Playing Behind the (Iron) Curtain

Cherry Audio is excited to announce the release of Atomika. This highly anticipated virtual instrument pays tribute to the legendary Polivoks synthesizer, manufactured in the former Soviet Union from 1982 to 1990. Cherry Audio’s Atomika faithfully recreates the unique character of the Polivoks while adding new filter options, full polyphony, an arpeggiator, integrated studio-quality effects, and more.

Designed in collaboration with award-winning DSP developer Mark Barton — who recently made waves in producer Anthony Marinelli’s “Why Modern Digital Synthesis Is More Analogue Than Analogue” YouTube video — Atomika is a faithful emulation of the original duophonic analogue synthesizer. The synthesizer retains the iconic Polivoks filter and adds new controls and expanded filter modes, including highpass, notch, and peak responses. This updated version is provisioned with state-of-the-art software features tailored to meet the needs of modern music production.

Atomika elevates its capabilities with enhanced polyphony, expanding from duophonic to a robust 16-voice polyphony. It adds unison oscillator stacking, an expanded LFO with more waveforms, and comprehensive performance controls, including velocity, tracking, aftertouch, and pitch and mod wheel response. These enhancements ensure that Atomika not only captures the essence of the original but also provides modern conveniences and an intuitive user interface.

Another standout feature is Atomika’s second panel, which includes a versatile arpeggiator and four studio-quality effects — Phasor, Flange/Chorus, Echo, and Reverb — with a dedicated effects LFO for expanded parameter modulation. The stunning 3D user interface is immersive and customizable, with the options to display panel labels in the original classic text and a “hide keyboard” feature to maximize workspace.

Atomika provides users with a wide range of sonic options with over 350 carefully designed presets by Cherry Audio’s team of experienced sound designers. Its extensive MIDI mapping capabilities ensure smooth integration into any studio setup, offering a versatile and expressive synth plugin for all music producers.

With its blend of rare, classic character and cutting-edge innovation, Atomika promises to inspire creativity and elevate music production with new sounds that go far beyond the original hardware. It offers an unparalleled experience for synthesizer enthusiasts who have long wanted to try the original hardware. Priced at only $49, Atomika is the ideal choice for music producers looking to incorporate the sounds of one of the world’s rarest synthesizers into their projects.

Even more extraordinary sounds are available directly from Cherry Audio with the Chain Reactions for Atomika Preset Pack ($9.99, sold separately), featuring 100 more presets by talented sound designer James Dyson that explore Atomika’s atmospheric side through arpeggios, effects, modulation, and aftertouch.

Cherry Audio’s Atomika synthesizer is available for macOS (10.13 and above) and Windows (7 or above) in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats. A free 30-day demo is available. Visit cherryaudio.com for additional product details, a deep-dive instructional video, system requirements, and an extensive collection of awe-inspiring sound demos.