Filtomika

Filtomika is a filter plugin that models the celebrated filter stage from the Polivoks synthesizer, a Soviet-era instrument renowned for its aggressive, characterful sound design. Cherry Audio's implementation is based on circuit modeling by developer Mark Barton and closely traces the programmable op-amp filter originally designed by Vladimir Kuzmin, capturing its particular flavor of resonant, sometimes unstable behavior.

Beyond strict emulation, Filtomika extends the original hardware with practical modern controls. The standard lowpass and bandpass modes are supplemented by highpass, notch, and peak responses. Three additional parameters - Starve, Filter Drive, and Amp Drive - add saturation and harmonic complexity at various stages, pushing the filter into increasingly nonlinear territory. These controls give the plugin a wider palette than the hardware alone.

The modulation section includes a syncable LFO with six waveforms plus an envelope follower that responds to input dynamics. The envelope follower mode proves particularly useful for bass and drum processing, enabling responsive filter sweeps that track source material.

As an insert or bus processor, Filtomika works across mono and stereo sources. It excels on material that benefits from aggressive filtering - drums, synths, guitars, and bass respond well to its particular character. The 30+ included presets offer practical starting points, though the interface rewards experimentation from engineers comfortable with filter topology.

Filtomika occupies a specific niche among filter plugins: it prioritizes character over neutrality, making it a natural choice for producers seeking the Polivoks' distinctive sonic signature or those looking for a filter with genuine harmonic content rather than clinical precision.