes have been carefully re-created to provide plenty of playback choices
- Both solo and polyphonic unison modes are available for tailored, stacked playback
- Faithfully replicated arpeggiator provides rhythmic depth, including the originally hidden up/down mode, as well as a randomizer
- Extensive DAW and MIDI compatibility makes Mercury-6 a powerful tool from the studio to the stage
