Crumar Bit99 synth demo - instant 80s

Published on Sep 7, 2015 Susan Gardener

An overview of the Crumar Bit99.

"This is the Crumar Bit99, produced in 1985.
It was marketed simply as the brand Bit with no mention of Crumar, presumably as a rebranding exercise. They were jumping on the digital bandwagon with the name, but apart from the oscillators and control circuitry this is an analog synth. The DCOs, unlike many of their competitors, are not digitally controlled analog oscillators - I understand the waveforms are digitally generated. After the oscillators, the signal path is pure analog with 6 voice polyphony and a bi-timbral capability. You can layer sounds - either in mono or stereo, or split sounds across the keyboard. The stereo is simply 2 outputs, one for each layer, or if a single timbre is selected it will split voices across the outputs. In the demo I have the lower output assigned left and the upper output assigned right.

The architecture was quite advanced for its day, with 2 oscillators and 2 envelope generators per voice. It also has fully assignable velocity sensitivity and full MIDI capability. The design philosophy was very much 'no knobs', but with the architecture and parameter numbers printed on the front, editing was actually pretty simple.

The Bit99 was the top of the range of Bit synths from Crumar, following on from the Bit One keyboard and Bit 01 expander. I'm not sure why it never really caught on as it's the equal of synths such as Roland's JX8P, which I also own."

Crumar Bit99 + Wersi Wersivoice

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Quick demo of the Crumar BIT99 i fully serviced. In the frst part i flip through a few patches to let you hear how this one can sound, mainly for bass/lead/keyboards sounds. And in the second part I focus on pads and i run the synth through a custom built Wersi Wersivoice analog triple chorus. As you can hear i can turn the BIT99 into a great string machine and more.
Record with no other FX or treatment.
Pardon my playing, I'm better at servicing these instruments than playing them :-)"

via this auction

"Here is your chance to grab a unique combo in the form of 6 voice analog polysynth and a custom made BBD triple chorus ensemble effect.

The Crumar BIT99 was fully serviced:
- power supply electrolytic capacitors replaced
- voice board electrolytic capacitors replaced
- firmware upgraded with Tauntek one: you can now easily control and program the synth with any midi controller
- keyboard dismantled and contacts and bus bar cleaned
- meticulously calibrated
- panel board and case fully dismantled, cleaned and polished
- custom made real wood side end cheeks

It sounds, plays and looks awesome. It does has some wear and scuffs but it is in great condition.
STAND IS NOT INCLUDED.

The Wersivoice was custom built and is a great addition to any synth, analog or digital. It simply can turn anything into a great string machine, and more.
Very simple, no control: sound in sound out. There is a 3 positions switch with ON / MUTE / (true) BYPASS positions.
It runs directly from 230v.
Since it's DIY it doesn't look perfect."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar Bit99 synthesizer User Patch

Published on Mar 18, 2018 Davide Micheli

"Some personal sounds with the BIT 99 synthesizer"

Crumar Bit99 sound in Bobby O

Published on Mar 19, 2018 Davide Micheli

"'80s pure analog sound with Italian Synthesizers CRUMAR.
Bobby-O. She Has A Way.
Musical parts are played with:
n° 1 Crumar-Bit99.
n° 2 Crumar-Bit-01 Expander.
n° 1 LEM-Bit Midi Master Keyboard (MMK).
Drum:
Korg-Volca Bit & Akai S5000
Sequencer:
CUBASE 9"

TC Electronics Transition Delay [Pedals w/ Synthesizers #14] Demo No Talking

video upload by gstormelectro

"Audio + Video by G-Storm Electro c. 2023

Transition is a discontinued digital Toneprint series delay pedal. Recorded direct, no other mastering or effects. Just the Transition Pedal and various synth type devices one at a time.
This video was not sponsored by TC Electronic. The Transition was purchased out of pocket for my own fun.

0:00 Korg MS-20 | Mode: Duct
2:18 Crumar Bit99 | Mode: Faty
2:59 Roland Juno-60 | Mode: Dyn
3:21 Korg Polysix | Mode: Morf
4:25 Roland Juno-60 | Mode: Morf
4:58 Crumar Bit99 | Mode: Morf
5:46 Korg Polysix | Mode: Ping-Pong
6:30 Crumar Bit99 | Mode: Loop

G-Storm Electro:
*BLOG* http://gstormelectronica.blogspot.com/
*LISTEN/DOWNLOAD* http://soundcloud.com/gstormelectro
*REVERB* G-STORM ELECTRO

Note Reverb links are affiliate links. See the site's privacy policy for more info.

