5 Synths That Need Plugin Emulations Right Now
Synths from Oberheim, Yamaha, Crumar and more that are just dying to get emulated.
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Why redo the same handful of synthesizers when there are plenty that have yet to receive the software treatment – like these five synths that need plugin emulations.
5 Synths That Need Plugin Emulations Right Now
Developers both large and small have blessed us with a cornucopia of gorgeous software recreations of classic synthesizers over the decades. Some of these are official and expensive, while others are loosely inspired and free. However, nowadays we’ve reached a point where many companies are redoing the same instruments despite there already being an overabundance of them. Do we really need another CS80 or Juno-106 when there are so many amazing instruments that have yet to be digitized?
Here are five synths that need plugin emulations from throughout the history of synthesizers. (Some of these may have been emulated in the past as 32-bit Windows versions but I’m choosing to ignore them as they were only loosely inspired by the originals.)
What synths do you want to get the digital treatment? Let us know in the comments.
Synths That Need Plugin Emulations: Yamaha FS1R
Of the big three Japanese musical instrument companies – Roland, Korg and Yamaha – Yamaha has arguably done the least to revive its past for modern musicians. Aside from the Reface line, there’s been precious little made available from the company behind the DX7, one of the most popular synths ever made.
While there are already great emulations of the DX7 on the market, including Arturia’s DX7 V and the freeware Dexed, I’d love to see Yamaha unlock its vaults and make official software versions of some other members of its FM family, like the TX81Z, TG77 and – most importantly – FS1R.
Released in the late ‘90s, the rackmount FS1R offered a souped-up version of FM, with eight operators, 88 algorithms and 32-note polyphony. Additionally, you can layer up to four voices. As you might expect, the FS1R lets you combine not just sine waves, but seven more of varying harmonic content. Although you can make DX7-style sounds with it, the addition of Formant Shaping Synthesis allows to create unique, human speech-like sounds. It’s also got a filter and effects, making it more like the Korg opsix or other modern FM instrument.
Given the complexity of the sound design and paucity of displays (it featured just a single 16-character LCD screen) the FS1R was not popular upon launch. However, with the resurgence in interest in FM, plus the space available on a computer monitor, this makes it the perfect candidate for a plugin. What say you, Yamaha?
- Yamaha home page
Synths That Need Plugin Emulations: Buchla 200e Series
I think it’s criminal that there are a number of amazing plugin versions of Moog Modulars available (from Arturia, Cherry Audio and Moog itself), but no Buchla modular plugins. Let’s rectify this with a full 200 Series or 200e Series virtual modular playground. Buchla USA, the latest version of the company founded by Don Buchla back in the 1960s, has partnered with different companies to make new hardware versions of its 200 series so why not an official software partnership?
Note that it is possible to get Buchla-like tones from VCV Rack, especially with Nysthi modules. There is also, of course, Arturia’s Buchla Easel V, one of my favorite plugins.
While we’re at it, can we get a Serge too? Honestly both of these are synths that need plugin emulations.
- Buchla home page
Synths That Need Plugin Emulations: Oberheim Matrix-6/1000
Most of the famous Oberheim synths have been emulated by now – but not the Matrx-6 or its preset player off-shoot, the Matrix-1000. Coming towards the end of the original Oberheim era, these analog synths featured two DCOs per voice, a lowpass filter, and a number of interesting modulation options – hence the Matrix part of the name. Because they featured the CEM3396 aka the ‘synth on a chip’, they had a smoother sound than other Obies but no less beautiful.
The closest you can get now is Arturia’s Matrix-12 V. Although part of the same series, the Matrix-12 (and its predecessor, Xpander), used different Curtis Electromusic Specialties chips and so have a slightly different sound.
I’d love to see a comprehensive remake of these two instruments, including all of the original patches. Yes, all 800 of the 1000’s factory presets. Coming out in 1988, they ended up in a lot of classic dance records of the time, and just listening to the patches is enough to cause a nostalgic rave meltdown. Both the Matrix-6 and 1000 are certainly synths that need plugin emulations.
This kind of instrument has Cherry Audio’s name all over it, although GForce does seem to have the official Oberheim plugin collaboration market all sewn up.
- Oberheim home page
Synths That Need Plugin Emulations: Crumar Spirit
A lot of synthesizers have been released over the years. A LOT. Not all of them are synths that need plugin emulations. However, some definitely are, and one that needs the digital treatment is the Spirit from legendary Italian manufacturer, Crumar.
