Rob Papen Introduces New Prisma Plugin

via Synth Anatomy

"Making its début at the 2016 NAMM show, Prisma can stack up to four Rob Papen instruments, complete with their respective settings, as a single sound source. Each instrument can be opened individually and easily edited plus Prisma’s built-in features such as four top quality FX allow users to bypass the individual instruments’ effects to save on CPU – making it even faster to produce fresh and unique sounds.

Other smart features include individual velocity or keyboard range split layers which allows the user to creatively combine two instruments at once.

Imagine a Prisma preset with a dreamy pad from Blue II, together with an arpeggiated sound from Predator, a wild wobbulating effect from Blade and a groove from Punch…

Prisma is packed with a range of professionally-programmed presets, including stacks that only use instances of the same software instrument in case the user only owns one Rob Papen product.

Prisma will be completely free for registered Rob Papen users."

Update: and the press release:

Rob Papen proffers PRISMA plug-in to stack its software instruments as a ‘single’ sound source... for free!
ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce the upcoming release of PRISMA, a useful utility plug-in for Mac (32- and 64-bit, AAX, AU, and VST for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher) and PC (32- and 64-bit, AAX and VST for Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10) that allows any Rob Papen plug-in owner to stack several software instruments — including instances of the same plug- in or otherwise — as a ‘single’ sound source, scheduled for release towards the end of March 2016...

Who better to make the formal introductions, then, than the company’s namesake Managing Director, Rob Papen, professional sound designer and resident Rob Papen progressive product ‘dreamer’ par excellence: “PRISMA provides the Rob Papen ‘sound garden’ with ways of providing terrific tone colours by combining these into a single ‘prismatic’ sound source,” he starts, somewhat poetically. “Powerfully, PRISMA stores those stacked software instruments and all their respective settings as a single preset. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to this than might first meet the eye since users can open each single software instrument individually and easily edit and creatively combine it wonderfully with any other stacked software instruments from Rob Papen to create a whole new range of PRISMA sounds!”
Seriously smart features of note include individual VELOCITY or KEYB. RANGE (keyboard range) split layers for creative combinations. Owners of Rob Papen’s Punch — its award-winning drum synthesis/sampler software instrument with built-in grooves that can be triggered — will take delight in the fact that PRISMA perfectly adapts to that feature favourite by also allowing keyboard range selection for those grooves. Get into the groove with PRISMA by using Punch to generate background rhythms!

Creative combinations within PRISMA are almost limitless. Let’s try picturing a PRISMA preset with a pad from BLUE-II, for instance — itself excellently embodying Rob Papen’s present-day vision to devise a powerful dream synth by building upon the success of the original BLUE, a bona fide soft synth classic developed in close collaboration with RPCX (Rob Papen ConcreteFX) partner and music software developer Jon Ayres nigh on a decade ago (cleverly combining FM and subtractive synthesis with Phase Distortion and waveshaping synthesis to create self-styled ‘Crossfusion Synthesis’) and skyrocketing its innovations onwards and upwards, together with an arpeggiated sound, say, from Predator — ‘phat’ analogue-sounding soft synth with killer presets and first-class features from Rob Papen, combined with a cutting- edge sound from Blade — representing the cutting-edge of soft synth development, and adding a groove from Punch... picture perfect!

PRISMA also has four top-quality FX on board, allowing users to bypass the individual software instruments’ inbuilt effects to save on computer resources, ready for building picture perfect PRISMA sounds!

Still better, PRISMA is available for any Rob Papen user to download for free! Simply stack any already-owned Rob Papen software instruments to use (or create new) PRISMA presets using those software instruments at their disposal, even if it’s just a case of combining multiple instances of BLUE-II, Predator, or any other Rob Papen product. PRISMA, of course, comes packed with a wide range of professionally-programmed presets, including stacks that only use instances of the same software instrument... in case the user only owns one Rob Papen product.

PRISMA really comes into its own when used with eXplorer-III, The Complete Rob Papen Synth & Effect Collection, combining all of the company’s multi-award-winning Mac- and PC-compatible software instruments — including the relatively recently-released RAW soft synth specialising in ‘distorted’ sounds specifically suited to EDM (electronic dance music production) and beyond — and also all of its critically- acclaimed effects plug-ins into an attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for. Fortunately, eXplorer-III also installs PRISMA as part of the bundle, so eXplorer-III users will no longer have to worry about installing it for themselves.

Either way, welcome to the wonderful world of PRISMA. Why wait? It’s available for free and simply sounds superb, whether using Rob Papen’s professionally-programmed PRISMA presets or creating new ones!

Rob Papen himself will be demonstrating an advanced version of PRISMA in Hall A, Booth #6825 at The NAMM Show 2016, January 21-24 in Anaheim, California. Come check it out!

Rob Papen Introduces B.I.T. Analogue-Modelled Soft Synth

Live Stream 11 June 2019 B.I.T. -Virtual Analog Synthesizer -

"Rob Papen progresses back in time to bring B.I.T. into being as analogue-modelled soft synth fit for today

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: 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 — as of June 11…

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 an introductory promo price of €79.00 EUR (including VAT)/$79.00 USD until the end of June 2019 — rising thereafter to €99.00 EUR (including VAT)/$99.00 USD — from here: https://www.robpapen.com/buybit.html

Note that B.I.T. is included in the latest version of the eXplorer 5 bundle (https://www.robpapen.com/eXplorer-5.html), 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.

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.html"

Rob Papen Vecto Released as AAX/AU/VST Compatible Virtual Instrument

Published on Feb 18, 2019 Rob Papen

"Rob Papen (re)boots Vecto virtual synthesizer into wider (DAW) world as an AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible VI version

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: by popular demand, virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware is proud to announce availability of an AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible version of Vecto — previously only available as a Rack Extension (RE) for Swedish innovative music software applications, interfaces, and technology standards company Propellerhead Software’s revolutionary Reason — as a 32- and 64-bit Virtual Instrument (VI) synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.8 - MacOS 10.14) and Windows (Vista, 7, 8, and 10), as of February 19…

Rob Papen’s popular Vecto was originally created as an RE for Propellerhead’s proprietary Reason platform back in 2015. However, Rob Papen has since received many requests asking if this product could also be made available for other platforms, as attested to by Rob Papen himself: “By popular demand, we’ve now also created it as a VST, AudioUnit, and AAX version.”

Never let it be said that Rob Papen does not collectively listen to feedback from its valued customers! Clearly, the company believes in adding value to its products. “From the start, it already has over 1,000 presets,” reveals Rob Papen, before adding: “It’s a great synthesizer for ambient music, pad sounds, and synthesizer sounds, but the good news is that Vecto is also part of the eXplorer 5 bundle.”

CLICK FOR MORE »

Rob Papen Explorer-5 Introduction

Published on Oct 16, 2018 Rob Papen
Update: New Video Published on Jun 20, 2019

"This inspirational bundle holds 20 RP products if you include the amazing Prisma! which you can request after registering your bundle.

Go2: The power of limitations.
RAW-Kick: Edgy Kicks for comtemporary music.
MasterMagic: Adds a touch of magic for your Mix or Master.
SubBoomBass 2: Ultimate bass synthesizer.
Predator 2: The Synth that hunts your tracks!
BLUE-II: Cross-fusion synthesis at its finest.
RG: Electric and acoustic guitar grooves.
RP-Verb 2: Most intriguing in RP-VERB 2 – alongside the to a great sound – is the new ‘Reverser’ section!
RP-EQ: Silky smooth sounding channel and mastering EQ.
Blade: The cutting edge of today's synthesizers!
Punch: Speaker busting and body rattling drum machine.
Punch-BD: Based around the BD module of the multi award winning Punch virtual drum synth,
RP-Delay: Delay insanity. Reverser, 6 lines, 8 filters, 4 LFOs and more.
RP-Distort: Wicked FX unit that will distort or alter your tracks.
RP-Amod: Spice up your vocal track, liven an instrument and even beef up your drums.
RAW: Cutting edge EDM synthesizer with the focus on 'distorted sounds'
SubBoomBass: Ultra-deep groove bass synth with built-in step sequencer.
Predator: Phat analogue style synth with killer presets and first class features.
PredatorFX: Filter, modulation, vocoder and effects plug-in.
Prisma: Get creative using Rob Papen's take on instrument layering."

