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Software Synths

Arturia SEM V3vsArturia SQ80 V

Summary

Arturia SEM V3 and Arturia SQ80 V: 2 Arturia software synths compared side by side. They differ on 8 of 10 compared specifications.

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2 items

Arturia

SEM V3
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Arturia

SQ80 V
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General
ManufacturerArturiaArturia
StatusCurrentCurrent
Released20252021
Engine
Synth typeAnalogue modellingHybrid (digital oscillators, analogue filters)
EmulatesOberheim SEM (1974)Ensoniq SQ-80 (1987)
Voices816
PolyphonyUp to 8 voicesUp to 16 voices
Oscillators2 VCOs (saw, variable pulse) with hard sync, plus sub-oscillator3 digital oscillators (DOC chip), 400+ waveforms, AM and hard sync
Filter12 dB state-variable: low-pass, notch, high-pass, band-passModelled CEM analogue resonant low-pass
EffectsInsert effectsInsert effects
Software
Plugin formatsVST2, VST3, AU, AAXVST2, VST3, AU, AAX
Features
FeaturesMulti-arpeggiator, Unison, Macro controls, Standalone app, NKSArpeggiator, MPE, Macro controls, Standalone app, NKS

Key differences

  • Synth type: SEM V3 – Analogue modelling SQ80 V – Hybrid (digital oscillators, analogue filters)
  • Voices: SEM V3 – 8 SQ80 V – 16
  • Released: SEM V3 – 2025 SQ80 V – 2021
  • Emulates: SEM V3 – Oberheim SEM (1974) SQ80 V – Ensoniq SQ-80 (1987)
  • Polyphony: SEM V3 – Up to 8 voices SQ80 V – Up to 16 voices
  • Oscillators: SEM V3 – 2 VCOs (saw, variable pulse) with hard sync, plus sub-oscillator SQ80 V – 3 digital oscillators (DOC chip), 400+ waveforms, AM and hard sync

Both are the same on plugin formats (VST2, VST3, AU, AAX).