Cypher2

Name: Cypher2
Price: 199 USD
Author: ROLI

by ROLI · Synth · Three-oscillator FM polysynth

Not rated yet

Cypher2 is a three-oscillator polysynth, originally from FXpansion and now sold by ROLI, with thru-zero FM, waveshapers and twin analog-modelled filters.

Its TransMod system lets you add modulation to almost any control, and it ships with 1,300 presets (500 for MPE); Plugin Boutique lists it at $199.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.

Keywords: FM, MPE support, polyphonic, sound design, preset-driven, basses, metallic, pads, resizable UI, sequencer, vintage, analog-sounding, analog, cinematic, circuit-modelled, hardware emulation, heavy, leads, modulation matrix, randomize, subtractive, textures.

What it does

Cypher2 is a three-oscillator polysynth, first developed by FXpansion and now sold by ROLI, built for heavy cross-modulation and expressive playing. ROLI pitches it as a sound design tool with a large MPE-ready preset library.

Oscillators: three circuit-modelled oscillators with morphing waveforms, linear thru-zero FM, hard sync and ring modulation; Osc 3 can also modulate the filters at audio rate.
Filters: two multimode filters with five modelled vintage filter types plus a digital comb filter.
Shapers: two waveshapers for distortion and wavefolding.
TransMod: a click-and-drag modulation system, with LFOs, envelopes, ramp generators, a Maths processor and a Euclidean processor with XY pad.
Sequencer: an MPE-compatible step sequencer with 3 sub-sequencers and a control matrix.
Effects: a 6-slot rack with 30 effects, including distortion, phase modulation and a vintage delay emulation.
Presets: over 1,300 presets, 500 of them made for MPE, with morphing and randomization across up to 8 presets, and a scalable interface for 4K and Retina screens.

ROLI Studio owners can upgrade at a reduced price. KVR lists the last update as version 2.6.1.7 (April 2021).

Source: ROLI product page

When to use it

Cypher2 is the pick for complex FM and cross-modulated tones that you then play expressively. Compared with Diva it is less focused on faithful analog warmth and more on audio-rate FM, sync and wavefolding. Compared with Serum 2 or Phase Plant it has no wavetables or samples, but its three-oscillator FM path makes inharmonic, metallic sounds quickly. Its 500 MPE presets set it apart from Diva and Hive 2, which are mostly played from a normal keyboard. It hasn't been updated since 2021, so it lags behind current synths on support.

Best for: FM basses, metallic leads, inharmonic sound design and expressive ambient pads.
Genres: electronic, bass music, ambient and cinematic sound design.
Look elsewhere if: you want a regularly updated synth with wavetables (Serum 2 or Phase Plant), classic analog tone (Diva), or a light CPU load (Hive 2).
Tip: use Osc 3 as an audio-rate modulator for the filters to get the inharmonic textures MusicRadar singled out.

What producers say

Reviewers saw it as an excellent, forward-looking synth and one of the best uses of MPE, held back by a dense interface and CPU load.

MusicRadar (Si Truss, 2018, then as FXpansion Cypher 2) called it "possibly the best use of MPE technology we've tried", praising its flexible sound and strong MPE presets, especially for ambient pads and textures.
Criticisms: MusicRadar found the interface dense and monotone and the synth fairly CPU-heavy.

MusicRadar review

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $199

Tutorials and reviews

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