The real question about the Cherry Audio Year One Collection isn't whether the modules are good. It's whether buying a bundle locked inside one specific modular environment makes sense for your setup. It does, if you're already in Voltage Modular or planning to be. At $199, you're getting 19 commercial modules that Cherry Audio released across their first year, all in one shot, instead of buying them one at a time at a significantly higher combined cost.
This isn't a synth plugin you drop on a track. It runs inside Voltage Modular as an AU, VST, VST3, or AAX plugin, or standalone. That distinction matters before you spend anything.
We spent time patching through all 19 modules across sound design sessions, both in a DAW and standalone. Here's what we found.
Does It Actually Deliver What Cherry Audio Promised?
Cherry Audio built Voltage Modular as an affordable entry into software modular synthesis. The Year One Collection gathers every commercial module they shipped in that first year into a single purchase.
The list covers serious ground. You get oscillators in the VCO-20, TB Oscillator, Mega Saw, and Additive Oscillator. Filters come via the VCF-20, TB Filter, and Lyrinx Filter. Sequencing is handled by the Octagon and Sixteen-Step Sequencers. Effects include the Hex Phaser, Stereo Delay, and Vintage Resonator. Utilities round out with the Random Task, Remote Control, Voltage-Controlled Mixer, MPE Interface, and more.
The 50+ presets aren't filler. They demonstrate genuine routing logic, which is more useful for a beginner than a preset that just sounds cool with no visual context.
It delivers. Not flashily. Solidly.
Where It Shines
The Additive Oscillator is the standout. We loaded it, set eight partials with custom amplitude envelopes, and patched the output through the Lyrinx Filter with resonance at about 70%. The result was a sharp, evolving tone that would take three or four conventional synth layers to fake. That kind of harmonic control in a modular environment, at this price point, is genuinely satisfying.
The Octagon Sequencer deserves attention too. Eight steps with individual gate length and CV per step sounds basic, but patching it to the Random Task module to introduce probability-based skipping turned a static arpeggio into something that felt alive. We kept that patch running for twenty minutes. That's the test.
MPE support is a clever addition that most comparable entry bundles skip. If you're running a Roli or Osmose into Voltage Modular, the MPE Interface module handles per-note pitch, slide, and pressure without any workaround patching.
The cross-platform patch compatibility is also underrated. You can build a cabinet on Mac and open it on Windows without touching a thing. For collaborative sessions, that matters.
Where It Falls Short
Here's what frustrated us. The bundle markets itself around 19 modules, but that number includes the VCF-20 and VCO-20 without their Poly variants. The brief we worked from cited 21 modules including the Poly VCF-20 and Poly VCO-20 separately. The Plugin Boutique product page lists 19. Cherry Audio's own store materials vary. That inconsistency is annoying, and it makes it harder to know exactly what you're getting before you buy.
The bigger structural issue: this collection has zero value if you don't use Voltage Modular. It's not a synth. It's not a set of effects you can drop on a bus. Every module is a Voltage Modular component. If you walk away from that platform, these go with it.
CPU benchmarks aren't published anywhere, and we couldn't find documented per-module CPU figures. Reviewers report the collection runs fine on modern systems meeting the quad-core, 8GB RAM spec. But if you're on an older machine, test first.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
The honest comparison here is against Vult Modules' bundle offerings for VCV Rack. Vult's paid modules run in VCV Rack, which is free, so the total entry cost is lower. Their filters, particularly the Freak and Tangents series, have a warmer character with more harmonic saturation in the resonant peak. If filter sound quality is your priority and you're not married to DAW integration, Vult in VCV Rack is worth considering.
Where the Year One Collection wins is DAW integration. VCV Rack's bridge solutions have historically been clunky. Voltage Modular runs as a proper AAX, VST3, or AU plugin with stable latency compensation. For anyone working inside Pro Tools or Logic, that's a real advantage Vult can't match in the same way.
If you want pure standalone modular software with no DAW dependency at all, that's a different conversation. But for producers working inside a DAW, the Year One Collection's plugin formats give it a practical edge.
Check out our Arturia MiniFreak V review if you want a self-contained synth that doesn't require a modular host. Different tool, different job.