Update: and the press release:

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware is proud to announce availability of eXplorer 5 — furthering the creative scope of its inspirational plug-in bundle by adding Go2, MasterMagic, and RAW-Kick to the all-encompassing musical mix — as of October 16…

Now numbering no fewer than 20 highly-versatile virtual instruments and extraordinary effects, eXplorer 5 pushes Rob Papen’s plug-in bundle beyond belief by including three new additions that more than live up to its Inspiration Soundware slogan.

MasterMagic is an aptly-named effect plug-in with which to improve mixes or final masters alike. Anyone placing MasterMagic at the very end of their virtual master effects chain can easily experience how much it can help improve their tracks. The MONO/STEREO SPLIT FILTER section will make the low end much tighter while the AIR function — even applied at a liberal level — is sheer magic. Make no mistake: there’s no mystery about this magical musical tool!

The name maybe gives the game away, as RAW-Kick represents Rob Papen’s cutting-edge kick drum-creation tool! The perfect weapon of choice for those hard-sounding electronic dance music styles — such as Hardcore, Hardstyle (mixing influences from Techno and Hardcore), and Industrial — and also EDM and House. Here RAW-Kick creatively enables the use of three layers, each of which can be either modelled or sample-based at source. Rob Papen being Rob Papen, RAW-Kick has some refreshingly resourceful features with which to create unique-sounding kicks up its virtual sleeve! Still better, RAW-Kick comes complete with a varied selection of original presets from a long list of respected DnB, Hardcore, and Hardstyle producers, including Caine, DJ Mad Dog, DJ Promo, Orphidian, Sinister Souls, Tha Playah, The Outside Agency, and Wavolizer, to name but a notable few.

Finally, Go2 is an appropriately-named, go-to synthesizer, set apart from its award-winning software siblings by virtue of all its controls and features always being in plain sight and always available to access onscreen, so simplifying usage for the average user. Ultimately, though, this is far from being a simple-sounding virtual instrument. Its Morph feature and XY section serve to make for a powerful software synthesizer, one with which users — average or otherwise — can create unique sounds speedily and easily! End game? Go2 surely shows that there is power to be had in the ‘less is more' maxim... and all without sacrificing audio quality!

Quality, of course, shines brightly through all 20 of eXplorer 5’s highly-versatile virtual instruments and extraordinary effects. Established Rob Papen classics such as Blade (quite literally a cutting-edge software synthesizer), BLUE-II (self-styled ‘Crossfusion Synthesis’), Predator2 (software synthesizer to die for), Punch (speaker-busting, body-rattling virtual drum synth), Punch-BD (Punch- based bass drum module), RAW (software synthesizer specialising in ‘distorted’ sounds specifically suited to EDM and beyond), RG (unique electric and acoustic guitar groove virtual instrument), and SubBoomBass 2 (groove bass software synthesizer) — not forgetting an array of effects, including RP-AMOD (uses modulators to alter audio in different ways), RP-Delay (six delay lines, eight filters, four LFOs, a reverser, and more), RP-Distort (designed to destroy, distort, or more subtly alter any audio), RP-EQ (silky smooth- sounding channel and mastering EQ), and RP-VERB 2 (advanced, transparent, and musical-sounding algorithmic reverb) — sit comfortably and creatively alongside those three additions to collectively push Rob Papen’s prized plug-in bundle beyond belief.

But hearing is believing; best put this way, eXplorer 5 is the all-encompassing best that you can get from Rob Papen — all the more so since it also includes PRISMA, easily enabling users to layer multiple Rob Papen virtual instruments into a creatively stacked sound like no other!


eXplorer 5 can be purchased in a boxed edition — featuring 20 AAX (32-/64-bit), AU (32-/64-bit), VST (32-/64-bit) compatible audio software plug-ins for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) and Windows (Vista, 7, 8, and 10) — from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide or as a download directly from Rob Papen for €499.00 EUR/$499.00 USD from here: http://www.robpapen.com/eXplorer5-buy.html

Several options to upgrade to eXplorer 5 are also available, attractively priced as follows: €299.00 EUR/$299.00 USD (available to owners of one purchased Rob Papen product); €199.00 EUR/$199.00 USD (available to owners of two purchased Rob Papen products); €149.00 EUR/ $149.00 USD (available to owners of three purchased Rob Papen products); €99.00 EUR/$99.00 USD (available to owners of eXplorer4); €49.00 EUR/$49.00 USD (available to owners of eXplorer4 + Go2); and €149.00 EUR/$149.00 USD (available to owners of eXplorer III)."

Rob Papen edges EDM community closer to the cutting edge by releasing RAW soft synth

Published on Dec 19, 2014 Rob Papen

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of RAW — an easy-to-use, all-new Mac (32- and 64-bit, AAX, AU, and VST for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher) and PC (32- and 64-bit, AAX and VST for Windows Vista, 7, and 8) compatible soft synth specialising in ‘distorted’ sounds specifically suited to electronic dance music production (and beyond) — as of December 19...

When namesake company founder and sought-after sound designer Rob Papen attended the Dutch Dancefair earlier this year on his home turf to demonstrate his sought-after (soft)wares, little did he know that he would come away with an almost fully-formed idea for an all-new soft synth. So how, exactly, did that happen? Haphazardly, as it happened. Here producers Sebastian Hoff and Freek Vergoossen (a.k.a. DJ Promo and DJ Free-K, respectively) made an approach to propose a synthesizer that focused more on ‘distorted’ sounds with an easy-to-use layout. Always open to the idea of delivering fresh, cutting-edge, and — moreover — musical plug-ins for producers, whatever their musical leanings, Rob responded favourably by inviting the two DJs to his well-stocked studio for a brainstorming session. Said session resulted in a list of ‘must-have’ features and tools, sowing the seeds for RAW.

Reason has it that might just as easily not have happened, had Rob Papen not had the foresight and wherewithal to see the curious concept through to its cutting-edge completion. “While I’m always seeking new directions, I noticed that I also have roadblocks to my way of thinking,” he states in a moment of refreshingly raw honesty. “Maybe this is because of my long-lasting association with classic analogue hardware synthesizers like the Minimoog and Roland Jupiter-8 that don’t have onboard effects or EQ. I can clearly remember the first synthesizers that came complete with EQ, which was weird. ‘EQ is for mixing desks,’ I thought! On the other hand, I enjoyed effects like chorus, phaser, delays, and so on when they started showing up on synths. So the moment that DJ Promo and DJ Free-K discussed this idea of synthesizers having more ‘distortion’ and EQ, my immediate thought was, ‘EQ in a synth? Mmm...’ Then I said to myself, ‘Rob, you must get past this roadblock and look into this with an open mind.”

Mindful of those ideas, the Rob Papen development team truly thought outside of the box and now — within a matter of months of that fateful first meeting — RAW is here for all to see and hear. How does it differ from other developers’ soft synth offerings — as well as those musical must-haves from Rob Papen, of course — currently out there, then? Its co-creator comes clean about its inherent idiosyncrasies: “RAW has a focus on ‘distorted’ sounds, so this means that it has a different signal setup, synthesizer-wise. We have two oscillators and a FILTER, but what is new when compared to our other synthesizers is that you have an EQ that can be pre- or post-distortion. After that, there is also a WAVESHAPER and dedicated DISTORTION module with several types of distortion, as well as a LOW FI control. This is new to this synthesizer, and it’s part of the concept that the distortions are on the voice level, so it’s not just a case of a total signal going into the distortions, but rather each voice has its own WAVESHAPER, DISTORTION, and LOW FI — plenty of options to shape the sound here!”

However, in typical Rob Papen style, that’s not all. Far from it, in fact. In addition to the flexible X/Y fields found in the feature-packed OSC 1 and OSC 2 sections (which will already be familiar to refined Rob Papen Predator and BLUE-II soft synth users), RAW users can effectively draw their own ‘waveforms’ to be used as LFO waveforms, enabling the creation of unique ‘wobble’ sound movements — perfect for dubstep and other EDM styles. Other effects such as CHORUS, FLANGER, PHASER, and STEREO DELAY — not forgetting Rob Papen’s proprietary high-quality REVERB — all add to the superlative sound sculpting possibilities on offer, as does the super-cool step sequencer/ arpeggiator, and many more fanciful features above and beyond. But mindful of that original easy-to-use layout request, a self- explanatory Easypage makes things even easier to understand and use — grab and go, so-to-speak!

