Cherry Audio Mercury-4 Virtual Synthesizer (Download)

Bring the distinctly new-wave synth tones of the Roland Jupiter-4 to your computer with the Mercury-4 Synthesizerfrom Cherry Audio. This powerful virtual instrument exactingly reproduces the aggressively analog sound engine from the original with a versatile voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) sporting 3 waveform choices along with a sub-oscillator for extra bottom end. Sculpt the sounds with the voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) and voltage-controlled filter (VCF) from the convenience of your laptop. The Mercury-4 also expands the polyphony of the original 1978 4-voice model to a full 16 voices and adds velocity sensitivity and unlimited patch storage, including over 400 presets. An Ensemble stereo chours effect and a faithful recreation of the legendary Roland Tape Echo complete the package.

Poly In the Beginning

Originally released in 1978, the Roland Jupiter-4 synthesizer was one of the earliest instruments to combine voice-assign polyphony with digital patch storage—that is, the ability to store and recall sounds to a digital memory and recall them at the touch of a button.The Jupiter-4 rapidly became the go-to polysynth for numerous English and European acts in the ’80s including Duran Duran, Thomas Dolby, The Human League, Simple Minds, and more, and for good reason: the Jupiter-4 sounded fantastic, with a raw, raunchy tone not found in any of the other beloved Juno and Jupiter synths.Its analog oscillators have a uniquely aggressive tone quality; the built-in sub oscillator adds girth; its oddly fast and deep LFO modulation capabilities allow it to create uniquely whacked-out modular-synth-like tones; and Roland’s famous stereo chorus Ensemble circuit is beautifully implemented, adding a boatload of width and dimension.

A Modern Digital Recreation

Mercury-4 lovingly recreates Jupiter-4’s bold and unusual analog oscillators, powerful dual filters, and easily overdrivable VCA section. Cherry Audio went to great lengths to replicate the unique arpeggiator section—heard on tons of classic new wave tracks—as well as the original’s two massive unison modes.A Drift knob allows you to dial in just the right amount of vintage character. The renowned stereo BBD ensemble effect has been beautifully modeled, and they’ve also added a truly otherworldly Space-Echo-style tape echo with multiple reverb modes. The tape echo exactingly recreates the warm tonality and subtle speed variations that make the original Space Echo units so desirable.Mercury-4 is packed with over 400 killer presets, including the Jupiter-4’s legendary front-panel factory presets, and 75 presets from acclaimed sound designer Huston Singletary.Mercury-4 is available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats.

Features at a Glance

• Authentically modeled oscillator with sub oscillator
• All filter characteristics modeled, including powerful low-frequency resonance
• Up to 16-voice polyphony
• Over 400 presets programmed by industry veterans
• Exactingly replicated unique arpeggio section with tempo sync
• Carefully modeled wide-range LFO modulation with inverted mod characteristics
• Drift control for increased analog realism
• Precisely replicated stereo ensemble effect
• Warm and organic tape echo with multiple reverb modes
• Tempo-syncable LFO
• Detunable unison mode
• Single-key chord memory mode
• Highly optimized coding for high performance with ultralow CPU load
• User-adjustable oversampling control
• Advanced one-click UI magnification
• Comprehensive MPE support
• Full MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls