Cherry Audio today introduced the Trident Mk III, a new software synthesizer based on the Korg Trident keyboard, originally release in 1980.
The Trident is an orchestrator-style synth design that features polysynth, string and brass sections.
Cherry Audio says that they’ve “meticulously recreated each section of the original Trident hardware”, and expanded on the original’s capabilties with new features. The voice count has been increased to 16 for each section, and now includes velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, as well as polyphonic aftertouch.
Here’s the official intro video:
Features:
- Based on the 1981 Mk I and 1982 Mk II versions of the Trident analog polyphonic multitimbral synthesizer
- All three sections — Synthesizer, Brass, and Strings — have been recreated and enhanced with expanded functionality and modulation options
- Up to 16 voices for each section
- Polyphonic Synthesizer section with dedicated mixer
- Paraphonic Brass and String sections with dedicated mixers
- Support for velocity and aftertouch (including polyphonic aftertouch with compatible controllers) and pedal expression, independently assignable to the sections to control volume, filter, and modulation
- Synthesizer Section
- Voice Modes: Monophonic, two Polyphonic modes, or 2, 4, 6, or 8 Unison
- Two VCOs: one with sawtooth, pulse width, and PWM waveforms; the other with sawtooth, triangle, and pulse width
- VCF per voice with LP, HP, Band, or Notch response and keyboard tracking, based on the original’s SSM 2044
- Two envelope generators (EG)
- Syncable dedicated Modulation Generator (LFO) with triangle, sawtooth, ramp, square, and sample & hold waveforms, with delay and retrigger
- Brass Section
- Dedicated filter with cutoff, resonance, EG intensity, auto damp
- Dedicated vibrato with delay and EG
- Silence note and multi-trigger options
- String Section
- Dedicated filter with attack/release envelope
- Equalizer
- Bowing control
- Vibrato with delay
- Master Mixer with stereo panning, transpose, and master tune
- Pitch bend and vibrato joystick controls, with glide for the synthesizer section
- Hideable switching lower panels for Keyboard, Motion (a new feature), and Effects
- Independent key range assignment for all three instrument sections for layering and splitting, with crossfade, assignable through draggable zone handles or “Quick Split” templates
- Motion Controls
- 16×2 polyphonic step sequencer with start, stop, and auto start options, with accurate DAW clock and step synchronization
- Patterns can be programmed to record real-time notes or as steps, with ties, accents, and Pattern A and Pattern B variations and combinations
- Two assignable dynamic arpeggiators with four modes – Arp, Leap, Order, and Random
- Swing, Chance, and Feel groove controls for both the sequencer and arpeggiators to add degrees of randomness to arpeggiated patterns
- Integrated Effects
- Four independent customizable chains of effects, one for each instrument section plus global, with a global effect modulator
- 17 studio-quality effects that can now be arranged, saved, and recalled within its four effects chains:
- BBD Flanger (new, based on the Trident original)
- Compressor
- Digital Delay
- Digital Reverb
- Distortion & EQ
- Dual Delay (new)
- Dual Ensemble (new)
- Dual Phaser
- Envelope Filter
- Flanger & Chorus
- Galactic Reverb
- Lo-Fi (updated)
- Lushverb (new)
- Ring Modulator (new)
- Seven Band EQ
- Spring Reverb (new)
- Tape Echo (new)
- Persistent mini UI Effects controls for on/off, solo, bipolar modulator amount slider, and dry/wet mix for each effect. Global FX on/off, level, and stereo expand.
- Over 380 presets in 14 categories, accessible in a convenient preset browser
- Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions included
- User-adjustable oversampling control
- Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping (Preset and Global)
- Cherry Audio’s 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
Pricing and Availability:
Cherry Audio’s Trident mkIII is available now for $69 USD.
I always felt that stringers were a bit boring and partly marking time, waiting for samplers. This makes practical changes that remedy things well. Its a great pad machine. Everything gets bigger when you blend some of this in. Its a well-designed beast. I look forward to putting it under some real strings or Mellotron choirs.
+1
They must be getting close to running out of classic synths to emulate. And no Voyetra 8 yet! Or a Waldorf Wave! Or the Bowen Solaris, or the Schmitt! Or go for broke – take on the Casio CT-101!!
Anyone who tries to code a soft- Wave, Solaris or Schmidt has their work cut out for them, big time squared! This may sound snobby and its not meant to be, because I’ve been up and down the synthesizer ladder, but most people want it to stay simple. Any synth above about the stylophone level is still pretty modular inside. You’ll always sell more mono and slab synths than huge dreamboats.
I got to demo a real Wave once. It made me want to become a cyborg with the GUI buit into my teats.
Personally I think that we have enough of old synth emulations…
How about releasing something new, fresh and original Cherry audio?
Just saying…
I haven’t watched the video yet or played with the demo, but from the interface alone it looks like they did away with the flanger? Big boo if so, that was the defining element of the Trident sound!
Feel free to correct me though
Look through the manual.pdf – several efx included flanger!