Speaking of which, user presets are arguably always where it’s at when it comes to true originality, of course, but by enlisting the tuned-in talents of world-class DJs and producers — such as Deathmachine, DJ Hidden, DJ Promo, DJ Thera, D-Passion, Ophidian, Mad Dog, Rob Fabrie, N-Vitral, The Playah, The Viper, Warface, and many more besides — to create crowd-pleasing presets galore for RAW alongside the numerous creative contributions from Rob Papen himself instant inspiration is truly guaranteed. Just add tunes, turn up the distortion, and mix to taste... you’ll soon be sounding really RAW! All in the best possible taste, of course.


RAW can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide or downloaded directly from Rob Papen for an attractive introductory price of €119.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$143.00 USD until the end of 2014 — thereafter rising to €149.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$179.00 USD — from here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-raw.html

Note that eXplorer-III, Rob Papen’s all-encompassing software bundle, now includes RAW as standard, bringing its total product count to 13; competitively priced at €585.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$699.00 USD, this represents a significant cost saving of around 50% when compared to separately purchasing each and every Rob Papen virtual instrument and effects plug-in included!

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated RAW product webpage here: http://www.robpapen.com/raw.html

Watch Rob Papen’s riveting RAW promo video here: http://youtu.be/jbu9JkTZ4lM

Several awe-inspiring audio demos showcasing RAW from the likes of Noisia can be heard here: http://www.robpapen.com/raw-mp3.html"

Rob Papen plug-ins go standalone with RP-Dock

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of RP-Dock, a standalone Mac- and PC-compatible host application for all its current products, as of May 30...

Other than proving popular with an ever-increasing, diversified worldwide user base of music production professionals and amateurs, Rob Papen’s growing family of ear-opening virtual instrument and effects plug-ins all have something crucial in common: they cannot run as standalone products, but rather require a host DAW application to function. Or do they?

That was then, this is now. Today, thanks to RP-Dock, any Rob Papen product — from BLUE to Blade and any effects plug-in in between and beyond — can be freed from the confines of a DAW host application to run freely... perfect for playing live onstage or in the studio, or simply noodling with synth sounds and effects! The choice is out there for those music production professionals and amateurs alike.

According to George Michael’s programmer and co-producer, James Jackman, the multi-million-selling singer-songwriter superstar has been benefitting from Rob Papen’s namesake founder’s decades-long study of reverb by making much use of the stunning-sounding RP-Verb plug-in on his eagerly-awaited forthcoming album, for instance. Now it’s possible for him to use RP-Verb as a standalone reverb when working with a large-format mixing console courtesy of RP-Dock — software and hardware living in perfect harmony!

But Rob Papen being Rob Papen, there’s a whole lot more besides on offer here. In addition to its classic chromatic keyboard, RP-Dock boast several other handy onscreen features, including an audio recording/playback facility with selectable SAMPLE RATE ranging from 44.1 to 96kHz and MIDI INPUT to merge all connected MIDI controllers, plus MIDI CHANNEL selection and TEMPO setting.

Without question, then, RP-Dock is a user-friendly, flexible tool that Rob Papen’s ever-increasing, diversified worldwide user base benefits from full stop. But best of all, it’s free for all!

Mac (32-bit) and PC (32- and 64-bit) versions of RP-Dock can be downloaded directly for free from here: http://www.robpapen.com/rp-dock.html"

"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 CDs 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 Ayers 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 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!"

Rob Papen Quad Introduction

Published on Oct 22, 2014 Rob Papen

"RE synthesizer for Propellerhead Reason 7.1 or higher.

QUAD is the first Rack Extension synthesizer built from the ground up for Reason by the Rob Papen team. It features two oscillators with a seemingly simple arsenal of classic waveforms. The sonic palette is huge though, through the vast modulation possibilities that QUAD has to offer.

The oscillators can be combined through many cross modulation functions – generating a wide range of harmonics. The next steps in the sound sculpting are the Phase Distortion and Wave Shaper. These tools are brought to life by four XY-Pads, which can be moved through an extensive modulation matrix. The movements can be recorded as automation directly into Reason’s sequencer.

QUAD’s oscillators are complemented by two top notch analogue modelled filters, an arpeggiator and two high quality effects processors.

Welcome to the new refreshing synthesizer QUAD – only in Reason!"

Reminds me of wavetable synthesis but instead of using pre-existing wavetables, they are generated on the fly.

Update: and the official press release:

"Rob Papen produces quick-fire QUAD as its first RE release built from the ground up for Reason


ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of QUAD, its first Rack Extension synthesizer built from the ground up for Propellerhead Reason, as of October 28...

When Swedish music software application, interfaces, and technology standards specialist Propellerhead Software first unveiled its revolutionary Rack Extension — an ever-expandable, freely-routable rack of instruments, effects, and sounds — for its well-received Reason music-making and recording studio software solution, namesake company founder and synthesizer developer Rob Papen promptly pronounced it as being “...a brilliant concept.” Continuing, he then summarised its advantages as follows: “What we face as a developer is having to have a PC version and a Mac version, and if you run them in your regular host, you can crash your host. That’s a real big battle. People, if they use Reason, learn that things are connected. It’s cross-platform; everything works. It’s a major leap forward for Reason, and productions coming out of Reason will sound totally different. Reason remains Reason, but, now, it’s open.”

Open to the likes of Rob Papen to develop distinctive and desirable third-party Rack Extensions (RE) for Reason. Little wonder, then, that Rob Papen was amongst the first wave of developers to do just that, starting by porting over its popular ‘phat’-sounding soft synth Predator as Predator-RE, rapidly followed by its SubBoomBass-RE dedicated virtual bass synth, self-explanatory PR-Verb RE and PR-Distort RE virtual effects, plus PunchBD-RE, a versatile and easy-to-use bass drum synth.

Soft synths have always been at the core of Rob Papen’s productive business model, so it’s hardly surprising that they put some serious time and effort into porting some of their most popular products over to Propellerhead’s popular Reason platform. Yet what distinguishes QUAD from its aforementioned admired RE predecessors is that this time the company has chosen to build a Rack Extension synthesizer from the ground up. Why? Well, according to Rob Papen’s namesake founder, it “...offers a different and refreshing synthesis for your rack!”

Really? Really. “QUAD is still ‘subtractive synthesis’ like you know from Predator and so on, but the oscillator part has some interesting new features that vastly expands the sound options and makes QUAD very different from any other regular ‘subtractive synthesizer’,” reasons Rob Papen.

Put simply, QUAD has two oscillators (OSC 1 and OSC 2) at its sonic core, each endowed with a seemingly simple selection of classic waveforms (Sine, Triangle, Saw, White Noise, and Pink Noise), together with a SPREAD function (adding multiple oscillators with slightly higher and lower pitch to the main oscillators to fatten up the sound), and a SUB oscillator tuned one octave below with two selectable waveforms (Sinus and Square). Straightforward-sounding so far? Arguably yes. Yet those oscillators can be combined with many cross modulation functions, generating a wide range of harmonics. How so? “This is arranged inside OSC 1, where we also have several interesting modulation types. Also, OSC 1 can be shut down for going into the filter, so it can be exclusively used as a modulator for OSC 2.”

These already stunning sound sculpting tools are all brought to life by the four XY pads that dominate the main screen, giving OSC 1 and OSC 2 their distinctive PHASE DISTORTION and WAVE SHAPER capabilities — and also giving rise to the QUAD name. Notes Rob Papen: “For each we have several distortion or wave-shaping types. With the XY dials or XY field you can change this dynamic. The very cool thing is that with minimal effort you can quickly create a new sound and preset.”

Of course, Rob Papen himself is an internationally recognised sound designer of considerable standing, so it should come as little surprise to learn that QUAD is packed with wide-ranging Rob Papen-designed presets so you don’t have to (if you don’t want to). Those that do, of course, can delve deeper courtesy of an extensive MODULATION matrix; two effects processors (FX 1/2) that can be automated within the MODULATION matrix or via the ‘back panel’-positioned ‘external’ CV; LFO 1/2 and ENVELOPE 1/2 that can be tempo-synced; AMP section for controlling the volume contour; and more.

Moreover, QUAD offers no fewer than 28 filter types via two top-notch analogue-modelled filters (FILTER 1/2) with various routings, as well as an artistically-inspirational arpeggiator (ARP) with several playback modes. Maintains its co-creator: “It’s a big synth with many features!” For Reason users it really does offer a refreshing and different approach to synthesis, so why not extend your Rack right now?