Crumar Bit One/Bit 01/Bit 99

Click here for a web page dedicated to the Crumar Bit One, Bit 01, and Bit 99. Some good information there including patches, FAQ, manual, and even editing software. The Crumar bit series came out in the mid 1980s starting with the Bit One. They were six voice polyphonic, DCO based analog synths. According to synthtech earlier Bit Ones used 6 SSM2044 VCF chips and later models used 6 CEM3328 VCF chips. The thing that always confused me about the Bit series were exactly how they differed. I found this Sound on Sound article which goes in full detail. To keep this post short, the Bit One was the first version of the synth. It had a number of limitations that were corrected in the second rendition, the Bit 01 Expander Module (rack), which was then followed three months later by the keyboard version, the Bit 99 (same as Bit 01 with keys). The SOS article is a good read with tons of more information, so if you are interested in knowing more about these synths definitely check it out. There is an interesting bit in there about how the Bit 99 could have been Gordon Reid's first midi keyboard had it come out just a bit earlier. He ended up with a JX8P instead. Anyone else painfully aware every time I use the word bit in this post? I actually had more but I pulled them because it was just a... bit... too... much.

The Bit series in all it's fashionable colors (colors have no impact on sound, unless of course they influence your zen state while plugging away).

Crumar BitOne (only came in black)

Crumar Bit01 Black

Crumar BitO1 White

Crumar Bit99 Black

Crumar Bit99 White

CRUMAR BIT99 | Analog Synthesizer 1985 | HD DEMO

Published on Nov 29, 2019 AnalogAudio1

"(c) 2019 by AnalogAudio1

Synthesizer demo of the analog synthesizer Crumar Bit99 from 1985.

For reverb effects, a Lexicon MPX 500 was used, along with a Korg SDD-3000 for delay effects. The sounds were programmed by me.

The Bit99 is a nice fully programmable polysynth with warm analog sounds made in Italy. It has been developed by Mario Maggi, the developer of the Elka Synthex! It has a velocity sensitive keyboard and MIDI. 2 DCOs, 2 LFOs, 24dB lowpass filters, 2 ADSR envelopes, noise, make many different sounds possible."

CRUMAR BIT 99 SYNTHESIZER MIDI CONTROLLED

video upload by Davide Micheli

"The video I made is on the BIT 99 electronic synthesizer built by CRUMAR in 1984. The purpose is to show some technical characteristics of the vintage electronic synthesizer.
In particular, I updated the firmware by changing two EPROMs (see the following site: https://www.untergeek.de/shop/crumar-...)
The MIDI controller is the 'Stereoping's Synth Controller'.
In the video I play some patches whose synthsizer parameters are changed in realtime by means of the MIDI Synth Controller.
To emphasize the versatility of the MIDI Synth Controller and the deep 80's sounds of the BIT 99 synthesizer, I recorded a bass sequence on CUBASE and transmitted via MIDI to the BIT 99 synthesizer.
While the sequence is being played by the BIT 99, some parameters of DCOs, VCOs, VCF etc...are edited in realtime. LFOs are modified too.
The video is improvised and I hope it is useful and fun for fans of vintage electronic synthesizers."

Crumar Bit 99 analog synthesizer, plays "Bobby-O" for fun

video upload by Davide Micheli

"'80s pure analog sound with Italian Synthesizers CRUMAR.
Bobby-O. She Has A Way.
Musical parts are played with:
n° 1 Crumar-Bit99.
n° 2 Crumar-Bit-01 Expander.
n° 1 LEM-Bit Midi Master Keyboard (MMK).
Drum:
Korg-Volca Bit & Akai S5000
Sequencer:
CUBASE 9"

Test CRUMAR BIT99 Synthesizer - Artwork Limited Edition

Published on Feb 3, 2019 Buda Music

"The Bit 99 was offered by Crumar in 1985.

It is a 6 voice polyphonic analog synths with 2 DCO's
on board and CEM3328 Filters.

The instrument featured 3+3 notes in layer mode and
99 patch memories and also has MIDI IN/OUT.

Note: Read presets SySex files by MIDI IN.

The Bit 99 is one of the first synthesizers from which traditional knobs and sliders have been banned.

The edit method is easy to understand.

The Bit 99 can produce a wide variety of sounds but bass sounds are the best.

With a polyphony of three notes, instead of six normally, you can have two sounds layered!

Possibilities are almost unlimited and if the 99 patches are not enough you can save the data to tape and load it when you want!

This synth was used by 808 State but the synth sounds a lot like Orbital's "In-sides" album.

SPECIFICATIONS
Polyphony - 6 voices
Oscillators - 2 DCOs per voice
LFO - 2 LFOs assignable to VCA, VCF, DCO1, DCO2
Filter - VCF: cutoff, resonance, tracking, invert (inverts VCF values), ADSR
VCA - ADSR
Keyboard - 61 full size keys with sensibility control, semi weighted
Memory - 99 patches (75 single programs and from 76 to 99 for "split" or "double" modes)

(The CRUMAR BIT99 synthesizer of this video is a unique piece of hand-painted artwork)"

Crumar Bit99 Sample Sounds

"A sample from the rare italian Crumar Bit99 synthesizer. Note the lack of aliasing and the weird summing that appears to be occurring between DCO 1 and DCO 2. This helps to create tonality and variation."

via syn-fi where you'll find additional details.

