Cherry Audio is proud to announce the release of Pentaphonic, an innovative virtual instrument that resurrects one of the rarest synthesizers ever made: the Gleeman Pentaphonic. With fewer than 70 units of the original hardware ever produced, this software version is a compelling opportunity for vintage synth enthusiasts and music producers of all genres. Pentaphonic is now available for both Mac and Windows at cherryaudio.com and through authorized resellers worldwide, priced at an unbeatable $59.

The original Pentaphonic synthesizer, designed in 1981 by brothers Bob and Al Gleeman in a Silicon Valley garage, was engineered to stay in tune under stage lights and priced to compete with analog polysynths of the time. It cleverly used a pair of Intel microprocessors to control five voices and digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs). Its rich analog tone came from Curtis CEM 3320 voltage-controlled 4-pole filters, and it was valued for its powerful, crystal-clear sound.

The Pentaphonic synthesizer was known not only for its sound but also for its distinctive looks. The first model featured a simple black chassis with an integrated handle and built-in speaker, making it the “ultimate portable” unit at just 18 pounds. Responding to requests for a more visually striking design, Gleeman Instruments introduced the Pentaphonic Clear, which showcased a clear acrylic housing, plexiglass knobs, and optional lighting that illuminated the circuitry against the green circuit boards. However, as the market began to favor digital synthesizers by the mid-1980s, Gleeman gradually wound down Pentaphonic production. Nevertheless, the synthesizer gained popularity among notable musicians, including Oscar Peterson, Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, and bands like Kansas, electronic duo The Moog Cookbook, and R.E.M.

Cherry Audio’s Pentaphonic faithfully reproduces the original’s distinctive hybrid architecture while dramatically increasing its capabilities. Features include three user interface skins reflecting the Pentaphonic’s history, from the standard black chassis to extraordinary clear designs with adjustable opacity. Polyphony now ranges from monophonic up to 16 voices, with added unison, pulse width modulation, a noise generator, oscillator sync, and an additional LFO, both now featuring the eight original waveforms.

The update also introduces a 2-pole filter mode, keyboard tracking, a limiter, and enhanced performance expression through velocity, channel and polyphonic aftertouch, and 14 modulatable parameters. The syncable arpeggiator and 16×4 polyphonic note step sequencer offer flexible humanization options, while a new Parameter Animator and 22 studio-quality effects round out the instrument’s expanded sound design toolkit.

Alongside the plugin, Cherry Audio has also released the Translucent Preset Pack for Pentaphonic, available for $9.99. Translucent further explores tranquil and hypnotic soundscapes across 100 additional presets in eight categories, drawing on Pentaphonic’s modulation, performance, sequencing, and effects capabilities.

Pentaphonic showcases Cherry Audio’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional sound at an unbeatable price, even in challenging times. Priced at just $59, Pentaphonic is an ideal choice for synth enthusiasts who value both exceptional sound and affordability. Furthermore, until October 19th, producers can purchase Pentaphonic as part of Cherry Audio’s Build Your Own Bundle options. Customers can customize a Pick 3 bundle for $99 (regularly $119) or a Pick 6 bundle for $149 (regularly $169), letting them mix and match any of Cherry Audio’s award-winning instruments for as little as $25 per plugin. Visit Cherry Audio for more information and to purchase.

Cherry Audio’s Pentaphonic synthesizer is available now for macOS (10.13 or later) and Windows (7 or later) in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats. Visit cherryaudio.com for complete product details, a free 30-day demo download, a deep-dive introductory video, system requirements, and an extensive collection of inspiring audio demo tracks.

Pentaphonic Synthesizer Highlights and Features

• Based on the early-80s Pentaphonic synthesizers by Gleeman Instruments that originally featured a five-voice polyphonic digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) synth engine.
• Three UI Themes inspired by the history of the Pentaphonic case: black, clear, and “Audities” clear, with click-and-drag opacity.
• Expanded voice options: monophonic mode with last/high settings and retrigger, Unison and Polyphonic voice options with 2 -16 voices.
• Three oscillators per voice based on the DCOs of the original, with the original stair-stepped waveforms for Complex 1, Complex 2, 3% Pulse, 12% Pulse, 50% Pulse, Ramp, Triangle, and Sine.
• Oscillator sync and pulse-width modulation added.
• A second LFO has been added, now offering the same stair-stepped waveform options (beyond just triangle) as the oscillators.
• LFOs can now be applied to oscillators, filter, and amp.
• Original fast/slow chorusing included.
• Velocity added to filter and amp.
• Keyboard pressure with bipolar amount trimmers that provide discrete expressive control for pressure/aftertouch: modulation rate; oscillator 2 sync; oscillator gain and pitch; filter cutoff, resonance, and modulation; and amp modulation and volume.
• The VCF now provides both 12dB 2-pole and the original 24dB 4-pole options, with polarity and key tracking.
• Assignable range for pitch bend and a dedicated mod stick control.
• Dynamic arpeggiator with four pattern modes – Arp, Leap, Order, Random – with swing, chance, and feel to add degrees of randomness to arpeggiated patterns.
• Syncable and transposable 16×4 pattern polyphonic step sequencer with Start, Stop, Auto Start, and humanize options, with accurate DAW clock and step synchronization.
• Parameter Animator, an additional per-layer sequencer that acts as a 16-step x 4-pattern parameter modulation source for cutoff, resonance, pitch modulation, and oscillator gain.
• 22 studio-quality effects for the Effects panel (up to five effects) with a chain that can be arranged, saved, and recalled: BBD Flanger, Compressor, DCO Chorus, Digital Delay, Digital Reverb, Distortion & EQ, Dual Delay, Dual Ensemble, Dual Phaser, Envelope Filter, Flanger & Chorus, Galactic Reverb, Lo-Fi, Lushverb, Panner, Pulser, Ring Modulator, Rotary Speaker, Seven Band EQ, Spring Reverb, Tape Echo, and Wide Phaser. 
• Effects control tray for on/off, solo, bipolar modulator amount slider, and dry/wet mix for each effect. Global FX on/off, level, and stereo expand
• Over 375 presets in 14 categories, including the original 50 factory patches.
• 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

Availability and System Requirements

Musicians and synth enthusiasts can begin using Pentaphonic Synthesizer by Cherry Audio on Tuesday, October 6 for $59, available at cherryaudio.com and authorized resellers worldwide. Pentaphonic supports AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats for Windows (7 or above, including Windows 11) and macOS (10.13 and above), with native support for Apple Silicon. A free 30-day demo is available.

macOS 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 is recommended. Hard disk space: 196 MB.

Windows Requirements: Windows 7 or above (including Windows 11), 64-bit required. 3.4 GHz Quad-Core computer with 8GB of RAM recommended. Hard disk space: 196 MB.