Voltage Modular Nucleus is a free set of modules for a modular synth, distributed by Cherry Audio of the United States. A modular synth is a type of synth that you build yourself by connecting parts with cables: parts that make sound (oscillators), parts that carve the tone (filters), parts that change the volume and so on. Voltage Modular recreates that inside software. Nucleus is a free set prepared as the first step, and it is a candidate for people who want to touch a modular synth and see what it is like. This page covers how to get it, its features and points to watch.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-in is free, and its features and supported formats, were checked on the maker’s official pages around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get Voltage Modular Nucleus
- On Cherry Audio’s official store, open the Voltage Modular Nucleus official page (free).
- Create a Cherry Audio account (there is a free sign-up link on the official page), log in and add Nucleus to your library.
- To run Nucleus you need the main application, “Voltage Modular”. The official explanation says you download Voltage Modular first, and then download the Nucleus modules inside it.
- From the official download page, install Voltage Modular for macOS or Windows. At first launch, you log in with your Cherry Audio account and authorize it (a check of the licence).
- Start it, load the Nucleus modules and presets, and play a sound.
The official site says authorization requires an internet connection.
What is Voltage Modular Nucleus?
The official site describes Voltage Modular as “a software modular synth platform”. It works by adding modules to an empty synth body to build a sound. The official site explains that the body alone makes no sound, so you need to choose a set of modules. Three sets are offered: the paid Core + Electro Drums (more than 90 modules), the paid Ignite (more than 40 modules) and the free Nucleus (more than 20 modules).
The Nucleus page describes it as “a package well suited to getting started with modular synths, with 22 modules and more than 130 presets”. Besides the basics of a subtractive synth (a method that carves a rich sound with filters), namely oscillator, filter, envelope generator (a part that sets how a sound starts and fades), amplifier and mixer, it includes a sequencer, an arpeggiator and handy utility and effect modules, it says.
Main features of Voltage Modular Nucleus
- Modules and presets included (per the manufacturer): It contains 22 modules and more than 130 presets. You could start from the presets and learn while looking at how they work.
- The basic parts are there (per the manufacturer): It includes the basic parts needed to build one synth: oscillator, filter, envelope, amplifier and mixer, as well as a sequencer, an arpeggiator and effects.
- Ease of use of the host (per the manufacturer): About the Voltage Modular host, the official site explains that it has unlimited multiples on inputs and outputs (a function that splits a signal), that you can move cables again at any time, and that it has an easy-to-read control panel and a display of the signal flow along the cables.
- Attention to sound quality (per the manufacturer): The official site explains that all audio processing uses 64-bit double-precision calculation, and that all module processing is done sample by sample with zero latency (no delay).
- Expandable (per the manufacturer): From the module browser inside the host, you can buy paid modules and presets and add them right away. You can start with the free Nucleus and add more as you need.
For the current Voltage Modular 2, the official site introduces new features such as no limit on the number of cables, a bus function that lets you build complex patches with fewer cables, multiple variations in one patch, built-in recording and native Apple Silicon support.
Who Voltage Modular Nucleus is for
- People who are interested in modular synths and want to learn how they work for free first
- People who want to understand the basics of a subtractive synth (oscillator, filter, envelope) by connecting cables
- People who want to take presets apart and see how the sounds are made
- People who may later add paid modules and build a synth of their own
On the other hand, if you only want to try a large number of ready-to-use presets, a synth with many sounds may be easier. It is reasonable to think of Voltage Modular as a tool for enjoying building.
Tips for using Voltage Modular Nucleus
- At first, load a preset and look at how the cables are connected while it plays. You may grasp the basic shape, with the sound flowing from the oscillator through the filter to the amplifier.
- Once you are used to it, move the filter settings or change where the envelope is connected, and listen to how the sound changes.
- With the sequencer and arpeggiator modules, you can make patterns that move on their own.
- If you are unsure how to operate something, a user guide is provided on the official site.
- As a patch gets complicated, CPU load can rise. Try general measures first, such as reducing unused modules.
Things to know before you download
- You need to download the host and authorize it: Nucleus is a set of modules used inside the Voltage Modular host. The official site says authorization with a Cherry Audio account and an internet connection are required.
- Supported operating systems: The official download page lists macOS 11 or later (64-bit required; native on Apple Silicon) and Windows 7 or later (64-bit required). The recommended environment is a quad-core CPU and 8 GB of memory.
- Supported formats: We could not find anything about standalone or plug-in formats (VST3, AU and so on) on the official pages we checked this time. If you want to use it in your DAW, please check the official product page or FAQ before you download.
- The difference from the demo: The official download page also describes a 30-day free demo (which occasionally plays white noise). Nucleus is presented as a free set of modules, separate from this time-limited demo.
- Paid sets: Ignite and Core + Electro Drums are paid. If the free Nucleus stops being enough, you can compare the contents in the official comparison table.
- Always get the files from the official website.
FAQ
Q. Is it really free?
The official Nucleus page shows “FREE” and the description also says “absolutely free”. However, you need to download the Voltage Modular host and register an account.
Q. Is the Voltage Modular host also free?
On the official download page, the host is distributed as a free demo (30 days). Nucleus is presented separately as a free set of modules. For the detailed terms of how the host is handled, please check the official page before you download.
Voltage Modular Nucleus is available from the Voltage Modular Nucleus official page (free).
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