Aphelion’s Orbit has returned with a review of Cherry Audio’s take on the early ’80s Trident polyphonic multi-section synthesizer by Korg.
A Three Headed Powerhouse with Real Musical Intent
The Trident Mk III is one of those synths that immediately feels bigger than the sum of its parts. On paper, it’s “three sections in one instrument,” but in practice, it’s more like having a full synth rig living inside a single plugin — and all three personalities, matter. Nothing feels like an extra section. Everything earns its space.
What grabbed me right away is how alive the instrument feels when you start blending the sections. It’s not just layering — it’s sculpting. The synth, brass, and string engines each bring their own attitude, and when you start pushing them together, the Trident Mk III becomes this evolving, wall of sound that feels like it’s breathing.
🎛️ The Synth Section: Classic Architecture, Modern Muscle
The synth engine is the anchor of the whole instrument. Two VCOs, classic waveforms, a multimode filter, and envelopes that feel snappy and musical. It’s not trying to be a chameleon — it’s trying to be solid, bold, and reliable, and it nails that.
What stands out is the stereo implementation. Each oscillator can be panned independently, which gives even simple patches a sense of width that feels expensive. Unison mode hits hard without turning into mush, and mono patches have that satisfying weight you want from early 80s analog gear.
This section alone could’ve been a standalone synth, and nobody would have complained.
🎺 The Brass Section: Way More Than “Brass”
Calling this section “Brass” almost doesn’t do it justice; it can do the classic brass swells, but it also slips into organ ish tones, warm pads, and punchy basses without breaking a sweat.
The envelope behavior gives it a unique feel — it reacts differently depending on how you play, which adds a human, slightly unpredictable quality. It’s the kind of section that rewards expressive playing instead of just holding down a chord.
And the low end? Is really huge. This thing can rumble.
🎻 The String Section: Simple Controls, Timeless Sound
The string engine is the most straightforward of the three, but it’s also the one that instantly adds emotion. The ensemble effect is the star here — turn it on and suddenly everything feels cinematic and nostalgic.
It’s not pretending to be a modern orchestral library. It’s a string machine, and it embraces that identity with confidence. Slow attacks, lush stereo spread, and a tone that sits beautifully behind the other two sections.
Sometimes the simplest part is the glue, and that’s exactly what the string section is.
🎚️ Layering & Splits: The Real Magic Trick
This is where Trident Mk III becomes something special. The Motion View lets you carve up the keyboard however you want — overlapping zones, clean splits, crossfades, whatever your brain can imagine.
And the crossfade option is a thing of genius. Instead of a hard jump between sections, you get this smooth, musical transition that feels like the instrument is shifting shape under your fingers.
It’s the kind of feature that makes you want to play, not just the program.
🎨 Effects: Deep, Flexible, and Actually Useful
Each section gets its own effects chain, plus a global chain on top. And you’re not locked into presets — you can reorder effects, swap them out, and build chains that feel tailored to the patch you’re creating.
This is where the Trident Mk III steps far beyond the original hardware. You can take a simple patch and turn it into something massive, atmospheric, or downright weird with just a few tweaks. It’s creative fuel, not just decoration.
🌀 Arpeggiators & Sequencer: A Playground for Ideas
Two arpeggiators and a polyphonic sequencer might feel like overkill, but they’re integrated in a way that feels natural. You can drive different sections independently, sync everything to your DAW, or even have the arps pull their note data from the sequencer.
It’s incredibly easy to stumble into something inspiring — a rhythmic pulse, a chord pattern, a layered texture — and suddenly you’re building a track around it.
This part of the synth is dangerously fun.
Alternatives
- String Machines 2 by UVI.
- Oberheim OB-E by GForce Software.
- CS-80 V by Arturia.
🎵 Final Thoughts
The Trident Mk III isn’t just a recreation — it’s a reimagining. It captures the spirit of the original hardware but expands it into something far more flexible, musical, and modern.
What makes it stand out is the intent behind the design. Nothing feels like a gimmick. Every section has a purpose. Every feature pushes you toward creativity. And when all three engines come together, the result is massive, expressive, and unmistakably its own thing.
If you want a synth that can go from vintage warmth to modern cinematic layers without losing its identity, the Trident Mk III is absolutely worth your time.
Available for in VST/VST3, AU and AAX plugin formats for Windows and macOS, Trident Mk III is priced $69 USD at the Cherry Audio store and from distributors such as Plugin Boutique and AudioDeluxe.
A free demo version is available to give the synth a try.