QUAD can be purchased and directly downloaded for €99.00 EUR/$119.00 USD from the Propellerhead Shop here: https://shop.propellerheads.se/product/rob-papen-quad-instrument/ (Propellerhead operates a try-before-you-buy service for those wishing to test Rack Extensions.)"

Details on Rob Papen's Vecto

Catch the video here.

Press release follows:

"Rob Papen vectors in on serious sound-shaping synthesis victory with latest Reason RE release


ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of VECTO — a serious sound-shaping vector synthesizer that truly testifies to the creative company’s mover and shaker status in the wonderful world of Rack Extensions (RE) for Swedish music software application, interfaces, and technology standards specialist Propellerhead Software’s revolutionary Reason, billed by its creators as being about perfecting the process of music-making — as of June 10...

That Propellerhead’s proprietary platform has proven so popular is beyond reasonable doubt... and when the Swedish music software application, interfaces, and technology standards specialist first introduced its revolutionary Rack Extensions concept — custom-built plug- ins for Reason, Rob Papen himself promptly pronounced it as being “...a brilliant concept.” Continuing, he subsequently summarised its inherent value to the likes of his namesake company as well as added fringe benefits for all concerned: “Clearly, what we face as a developer is having to have a PC version and a Mac version, and if you run them in your regular host, you can crash your host. That’s a real big battle. People, if they use Reason, learn that things are connected. It’s cross-platform; everything works. It’s a major leap forward for Reason, and productions coming out of Reason will sound totally different. Reason remains Reason, but, now, it’s open.”

Open to the likes of Rob Papen — actually amongst the first wave of virtual instrument and effects plug-in developers — to develop distinctive and desirable third-party Rack Extensions for Reason. Revolutionary and evolutionary even, and they definitely don’t come much more so than VECTO, a serious sound-shaping vector synthesizer that truly testifies to the creative company’s mover and shaker status in the wonderful world of Rack Extensions. End game? Getting so much better all the time — to (partly) paraphrase another musical phenomenon — is perhaps closer to the musical mark, for Vecto veers towards another soft synth victory for Rob Papen, proof positive of how much musical mileage can be so successfully squeezed out of Reason Rack Extensions... safe in the hands of one of the most talented team of developers around, of course!

Cleverly, as implied by name, VECTO is a vector synthesizer that allows users to draw in VECTOR paths to shape the resultant sound in many wondrous ways. As always, it is presented packed with Rob Papen’s trademark flexible features and a profusion of professionally- programmed presets — remember: Rob Papen is a world-renowned sound designer in his own right, replete with a talented team of programmers, graphic designers, and fellow sound designers at his conceptual disposal — fashioned from four oscillators and much more besides. “After releasing QUAD, we decided to make more use of the X/Y pad, which appears in a lot of other Rob Papen AAX-/AU-/VST- compatible virtual instruments, such as Blade, BLUE-II, and RAW,” reasons Rob Papen. “The change in sound between the four oscillators offers a lot of sound options in itself, including drawing the movement between them, as well as preset movements and additional features like Time Quantize and Space Quantize. In fact, all movements are tempo-based and they can also be changed dynamically.”

Due to the wide range of oscillator waveforms on offer — from classic analogue models to additive, spectrum, and high-quality samples, the sound options are dazzlingly deep! Take two FILTERS, each with 28 different types to choose from, then try bringing two top-notch FX processors into the highly creative musical mix, and audio routing is brought to a blistering finish. Of course, multiple MODULATION options additionally abound, as do performance-elevating fanciful features such as a step-based ARP (arpeggiator). Adds Rob Papen: “The routing of the four oscillators is another cool feature of VECTO. Why? Well, instead of sending the oscillators direct to the FILTERS or FX, why not send an oscillator to another oscillator? This results in FM-type sounds. Or try combining that with two ‘normal’ oscillators. Each oscillator also has a special menu for additional volume control. But that’s not all. Each oscillator also has an option to ‘re-trigger’ the next sample in tempo-based values, or to delay the start of a sample. Besides this, there is a ‘sub-oscillator’ that even works in combination with the onboard samples! Surely creativity rules in every respect!”

Indeed, it does. Developmental homework having so stylishly paid off for all to see and hear, the time is right for Rob Papen himself to happily draw an appropriate conclusion: “Feature-wise, VECTO is a synthesizer that’s sure to keep the synth geeks happy. However, most important of all is the sound that it produces using those high-quality oscillators, FILTERS, and FX, because, ultimately, that’s what you hear.”

Herein lies the musical key to unlocking levels of programmability and playability hitherto unseen and unheard of in the wonderful world of Reason Rack Extensions... until now, that is. Indeed, VECTO variously represents another amazing soft synth deftly developed by the talented Rob Papen team to enable Reason to sound like never before, this time thanks to those varied and variable VECTOR movements. Make music... like no other. Over, then, to the Rob Papen founder for one final footnote: “This has always been our creative focus — developing inspirational synthesizers for making music, whatever the platform.”


VECTO can be purchased and directly downloaded for €99.00 EUR/$99.00 USD from the Propellerhead Shop here: https://shop.propellerheads.se/product/vecto-instrument/ (Purposefully, Propellerhead Software operates a 30-day try-before-you-buy service for those wishing to test Rack Extensions — simply click on the TRY button before committing to purchase.)"

Rob Papen brings blue sky thinking to virtual instruments with BLUE-II

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of BLUE-II — an all-new reworking of its breakthrough BLUE soft synth for Mac (OS X 10.6 or higher) and PC (Windows Vista, 7, and 8) — as of March 10...

First released in 2005 after namesake company founder and sought-after sound designer Rob Papen formed the RPCX (Rob Papen ConcreteFX) partnership with music software developer Jon Ayers to create a powerful dream synth, the original version of BLUE has truly stood the test of time to remain a bona fide software synthesizer classic, much loved by synth players and producers worldwide to this day. But back in 2005 it already reflected Rob Papen’s cutting-edge, creative, and — most importantly — musical approach towards developing virtual instruments that truly stand out from the soft synth crowd. By first delivering FM and subtractive synthesis — subsequently adding Phase Distortion and waveshaping synthesis — into the creatively combustible musical mix, BLUE blew the competition away, as reflected in its runaway sales success. Rob Papen himself cleverly called it ‘Crossfusion synthesis’ since it covered so much musical ground so effectively. New dreams for old are an inevitable result of time and technology waiting for no one, however, so the time has come for Rob Papen to move onwards and upwards.

Today, therefore, marks the turning point in a long and winding developmental roadmap that has led to Rob Papen’s eagerly- awaited BLUE-II — bigger and better than it ever was! But BLUE-II remains true to the dreamlike ethos of its predecessor, with even more sound dimensions and features to its extended name, starting with six oscillators beating powerfully at its musical heart. These can be connected in various ways, together with two analogue-style modelled stereo filters with no fewer than 27 different filter types, an astounding range of processing and modulation options, serious sequencer, and an amazing arpeggiator. A new range of specially selected waveforms based on samples have been meticulously fashioned for creating new-fashioned and killer-sounding synth sounds to die for!

But BLUE-II is also easy to use, thanks to its user-friendly user interface with an innovative Easy Edit page for speedy sound changes, while the Bank Manager allows whistle-stop navigation through thousands of inspirational Rob Papen presets and artist sound banks covering a wide range of musical styles to suit all eager ears.

All told, then, BLUE-II represents an amazing journey into the dreamlike musical world of ‘Crossfusion synthesis’. By bringing blue sky thinking to virtual instruments, Rob Papen has succeeded in creating an outrageously original and immensely inspirational soft synth fit to follow in its predecessor’s fanciful footsteps — one that, quite simply, sounds stunning! So prepare to be blown away... again!

BLUE-II can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €149.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$179.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-blue-2.html

Upgrades are also available as follows: BLUE owners can upgrade to BLUE-II for €44.00 EUR/$49.00 USD, while eXplorer II bundle owners can upgrade to the still-to-be-released eXplorer III — which will include BLUE-II and also the upcoming Punch-BD virtual instrument — for €44.00 EUR/$49.00 USD. (eXplorer II owners can also request a ‘temporary’ BLUE-II serial number if planning to upgrade to eXplorer III when released, while anyone who purchased eXplorer II in 2014 will qualify for a free Explorer III upgrade and can also request a ‘temporary’ BLUE-II serial number.)"

