Cherry Audio’s Trident Mk III Brings a Long-Lost ’80s Analog Titan Back to Life

The analog emulation masters have done it again.

With the Trident Mk III, Cherry Audio resurrects one of the most overlooked giants of early-’80s analog synthesis (Korg’s original Trident) and reimagines it for the modern studio with stunning depth, warmth, and usability.

Originally released in 1981, the Korg Trident was a marvel of its time: a lush, triple-engine analog workstation that blended a synth, brass, and string section into one expressive instrument. Used by artists like OMD’s Paul Humphreys and Yes’s Rick Wakeman, it embodied an era when “multi-timbral” meant truly orchestral power. But its steep price and the arrival of Yamaha’s DX7 left it buried under the digital revolution… until now.

Cherry Audio’s Trident Mk III is a full-scale revival of the long-lost synth. Each of the three sections, Synth, Brass, and Strings, have been rebuilt from the circuit level up, now offering 16 voices per section, velocity sensitivity, and both channel and polyphonic aftertouch. The Synth section features a dedicated filter per voice, while the Brass and Strings retain their paraphonic character for that unmistakable ensemble texture.

A new motion panel introduces drag-and-drop zones for key splits and layers, two advanced arpeggiators, and a 32-step polyphonic sequencer. The expanded effects section now houses 17 studio-grade processors (from the original BBD flanger to new additions like Lushverb, Dual Delay, and Ring Modulator), all of which are chainable, savable, and fully malleable.

With over 370 presets, comprehensive MIDI mapping, and a redesigned interface that balances vintage character with modern workflow, Trident Mk III is a breath of fresh air for analog and digital enthusiasts alike. It’s faithfully revived a cult classic synth for the modern age, and is totally worth adding to your collection.

Cherry Audio’s Trident Mk III is on sale today for $69. Grab it here!