CMI V by Arturia sampler plugin interface

CMI V: Digital Sampling and Additive Synth Workstation by Arturia Free Download

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (57 ratings)

CMI V is a software sampler from Arturia that recreates the Fairlight CMI, an early digital sampling workstation. It combines sampling, additive synthesis and a new spectral synthesis mode in a plugin that runs as VST2, AU, AAX or standalone.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

CMI V is Arturia's software recreation of the Fairlight CMI, the instrument that introduced digital sampling in 1980. The plugin keeps the original sampling and additive synthesis capabilities and adds features the hardware never had. You can layer and sequence up to 10 instruments at once, with up to 32 voices per track. The library includes 600 presets from the original CMI collection, plus 360 presets made by Arturia sound designers.

Best for

Retro sampling sounds
80s-style pop production
Additive synthesis sound design
Lo-fi sample processing
Sequenced sample patterns

Developer: Arturia
Category: Samplers
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Software sampler recreating the Fairlight CMI digital workstation
Sampling, additive synthesis and Spectral Synth generation modes
10 instrument tracks with up to 32 voices per track
600 original CMI presets and 360 Arturia-designed presets
Variable bit depth and sample rate
32-step sequencer inspired by Page R
24 modulation sources per track
Tag-based preset browser with favorites and playlists
Resizable interface for high resolution screens

03In depth

Sampling and additive synthesis in one workstation

Each instrument in CMI V can draw from three sound generation methods. The sampling engine lets you work with an included sample library or load your own, and you can set sample start and end points, loop points and resolution.

The additive synthesis engine gives control over each component harmonic over time, with custom envelopes and more complex waveshapes than simple sine waves. Modified harmonics can also be resynthesized back into a sample.

A newer mode called Spectral Synth offers a simpler way to explore additive synthesis. Variable bit depth and sample rate options let you add lo-fi character to the sound.

Modulation, sequencing and workflow

CMI V provides 24 modulation sources per track that can be applied to all control parameters. The built-in 32-step sequencer is inspired by the Fairlight's Page R sequencer.

The redesigned preset browser supports search by name and tag filtering. You can mark favorites, add comments and create playlists to organize your own presets.

The interface is resizable, so it can fit high resolution, UHD or Retina screens, or scale down when space is limited in your DAW.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Arturia
Type	Plugin
Category	Sampler
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does CMI V support?

CMI V is available as VST2, AU, AAX and standalone. It runs on Windows 10 (64-bit) and macOS 10.13 or later.

What do I need to run CMI V?

CMI V needs a 64-bit DAW or the standalone application. Recommended hardware is 4 GB RAM, a 4-core CPU, 3 GB of free disk space and an OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU. On Mac, a 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo Boost) Intel CPU or an Apple Silicon CPU is required.