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RetroMod Digital 1 Black Friday deals start with 40% off, taking this virtual instrument from Tracktion to $47.40 until Nov 6, 2026.
It is a sample-based instrument built around the digital and hybrid synths of the 1980s. Tracktion says the period from 1981 to 1987 produced the great hybrid machines, and this instrument is its take on that sound.
The maker captured thousands of waveforms from the original instruments. They became pads that evolve over time, shining electric pianos, metallic picked sounds, harsh basses and more.
Tracktion calls it the ultimate virtual instrument for re-experiencing the hybrid 80s sound. That is the maker's claim, so take it as the pitch, not a verdict.
The source machines include some of the best-known names of the era, listed below.
Five digital instruments went into the library:
The maker also points to the PPG Wave series and the Korg DW series as part of the hybrid era this library draws on.
Every one of them was recorded through a Phoenix Audio Nice DI, an Apogee Rosetta 200 and VoVox cables. That is the signal chain behind the captures, so the samples start from a defined set of converters and cabling.
The numbers below come from the maker's spec list:
That is a lot of raw material for one instrument. The pads and basses are the sounds the maker puts front and centre, so those are the places to start when you dial in a patch.
At 5.9 GB, give the library some drive space, and keep RAM in mind if you plan to run several instances in one project.
On Mac, you need macOS 10.9 or later, in 32-bit or 64-bit. The Mac formats are AU, AAX and VST.
On PC, Windows 7, 8 or 10 in 32-bit or 64-bit is supported, with AAX and VST formats.
Both platforms ask for an Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. The maker recommends 8GB.
If your DAW only loads AU, that rules out the Windows version, since AU is listed for Mac only.
Yes. The RetroMod Digital 1 Black Friday deal takes 40% off this Tracktion virtual instrument, bringing it to $47.40 until Nov 6, 2026.
The library is 5.9 GB and holds 367 presets built from 10,000 samples. The samples come from five digital instruments: the Prophet VS, Korg DW8000, Kawai K3, Kawai K5 and Yamaha TX81Z.
It ships in VST on both Mac and PC. Mac adds AU and AAX. PC adds AAX. Mac needs macOS 10.9 or later, and Windows needs version 7, 8 or 10.
The maker lists evolving pads, shining electric pianos, metallic picked instruments and harsh basses, among other things. All of it comes from waveforms captured from original 1980s digital and hybrid synths.
Prices and end dates are checked at publishing time and can change, so confirm them at the store before you buy.