Rob Papen Discounts BLUE Birtual Instrument in Readiness for BLUE-II

“Warm, analogue, and cinematic all come to mind when I hear BLUE.”

- Pedro Macedo Camacho (award-winning film and video game composer)


"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is delighted to pass on substantial savings to its loyal customer base and beyond by drastically discounting its breakthrough BLUE virtual instrument in readiness for the upcoming BLUE-II followup...

Powered by RPCX (Rob Papen ConcreteFX), BLUE is an exciting soft synth that delivers FM synthesis, Phase Distortion synthesis, wave shaping synthesis, and subtractive synthesis in one seriously creative combination covering a wide range of musical styles, helped along by 2,000-plus inspirational Rob Papen presets to get your creative juices well and truly flowing forth for all to hear!

Indeed, Rob Papen collectively call it ‘Crossfusion synthesis’ since it covers so much musical ground courtesy of its six oscillator modules — A to F, each of which include analogue, additive, and spectral-type waveforms, with oscillators A and B also offering PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and Sym (Symmetry) control — that can be combined in various ways using 32 different modulation routings in the Algorithm screen; FILTER A and FILTER B — analogue-style modelled multimode (Parallel or Serial) stereo filters offering 6dB LP (lowpass), 6dB HP (high-pass), 12dB LP, 12dB HP, 12dB BP (bandpass), 12dB N (notch), 24dB LP, 24dB HP, 24dB BP, 24dB N, Ring, Comb, and Vox (formant) filter types with control by predefined modulation controllers like Env (envelope), Vel (velocity), KeyTrk (keytrack), and ModWhl (modulation wheel), plus nine associated AHDSFR (attack/hold/decay/sustain/fade/release) envelopes (Env); four multi-envelopes (Multi-Env) that can be built up using up to 16 sections with full graphic control and additional menus with presets; 10 MIDI-sync-able LFOs directly connected to PWM A, PWM B, Filter A, Filter B, Tremelo (amp), Vibrato (main pitch), and four free LFOs (Free A to Free D) — each with adjustable Poly/Mono/Free play modes, Key>Speed (keytracking), Symmetry, Smooth (smoothing), Attack, Decay, and Humanize functions; three modulation step sequencers (Step Seq) with Sequence Start/ Stop and Poly/Mono/Free play modes, Speed control and Smooth function; Mods (modulation matrix) with two pages of 10 slots, 22 synth sources, 23 MIDI sources, and no fewer than 91 synth destinations; 32-step Seq/Arp (mono sequencer and arpeggiator) with Length, Speed, Slide Amnt, Swing, and Vol Smooth functions and an abundance of step settings; and two high-quality FX boxes each offering self-explanatory Mono Delay, Stereo Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Distort, Low Fi, Stereo Widener, Reverb, Comb, Gator, Amp Sim, Wah/Delay, AutoPan, Chorus/Delay, Waveshaper, Ensemble, and Compressor effects with serial and parallel modes... this seemingly inexhaustible, ear-opening list goes on. And on! Almost as easy as ABC, right? Well, not quite!

Any serious synthesist can surely see that this is one serious soft synth that is truly a superior sound designer’s dream to behold! What’s even more remarkable is that BLUE represented a software dream come true for Rob Papen’s namesake founder and sought-after sound designer Rob Papen when he formed the aforementioned RPCX partnership with music software developer Jon Ayers to develop new Rob Papen virtual instruments and effects plug-ins, starting with BLUE back in 2005 as a powerful dream synth that has since stood the test of time to remain just that.

Little wonder, then, that BLUE has proven so popular throughout its lengthy lifetime, having set Rob Papen on a long and winding road to an abundance of software successes. Though the Rob Papen roadmap is now leading to BLUE-II in the not too distant future, until then the company is offering BLUE at a drastically discounted price, and, of course, you can still upgrade to BLUE-II once it is released — even if you purchased BLUE as recently as September 2013. Still feeling blue? Well, why not cheer yourself up today by buying BLUE at almost half its original asking price and take your music to higher levels of creativity than ever before while waiting to take them even higher!


BLUE can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €79.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$99.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-blue.html"

BLUE Introduction video previously posted here.

Rob Papen Introduces BIT-2 Analogue Synthesis-Modelled Virtual Instrument

video upload by Rob Papen

Update:

Rob Papen Live Stream 27 April 2023 BIT-2 & how the introduction video was created


Press release follows:

Rob Papen takes trip back in time to boost BIT-2 beyond namesake plug-in predecessor as analogue synthesis-modelled virtual instrument

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware is proud to announce availability of BIT-2 as an analogue synthesis-modelled virtual instrument — with which it takes another trip back in time to take its namesake plug-in predecessor (released in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim with outstanding audio quality) to the next level with numerous new and creative features — as of April 27…

As an apt acronym if ever there was one, BIT stands for ‘Back In Time’. This alludes to the fact that the BIT-2 virtual instrument plug- in — like its namesake predecessor — mainly focuses on modelling analogue synthesis from a pre-digital era that has a still-sought- after charm of its own, one which had not been covered before BIT by the Rob Papen brand, whose virtual instrument products previously combined the best of analogue modelling with hybrid synthesis so successfully. Since self-confessed synth freak and world- renowned sound designer Rob Papen himself had 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 way back when, taking this trip back in time — and now a second time — makes perfect sense, both business-wise and otherwise.

On the face of it, BIT-2 has no (virtual) patch cables, but make no mistake: it is modular in nature. Indeed, its MOD (modulation) MATRIX is used for patching, though several connections — such as LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) and ENV (envelope) to the OSC 1 and OSC 2 parameters — can quickly be made when switching on the smart ADV (advanced) panel below the oscillators.

Oscillators are actually where boosting BIT-2 begins, with additional Super Saw (1/2/3) and Super Square (1/2/3) waveforms generating a three-oscillator sound within one oscillator to provide even more flexibility for sound creation. Conversely, though, it made sense to leave BIT’s ability to modulate OSC 2 with OSC 1 in several ways — expanding the sound palette profusely with PM (Phase Modulation), FM (Frequency Modulation), and RING (modulation) — as before. But boosting BIT-2 further still are its two top- notch analogue-modelled filters — FILTER 1 and FILTER 2 — expanded to include new types and modes for further enhancing its sound-shaping capabilities, while its AMP (amplifier) section has also been expanded to include multiple distortion types that are all at a ‘per voice’ level to make them much more usable — avoiding any ‘ugliness’ if playing chords, for instance.

Additions are also to be found in BIT-2’s ARP (arpeggiator)/sequencer section, including an ability to dynamically change the start STEP and end STEP number, resulting in interesting patterns that can be changed in real time, as well as the MAGIC MODE parameter that adds musical variation to the active ARP or sequencer. Saying that, the ARP/sequencer can now also work as a modulator, thanks to an additional FREE row that can be used to modulate other parts of BIT-2 in conjunction with the MOD MATRIX.

BIT-2 benefits from the addition of the RIBBON CONTROLLER section located at the bottom of its GUI (Graphical User Interface). It allows users to control several parameters at once using a mouse or external MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) controller, and — unlike a hardware ribbon controller — also has a tempo-based SPRING BACK feature with QUANTIZE and BIPOLAR mode. Performance-wise, PLAY MODE now features a LOCK PLAY function — helpful if using an MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) keyboard.

Expanded effects really represent the finishing touch to BIT-2 with some superb-sounding additions alongside other improvements, including Rob Papen’s proprietary REVERB that sounds superb, so no need — necessarily — to add reverb externally.

Ending where we began, BIT stands for ‘Back In Time’ but when working with the boosted BIT-2 it could just as well be taken to mean ‘Be Inspired Today’ — thanks to the analogue synthesis-modelled virtual instrument’s improvements and additions. As Rob Papen proudly points out by way of ending on a hands-on high note, “We now have animated dials in BIT-2, more modulation slots and modulation options, and last, but not least, many new presets by both myself and others have been included in this update... enjoy!”


