If you’re just getting into the whole electronic music-making lark, there’s a case to be made that Cherry Audio’s new Synthesizer Expander Module - an emulation of the classic Oberheim SEM - is the perfect free plugin.
Not only can you have it for nothing but, thanks to its inherent simplicity, it’s also the ideal synth on which to learn the programming ropes. Oh, and, coming from Cherry Audio, you can pretty much guarantee that it’s going to sound good, too. How’s that for holiday cheer?
Although it was just a basic monosynth, the Oberheim SEM is something of a legend. Released in 1974, it offered dual oscillators and a multimode 12dB/octave filter with lowpass, bandpass, bandpass and notch modes.
It was this filter that helped to elevate the SEM’s sound and reputation, and it’s been emulated in Cherry Audio’s freebie with the help of synth designer Mark Barton. Barton has also added a ‘phasor’ effect, and there’s an echo that can be tempo-synced.
Other features include two envelopes, an LFO and a “massive” Unison mode, while the 100 supplied presets cover basses, leads and percussion. All controls can be automated in your DAW, and there’s comprehensive MIDI control.
So, yeah - pretty much everything you need in a ‘first synth’, and all for free. It’s not only beginners who should seek this one out, though: as early Christmas presents go, it’s up there with the best, whatever your level of experience
If you want more of the same, don’t forget that Cherry Audio also offers the Eight-Voice plugin, which is effectively eight SEMs in one. This is currently on sale for $39 (regular price $59).
You can snaffle the Synthesizer Expander Module over on the Cherry Audio website. It runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats.
