Atomika by Cherry Audio synth plugin interface with Polivoks-inspired controls

Atomika: Polivoks-Inspired Analog Synth Plugin by Cherry Audio

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (152 ratings)

Atomika is a virtual analog synth plugin from Cherry Audio that emulates the Polivoks, a duophonic Soviet-era synthesizer, and expands it with extended filter modes, polyphony, an arpeggiator and built-in effects.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

Atomika recreates the gritty character of the Polivoks, a compact analog synth built in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Its filter uses programmable op-amps instead of the transconductance amplifiers common in other synths, which gives it a distinctive sound. Cherry Audio developed Atomika with DSP engineer Mark Barton, who modeled the circuits, and the plugin keeps the original's core voice while adding modern features for production work.

Best for

Gritty analog basses
Experimental lead sounds
Filter-driven pads
Synced arpeggio patterns
Lo-fi effects processing

Developer: Cherry Audio
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Virtual analog emulation of the Polivoks duophonic synth
Programmable op-amp filter with Starve, Filter Drive and Amp Drive
Highpass, notch and peak filter modes alongside lowpass and bandpass
Monophonic, duophonic and up to 16-voice polyphony
Two modulatable VCOs with five waveforms, oscillator FM and noise
Syncable LFO with six waveforms and key reset
Arpeggiator with MIDI tempo sync and four patterns
Four integrated effects with syncable FX modulator
Over 350 presets with a built-in preset browser
Complete MIDI learn and DAW automation

03In depth

Sound Character and Filter Options

The Polivoks filter is the heart of Atomika. Cherry Audio and Mark Barton kept its programmable op-amp design and added controls the original hardware never had: Starve, Filter Drive and Amp Drive. The filter also offers highpass, notch and peak responses alongside the standard lowpass and bandpass modes.

Two independently modulatable oscillators provide triangle, saw, square, wide pulse and narrow pulse waveforms, plus oscillator FM and noise. Together with the filter, these give the synth a rough, twisted tone that is suited to basses, leads and effects-driven sounds.

Workflow, Arpeggiator and Effects

Atomika offers monophonic and duophonic voice modes, with unison and two glide types, and can be expanded to 4, 8 or 16 voices of polyphony. Velocity, keyboard tracking, aftertouch, pitch and mod-wheel response were added to the original design.

The Arp/FX panel adds an arpeggiator with MIDI tempo sync and Up, Down, Up/Down and Random patterns. It also includes four integrated effects: a Phasor with sync, Flange/Chorus with sync, three types of stereo Echo/Delay with sync, and five types of Reverb. An independent, syncable FX modulator drives the effects. All controls support MIDI learn and DAW automation.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Cherry Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Synth
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

Which formats and operating systems does Atomika support?

Atomika is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS and is 64-bit only.

What are the system requirements for Atomika?

On macOS, it requires 10.13 or later, with support for macOS 13 Ventura and Apple M1 processors. On Windows, it requires Windows 7 or later, including Windows 11. Both platforms need 64-bit systems, and a quad-core computer with 8GB of RAM is recommended. An internet connection is required to activate the plugin.

How many presets does Atomika include?

Atomika includes over 350 presets, which can be browsed through its preset browser.

Does Atomika sound exactly like the original Polivoks?

Atomika is a virtual analog emulation of the Polivoks, and it adds features that the original hardware lacked, such as extra filter modes, full polyphony and built-in effects.