Central Processing Unit
The machines
that made the records.
The Sheffield electro label turns its research to the machines that made the records. CPU Software is the division building audio plugins, and three are out now: CPU Micron, a monophonic synthesiser and sequencer, now on iPad too; CPU Quad, a multi-effects processor modelled on a 1989 rack unit; and CPU SPX, rebuilt from the JEN SX-1000.
Every plugin works to one rule, and it's the reason the division exists: model the circuit - no samples or approximations. Values in the DSP come from primary sources - a service-manual schematic, a published calibration procedure, the machine's own firmware, or a measurement of a working unit. Where no source can pin down a value's final setting, it is trimmed by ear on top of the modelled circuit and direct comparison with the hardware.
CPU Quad
Multi-effects processor
A working emulation of the 1989 Alesis QuadraVerb, firmware 1.07 - five reverb algorithms, delay, pitch and EQ, running at the hardware's own clock.
CPU Micron
Monophonic synth & sequencer
Traced from the CEM3340 and filtered through an IR3109, with a sequencer reconstructed from the original owner's manual - and the only emulation that talks back to the hardware.
CPU SPX
Monophonic synthesiser
An emulation of the JEN SX-1000 - a late-1970s Italian monosynth built to a price, and one that ended up on a great many records because of it.
CPU 10
Semi-modular synthesiser
An emulation of the MS-10, the 1978 monophonic synthesiser - one oscillator, a two-pole lowpass and a patch panel that lets you rewire the lot.
These are the first three. More instruments are in the pipeline.
Support and enquiries: input (at) cpurecords.net