Crumar Bit99 w TAUNTEK Upgrade SN 00819

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Crumar Bit99
With TAUNTEK mod installed (it enables CC midi)
Serviced recently
in PERFECT conditions
100% working"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar Bit99 w TAUNTEK Upgrade

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Amazing and Rare Crumar Bit99
(in Perfect shape as you will never find one)
Everything Works perfectly
w TAUNTEK upgrade (it enables CC Midi controlling)"

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Crumar BIT99 6 Voice Analog Polysynth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note the seller made a video for another one posted here.

"The unit for sale works, plays and sounds exactly the same. (The Wersi Wersivoice unit in the demo can be added for an extra 200 euros)

6 voice analog polysynth from italy and the mid 80s.

The Crumar BIT99 was serviced:
- power supply electrolytic capacitors replaced
- firmware upgraded with Tauntek one: you can now easily control and program the synth with any midi controller using Control Change messages
- meticulously calibrated
- panel board and case fully dismantled, cleaned and polished
- loaded with factory set VOL 1 (Vol 2 sysex can be provided too)

It sounds, plays and looks awesome. It does has some light wear and scuffs but all in all it is in excellent condition.
I warranty the instrument at least for a year. Should there be a problem no need to ship the whole instrument back but only the board(s) needing repair. These synths are actually extremelly well built, by far the best italian synth i've seen (maybe safe for the Elka Synthex I never had a chance to lay my hands on). Quality and thickness of the metal and PCB are of japanese standards. Far better quality for instance than Moog from the 80s (Prodigy, Opus 3 etc) and by no comparison to the other (great sounding) italian Siel Opera 6."

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CRUMAR BIT99 white ed. vintage polyphonic synthesizer & accessories SN 09899

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Super Clean CRUMAR BIT99 white edition plus original travel case, manual and cassette. It has been recently serviced, so everything works perfect and in near mint to mint cosmetic shape."

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Crumar Bit99 Demo

YouTube via DrSqu | June 25, 2010 | 9:32

"For some days i've got from a friend a Crumar Bitt99 in my studio. I programmed those sounds in this demo you'll listen, pads, leads, fx, etc... Delay and Reverb comes from Logic, else other is pure Bit99.

On my page www.deepsonic.ch you find another demo without external FX."

Crumar Bit 99

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Video in the listing previously posted here.

"Here is the opportunity to get a Crumar Bit99 in Excellent condition !

*Professionally SERVICED in FULL Working order*"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Specular Tempus Delay and Reverb with a Crumar Bit99 Analog Synthesizer #shorts #synth #gear #pedal

video upload by Demiurgo

"I've just got a used Specular Tempus, and I'm trying it out here with a Bit 99, an analog synthesizer (often used by Com Truise), made by the Italian Crumar in 1984. On the Specular Tempus pedal, there are different great reverb algorithms, but I found the delay/reverb combinations like the one used in this video are the ST real power.

The Bit 99 has a wonderful filter, and you can listen when I turn up the resonance how the sound becomes sharper, almost metallic. In my opinion, the Specular Tempus adds a lot of character and space to the sound without altering the mood."

Crumar Bit99 61-Key Programmable Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction, also on Reverb

"Black Crumar Bit-99 with a lovely lovely filter sound. All works as it should. The right panel looks like it took a hit at some point, and a key was replaced along the way (see pictures). The exterior is aged but looks pretty good as it’s not a gloss black finish.

Upper and Lower functionality works great, although Upper channel is louder. This may be able to be adjusted by internal trimpots."

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Programming Crumar BIT99 with MIDI Controller

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"This synth is for sale. You can buy it directly (sales.ohmstudiohm@gmx.fr) for 1450 euros or buy it on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/305202255093) or Reverb https://reverb.com/item/74807341) [pics captured here]



This is demo mainly to show how easy it is to program this synth thanks to the amazing work Bob Grieb (Tauntek) did by rewritting the firmware and enabling Midi Control Changes messages on this synth.

The only drawback (due to the hardware) is you have to retrigger a note for every change you make on a parameter, except for a few ones that a real time (resonance, DCO and LFO waveshape for instance). Just a minor annoyance compare to the original programming method (which is actually not the worse of that kind).

The BIT99 and BIT01 are very nice sounding and quite comprehensive 6 voice analog synth. They feature 2 DCOs with triangle, sawtooth and pulse waveform, in octave from 32 to 4 and you can combine the 3 waveforms on each oscillator. Dedicate ADSR enveloppes for filter and amp with velocity control, 2 LFOs, noise generator, split or stack possibilities etc

IMO they only lack a mixer for the 2 oscillators, LFO PWM (though you can control the PW with velocity) and a hi pass filter.

But the sound is very nice, I favore it over the Oberheim Matrix 6 for instance. It sits very easily in the mix. Build quality and keyboard are also of upper level."

BIT99 and COFFEE

via Davide

"Coffe break during the substitution of the dead battery in my Crumar Bit99."

Jesty on a Crumar Bit99.

via CatSynth