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A Legacy Reborn: The Rhodes Chroma Plugin
The Rhodes Chroma, originally launched in 1982, was a groundbreaking synthesiser that forever changed the landscape of electronic music. Created in collaboration with the visionary engineers at ARP Instruments, the Chroma combined robust 16-voice polyphony with an unparalleled array of modulation capabilities. Despite its short two-year production run, the Chroma became a legendary instrument, embraced by musical icons such as Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, and Jethro Tull for its unique sound and innovative design. Now, over four decades later, Rhodes brings the iconic Chroma into the digital age. In partnership with Cherry Audio, Rhodes has re-released the Chroma plugin as a virtual synthesiser that faithfully captures the essence of the original while enhancing its capabilities for modern musicians. The Rhodes Chroma by Cherry Audio combines the best of analog synthesis with the flexibility of cutting-edge software, ensuring that the Chroma’s distinctive tones and powerful sonic character remain accessible to today’s music producers.
A Timeless Synthesizer, Revitalised for Modern Use
The Rhodes Chroma faithfully reproduces every nuance of the Chroma with astonishing accuracy. Remarkably, it allows for directly importing SysEx patch data from the original instrument, bridging four decades of sound design into a modern workflow. Cherry Audio has painstakingly recreated each component of the original Chroma hardware, from its 16 oscillators, filters, VCAs, and LFOs to its 32 envelope generators. These highly modular elements can be selected from 16 distinct preconfigured signal paths, ranging from straightforward VCO-VCF-VCA setups to intricate configurations involving oscillator sync, filter FM, ring modulation, and variable or serially connected filters.
Expanded Possibilities with the Chroma Expander
The Rhodes Chroma plugin goes beyond the capabilities of the original by including a virtual version of the rare Chroma Expander. This addition effectively doubles the instrument’s power, offering users the ability to run the synthesiser in layer or split modes, creating rich, complex textures and harmonies. With this added flexibility, you can craft everything from delicate single voices to full, multilayered soundscapes.
700 Presets and Built-In Studio-Quality Effects
To get you started, the Rhodes Chroma by Cherry Audio plugin comes loaded with 700 expertly crafted presets, including the original 250 factory patches plus 450 new sounds designed for contemporary music production. These presets cover everything from vintage-inspired tones to cutting-edge electronic textures, making the plugin versatile across all genres.
In addition, seven integrated studio-quality effects—such as reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, and distortion—further enhance your sound design capabilities. A global EQ and limiter round out the processing tools, giving you full control over your sound without needing additional plugins.
A Collaboration that Honors Tradition and Embraces Innovation
This release marks an exciting collaboration between Rhodes and Cherry Audio, blending the best of both worlds: Rhodes’ commitment to preserving the essence of their classic instruments and Cherry Audio’s technical expertise in virtual emulation. Together, they’ve ensured that the Rhodes Chroma Plugin is not just a tribute to the past but a forward-looking tool that pushes the boundaries of digital synthesis.
Whether you're exploring the original’s vintage charm or pushing the boundaries with modern sound design, the Rhodes Chroma Plugin offers a rich, flexible instrument that’s ready for any musical application. Dive into its authentic recreation of one of the most innovative synthesisers ever made, and bring its unmistakable character into your modern production workflow.
Features
- Exactingly faithful virtual analog emulation of the analog polyphonic synthesizer released in 1982, from its 16 polyphonic voices to its expressive velocity and polyphonic aftertouch capabilities
- 16 Oscillators, Filters, VCAs, and LFOs, and 32 Envelope Generators
- 16 distinct preconfigured signal paths, ranging from straightforward
- VCO-VCF-VCA setups to intricate configurations featuring oscillator sync, filter FM, ring modulation, and variable or serial filter paths
- Intuitive menus and real-time displays simplify the programming process, making it accessible to novices and seasoned professionals alike
- All of the original Chroma’s unprecedented modulation capabilities have been precisely replicated to create a powerfully flexible modular synthesizer-like programming experience. Modulation paths are configured quickly and easily
- using Cherry Audio Chroma’s comprehensive modulation pop-up menus
- Includes the Chroma Expander module, which adds an entire second Chroma
- synthesizer to the mix, running in layer or split modes for expanded creative possibilities
- SysEx Import: Owners of MIDI-retrofitted Chroma or Expander hardware can directly transfer banks and individual patches to Cherry Audio Chroma via SysEx dump. Additionally, users can easily import Chroma SysEx files through drag-and-drop
- Seven studio-quality onboard effects, including distortion, phaser, flange/chorus, delay, and reverb, as well as a global EQ and limiter
- 700 extraordinary presets in over a dozen categories: includes the original 250
- Chroma factory presets and an additional 450 custom presets crafted by a stellar team of sound designers
- Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions
- Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI Learn and mapping
- Cherry Audio’s popular Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
- Complete documentation available directly online from the instrument or in downloadable PDF format
- User-adjustable oversampling control
System Requirements
- macOS Requirements: macOS 10.13 or above. 64-bit required. Intel or Apple Silicon processor. 3.4 GHz Quad-Core or Apple Silicon CPU with 8GB of RAM recommended.
- Windows Requirements: Windows 7 or above. 64-bit required. 3.4 GHz
- Quad-Core computer with 8GB of RAM recommended.
- Hard disk space: 74 MB
- NOTE: Internet connection required for product activation
- Chroma is available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats.
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