SQ80 V by Arturia digital synth plugin interface

SQ80 V: Digital Cross-Wave Synth by Arturia Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (37 ratings)

SQ80 V is a software synthesizer from Arturia that recreates the Ensoniq SQ-80 with three digital oscillators, an emulated analog filter, and more than 400 waveforms for building lo-fi, textured and rhythmic sounds.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

SQ80 V models the Ensoniq SQ-80, a synth known for mixing digital oscillators with analog-style warmth. Its three oscillators draw on a large waveform library, and the signal path runs through an emulated analog resonant filter and amplifier stages. The result is a plugin built for gritty, imperfect timbres as well as clean modern sounds. Arturia also adds modulation sources, an arpeggiator, and a set of master effects.

Best for

Lo-fi pads
Industrial percussion
Pulse-width basses
Evolving rhythmic textures
Retro-digital leads
Sound design

Developer: Arturia
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Three digital oscillators based on the original DOC chip
Over 400 waveforms across four unique banks
Amplitude modulation and hard sync for abstract timbres
Emulated CEM-style analog resonant low-pass filter
Four polyphonic envelope generators with three modes
Three LFOs with six waveforms and eight MIDI sources
Built-in seven-mode arpeggiator with up to 16 voices
Four FX slots across two busses and 15 master effect types

03In depth

Sound Character and Waveform Design

Each of the three oscillators can be assigned a different waveform from a library of more than 400 shapes across four banks. The library includes the original SQ-80 waveforms, additional waveforms added by Arturia, and hidden waveforms from the ESQ-1 and SQ-80 software.

Amplitude modulation and hard sync let you move beyond static timbres into more abstract behavior. Feeding the oscillators through the emulated CEM 3379 filter adds the resonant, lo-fi edge that defines the instrument's sound.

Modulation, Controls and Workflow

SQ80 V includes four polyphonic envelope generators in three modes (SQ80, DADSR and MSEG), three LFOs with six waveforms, and eight MIDI sources. A modulation mixer lets you combine two sources at once.

The interface offers a stripped-down hardware view with a mini display for core voice controls, plus a fuller Synthesis view for oscillators and amplifiers. Macro controls for Brightness, Timbre, Time and Movement give quick access to broad changes. A built-in seven-mode arpeggiator and up to 16-voice polyphony with Unison mode round out the performance tools.

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	Synth
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats and operating systems does SQ80 V support?

SQ80 V is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS and is 64-bit.

What are the system requirements for SQ80 V?

On macOS, it requires Mac OS 10.13 or later. On Windows, it requires Windows 10 or later (64-bit). Both platforms need 4 GB RAM, 2 GB of free disk space and an OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU. ARM processors are not supported on Windows.