BIT-2 is available as a 64-bit AAX-, AU-, VST- and VST3-compatible virtual instrument plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.13 or higher) and as a 32- and 64-bit VST- and VST3-compatible virtual instrument plug-in for PC (Windows 7 or higher) — with 64-bit AAX compatibility available for PT 12 or higher (PC) — at an introductory promo price of €74.00 EUR/$74.00 USD until June 1, 2023 — rising thereafter to its regular price of €99.00 EUR/$99.00 USD — from authorised Rob Papen resellers worldwide or as a download directly from Rob Papen itself for the same pricing from here: https://www.robpapen.com/bit2.html (Owners of BIT can upgrade to BIT-2 at an introductory promo price of €26.00 EUR/$26.00 USD until June 1, 2023, rising thereafter to its regular price of €35.00 EUR/$35.00 USD.)

BIT-2 is included in the latest version of Rob Papen’s all-encompassing eXplorer-8 bundle (https://www.robpapen.com/explorer-8.html) at no additional cost, so existing owners only have to download the latest installer and run it to add BIT-2 to their Rob Papen virtual instrument and effect plug-in collection.

For more in-depth info, including some superb-sounding audio demos, please visit the dedicated BIT-2 webpage here: https://www.robpapen.com/bit2.html

Rob Papen Introduces SuBoomBass 2

Published on Nov 24, 2017 Rob Papen

"Rob Papen produces bigger booms and shake-shake-shake the rooms with SubBoomBass 2


“I've loved SubBoomBass from the start — instant access over lots of great-sounding deep basses that immediately sit nicely in the mix! A must-have for every dance producer!”
- Tom Holkenberg (a.k.a. Junkie XL), composer/producer (Mad Max: Fury Road, Deadpool), 2017


ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of SubBoomBass 2 — succeeding the award-winning, self- explanatory floor-shaking SubBoomBass soft synth with the original (often) bass-heavy presets all present and accounted for alongside an abundance of new features and new sound colours to take things closer to the (cutting) edge — as of November 24…

It is immediately obvious to the naked eye that SubBoomBass 2’s GUI (Graphical User Interface) is on the receiving end of a musical makeover making for more comfortable control of all its fanciful features. Fortunately for fans of the original soft synth, SubBoomBass 2 retains its much-loved modelled analogue waveform-driven warmth, but brings into being a brave new world of new sound colours courtesy of supplemental spectrum waveforms, with high-quality thinking outside of the box-style samples sitting alongside a welcome inclusion of Karplus-Strong string synthesis — a method of physical modelling synthesis that loops a short waveform through a filtered delay line to simulate the sound of a hammered or plucked string or some types of percussion. Put it this way: with so much musical firepower placed at adventurous users’ fingertips, SubBoomBass 2 surely sets loose some seriously fresh-sounding and hitherto unheard sounds... above and beyond the (arguably) restrictive realms of dance production with which SubBoomBass first found its musical mark so beautifully.

But, Rob Papen being Rob Papen, there is so much more to SubBoomBass 2 than might first meet the eye... enter an X/Y screen (which will already be familiar to owners of the company’s critically-acclaimed BLUE-II and RAW soft synths both designed differently for different musical motivation in mind); access an all-new SEQUENCER (capable of running four patterns); plus an easy-to-use BANK MANAGER (with ‘star’ feature for speedily searching for favourites — whether user- created or one of the trademark Rob Papen professionally-programmed presets presented in their thousands). Speaking of which, all of the original SubBoomBass (sometimes) bass-heavy presets are all present and accounted for, so SubBoomBass 2 can capably boom and shake-shake-shake the room with the very best — bigger and better than its predecessor, possibly!

SubBoomBass 2 allows anyone to creatively compliment any style of contemporary music at any time — whether working on video game or film scores, or anything in between and beyond. After all, fellow high-flying Dutchman and original SubBoomBass supporter Tom Holkenberg (a.k.a. Junkie XL) started out on the dance floor, fraternising with worldwide chart positions, and ended up on the big screen as a hotshot Hollywood film scorer. Similarly, SubBoomBass 2 is surely set to become another success story for Rob Papen. Anything is possible... just ask Junkie XL!

SubBoomBass 2 can be purchased in a boxed edition — as an AAX (32-/64-bit), AU (32-/64-bit), VST (32-/64-bit) compatible audio software plug-in for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) and Windows (Vista, 7, 8, and 10) — from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide or as a download directly from Rob Papen for €99.00 EUR/$99.00 USD from here: https://www.robpapen.com/buy-subboombass-2.html (Owners of SubBoomBass are eligible to upgrade to SubBoomBass 2 for €39.00 EUR/$39.00 USD, while SubBoomBass 2 is included in eXplorer4, the latest incarnation of Rob Papen’s all-encompassing software bundle, so owners of eXplorer4 can download the SubBoomBass 2 installer for free.)"

Rob Papen pulls out all stops with all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of eXplorer-III — combining all of its award-winning Mac- and PC- compatible virtual instruments, including the recently-released breathtaking BLUE-II soft synth, alongside its critically-acclaimed effects plug-ins into an attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for — as of May 1...

Self-confessed synth freak and world-renowned sound designer Rob Papen knows a thing or two about creating the sounds that people want to hear. He’s even published an informative instructional book/DVD set based on his subtractive synthesis masterclasses called The 4 Element Synth — perfectly pitched for the long-running analogue revival, but is best known for his namesake software company, dedicated to producing its trademark Inspiration Soundware. Several years after its inception, Rob Papen, the company, collectively has 11 superlative software products to its well-known name: Blade (representing the cutting-edge of today’s synthesizers), BLUE-II (so-called ‘Crossfusion synthesis’ since it covers so much musical ground so effectively), Predator (‘phat’ analogue synth with killer presets and first-class features), Punch (speaker-busting, body-rattling drum machine), SubBoomBass (ultra-deep bass synth with built-in step sequencer), RG (electric and acoustic guitar grooves with sequencer and synth effects), RP-AMOD (modulation effects to spice up vocal tracks, enliven instruments, or even beef up drums and loops), RP-Delay (with six delay lines, eight filters, four LFOs, reverser, and more), RP-Distort (for distorting and dramatically altering tracks), and RP-Verb (advanced, transparent, and musical algorithm reverb).

Now all of those award-winning Mac- and PC-compatible virtual instruments and critically acclaimed effects plug-ins that have found favour with so many of the world’s leading music producers and artists are available in the all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle — billed as being The Complete Rob Papen Synth & Effect Collection. To quote a few notable names for whom Rob Papen’s Inspiration Soundware has proved inspirational indeed:

“I love BLUE-II! The patches are so good. I opened it up and started using it immediately in my current project. You read my mind on what I was looking for.” (Rod Abernethy: RAGE, TERA, Alpha Protocol, Star Trek, and The Hobbit composer)

“Rob Papen definitely makes some amazing plug-ins; we use Predator all the time, because it has such amazing sounds!” (Dave Stewart: musician, songwriter, record producer, and Eurythmics co-founder)

“[Punch is] very cool and delivers very fast results for instant creativity! It’s easy to use and sounds great.” (Armin van Buuren: music producer and DJ)

But best of all, anyone purchasing eXplorer-III is saving themselves around 50% when compared to separately purchasing each and every Rop Papen virtual instrument and effects plug-in included. Imagine what they could do with the money saved? Treat themselves to a nice new pair of studio monitors to listen to those thousands of superlative sounds in all their professionally-programmed glory? Go for it! Open your wallet and your ears to take your productions to hitherto dreamed of levels of Inspiration Soundware sublimity with this attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for. Just ask Rod Abernethy, Dave Stewart, and Armin van Buuren — or even Rob Papen himself!


eXplorer-III can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €585.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$699.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-explorer-3.html

Various upgrade options are also available: eXplorer-II bundle owners can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €44.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$49.00 USD while owners of the original eXplorer bundle can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €119.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$139.00 USD."

Rob Papen goes in for the soft synth kill with Predator 1.6.4

"'Rob Papen definitely makes some amazing plug-ins; we use Predator all the time, because it has such amazing sounds!'

- Dave Stewart (musician, songwriter, record producer, Eurythmics co-founder)

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of Predator 1.6.4, the latest update to its killer ‘phat’-sounding soft synth, as of May 21...

Rob Papen Soundware soft synths have always defined cutting-edge contemporary music production: powerful virtual instruments and plug-ins that intermix innovative design, uncompromising sound quality, and musical, production-grade presets designed to make tracks truly shine, whatever the musical genre. Predator — a ‘phat’-sounding killer soft synth that combines inspiring presets and first-class features to create the perfect ‘go-to’ synth for contemporary music production — has been successfully doing just that since its introduction in 2009, as attested to by the long list of professional producers and musicians who have happily put aside their beloved synthesizer hardware in favour of this ambient, drum ’n’ bass, club, hardstyle, hip-hop, and house music mainstay’s thousands of tailor-made presets — many made by Rob Papen himself, long since established as a sought-after sound designer in his own right, having created presets for several well-known companies before going on to found his own namesake company.

