Softube vs Cherry Audio: A Comprehensive Comparison

In the world of music production software, Softube and Cherry Audio have emerged as two prominent players, each offering a unique suite of virtual instruments, effects, and modular synthesis platforms. This in-depth comparison will explore the strengths, weaknesses, and distinctive features of both companies’ products, providing musicians, producers, and audio enthusiasts with valuable insights to inform their purchasing decisions.

Company Backgrounds

Softube, founded in 2003 in Sweden, has built a reputation for creating high-quality audio plugins and hardware products. The company is known for its meticulous attention to detail in emulating classic hardware and its collaborations with renowned audio equipment manufacturers.

Cherry Audio, a relatively newer player in the field, was established in 2018 in Colorado, USA. The company has quickly gained recognition for its affordable and authentic recreations of vintage synthesizers, as well as its powerful modular synthesis platform.

Product Range

Softube

Softube offers a diverse range of products, including:

1. Console 1: A hardware/software mixing system that emulates classic analog mixing consoles.
2. Modular: A virtual Eurorack-style modular synthesizer.
3. Amp Room: A collection of guitar and bass amplifier simulations.
4. Effects plugins: A wide array of mixing and mastering tools, including equalizers, compressors, and reverbs.
5. Instrument plugins: Virtual synthesizers and samplers, including emulations of classic hardware.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio’s product lineup includes:

1. Voltage Modular: A virtual modular synthesis environment.
2. Synthesizer emulations: Accurate recreations of classic synthesizers from manufacturers like ARP, Moog, and Oberheim.
3. Original instruments: Unique virtual synthesizers designed by Cherry Audio.
4. Effects plugins: A growing collection of audio processing tools.

Virtual Instruments

Both companies excel in creating virtual instruments, but their approaches and focus areas differ significantly.

Softube

Softube’s virtual instruments are known for their exceptional sound quality and attention to detail. The company has focused on creating a select number of high-end instruments, often in collaboration with original hardware manufacturers. Some notable examples include:

1. Model 72 Synthesizer System: An emulation of the Moog Modular synthesizer, developed in partnership with Moog Music.
2. Monoment Bass: A monophonic synthesizer designed for creating powerful bass sounds.
3. Parallels: A unique dual-source synthesizer combining wavetable and sample-based synthesis.

Softube’s instruments are characterized by their rich, analog-like sound and intuitive interfaces that closely resemble their hardware counterparts. The company’s use of component modeling technology contributes to the authentic sound and behavior of their virtual instruments.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio has made a name for itself by offering a wide range of affordable, yet highly accurate, emulations of classic synthesizers. Their virtual instrument lineup includes:

1. DCO-106: An emulation of the Roland Juno-106 synthesizer.
2. Memorymode: A recreation of the Moog Memorymoog polysynth.
3. Eight Voice: An emulation of the Oberheim Eight Voice synthesizer.
4. Polymode: A virtual version of the Moog Polymoog synthesizer.

Cherry Audio’s instruments are praised for their authentic sound and expanded feature sets, often including additional capabilities not found in the original hardware. The company’s focus on affordability has made these classic synthesizer sounds accessible to a broader audience of musicians and producers.

Modular Synthesis Platforms

Both Softube and Cherry Audio offer powerful modular synthesis platforms, each with its own unique approach and strengths.

Softube Modular

Softube Modular is a virtual Eurorack-style modular synthesizer that aims to provide an authentic hardware-like experience within a software environment. Key features include:

1. Official emulations of popular Eurorack modules from manufacturers like Doepfer and Intellijel.
2. High-quality sound engine with component-level modeling of analog circuits.
3. Integration with Softube’s other plugins, allowing them to be used as modules within the system.
4. Support for hardware controllers and CV/Gate interfaces for integration with physical modular systems.

Softube Modular is known for its exceptional sound quality and authentic behavior, making it a favorite among users who prioritize realism in their virtual modular setups.

