Trident Mk III is a virtual synthesizer instrument that revives the multitimbral experience and sonic capabilities of the early 80s Trident hardware synths and exponentially enhances them, offering an unparalleled combination of innovation and authenticity.

Cherry Audio's Trident Mk III synthesizer is a stunning virtual instrument that meticulously revives the sonic capabilities of the original 1981 and 1982 Trident Mk I and Mk II hardware synths. It not only replicates the multitimbral experience of the original but exponentially enhances it, offering an unparalleled combination of innovation and authenticity.

Cherry Audio has meticulously recreated each section of the original Trident hardware — the sweeping Synth, the bold Brass, and the stirring Strings — and enhanced the entire ensemble with additional features. The voice count has been increased to 16 for each section, and now includes velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, as well as support for polyphonic aftertouch.

The lower panels for Keyboard, Motion (a new feature), and Effects have been significantly expanded to include a virtual studio of tools that enhance this "orchestra-in-a-box" experience like never before. These features include drag-and-drop zones and quick templates for splits and layers, a DAW-friendly 16x2 polyphonic step sequencer, and dual arpeggiators. Trident also features 17 studio-quality effects that can now be arranged and reused within its four effects chains. These effects include the original BBD flanger, a compressor, a lo-fi effect, a phaser, a ring modulator, a 7-band EQ, and various delays and reverbs, including the new Lushverb.

With comprehensive MIDI mapping capabilities and over 370 professionally designed presets, Trident is a must- have virtual instrument that will captivate both vintage synth enthusiasts and contemporary music producers.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Each section now features 16 voices. The Synthesizer section is fully polyphonic, with a filter for each voice, allowing for independent shaping. The Brass and Strings sections remain paraphonic, like the hardware, each having its own filter to shape their ensemble character.

Cherry Audio's Trident, like several of our recent instruments, showcases a thoughtful design and beautifully rendered user interface. It features persistent sound design controls at the top for easy access. The separate lower panel modes reveal additional functionalities, and we have further enhanced these features.

The Keyboard panel includes hideable keys and provides quick access to performance tools. These features enable you to add real-time expressive flourishes that bring a performance to life with techniques such as bending, sliding, and vibrato. In addition to supporting velocity, Cherry Audio's Trident also offers both channel and polyphonic aftertouch, enabling expressive performances in ways that were not possible with the original hardware.

The all-new Motion panel allows users to easily assign key splits and layers using both one-click Quick Split templates and draggable zone controls. It also features discreet vibrato controls for each section, aftertouch assignment, a transposable 32-step polyphonic sequencer, and two advanced arpeggiators that can be customized. These features enable users to set up and play the Synth, Brass, and String sections simultaneously in various ways, bringing this multitimbral orchestra-in-a-box to life at their fingertips.

The original Trident hardware featured a single BBD flanger and a built-in ensemble effect for Strings. In contrast, Cherry Audio's Trident offers an enhanced set of Effects panels with 17 different effects. You can arrange chains of up to five effects in each section: Synthesizer, Brass, and Strings. Additionally, there is a Global effects chain that processes all three sections together.

Each effect can be adjusted, bypassed, reordered by dragging, copied, soloed, and duplicated. You can also save and recall chains for use in other presets. Furthermore, a dedicated LFO Effect Modulator allows you to modulate entire chains. The Effects panels can be minimized, providing essential control access at the bottom for immediate use.

Cherry Audio has designed Trident to cater to both first-time users and experienced synth enthusiasts. Beginners will find it easy to use and immediately satisfying, while advanced users will uncover layers of evolving timbres that the original hardware could only dream of.

TRIDENT FEATURES

• All three sections -- Synthesizer, Brass, and Strings -- superbly recreated and significantly enhanced with expanded functionality and modulation options

• Up to 16 voices for each section

o Polyphonic Synthesizer section with dedicated mixer
o Paraphonic Brass and String sections with dedicated mixers

• Support for velocity and aftertouch (including polyphonic aftertouch with compatible controllers) and pedal expression, independently assignable to the sections to control volume, filter, and modulation

• Synthesizer Section

o Voice Modes: Monophonic, two Polyphonic modes, or 2, 4, 6, or 8 Unison
o Two VCOs: one with sawtooth, pulse width, and PWM waveforms; the other with sawtooth, triangle, and pulse width

o VCF per voice with LP, HP, Band, or Notch response and keyboard tracking, based on the original's SSM 2044

o Two envelope generators (EG)
o Syncable dedicated Modulation Generator (LFO) with triangle, sawtooth, ramp, square, and sample & hold waveforms, with delay and retrig • Brass Section

o Dedicated filter with cutoff, resonance, EG intensity, auto damp o Dedicated vibrato with delay and EG
o Silence note and multi-trigger options

• String Section
o Dedicated filter with attack/release envelope o Equalizer
o Bowing control
o Vibrato with delay

• Master Mixer with stereo panning, transpose, and master tune

• Pitch bend and vibrato joystick controls, with glide for the synthesizer section

• Hideable switching lower panels for Keyboard, Motion (a new feature), and Effects

• Independent key range assignment for all three instrument sections for layering and splitting, with crossfade, assignable through draggable zone handles or "Quick Split" templates

• 16x2 polyphonic step sequencer with start, stop, and auto start options, with accurate DAW clock and step synchronization

• Patterns can be programmed to record real-time notes or as steps, with ties, accents, and Pattern A and Pattern B variations and combinations

• Two assignable dynamic arpeggiators with four modes – Arp, Leap, Order, and Random

• Swing, Chance, and Feel groove controls for both the sequencer and arpeggiators to add degrees of randomness to arpeggiated patterns

• Four independent customizable chains of effects, one for each instrument section plus global, with a global effect modulator

• 17 studio-quality effects that can now be arranged, saved, and recalled within its four effects chains:

o BBD Flanger (new, based on the Trident original)
o Compressor
o Digital Delay
o Digital Reverb
o Distortion & EQ
o Dual Delay (new)
o Dual Ensemble (new)
o Dual Phaser
o Envelope Filter
o Flanger & Chorus
o Galactic Reverb
o Lo-Fi (updated)
o Lushverb (new)
o Ring Modulator (new)
o Seven Band EQ
o Spring Reverb (new)
o Tape Echo (new)

• Persistent mini UI Effects controls for on/off, solo, bipolar modulator amount slider, and dry/wet mix for each effect. Global FX on/off, level, and stereo expand.

• Over 370 professionally designed presets in 14 categories, accessible in a convenient preset browser

• Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions included

• User-adjustable oversampling control

• Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping (Preset and Global)

• Cherry Audio's popular 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

   

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Trident Mk III by Cherry Audio is provided in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats.

• macOS Requirements: macOS 10.13 or above. 64-bit required. Intel or Apple Silicon processor. 3.4 GHz Quad-Core or Apple Silicon CPU with 8GB of RAM is recommended. Hard disk space: 110 MB.

• Windows Requirements: Windows 7 or above (including Windows 11), 64-bit required. 3.4 GHz Quad- Core computer with 8GB of RAM recommended. Hard disk space: 110 MB.

• NOTE: Internet connection required for product activation