Cherry Audio Mercury-8 Synthesizer

Mercury-8 synthesizer builds on Cherry Audio's renowned Mercury legacy with a passionate focus on detail and modern technical advancements. Every aspect of the original hardware has been meticulously modeled to capture the authentic sound and behavior that made the JP-8 so legendary. Furthermore, Mercury-8 goes "beyond Jupiter" by offering expanded polyphony, versatile modulation options, studio-quality effects, expressive performance capabilities, and even data exchange with the original hardware. These features not only surpass what was possible in 1981 but also exceed anything seen in software to date.

Cherry Audio's Mercury-8 utilizes advanced circuit and behavior modeling techniques to ensure unparalleled sonic accuracy and even compatibility with the original synthesizer. Unlike sample-based emulations, Mercury-8 uses virtual analog synthesis, enabling comprehensive, dynamic control over all synthesis parameters while remaining compact. Its precision not only captures the distinctive sound and essence of the JP-8 but also facilitates data exchange with MIDI-modified hardware.

Mercury-8 features a highly optimized dual-layer architecture that supports 16 polyphonic voices per layer, enabling powerful split keyboard and dual-stacked modes. Analog drift and condition controls allow fine-tuning of the synth's age and state, and the multi-voice mode provides subtle to extreme variations in pitch, panning, filtering, and envelopes for tones and patterns.

The comprehensive modulation matrix includes four slots with user-friendly click-to-assign functionality, offering dozens of source and destination options. The built-in arpeggiator and 16x4 programmable polyphonic step sequencer are both syncable and transposable, and feature flexible humanize settings to create endless pattern possibilities. 

Furthermore, Mercury-8 features three independent effect chains and provides 20 studio-quality effects for chains that can be customized, saved, and recalled. And producers can get started immediately with over 600 stellar presets, including precise recreations of the original JP-8 factory patches along with "Factory Plus" enhanced versions.

Cherry Audio has assembled its biggest sound design team in years to do justice to this monster synthesizer. Mercury-8 includes over 600 sensational presets in 16 categories, as well as the original JP-8 Factory Presets.

Producers will find immediate inspiration in Mercury-8's extensive preset library, created by the talented and passionate sound design team led by veteran sound designer James Terris. Mercury-8 comes loaded presets covering everything from faithful recreations of familiar JP-8 sounds to brand-new creations that push Mercury-8's sound engine into modern territory.

Among them, you’ll find precise recreations of the 64 original Jupiter-8 factory patches, plus enhanced versions in the Factory Plus category that take advantage of Mercury-8’s expanded features while keeping the unmistakable Jupiter character intact. We’ve also included the eight original factory setups (the classic Dual and Split configurations) ready to play exactly as they appeared on the vintage hardware. For sound designers, the Templates category offers a variety of starting points that are useful for building your own patches quickly.