There is always room for improvement, however, and with Predator 1.6.4 the best just got a whole lot better — and bigger! First and foremost, studio-based producers and musicians maximising ‘screen estate’ to speed up DAW workflow will appreciate the appropriately- named new Big Screen graphic mode, which instantly increases the original Predator GUI by 150%. After all, making things easier on the eye clearly helps when it comes to making things easier on the ears in this day and age of visually enhancing the computer-based composition and recording process with big screens!

Of course, sound is where the art is, and, given its pedigree, Predator 1.6.4 does not disappoint with over 450 new presets to its numerically lengthened name conveniently arranged in Dance, Classic Synth, Ambient, DubStep, and Hardstyle BD Basses groupings. Indeed, Rob Papen himself is in the fortuitous position of being personally in contact with many of the world’s top producers and musicians who regularly use his company’s products and so can quickly act upon providing requested sounds and features to comfortably remain on the cutting edge of contemporary music production with Predator.

For example, a visit to the Rob Papen HQ by Headhunterz (a.k.a. Dutch hardstyle DJ/producer Willem Rebergen) — recently ranked 11th in DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJs poll — resulted in the aforesaid dedicated HardStyle BD Basses sound bank and also a new distortion effect within Predator 1.6.4 — proof positive of the soft synth’s versatility. Additionally, Dutch DJ Rob Fabrie (a.k.a. DJ Headbanger, The Alienator, Gizeh, and Waxweazle) contributed the new Hardstyle Core BD Basses RF sound bank to Predator 1.6.4 while JoMal has also added his own artist bank of distinctive sounds to the update.

Existing Predator owners can simply login to their Rob Papen user account and download the Predator 1.6.4 update installer for free to access these new cutting-edge sound banks!

Other features new to Predator 1.6.4 include additional Clipper Distortion (with symmetry control) and Tape Chorus effects; Vowel, Formant 2-band, and Formant 4-band readouts (which when selected result in the Distortion dial displaying VOWEL or BANDWIDTH); and External MIDI Capture Mode (that allows a parameter to start changing as soon as the external MIDI controller reaches the displayed preset value).

Looking to add some bite to your contemporary music productions? Then look no further than Predator — now better than ever, thanks to this latest update!


Predator can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €149.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$179.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-predator.html

Listen to examples of new Predator 1.6.4 presets here:
http://www.robpapen.com/dmdocuments/Predator1.6.4_ambient.mp3
http://www.robpapen.com/dmdocuments/Predator1.6.4_classic_synth.mp3
http://www.robpapen.com/dmdocuments/Predator1.6.4_HardStyle_BD_Basses.mp3"

Rob Papen produces extras for The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware’s namesake founder/Managing Director Rob Papen is proud to announce additional online content for The 4 Element Synth subtractive synthesis instructional book/DVD set...

Last year globally renowned sound designer Rob Papen published The 4 Element Synth book with four accompanying DVDs totalling over 10 hours of tutorial content to critical acclaim. According to fellow sound designer Ian Boddy, “The whole package comes in a beautifully packaged book. Superbly bound and elegantly printed, it has the feel of a quality coffee table book — it even has such nice details as a silk bookmark and pull-out 4 Element Synth chart, complete with four DVDs stuffed to the brim to watch in conjunction with the contents of the book.”

Appropriately subtitled The secrets of subtractive synthesis, this 200-plus-page enlightening tome was many years in the making, effectively dating back to 2001 when Rob Papen started teaching exclusive masterclasses in synth sound design in his well-stocked studio using the likes of his beloved Roland Jupiter 8 programmable polysynth and seminal Korg MS-20 semi-modular monosynth alongside other vintage analogue classics and more modern counterparts. Here he developed an approach to working with subtractive synthesis that he termed The 4-Element Synth© — hence the book/DVD set’s title. As implied by name, the book basically breaks subtractive synthesis down into four digestible and distinct chapters or elements: Element-1 / Oscillators, Element-2 / Filter, Element-3 / Amplifier, and Element-4 / Modulators — each of which receive their own equally easy-to-follow DVD treatment, thanks in no small part to the talented author and presenter’s easy- going onscreen persona.

No teaching technique needs to be set in stone, however; there is almost always room for improvement — or even additional content, as is the case with The 4 Element Synth. The beauty of online content is that it can, of course, be updated far faster than print or physical media, which is exactly what Rob Papen has done by uploading two additional Element-4 / Modulators chapter-related bonus videos here: http://www.robpapen.com/book-a-dvds-extras.html

Anyone who has already purchased The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set is invited to thereby (re)read the LFO and Element-2 section (p152) and then watch an all-new accompanying video about LFO and resonance modulation. Meanwhile, the Three points to keep in mind using an envelope section (p107) also benefits from additional demonstrative video content; as Rob Papen himself says, “There’s another important point about envelope modulation of the filter. As we’ve said already in the Element-2 chapter, many producers and synth players often use only the cutoff knob; they forget that there is also an envelope amount and the envelope settings that can change the sound — and not just a little bit! Keep these three points in mind when you’re working with the filter section of your synthesizer.”

Speaking of synthesizers, apart from those aforesaid analogue classics and a rather impressive looking (and sounding) ‘Moog-alike’ System-22 modular system from Synthesizers.com — all of which make musical onscreen appearances throughout The 4 Element Synth DVDs, Rob Papen also makes much use of his own company’s Predator — a ‘phat’ sounding killer soft synth that combines inspiring presets and first-class features to create the perfect ‘go-to’ synth for contemporary music production. Predator and Predator RE users can also download the preset banks used on the DVDs from here: http://www.robpapen.com/book-a-dvds-extras.html

Needless to say, anyone wishing to literally uncover the secrets of subtractive synthesis should surely look no further than The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set — now more enlightening than ever, thanks to these latest enhancements!

The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set can be ordered online directly from Rob Papen within the EU for €74.00 EURO (including 6% VAT) or outside the EU for €69.00 EURO — plus shipping (where appropriate) — from here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-dvd-sound-design.html

Rob Papen is also delighted to announce availability of The 4 Element Synth from US dealer Sweetwater, as well as via various European dealers."

Rob Papen’s Punch-BD

RP Punch-BD Introduction Published on Sep 19, 2014 Rob Papen

"Based around the BD module of the multi award winning Punch virtual drum synth, Rob Papen delivers a creative module to help you to produce the fattest sounding bass drums for your music.

Stacking bass drums is a popular technique used by today's music producers and Punch-BD gives you the ability to stack up to 6 in total. Divide the 6 BD pads over the keyboard or use them 'stacked' in tuned mode to produce creative new BD sounds for all styles of contemporary music.

Punch-BD delivers synthesized drums in the finest audio quality or you can choose to load in your own samples for complete flexibility. Each pad has its own distortion module with several distortion types as well as its own 3 band graphic EQ. What's more, each individual pad also has its own preset section next to the overall 'BD kit'.

Like its big brother, Punch-BD features four FX units each with many 31 types of top quality FX plus further filters, envelopes, modulation routings and more for crafting your own unique sound.

From Electronic Dance and Hip Hop to Soundtrack projects, Punch-BD provides a solid speaker-busting sound for your productions."

Update: and the official press release:

"Get your kicks with Rob Papen’s Punch-BD bangin’ bass drum virtual instrument

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of Punch-BD, a powerful kick-ass bass drum virtual instrument for Mac (OS X 10.6 or higher) and PC (Windows Vista, 7, and 8) — based around the BD module of its award- winning speaker-busting, body-rattling Punch drum synthesis/sampler software instrument — to enable users to comfortably create the biggest-sounding bass drums around, as of September 19...

