SH-MAX by Cherry Audio synth plugin interface

SH-MAX: Software Synth Based on the SH-5, SH-7 and SH-3A by Cherry Audio

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (51 ratings)

SH-MAX is a software virtual instrument from Cherry Audio that combines the SH-5, SH-7 and SH-3A synthesizers of the 1970s into one plugin. It is available in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats.

VST3VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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01Overview

SH-MAX takes the sound and features of three 1970s SH-series synthesizers and puts them in one software instrument. Cherry Audio builds on the SH-5 core with elements from the SH-7 and the additive-style oscillator from the SH-3A. Monophonic, duophonic, unison and 16-voice polyphonic modes cover basses, leads and chords, and the included presets give producers a quick starting point.

Best for

Analog-style basses
Layered unison leads
Polyphonic chords and pads
Sequenced patterns
Retro synth sound design

Developer: Cherry Audio
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Based on the sound and features of the SH-5, SH-7 and SH-3A
Three interface themes matching the SH-3A, SH-5 and SH-7
Monophonic, duophonic, unison and 16-voice polyphonic modes
Five sound sources: VCO-1, VCO-2A, VCO-2B, Ring Modulator, Noise
Two parallel filter sections with multimode and bandpass filters
Two tempo-syncable LFOs with retrigger options
Four-channel step sequencer with up to 16 steps each
Over 300 presets in 14 categories

03In depth

Sound Sources, Filters and Signal Routing

SH-MAX provides five sound sources: VCO-1, VCO-2A, VCO-2B, a ring modulator and noise. Two parallel filter sections are available, a multimode filter with lowpass, bandpass and highpass outputs and a separate dedicated bandpass filter.

Each source can be routed to either or both filters, or bypassed directly to the VCA. Adjustable drift on the oscillators, filters and amplifier, along with EG slop, adds an analog character to the sound. Cherry Audio says the filters can move from warm tones to more aggressive timbres.

Modulation, Sequencing and Effects

Two tempo-syncable LFOs with retrigger options, sample and hold, autobend, vibrato and portamento are included, along with two ADSR envelopes per layer.

A four-channel step sequencer runs up to 16 steps per channel, with start, stop, audition and humanize options. It can send MIDI notes to a DAW timeline when the host supports recording MIDI from a plugin. Four independent effects chains, one per signal path plus a global layer, hold 20 effects that can be shared with Cherry Audio's Trident and Mercury-8 synthesizers.

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, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does SH-MAX support?

SH-MAX is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX plugin formats, plus a Standalone version.

What operating systems does SH-MAX run on?

SH-MAX runs on Windows and macOS. On macOS it requires 10.13 or later, and on Windows it requires Windows 7 or later, both in 64-bit versions.

What do I need to use SH-MAX?

SH-MAX needs a 64-bit Intel or Apple Silicon Mac, or a 64-bit Windows computer, with about 210 MB of hard disk space. A 3.4 GHz quad-core processor and 8 GB of RAM are recommended. An internet connection is required for product activation.