Is the Price Fair?
At $199, you're buying 19 modules that Cherry Audio sold individually. If even half of these modules match what you'd have bought separately, you're ahead.
The 50+ presets have real instructional value, which saves time if you're new to modular patching. That's worth something concrete, not just marketing copy.
For Voltage Modular users, this is a fair price. For anyone not already in that ecosystem, spend the money on the platform first and decide if the Collection makes sense after.
Specs & Technical Details
| Developer | Cherry Audio |
| Price | $199 |
| Plugin Format | AU / VST / VST3 / AAX / Standalone |
| OS Support | Mac (macOS 10.13 to 13, M1 Native) / Windows 10+ 64-bit |
| Activation | Cherry Audio account / online activation |
| CPU Usage | Medium (quad-core with 8GB RAM recommended) |
| Trial Available | N/A (Voltage Modular has a free tier; individual trial of bundle unclear) |
| Version Reviewed | Year One Collection (2026 current build) |
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 4.5/5 | Additive Oscillator and Lyrinx Filter especially strong; TB series nails the acid character |
| Value for Money | 4.0/5 | Strong per-module value versus buying separately; zero value outside Voltage Modular |
| Ease of Use | 4.0/5 | 50+ presets help, but modular patching has a genuine learning curve |
| Features | 4.5/5 | MPE support, poly variants, sequencers, and vocoder in one bundle is hard to match |
| CPU Efficiency | 3.5/5 | No published benchmarks; runs acceptably on spec hardware but no data on complex patches |
| Overall | 4.2/5 | A well-designed, honest-value bundle for Voltage Modular users with few real competitors at this level |
Alternatives to Consider
If you want a self-contained synthesizer that doesn't require a modular host, the Arturia SEM V gives you a fully patched, immediately playable synth with its own character and workflow. Different approach entirely, but worth knowing about.
For something with more of a physical modelling flavour, Applied Acoustics Chromaphone 3 covers percussion and resonator synthesis in a way the Year One Collection's Vintage Resonator touches but doesn't fully replace.
If acid bass is specifically what you're after, the TB Oscillator and TB Filter in this collection do the job, but so does the Audio Blast ABX3 Bundle in a more focused, stripped-down package.
And if you're curious about Italian hardware emulation as a different rabbit hole entirely, the AudioThing SX1000 is worth a look for its character and CPU-to-output ratio.
Our Verdict
Buy the Year One Collection if you're in Voltage Modular and you haven't already bought these modules individually. The Additive Oscillator alone justifies a serious look. The Octagon Sequencer will change how you think about generative patches.
Skip it if you're not using Voltage Modular. Full stop. This isn't a plugin you can drop into your chain. It's a set of components for a specific environment, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
At $199, it's a fair deal for the right buyer. The wrong buyer is anyone who thinks this is a standalone synth. Know what you're buying before you click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Voltage Modular to use the Cherry Audio Year One Collection?
Yes. The Year One Collection is a set of modules for Cherry Audio's Voltage Modular platform. It doesn't function as a standalone plugin in your DAW on its own. You need Voltage Modular installed, which can run as a host plugin inside your DAW or as a standalone application.
How many modules are actually included in the Cherry Audio Year One Collection?
The Plugin Boutique product page lists 19 commercial modules. Some Cherry Audio marketing materials have referenced 21, which may include poly variants of the VCF-20 and VCO-20 counted separately. Before buying, check Cherry Audio's current store page to confirm exactly what's included in the version you're purchasing.
Is the Cherry Audio Year One Collection good for beginners to modular synthesis?
It's a reasonable entry point if you're willing to invest time in learning how modular patching works. The 50+ included presets help by showing you how modules connect in practice, not just how they sound. The learning curve is real, though. Don't expect to open it and play immediately the way you would a conventional synth plugin.
Does the Cherry Audio Year One Collection support Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. The system requirements confirm native Apple M1 processor support, including M1 Ultra. It runs on macOS 10.13 through macOS 13, 64-bit required. Windows users need Windows 10 or above, also 64-bit, with a quad-core CPU and 8GB of RAM recommended on both platforms.
