Magnetic Magazine - 10 Favorite Plugins that Sound as Good as Hardware

"Our 10 Favorite Plugins that Sound as Good as their Hardware Equivalents!" Magnetic Magazine's Will Vance takes a look at the best analog synth emulations, including Cherry Audio's GX-80 and Dreamsynth.

"Dreamsynth distinguishes itself with a unique character and charm through its innovative features. The oscillator section is particularly noteworthy, housing more than 400 shape choices ranging from sampled PCM waveforms to seven non-sample-based analog shapes. Each oscillator can blend up to two independently tuned waveforms, enabling a lush, layered texture with up to six waves per voice. Additionally, the 'Analog Drift' control infuses a touch of randomness into the oscillators and filters, allowing for a lively, fluctuating sound that can range from a subtle flutter to a dramatic tape-like effect."

"Regarding the sound, the GX-80 doesn't stop replicating the iconic CS-80 tones. Cherry Audio took the opportunity to delve deeper into Yamaha’s history, incorporating features from the Yamaha GX-1, adding depth to the available sound palette. Although it echoes the familiar sounds of artists such as Vangelis, the GX-80 is not confined to nostalgia. The programming aspect, while extensive, is fairly straightforward, offering users a wide range of filter and modulation settings, allowing for the creation of genuinely unique patches and sonic explorations."