Cherry Audio Intros ‘Fat & Savage’ Octave Cat Software Synthesizer

Cherry Audio has introduced Octave Cat, a software version, for MacOS & Windows, of the Octave Electronics Cat analog monosynth from 1976.

The new plugin was created in collaboration with Carmine Bonanno, the designer of the original Octave Cat synthesizer.

The Octave Cat plugin expands on the original’s capabilities in many ways, offering 16-voice polyphony, MPE support, new synthesis options, effects and more.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Octave Cat retains all the growl of the original hardware’s fat and savage duophonic sound and replicates the CAT’s uniquely aggressive resonant four-pole 24 dB/oct filter. The Octave Cat feature set expands on the original with enhancements including 16-voice polyphony, sample and hold glide, and interchangeable skins.

A secondary panel view reveals dual eight-step classic-style sequencers and studio-quality effects featuring distortion, phaser, flanger/chorus, delay, and reverb. With support for MPE, over 300 expertly designed presets, and extensive MIDI mapping functions, Octave Cat will satisfy both vintage synth aficionados and professional modern music producers.”

Features:

  • All aspects of the original CAT precisely modeled
  • Over 300 presets
  • Dual Panel Views with an authentic Main view for synthesis controls, and an additional FX/Seq panel with extended features
  • Monophonic, duophonic, and polyphonic (up to 16 voices) voice modes
  • Unison for mono and duo modes
  • Two distinct VCOs with discrete wave, modulation, S+H, and sub octave settings; VCO1 with saw, triangle, and pulse with PWM, and VCO2 with square and saw waveforms
  • “Vintage-correct” four-pole 24 db/oct filter, based on the original “cascaded OTA” SSM2040 filter, replicating The CAT’s unique resonance
  • Accurate reproduction of the original’s Transient Generators section with two envelope generators: a standard ADSR (attack/decay/sustain/release), and an AR (attack/release)
  • Sample and Hold with VCO1, VCO2, or Noise as source, with Glide that slews the voltage steps for smoother transitions
  • User-selectable Bend Depth, Octave Shift, and note Glide
  • Tempo-syncable LFO with onset delay
  • White noise generator
  • Dual-channel, eight-step sequencer, independently assignable to oscillator pitches, filter cutoff frequency and VCA amplitude, with tempo sync, quantization, and keyboard transpose
  • Studio-quality integrated effects: distortion with tube and fuzz, 2/4/8/12-stage phaser, flanger/chorus, three syncable delay types, and five reverb types
  • Selectable original “Mark I” or later-style “SRM” skin
  • Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions included
  • Channel pressure and polyphonic aftertouch as a polyphonic modulation source
  • Support for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) — Pitch, Channel Pressure, and Timbre — making Octave Cat capable of more organic and expressive performances when using MPE-compatible controllers
  • Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping
  • Cherry Audio’s Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
  • Complete documentation available directly online from the instrument or in downloadable PDF format
  • User-adjustable oversampling control

Pricing and Availability:

Octave Cat is available now with an intro price $49 USD (normally $69). A demo version is also available.

If you’ve used Cherry Audio’s Octave Cat, share your thoughts on it in the comments!

16 thoughts on “Cherry Audio Intros ‘Fat & Savage’ Octave Cat Software Synthesizer”

  1. Got a Cat synth for Xmas when I was 16. Actually got to use in HS jazz band and at a few festivals we competed in my senior year. Bought the Behringer for nostalgia reasons but returned it. Got the CA audio version yesterday and have been playing it quite a bit. Sounds awesome. Did notice some qlitches with sequencer clock values changing on their own? Was running it in Unify so not sure if that is the reason. Besides that issue, it sounds awesome and am very glad I returned the Behringer version. Good job CA.

    1. Honestly, there is no competition, the Behringer CAT nailed @95% the original white CAT, while this is just a software candy that sounds far from reality to me.

      1. “Frankly, I am amazed at what you’ve accomplished. When I look at the Cherry Cat on my PC screen, it feels like I’m looking at the real instrument! Better yet, it goes way beyond what a hardware CAT is capable of. For instance, on a hardware CAT you can’t save a patch, you can’t control modulation with an external MIDI controller, you don’t have full polyphony, etc. Also, you get enhancements like S+H glide, sequencing, MIDI clock sync, effects processing, etc.. All of this makes the Cherry Cat incredibly more versatile than a hardware CAT.“ – Carmine Bonanno

  2. There is nothing particularly interesting or unique about the CAT synthesizer. I do wish that CA would apply their considerable talents to replicating something more unique, such as a Serge Modular or Buchla system or maybe at least the venerable Electrocomp 101 or, better yet, the 200 or maybe a Wavemaker 4 or 6. These were really great, classic instruments that never became particularly popular due to the market being flooded with more mundane offerings by bigger companies.

  4. “Unique” is relative to the player’s experience & needs. No manufacturer can foresee every potential mismatch or OS glitch; no synth will please everyone. Cherry Audio has a broad catalog that’s mostly WINs. They strike a good balance between modules and basics like the Juno-106.

    I’m not into traditional modular, but I have several of CA’s polys and they perform well. I own other companies’ instruments, but you can’t go wrong with their CS-80 and Polymoog plugs, for example. I’ve played and even owned my share of vintage hardware, so I’m satisfied that the software versions give good value for the money.

  5. I’ve had dealings with Carmine Bonanno in the past, truly great guy, and had a CAT in the studio for an extended time about 30 years ago tho I have no memory of it, musically:) Whether or not this softsynth is for me, having Carmine involved demonstrates Cherry Audio’s commitment to getting it right, just as Dave S & GForce did by connecting with Tom O & Marcus with their recent Oberheim offerings and subsequent update. So, where’s my freakin’ Voyetra??:)

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