Crumar re-released the 1983 Bob Moog-designed Spirit in a very limited edition in 2023, meaning the pump is already primed for a software version. The monophonic analog synth had a bonkers signal path, with two analog oscillators plus a dual filter comprising Oberheim-style SEM and Moog-style Ladder sections. It also had two separate signal paths, with one heading through a ring modulator, a 6dB/octave lowpass filter and a separate VCA. There was also a bizarrely flexible modulation section including two envelopes and unique Mod X and Shaper Y control sections.
As most of us will never get to play with one of these unicorns, it’s of absolute necessity that a developer step up and take the reins. Crumar has already turned one of its past glories into a plugin, the Performer, so why not this one? GForce or even Baby Audio also seem like they would do the Spirit right.
- Crumar Spirit product page
Synths That Need Plugin Emulations: UDO Audio Super 6
The synths that we’ve looked at so far are all of the classic variety. However, these days it’s becoming common for companies to turn their current hardware into software, cornering both sides of the market. Think Korg and its Opsix, Modwave and Wavestate and Arturia and its MiniFreak V and MiniBrute V. So it shouldn’t seem so unusual that I also want UDO Audio to turn its Super 6 into a plugin.
One of the best-sounding synths of the modern era, the Super 6 is a 12-voice polyphonic binaural synth. It’s already partly digital, with FPGA oscillators and wavetables inside. It doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to take the binaural analog signal path into the digital realm too. It worked for the Minibrute, so why not this one too?
UDO Audio seem pretty talented on their own but if they’re looking for a collaborator, U-he has a proven record in making digital sound analog.
- UDO Audio Super 6 product page
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16 responses to “5 Synths That Need Plugin Emulations Right Now”
One more synth that really need plugin version is Arturia Polybrute. It has killer feature: morphing. Nobody in whole world does have it.
There have been a couple of synths before with morphing. Like the AN1x or Novation Summit.
Vector synthesis also is very similar to morphing.
As I get AN1x morph only env and filter. Not OSC settings, mixer and other stuff. And it’s not quite common and it’s not VST.
Novation Summit — is not morphing synth, it may crossfades layers.
Great article for a Friday! I’m an original Matrix-6R owner but would love a Cherry Audio version.
This is a good article. I agree with most of the synths listed here.
Enough of these old analog synthesizer emulations! Maybe someone will think about Novation Supernova II?
I can only agree with Yamaha FS1R but aren’t there already too many advanced FM synthesizers similar to this one?
I would like to see emulation of Ensoniq SD-1, Fizmo, Hartman Neuron, Kawai K5000.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no emulation of the Formant Shaping as seen in the FS1R, certainly not married up to an 8-Op FM engine.
I’d still like Arturia to do a Microfreak plugin so I can throw stuff back and forth between the hardware and the computer.
+1 for official Yamaha fm synth emulation. The company softube does have a few buchla modules emulated. Nice article!
Plogue OPS7 is by far the best DX7, DX7II emulation, in my opinion.
Sadly, Plogue OPS7 doesn’t emulate the DX7-II, but I completely agree that it is the best DX7 software emulation available 🙂
Novation Supernova II would be my first priority emulation. Brute/PolyBrute would be nice as well.
Yamaha SY85, that shouldn’t be too difficult. There is one but it only plays samples. The original had the facility to load samples into the four partials, and then play them back through the effects. This synth got used for gospel music more than anything else due to its naff organ sounds, which is odd because it had four partial tones that you could load samples into, and then filter the tones from Cubase via MIDI, not common in synths in 1991. Any VST would not need to bother with the sequencer, which was so completely terrible, that the only tune ever made with it was the demo tune on the unit itself.
Minor correction: Softube offers two official Buchla modules for Softube Modular.
Buchla 200(e)-V? Yes please! Really like the Easel V.
The FS1R would be interesting as well. Or if Arturia could upgrade the DX7V with additional modulation options (eg option to add movement to envelope-nodes), extra operators and an option to make your own operator arrangements.
+1 for an FS1R plugin. I own the hardware but more people need to be able to experience its unique sonic awesomeness!
If it ever does get developed, making it a graphical editor and librarian for the hardware would be most welcome.
As for the TG77, an emulation is in development…
https://www.sheafmusic.com/sway/
If Yamaha are unwilling to do the hard work themselves, maybe there’s a 3rd party developer they could partner with, much like Roland did with the Roland Cloud, as I understand it. I’d love a proper emulation of the DX1/5. Plogue were considering it but ultimately didn’t. The Performance element of those synths does set them apart, and whilst OPS7 allows for dual engines, it doesn’t support the performance data of the DX1/5 🙁
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