Cherry Audio Voltage Modular

Voltage Modular is Cherry Audio’s take on virtual modular synthesis, offering a flexible and expandable environment for sound design and experimentation. Notable features include:

1. A large library of modules, including both emulations of classic hardware and original designs.
2. An open platform allowing third-party developers to create and sell modules.
3. A user-friendly interface with features like cable coloring and module dragging for easy organization.
4. Polyphonic operation, allowing for complex multi-voice patches.

Voltage Modular is praised for its intuitive interface, vast module selection, and affordable pricing structure. The platform’s openness to third-party development has resulted in a rapidly growing ecosystem of modules and capabilities.

Effects Plugins

Both companies offer a range of effects plugins, though their approaches and specialties differ.

Softube

Softube’s effects plugins are renowned for their sound quality and authentic emulations of classic hardware. Their lineup includes:

1. Equalizers: Emulations of sought-after hardware EQs, such as the Trident A-Range and Tube-Tech PE 1C.
2. Compressors: Accurate recreations of legendary units like the Teletronix LA-2A and Fairchild 660/670.
3. Reverbs: Both emulations of classic hardware reverbs and original designs like TSAR-1.
4. Tape emulations: High-quality simulations of various tape machines and formats.

Softube’s effects are characterized by their attention to detail, often modeling the subtle nonlinearities and imperfections that contribute to the character of analog hardware. This approach results in plugins that are highly regarded for their authentic sound and behavior.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio’s effects lineup is more focused, with an emphasis on vintage-inspired processors:

1. Stardust 201: A reverb plugin inspired by the iconic Lexicon 224 digital reverb.
2. Dreamsynth: A unique effects processor combining synthesis and audio processing.
3. Voltage Modular effects modules: A wide range of effects available within the Voltage Modular environment.

While Cherry Audio’s effects collection is smaller than Softube’s, the company has received praise for the quality and character of their offerings, particularly in recreating the sound of classic hardware units.

Pricing and Licensing

Pricing and licensing models differ significantly between Softube and Cherry Audio, reflecting their different market positions and business strategies.

Softube

Softube’s products are generally positioned in the mid to high-end range of the market. Their pricing structure includes:

1. Individual plugin purchases: Prices typically range from $99 to $299 for single plugins.
2. Bundles: Softube offers various bundles that provide significant savings compared to individual purchases.
3. Subscription model: The Softube All Access Plan gives users access to all Softube plugins for a monthly or annual fee.

Softube uses iLok for license management, which allows for flexible authorization options but requires users to create an iLok account and use the iLok License Manager software.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio has positioned itself as a provider of high-quality, affordable software. Their pricing approach includes:

1. Individual plugin purchases: Most Cherry Audio instruments and effects are priced between $29 and $69.
2. Bundles: The company offers various bundles, including the Synth Stack, which provides significant value for users interested in multiple products.
3. Free plugins: Cherry Audio occasionally releases free plugins, allowing users to experience their products without financial commitment.

Cherry Audio uses a proprietary license management system that doesn’t require additional software or dongles, simplifying the installation and authorization process for users.

Sound Quality and Performance

Both Softube and Cherry Audio are known for producing high-quality audio software, but their approaches to sound design and optimization differ.

Softube

Softube has built its reputation on delivering exceptional sound quality, often indistinguishable from the hardware it emulates. Key aspects of Softube’s sound quality include:

1. Component-level modeling: Softube often models individual electronic components, resulting in highly accurate emulations.
2. Collaboration with hardware manufacturers: Many Softube products are developed in partnership with original equipment manufacturers, ensuring authenticity.
3. Attention to detail: Softube’s products often capture subtle nuances and imperfections that contribute to the character of analog hardware.

