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Unleashing the power of the past
The Pro Soloist pays homage to the 1972 classic while pushing the boundaries of its capabilities. Featuring the same expressive controls, 30 infamous presets, and unique underlying architecture, this synth stays true to its prog rock roots. However, Cherry Audio takes it a step further by making the Pro Soloist fully programmable, expanding it with full polyphony, splits and layers, a mod matrix, integrated studio-quality effects, and more. Now, you can create soundscapes that will transport your music to new heights.
A nod to history
During the '70s, analog synthesizers were still a mystery to many, but ARP sought to make synthesis accessible to the masses. In 1972, ARP released the Pro Soloist, a groundbreaking analog preset synthesizer with digital read-only memory chips for improved tuning stability. It featured 30 presets and introduced the concept of aftertouch - pressing harder after playing a note to introduce changes in sound. The Pro Soloist quickly became popular for its ability to emulate lead instrument sounds, revolutionizing the world of music.
Evolution and expansion
Cherry Audio has taken the Pro Soloist to the next level by introducing a dual-layer voicing architecture. With 16 polyphonic voices per layer and independent panning, you can create rich stereo timbres and complex layered sounds. The Pro Soloist also supports a split keyboard mode and the option to simulate polyphonic aftertouch with a monophonic aftertouch controller, giving you even more expressive performance capabilities. With these enhancements, your music will reach new depths and capture the essence of emotion.
An expertly recreated classic
You'll immediately recognize the distinctive three-panel interface of the Pro Soloist, but don't be fooled - this is no ordinary preset synth. In Performance mode, each original paddle preset has been precisely recreated with MIDI-mappable switches, allowing for seamless integration into your workflow. In Edit mode, you have access to all the unique analog synthesis architecture parameters, including the fully-variable, five parallel bandpass filter "Resonator Bank" that adds a touch of realism to your sounds.
The Pro Soloist also features LFO, ADSR/AR envelopes, a "Super Wave" oscillator, and a powerful six-slot modulation matrix, expanding your sound design and performance possibilities. To top it off, the Arp/FX mode offers a syncable arpeggiator and a dozen studio-quality effects, such as distortion, phaser, flanger/chorus, echo, and reverb. With its full MIDI support, the Pro Soloist is an essential tool for today's music production environments.
Features
- A top-tier virtual tool, precisely imitating ARP's 1972 monophonic analog synth with preset functions
- Authentically replicates all 30 notorious presets and the unique controls, while revealing the original analog synthesis architecture for full programmability
- Features a robust dual-layer voicing framework with 16 polyphonic voices per layer, enabling two Pro Soloist style sounds to be played at once, either in a keyboard split or stacked layer mode, complete with separate volume and panning controls for each layer
- Presents a three-panel interface: Performance mode showcasing the original paddle presets; Edit mode exposing all of the analog synthesis architecture parameters; and Arp/FX mode
- All Pro Soloist voicing parameters are authentically reproduced and displayed, including the Resonator Bank's five parallel 2-pole bandpass filters, now enhanced with individual frequency curves
- Incorporates Touch Sensor Effects controls to apply aftertouch to volume, brilliance (filter), and portamento, with an option to adjust touch sensitivity
- Offers mono (retrigger or legato, low or high-note priority) and polyphonic modes, with a "last" note option to simulate polyphonic aftertouch with a monophonic aftertouch controller for more expressive performance possibilities
- Features a voltage-controlled oscillator with sawtooth and pulse waves, plus a "Super Wave" option for richer tones
- VCO modulation is available with ADSR PWM, AR PWM, LFO PWM, and LFO FM
- 24dB/oct Voltage-controlled filer (VCF) with filter invert and modulation with ADSR, AR, LFO, Growl (a specialized low-frequency oscillator), velocity, and keyboard tracking
- Modulation of the Voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) is achievable by ADSR, AR, LFO, and velocity, with each layer having independent control over volume and panning, resulting in wide-ranging and awe-inspiring stereo tones
- LFO, synchronizable with tempo, offers sine, ramp, sawtooth, and square waveforms
- A resonant highpass filter is available with a cutoff frequency range from 20 Hz to 1300 Hz
- The Resonator Bank features five parallel bandpass filters with modulatable controls for continuously variable frequency and resonance via the Mod Matrix. It also provides the frequency curves of the originals and allows any resonator to be individually set to any of the curves, in any combination
- Envelope generators are present in the forms of ADSR (attack/decay/sustain/release) and AR (attack/release)
- Features a powerful yet user-friendly Modulation Matrix with six slots and easy click-to-assign functionality: comprising 22 sources and 58 destinations, including the integrated effects of Pro Soloist
- An Arpeggiator is included with MIDI tempo sync capabilities and Down, Up, Up/Down, and Random options
- Panel Control enables selection of layer controls, including utility functions that allow duplication and exchange of synthesis and effects parameters between layers and presets
- The Pro Soloist factory presets are incorporated in the Preset Paddles, featuring all 30 original settings
- A convenient preset browser houses over 400 pre-sets, expertly crafted by a team of experienced sound designers
- Integrated effects of studio-grade quality total 12, including distortion, phaser with sync available in 2/4/6/8 stages, flanger/chorus with sync, three variants of stereo echo/delay with sync, and five types of reverb. These effects can be globally or individually layered
- All controls offer complete MIDI control and DAW automation, facilitated by an intuitive MIDI learn and mapping system (both Preset and Global)
- Cherry Audio's renowned Focus zoom-in feature is included, complemented by standard UI zoom and resize via drag
- Comprehensive documentation is readily available directly from the instrument or as a downloadable PDF
- Optimized coding ensures ideal performance, ultra-low CPU load, and multithreaded processing for presets utilizing Split and Layer modes
- Oversampling control can be adjusted by the user
- Available in multiple formats: AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone.
Specifications
- Operating system:
- Mac: macOS 10.13 or above. macOS 13 Ventura supported
- Windows: Windows 7 or above (including Windows 11)
- Processor:
- Mac: Native Apple M1 or greater processor support, including Ultra. 3.4 GHz Quad-Core or M1
- Windows: 3.4 GHz Quad-Core computer
- Format:
- Mac: VST-2, VST-3, AU, AAX, Stand-alone
- Windows: VST-2, VST-3, AAX, Stand-alone
- RAM: 8GB
- Disk space: 70MB
- Activation: Internet connection required