Cherry Audio Mercury-4

divides over 400 sounds into their respective
categories, including leads, basses, arpeggios
and pads. There’s a distinctly retro lavour to the
vast majority of ready-to-go sounds, particular
when cycling and triggering the arps. Those
designing quirky video game soundtracks will
ind a lot to mine from here. Our quick preset
skim highlights include the spritely, 8-bit-
sounding Brush Taps, the arpeggiated Square
Space and stinging Edgy Arp, and the emotive
Modern Classic bass sound. While many sounds
have that 70s kitsch quality to them, it’s plainly
apparent that there’s a lot more to Mercury-4
than meets the eye.
Cherry on top
Mercury-4’s sonics might have something of a
day-glo veneer, but it’s clear that there’s a lot of
sound-creating potential here. Lifting the hood
of this software reveals a signal path built
around a modelling of that original oscillator
and sub oscillator, while all of the Jupiter-4’s dual
ilter nuances have been captured with peerless
detail – these sounds feel like they’re coming out
of a dusty old relic, especially when you add a
touch of Drift for a little more authentic
analogue unpredictability.
Not feeling content with just making an
exacting remake, Cherry Audio have also
indulged in a little revisionism. While the original
Jupiter-4 was limited to just eight memory
locations for homemade sound design (saved
via its ‘Compuphonic’ internal storage) we’re
now gifted with ininite scope for preset-saving.
Full 16-voice polyphony over the original’s four
and – perhaps the most attractive new aspect –
MPE support.
Controlling these sounds via MPE reveals
new dimensions which would have been
unimaginable back in ’78. Enabling MPE mode
allows you to map an array of parameters to
your MPE device, across the three standard
dimensions of pitch, pressure and timbre. While
there are too many to list here, our VCO
Modulation Amount and Resonance mid-
performance opens up sounds in astounding
new ways.
Another major high-point here is the lawless
arpeggiator, controlled via simple switches and
yielding pulsing runs via a unique method of
implementation. Basically, the octave range is
dependent on where the notes are pressed on
the keyboard as opposed to being assigned
manually. While initially confusing, it’s quick to
get the hang of when you igure out where
these areas are located. The four arpeggio
controls allow you to cycle between Up (lowest
to highest notes), Down (the opposite), Up &
Down and Random.
Mercurial magic
Whoever you are, you’ll undoubtedly have a
blast with Mercury-4; it’s an authentic-sounding
and majorly editable synth that has been
replicated with absolute love and respect for its
source. Whether it becomes a beneicial
addition to your own tracks is another story,
with its intrepid tones maybe a little too garish
for many sound designers. Either way, at a
double-take-inducing £30, you’d be unwise not
to take a tour of Mercury.
Web cherryaudio.com
Verdict
For Very thorough reproduction of an
often overlooked golden age synth
High quality sounds given new life
Fluid and authentic arpeggiator
Improves on the original’s capabilities
Against Distinct sonic character may
not be for everyone
A lovingly crafted tribute that widens the
aural capabilities of this once-limited synth,
revealing a colourful sonic playground
8/10
Alternatively
Roland ProMars
£90
A smaller variant of the Jupiter-4;
this oicial software version has
similar character to the Mercury-4
Arturia SQ80V
£145
Provides an accurate modelling of
the similarly lo-i and under-loved
Ensoniq SQ80
Though it lacked the pitch bend wheel
that its bigger brother, the Jupiter-8
would later sport, the original Jupiter-4
included a small joystick bender
control on a horizontal axis that
allowed some rather rigid control of
VCO pitch, VCF cutof, VCA volume or
how much LFO modiication is applied
to the VCO, VCF or the VCA.
The Mercury-4 now allows your MIDI
controller’s pitch bend wheel to serve
the same function, albeit more luidly
and in a more performance-ready way.
It’s nice to be able to jiggle around
modiiers like this, developing evolving
textures as modulation is introduced
and removed musically.
Couple this with the velocity-
sensitive MPE support and the
Mercury-4 ofers a radically diferent
experience than the one ofered by the
hardware’s original capabilities.
Does it bend?
The GUI is true to the aesthetic of the original Jupiter-4, while adding a few extra goodies
These simple switches and dials allow you to assign your pitch bend wheel accordingly
“It’s plainly
apparent that
there’s a lot more to
Mercury-4 than meets
the eye”
January 2022 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 69
cherry audio mercury-4 / reviews <
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