Faithful Emulation with Added Features

Introduced in the 1960s, Philicorda was the first musical instrument produced by Philips. The model we emulated, the GM751, had several revisions. Early versions had tube preamps, and later ones were all-transistor. Our emulation is based on an all-transistor model.

Like the original hardware, Philicorda features a vibrato circuit, a spring reverb, and two speakers. We have also added some extra features: overdrive, envelope generator, leakage, bias, and key click.

Top Octave Generator

The Philicorda utilizes a Top Octave Synthesizer circuit, featuring 12 oscillators for the upper octave notes, with ‘octave divider’ circuits generating lower octaves. This technology ensures that the same notes on different octaves are in sync and won’t generate the classic phasing issues of sample-based instruments. Each oscillator generates a saw-like waveform by layering multiple overdriven sine waves (nearly squares) at different octaves and volumes. The bias controls the mix between these layers.

The Plugin

Our plugin captures the unique character of the Philicorda, including the signature spring reverb (on some models called Reverbeo). While the spring reverb and speakers are meticulously sampled to preserve their original sound, the core of the Philicorda’s tone generation is fully algorithmic, allowing for a realistic and accurate emulation, surpassing the limitations of sample-based instruments.

Features

• Octave Selectors (8′, 4′, 2′)
• VOX Selectors (I to V)
• Vibrato, Spring Reverb, Overdrive
• Envelope Generator
• Leakage Control
• Bias Control
• Key Click Emulation
• Resizable Window
• Preset system with randomizer
• Brightness and Contrast Controls