Usually, the announcement of – yet another – analog-modeled soft synth hitting our news desk wouldn’t cause much of a fanfare, but…
This new synth comes from the brilliant minds of Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware. The new synth named B.I.T. — for Back In Time — is a nod to sound designer Rob Papen’s deep passion for subtractive synthesis. The virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer’s newest software synthesizer sets its inspirational sights solely on analog-modelled synthesis, especially the famed Roland Jupiter-8, rather than the hybrid synthesis techniques, which are employed by the company’s other stellar offerings.
An advanced MOD MATRIX makes for patching, while a smart ADV (advanced) panel positioned below the oscillators allows the user to dig deeper. Activating ADV allows users to quickly make useful connections, such as the LFO and ENV (envelope) to the oscillator parameters. 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.
One of Rob Papen software synthesizer’s Jedi-Powers is the inclusion of an arpeggiator. Now many other synth contain such a feature, but Papen takes the entire concept of arpeggiation to a whole new level allowing the musician to create very musical (and usual) sequences that add syncopation and flavor to any patch. B.I.T.’s fully-featured arpeggiator (ARP) can also work in sequencer mode and has an additional row that can be used to modulate other elements of B.I.T. by using the MOD MATRIX. Also in line with Papen’s current lineup, B.I.T. features several effects, including CHORUS, DELAY, FLANGER, and PHASER, plus Rob Papen’s proprietary REVERB.
Rob Papen’s B.I.T. Features:
» 16 voice virtual analog synthesizer
» 950 quality presets
» 2 Oscillators with a dedicated advance panel offering an LFO and Envelope for modulating different parts of the Oscillator
» Classic waveforms in each oscillator included ‘Tuned Noise’
» 2nd Oscillator has Sub-Oscillator with Sinus, Square and Saw waveform
» Oscillator-2 can be modulated by Oscillator-1 in FM, PM or RING mode.
» Oscillator-2 can Sync to Oscillator-1
» Oscillators have ‘wave feedback’ feature
» Dedicated Noise Oscillator with White and Pink Noise
» 2 analog modeled Filters with 11 different character Filter types and modes
» Filter Routing options: serial, split-osc, split-noise
» Dedicated Filter Envelope with Attack, Decay, Sustain, Fade and Release.
» Filter Envelopes with Tempo Bases Sync option and inverted mode
» AMP with velocity control and Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release
» ARP with 16 steps and many different modes and detailed features and options
» PLAY MODE with Poly, Mono and Legato mode included many different Unison modes
» Effects:
— Chorus FX
— Flanger or Phaser FX
— Delay and HQ Reverb (serial)
» Bank manager
» 100%, 150% and 200% interface sizing options
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. is included in the latest version of the eXplorer 5 bundle, so existing owners only have to download the latest installer and run it to add B.I.T. to their Rob Papen virtual instrument and effect plug-in collection. Sweet!
Rob Papen’s B.I.T. costs $99 and is available now.
Rob Papen
Also available from Rob Papen: Secrets Of Subtractive Synthesis a new book and DVD package based on Papen’s The 4-Element Synth teaching method.
