Cherry Audio offers the Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer (€26 value) virtual instrument as a free download for a limited time only.
Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer emulates the Moog Concertmate MG-1 hardware synthesizer. The MG-1 was an affordable analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music and sold by Radio Shack. It was manufactured until 1983 under Radio Shack’s “Realistic” brand.
See also: Best FREE Synthesizer VST PluginsThe team at Cherry Audio developed a close emulation of the Moog Concertmate MG-1 in software format. It seems that the virtual MG-1 copies all the functionality available in the original instrument. The same can be said about the interface, an almost exact replica of the hardware MG-1.
Cherry Audio describes the plugin as “a super authentic recreation of the Realistic MG-1 synthesizer sold in Radio Shack stores in the 80s. The Surrealistic MG-1 Plus delivers fat analog tone in spades along with a unique polyphonic oscillator section, “bell tone” ring modulation, and a number of improvements that tremendously expand its capabilities.”
The plugin features two oscillators, one filter, a contour (envelope) section, and a mixer section. Check out the official demo video embedded below to hear Cherry Audio’s free MG-1 in action. It seems like it totally captures the raw sonic character of the Moog Concertmate MG-1 keyboard.
The software is NOT powered by Cherry Audio’s popular Voltage Modular platform. This is a standalone virtual instrument developed and released by Cherry Audio.
The virtual MG-1 boasts accurate analog modeling, sporting a 24dB ladder filter, ring modulation, and an expanded MIDI range when compared to the original. It includes over 130 presets.
Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer is completely free to download from Cherry Audio. It is unclear if the offer is available for a limited time only. The plugin appeared to be valued at €26 (with a temporary 100% OFF price drop) while the free download offer was briefly available at Plugin Boutique earlier today.
The developer confirmed that Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer is freeware!
UPDATE #1: It looks like the product was removed from Plugin Boutique’s website moments after this article was published. It could be scheduled for release later this week. The product is still visible on the Deals page. I will reach out to Plugin Boutique for more info about the release date.
UPDATE#2: The instrument is now finally available for free download from Cherry Audio. A user account is required. Visit the product page linked below and add Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer to your Cherry Audio library. Thanks to our reader Igor for the info!
UPDATE#3: It appears that the “Add to Library” button still isn’t working on the product page, but it’s fully functional on the Instruments page. Thanks to our reader Christian for the info!
UPDATE #4: The product page linked below is fully operational!
More info: Surrealistic MG-1 Plus Synthesizer (19.7 MB download size, EXE installer, 64-bit VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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33 Comments
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks to BPB readers Paree and Igor for the info about the freebie!
Masked tiger
onlike 3 synths really black friday u got me 5 free plugins (2 yet to come) without buying anything really ???
Illford
onWhat are these 5 free plugins?!?!?!
I know Waves and Slate Digital are releasing plugins but what are the otehrs.
ambedo
onif u own a registered focusrite interface theres a dope freebie from D16 (decimator) as well on their “plugin collective” page.
Chiccote's
onWow, thanks for letting me know about the decimator on the Focusrite page!
Vladinemir
onYou have my thanks too. D16 have great plugins. I got Devastor 2.
Febbie D.
onwoah is this Just now??? damn what a steal for 2020
Rogue Reaper
onRemoved from the Deals page as well.
Febbie D.
ondamn, was hyped for that :(
Paree
onKeep a track, it might be published soon (Im guessing tomorrow or on Friday)
Brian
onLooks like site crashed
Numanoid
onThey are just holding it back, the product is not even featured on the Cherry Audio site yet.
dasmode
onFree at Cherry Audio Store: https://store.cherryaudio.com/bundles/surrealistic-mg-1-plus-synthesizer
Igor
onFew minutes ago it appeared on Cherry Audio cite (and for FREE)
https://cherryaudio.com/instruments/surrealistic-mg-1-plus
Numanoid
onNice! :-)
Mitch
onI just downloaded it from Cherry Audio’s website. I believe you have to set up an account and use the download button all the way at the bottom of the page.
https://cherryaudio.com/instruments/surrealistic-mg-1-plus
Damon Armani
ongood news . It’s free on official website
https://cherryaudio.com/instruments/surrealistic-mg-1-plus
Best
Andrea Biasior
onHere
https://cherryaudio.com/news/2020-11-25/cherry-audio-announces-surrealistic-mg-1-plus-free
Division One
onHey Guys. Synth is avaible directly from CherryAudio. All you need to get it is to create account on their site and add it to your library (go to instruments tab on site). Cheers :D
Brad
onDamn, this freebie is pushing me to just suck it up and get their (very reasonably priced) 2600 synth as well – i can now justify it as 2x synths for $25. Not to mention their synths sound incredible anyways
Paree Katti
onThe plugin is freeware, not for a limited time, confirmed by the dev.
Numanoid
onAnybody tried this with FL Studio ? I installed it, but the only getting a generic Cherry Audio wallpaper GUI when I try to load it up in FL Studio
Numanoid
onI only opted to install the VST2 version, but I then installed the VST3 version as well. That fixed the problem. I was then prompted to log into my Cherry Audio account, and that finished the installion. Got it up and running now :-)
Big Steve
onOh, man. I can’t wait to install this! Sounds like a vaporwave machine.
Febbie D.
onI played with it and it was fun and a bit hard to understand… but it really gives off the Moog sound that others are finding :)
Christian H
onI find that MG-1 adds high frequency vintage crackling to the sound (at least to a reese bass). Did anyone manage to turn off crackling?
Christian H
onI have posted the crackling question in the Cherry Audio forum:
https://forums.cherryaudio.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=1328
Igor
onFound this on KVR, maybe it can help:
This sounds great. I was experiencing some nasty clicks with the VST2 version in FL Studio but enabling “use fixed sized buffers” sorted it
Christian H
onYes this fixes the problem. Open the FL Studio plugin wrapper settings, cog wheel, troubleshooting, enable Use fixed size buffers. Will increase plugin latency. Thanks Igor.
jba
onYeah, loads of crackling here too, and I don’t know if it’s intentional (as a vintage thing) or a bug.
(tried to play with the buffer size of my audio interface, of course, but even on the bigger size the crackling stays the same.)
jennyblack
onNo cracking here. Sounds very nice!
Christian H
onDec 10 2020: Cherry Audio released updates for MG-1, DCO-106, and CA2600 that should fix problems with crackling. It worked for me, I don’t need fixed buffers anymore.
Atme
onNice synth!