Meat Beats delivers 80s synth nostalgia with the free HERA-ONE virtual synthesizer for macOS and Windows.
HERA-ONE isn’t the first Meat Beats release to deliver a healthy dose of nostalgia. Not too long ago, Micro Keys and Orbhits took us back to the 90s and the sound of classic House music.
This time, Meat Beats is going back one more decade to bring us some of that much-loved 80s analog synth character in all its “not quite right” glory.
HERA-ONE delivers the sound of 1985, to be exact, by recreating an obscure analog preset synth with a Juno-106-like engine.
Since Meat Beats refers to the desktop module in question as obscure, whoever names it first in the comments wins… the respect and admiration of your peers (possibly the worst prize ever).
The original hardware features sixteen presets plus eight hidden sounds, all of which are found in HERA-ONE. In addition to the original presets, HERA-ONE provides eight more variations on bass and synth sounds.
HERA-ONE offers a fairly wide range of sounds, from analog strings and brass to organs, pianos, clavs, synths, and basses. You can even find a flute or clarinet if that’s what you’re after.
So, it has 32 vintage presets with a decent variety of sounds from the 80s, and it’s free; I can’t complain about that.
In a departure from the original hardware, all HERA-ONE presets are polyphonic up to 32 notes, dramatically enhancing how you can use each sound.
The interface displays every preset front and centre with just a few available controls. To the left of the presets, you’ll find Volume, Attack, Release, and Vibrato sliders with Chorus, Reverb, and Brilliance knobs underneath.
HERA-ONE might not have many editing controls, but that’s in staying true to its hardware inspiration. However, the available controls, perhaps the Chorus in particular, are very handy.
In the music production world, we spend much of our time and effort trying to recreate the sound of yesteryear authentically, and anything that helps us succeed is bound to be appreciated.
When it comes to authentic nostalgia, Meat Beats clearly knows a thing or two! Once you lay down some 80s sounds, get to mixing with Free Suite (nine plugins) from Venn Audio.
HERA-ONE is available in AU and VST formats for macOS and Windows.
Download: HERA-ONE (FREE)
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13 Comments
Priyanshu Kainthola
onIn Hindi, Hira means Daimond!
Darryl Lim
on“Subs” by Notonik: A free 808 bass-synth rompler (i think) with various distortion effects on top. Credits to @SumnSumnSumnHTK on YouTube.
https://notonik-vst.com/subs/
https://youtu.be/qfyhRiy4p10
Numanoid
onWhat is the make of the original obscure synth ?
MRG
onRoland MKS-7, perhaps? Based on the description and GUI style…
Ron
onBy look of the interface and it has 32 presets
I’m going with the Roland MT 32
Krystaline
onI think it’s a Roland Alpha Juno 1. Hera’s the Greek name for Juno, and it fits in with Roland’s naming theme.
Cristofe Chabot
onThis is VERY clearly an emulation of the Roland EM-101 Sound Plus module.
oli
onnone of them named here seem to match specifications…
MRG
onFOUND IT! Roland EM-101
Couldn’t sleep. LOL
oli
onYES!!!
OLI
onSorry Cristofe, I didnt read your post before mine, yesterday
MRG
onAh, weird. Missed it too… Or was it “awaiting moderation”? Ah well.
Glad I found it, it was a fun search. :D
Raven
onAYE… forshure we want sounds from yesteryear… and this is typically a gem to me personally… but most of the time i try making an 80’s sound authentically is all about what NOT to do… dont add supermassive.. dont make the drums too present… and on and on… i wont lie its not fun. and i dont think we need to so painstakingly remake every detail for an immersive and pleasurable outcome… especially a “legendery” outcome…
Reason has this killer punchline in thier marketing wich i must say is a step in the right direction for “productivity” reasons: SOUND LIKE YOU. So you are a 80’s lover at hear dont worry you will sound that way for shure! but DONT ERASE THE REST!
hehehe forgive the ranty