Virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Inspiration
Soundware is proud to announce availability of B.I.T. — bringing namesake company founder and
acclaimed sound designer Rob Papen’s persistent passion for subtractive synthesis into being as an
aptly-named, analogue-modelled software synthesizer fit for today’s DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
workflow.
B.I.T. stands for Back In Time — an apt acronym for Rob Papen, collectively or otherwise. On the face of it, namesake company founder
and acclaimed sound designer Rob Papen’s passion for subtractive synthesis remains as strong as when he first started working with
synthesizers way back when, purchasing an analogue Korg MS-20 semi-modular monosynth and accompanying analogue SQ-10
sequencer at the tender age of 15 — more recently reaffirmed by self-publishing the publicly praised The Secrets Of Subtractive
Synthesis combined book and DVD package based on his The 4-Element Synth© teaching method. Moving back to task — to the
wondrous world of B.I.T. specifically and Rob Papen collectively,
the virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer’s newest software
synthesizer sets its inspirational sights solely on analogue-modelled
synthesis, rather than combining the best of analogue modelling with
hybrid synthesis techniques that have hitherto formed the much-admired
musical backbone of the company’s classy creations.
What’s with the apparent change of musical direction, then? The concept behind B.I.T. comes down to this: classic analogue
synthesizers still show an appeal that the renowned Rob Papen brand is perfectly positioned to tap in to. This is not surprising since
Rob Papen himself still has a pristine example of Roland’s (former flagship) Jupiter-8 analogue programmable polysynth —
purchased brand new back in the ‘dying days’ of analogue in 1983 (albeit now seriously sought after and astronomically priced) —
taking pride of place in his studio setup; several other analogue classics comfortably reside there alongside it, including that
‘teenage’ Korg combo. Clearly inspired by backward progression, pure analogue-modelled synthesis is the order of the day when it
comes to B.I.T. — no spectrum waveforms or samples required!
Really, making the most of Korg’s classic MS-20 requires patch cables, but B.I.T. does not need any as an analogue-modelled
software synthesizer plug-in par excellence — despite demonstrating masterful modular-like attributes. An advanced MOD MATRIX
makes for painless patching while a smart ADV (advanced) panel positioned below the oscillators offers a helping hand. Activating
ADV allows users to quickly make useful connections, such as the LFO and ENV (envelope) to the oscillator parameters. Pushing
further forward, B.I.T. also allows OSC 1 to modulate OSC 2 in several ways, which increases its sound palette to take in phase
modulation, frequency modulation, and ring modulation.
Musically, of course, any Rob Papen software synthesizer would likely be viewed as being incomplete without an arpeggiator — as,
arguably, would Rob Papen’s prized Roland Jupiter-8, and B.I.T. is no exception to this unwritten rule. Indeed, its fully-featured ARP
can also work in sequencer mode and has an additional FREE row that can be used to modulate other elements of B.I.T. by using the
MOD MATRIX.
Making it to the finish line, B.I.T. brings with it some superb-sounding effects, comprising CHORUS, DELAY, FLANGER, and PHASER, plus
Rob Papen’s proprietary REVERB, so no need (necessarily) to turn to an external reverb of any kind to bring some space to the virtual
instrument and effect plug-in developer’s newest software synthesizer.
So while B.I.T. stands for Back In Time it could conceivably stand for Be Inspired Today! After all, Rob Papen has added a 16-voice,
authentic-sounding, analogue-modelled software synthesizer fit for today’s DAW workflow to its lengthening line-up of virtual
instruments, intermixing innovative design, uncompromising sound quality, and musical, production-grade presets — over 950 this
time — to make tracks truly shine. Still better, B.I.T. brings with it the secrets of subtractive synthesis, thanks to namesake company
founder and acclaimed sound designer Rob Papen!
B.I.T. can be purchased from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide or as a download directly from Rob Papen
for a price of €99.00 EUR (including VAT)/$99.00 USD — from here: https://www.robpapen.com/
Note that B.I.T. is included in the latest version of the eXplorer 5 bundle (https://www.robpapen.com/
B.I.T. is
available as a 64-bit AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible software
synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.8 - MacOS 10.14) and as a 32- and
64-
bit AAX- and VST-compatible software synthesizer plug-in for PC (Windows
7/Windows 8/Windows 10) — AAX for PT 12 or higher (PC).
B.I.T. uses
a serial/license system with activation when registering. (A second
serial for a secondary computer is available after registering the
original.)
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated B.I.T. webpage here: https://www.robpapen.com/bit.
Some superb-sounding audio demos made only with B.I.T. can be heard here:
About Rob Papen (www.robpapen.com)
Self-confessed synth freak and world-renowned sound designer Rob Papen started
working with synthesizers at the tender age of 15 when purchasing an
analogue Korg MS-20 semi-modular
monosynth and accompanying analogue SQ-10 sequencer. Suitably inspired,
he subsequently released several albums as part of Dutch electronic
music groups Peru and Nova — the latter featuring the
same members as Peru, but with a more commercial slant — with whom he
enjoyed number one hit singles in The Netherlands (Nova) in 1982 and
Austria (Peru) in 1988. Peru disbanded in 1993, by
which time Rob had already established himself as a sought-after sound
designer, creating presets for the likes of Waldorf, Access, Ensoniq,
and E-mu, before going on to found his namesake company in
pursuit of creating a sound designer’s dream synth.That software dream
soon became reality when Rob formed the RPCX (Rob Papen ConcreteFX)
partnership with music software developer Jon Ayres to
develop new Rob Papen virtual instruments and effects plug-ins, starting
with BLUE —
an exciting-sounding, self-styled ‘Crossfusion Synthesis’ affair
(combining FM, Phase Distortion,Wave Shaping, and
Subtractive synthesis into one powerful dream synth) — in 2005.Today Rob
Papen soundware defines cutting-edge contemporary music production:
powerful virtual instruments and effect plug-ins that
intermix innovative design, uncompromising sound quality, and musical,
production-grade presets to make tracks truly shine, whatever the
musical genre... Inspiration Soundware, indeed!
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