In terms of performance, Softube’s plugins are generally well-optimized but can be CPU-intensive due to their detailed modeling approach. The company regularly releases updates to improve performance and compatibility with modern systems.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio has quickly gained recognition for delivering high-quality sound at affordable prices. Notable aspects of their sound quality include:

1. Accurate modeling: Cherry Audio’s synthesizer emulations are praised for their authenticity and attention to detail.
2. Extended features: Many Cherry Audio instruments include additional features not found in the original hardware, expanding their sonic capabilities.
3. Efficient DSP: Cherry Audio’s products are known for their relatively low CPU usage, allowing for more instances in complex projects.

Cherry Audio’s focus on efficiency allows their plugins to run smoothly on a wide range of systems, from older computers to the latest high-performance machines.

User Interface and Workflow

The user interface and workflow design philosophies of Softube and Cherry Audio reflect their different approaches to software development and target audiences.

Softube

Softube’s user interfaces are characterized by:

1. Skeuomorphic design: Many Softube plugins feature highly detailed, photorealistic interfaces that closely resemble the original hardware.
2. Hardware-like workflow: Controls and layouts often mirror the physical units they emulate, providing a familiar experience for users accustomed to hardware.
3. Consistency across products: Softube maintains a consistent design language across its product line, enhancing usability for users of multiple plugins.

Softube’s approach to UI design prioritizes authenticity and familiarity, which can be appreciated by users with experience in hardware-based workflows. However, this approach may present a steeper learning curve for users more accustomed to modern, software-centric interfaces.

Cherry Audio

Cherry Audio’s user interfaces are characterized by:

1. Modern interpretations of classic designs: While Cherry Audio’s interfaces often resemble the original hardware, they incorporate modern UI elements for improved usability.
2. Scalable interfaces: Many Cherry Audio plugins feature resizable interfaces, improving visibility and usability across different screen sizes.
3. Expanded feature sets: Cherry Audio often adds new controls and features to their emulations, enhancing functionality while maintaining the spirit of the original instruments.

Cherry Audio’s UI design philosophy balances authenticity with modern usability considerations, resulting in interfaces that are both familiar to vintage synth enthusiasts and accessible to newer users.

Conclusion

Softube and Cherry Audio both offer high-quality audio software products, but with distinct approaches and strengths. Softube excels in creating premium, highly detailed emulations of classic hardware, often in collaboration with original manufacturers. Their products are known for their exceptional sound quality and authentic behavior, but come at a higher price point.

Cherry Audio, on the other hand, has carved out a niche by offering affordable, yet highly accurate, emulations of vintage synthesizers and effects. Their products are praised for their sound quality, expanded feature sets, and efficient performance, making them accessible to a wide range of users.

The choice between Softube and Cherry Audio will largely depend on individual needs, preferences, and budget. Users seeking the most authentic emulations of classic hardware and willing to invest in premium products may gravitate towards Softube. Those looking for affordable access to vintage synth sounds and a powerful modular environment may find Cherry Audio’s offerings more appealing.

Ultimately, both companies have made significant contributions to the world of music production software, providing musicians and producers with powerful tools for creativity and sound design.

FAQ

Can I use Softube and Cherry Audio plugins together in the same project?

Yes, Softube and Cherry Audio plugins can be used together in the same project, provided your digital audio workstation (DAW) supports the plugin formats offered by both companies. Both manufacturers offer their plugins in common formats such as VST, AU, and AAX, ensuring compatibility with most major DAWs.

Are there any free trials available for Softube and Cherry Audio products?

Both Softube and Cherry Audio offer free trials for many of their products. Softube typically provides 20-day trial periods for individual plugins, while Cherry Audio offers 30-day trials for most of their instruments and effects. These trials allow users to fully evaluate the products before making a purchase decision.

Do Softube and Cherry Audio support Apple Silicon natively?

As of 2023, both Softube and Cherry Audio have been working on native Apple Silicon support for their products. Softube has released Apple Silicon-compatible versions of many of their plugins, with ongoing updates for their entire product line. Cherry Audio has also been updating their products for native Apple Silicon support, with many of their recent releases offering full compatibility.