Vintage-inspired soft synths are having a moment, and the latest heavyweight is Cherry Audio's Memorymode 2, a ground-up successor to the company's Memorymoog emulation. For expressive players, the headline is simple: this flagship ships with velocity sensitivity, polyphonic aftertouch, and MPE support listed right alongside its sound engine.
What is new in Memorymode 2
The original Memorymoog was a six-voice, three-oscillator-per-voice polysynth famous for its thick, slightly unstable analog character. Memorymode 2 keeps that spirit but modernizes the architecture. According to Cherry Audio's product page, the instrument is now dual-layer, with 16 voices of polyphony per layer, and up to 48 voices when unison is engaged.
Each voice offers three multi-wave oscillators with improved analog modeling, a choice of 24 dB and 12 dB per octave ladder filters, and a "modern" mode that adds extra bass and treble. An analog drift control recreates the voice-to-voice pitch wander of the original hardware, while resonance compensation keeps the level steady as you push the filter.
Beyond the core voice, you get four modulation lanes with 52 routing destinations, an arpeggiator, and a 16x4 programmable step sequencer per layer. A touch animator can automate parameters across sequencer steps, and a multi-effects section provides three independent chains with 22 effects, including a phaser and rotary speaker designed for this instrument. More than 800 presets ship in the box, according to the SYNTH ANATOMY coverage.
Why MPE players should care
Classic-style polysynths are wonderful under MPE for one reason: per-note pitch and pressure make analog-flavored pads breathe. A single held chord can bend one note, swell another with pressure, and slide a third, something a channel-wide mod wheel simply cannot do.
With MPE support on a dual-layer engine, Memorymode 2 becomes an interesting canvas for controllers like the Expressive E Osmose, the LinnStrument, or any MPE keyboard. Layer one could carry a lush pad while layer two adds a bright lead, all responding to your per-note gestures. The drift control also pairs nicely with expressive playing, since subtle detune movement and per-note pitch modulation can blend into a convincingly organic result.
As always with MPE, a few checks are worthwhile before a session:
- Confirm the pitch-bend range in your controller and plugin match, typically 48 semitones per note in MPE mode.
- Check the MPE zone setup in your DAW, especially if you record multi-channel performances.
- Test pressure and slide mappings to the modulation lanes to make sure they hit the destinations you expect.
Price, formats, and availability
Memorymode 2 is available now for $69, with a $39 upgrade price for owners of version 1. It runs as a standalone application and as VST, VST3, AU, and AAX on both macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows. Full details and purchase options are on the Cherry Audio store, and the launch is also summarized by KVR Audio.
The bigger picture
Cherry Audio's decision to list MPE next to polyphonic aftertouch reflects a wider trend: expressive support is turning into a baseline expectation for flagship soft synths, rather than a bonus. As controllers get cheaper and more capable, developers of classic emulations increasingly want their instruments to respond to more than velocity and a mod wheel.
If you already own a per-note controller, Memorymode 2 is worth a demo. It offers a rich, warm polysynth voice, deep modulation, and the expressive hooks that make long, evolving chords come alive. If you are on a standard keyboard, the same instrument still works beautifully with velocity and aftertouch, and you can always explore MPE later.