Price History
Product Overview
Softube's Model 84 is a circuit-modeled emulation of a landmark 1984 polyphonic synthesizer, meticulously reverse-engineered from a factory-calibrated original unit. The plugin reproduces the harmonic character and non-linear behavior of the hardware through component-level modeling, capturing both the intentional design choices and the subtle distortions that defined the instrument's sonic signature across countless hits of the synthwave and new wave eras.
The synth operates as a six-voice polyphonic instrument with dual voice allocation modes that replicate the original's behavior when voices exceed available resources. This architectural fidelity matters: the specific way voices prioritize and steal impacts sequencer playback and real-time performance in ways that distinguish it from generic polyphonic engines. The filter and oscillator sections deliver the characteristically warm, slightly compressed tonality that made this hardware a studio standard, with enough vintage coloration to sit naturally in mix contexts without requiring extensive compensation.
Beyond faithful emulation, Model 84 adds practical flexibility for DAW integration. The plugin exists in three formats - as a standalone instrument, as a chorus effect for Softube's Amp Room platform, and as seven Eurorack modules for their Modular environment. This multiformat approach appeals to producers building hybrid setups or integrating vintage synthesis into guitar and bass chains.
Model 84 is best suited for engineers seeking authentic 1980s polyphonic synthesis without the maintenance demands or acquisition costs of hardware. It competes effectively against other vintage synth emulations by prioritizing accuracy over sonic enhancement, making it invaluable for period-correct work and productions where that specific character is non-negotiable.