Stacking bass drums is a popular technique used by today’s power-seeking music producers to give their tracks the kind of kick that will literally move dancefloors — and even mountains... maybe! By introducing Punch-BD, Rob Papen provides its users with an attractive ability to stack up to six bass drums in total to comfortably create cutting-edge bass drums that will clearly cut through any musical mix. Moreover, its six sequentially-numbered BD pads can be divided across an external controller keyboard for performance purposes — in 6 Notes PLAY MODE (with the six ‘notes’ repeated over the whole keyboard range) — or ‘simply’ stacked — in Stack or Tuned Stack PLAY MODE (which follows the pitch of the keyboard) — to creatively construct brand new bad-ass bass drum sounds suited to any style of contemporary music production. When selecting Seq, the fourth PLAY MODE, the bass drums that are active play in sequential order — perfect for more experimental applications, while Tune Seq PLAY MODE is essentially the same as Seq but follows the keyboard pitch. Each BD pad can be played solo or muted and has its own command menu with some speedy Copy and Swap functions for friendlier workflow.

Predictably, perhaps, Punch-BD features the same high-quality algorithms attributed to the ever-popular Punch’s punchy sound. In Drum MODE users can choose from four synthesis Models, together with a familiar-sounding range of Classic electronic bass drum samples, and also, according to Rob Papen himself, “...a nice range of built-in acoustic and fantasy bass drum samples.” Elsewhere, each BD pad includes its own distortion module offering no fewer than 19 distortion types, together with a three-band parametric EQ. Each BD pad also features a preset section next to the overall ‘BD kit’ to speed up bass drum sound selection for contributing to the resultant stacked sound. Sample MODE allows adventurous users to combine two samples per pad in several ways with many samples already installed from Punch to make percussive life easier. Enterprising and adventurous users can even choose to load in their own samples for full flexibility with drag-and-drop support, though those pressed for time will appreciate added quick edit parameters for adjusting the most important parts of any given drum sound.

Like its knockout bigger brother, Punch-BD packs four FX processors with no fewer than 31 high-quality FX types with several routing options into its feature-heavy hit list, lifted higher still with further filters, envelopes, and modulation routings with which to delve deeper via various editing pages — EASY, PADS, MIXER, MOD/FX, and MANAGER — when crafting and storing signature sounds that are alive and kicking while packing a whole lot of low-end punch for not a whole lot of financial outlay.

Of course, Punch-BD provides perfect speaker-busting, body-rattling bass drum sounds to die for, though this is to be expected with Rob Papen at the sound designing helm: “There are plenty of great presets onboard Punch-BD. Enjoy!” We will, indeed, Rob!

From EDM and hip-hop to soundtrack projects, Punch-BD is a production powerhouse par excellence. As a 64- or 32-bit (AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible) plug-in, add it to your DAW and you, too, could soon be moving musical mountains! Simply stack those bass drums high and give your tracks the driving kick to take them wherever it is that they need to go.

Punch-BD can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €49.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$59.00 USD or purchased and downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/Punch-bd-buy.html (Note: Punch-BD is available for free to EDM Bundle, eXplorer-III, Punch, and Urban Bundle owners... simply login via the Rob Papen homepage, go to My Products, and download the latest installer and installer guide.)"

Rob Papen PunchBD RE Introduction

Published on Dec 18, 2013 Rob Papen·37 videos

"PunchBD-RE is a versatile and easy to use bass drum synthesizer for your Reason Rack. With PunchBD-RE you get two modelled synthesizer drum modules, a click/noise module and a sample module to help you shape the main beat for your productions. From Dance and electronic and Hip-Hop to soundtrack. PunchBD-RE has it covered."

Update: the official press release:

"Rob Papen provides perfect kicks for Reason with PunchBD-RE

ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and effects plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of PunchBD-RE, a versatile and easy-to-use bass drum synthesizer Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason 6.5 (or higher), as of December 19...

When Swedish music software application, interfaces, and technology standards specialist Propellerhead Software first unveiled its revolutionary Rack Extension — an ever-expandable, freely-routable rack of instruments, effects, and sounds — for its well-received Reason music-making and recording studio software solution, namesake company founder and synthesizer developer Rob Papen promptly pronounced it as being “...a brilliant concept.” Continuing, he then summarised its advantages as follows: “What we face as a developer is having to have a PC version and a Mac version, and if you run them in your regular host, you can crash your host. That’s a real, big battle. People, if they use Reason, learn that things are connected. It’s cross-platform; everything works. It’s a major leap forward for Reason, and productions coming out of Reason will sound totally different. Reason remains Reason, but, now, it’s open.”

Open to the likes of Rob Papen to develop distinctive and desirable third-party Rack Extensions for Reason. Little wonder, then, that Rob Papen was amongst the first to do just that, starting by porting over its popular, ‘phat’-sounding soft synth Predator as Predator-RE, rapidly followed by its SubBoomBass-RE dedicated virtual bass synth and self-explanatory PR-Verb RE and PR-Distort RE virtual effects.

Now, with the timely introduction of PunchBD-RE, Rob Papen’s persuasive Rack Extension offerings are more enticing than ever before. Based upon its award-winning Punch drum synthesis/sampler software instrument’s kick-ass bass drum module, the Rack Extension version features the same high-quality algorithms attributed to Punch’s punchy sound. Saying that, other ‘models’ from Punch have been cleverly combined so users can stack them together to create hitherto unheard bass drum sounds. Take the SAMPLE module (including various samples, plus Rob Papen Library samples) and mix in a synth bass drum module, for example... what a beautiful combination!

Better still, there are actually two synth bass drum modules within PunchBD-RE: MODEL 1 and MODEL 2 are already positively powerful in their own right, but an additional CLICK/NOISE module is also available to add clicks (based on a sinus waveform) or noise. Using pink noise, this can create an awesome room sound! Stereo room/noise effects can be easily added to the bass drum sound using the SPREAD and OFFSET controls.

Similarly, the SAMPLE module not only includes sample-based bass drums, but bristles with an assortment of creative controls helpfully broken down into more manageable sections — TUNING, FILTER ENV, AMP ENV, FILTER, STEREO SWAP, and more — to help modify those samples.

All of those superlative sound sources are blended together in the MIXER, though they can first be sent to the dedicated DISTORTION module where 19 different distortion algorithms are available to treat them as appropriate. Moreover, modulation options are well catered for, courtesy of a free ENVELOPE, LFO, and all-embracing modulation matrix. Also, an analogue-modelled FILTER can capably change whatever composite sound is being routed from the MIXER.

It’s also worth noting that PunchBD-RE can play at a fixed pitch or ‘tuned’ over the complete keyboard range — a useful feature for many modern-day music stylings.

Finally, ‘flipping’ the PunchBD-RE Rack Extension around reveals a back panel packed with CV inputs and gate trigger options, separate audio outputs, and all manner of other connections for creative connectivity. Cable those kick-ass bass drum sounds to wherever you want to take them, routing-wise... within Reason! Reasons Rob Papen, positively: “I’m totally amazed that it all works.” We’re sure you will be, too!


PunchBD-RE can be purchased and directly downloaded for an introductory discounted price of €39.00 EUR/$49.00 USD (rising to €49.00 EUR/$59.00 USD on January 1, 2014) from the Propellerhead Shop here: https://shop.propellerheads.se/product/punchbdre-instrument/ (Propellerhead operates a try-before-you-buy service for those wishing to test Rack Extensions.)"

Rob Papen Introduces Blade 2

Rob Papen

And the press release:

Rob Papen sharpens soft synth breakthrough by bringing boosted BLADE-2 to existing bundle owners and wider world beyond


ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual synthesizer, instrument, and effect plug-in developer Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware is proud to announce availability of BLADE-2 — boosting its original BLADE soft synth with fantastic features making it a dream synth for synth lovers who like to think out of the box while working in the box, and available at no extra cost to existing owners of the company’s expansive eXplorer-6 and sure-fire SoundDesign-X bundles — as of October 28…

When the original BLADE was released back in 2012, it had a unique concept — controlling the waveform harmonics (HARMOLATOR) using its recordable XY PAD, which was a very different approach to additive synthesis, and remains so to this day. Indeed, it was the first Rob Papen soft synth to include this feature, facilitating flexible sound editing, recording, and tempo-based playback. Put it this way: when putting this extraordinary combination into action, BLADE users can creatively generate very different tones — far from the sound of the subtractive synthesis crowd, and even those of other additive synthesizers.

CLICK FOR MORE »

BLUE-II goes to Hollywood... with composer/producer Paul Haslinger!

"'Rob Papen has made a name and sound for himself in the soft synth world. BLUE-II is a revelation in realtime sound control and depth of programmability, and, as such, is perfectly suited to EDM-specific needs.'

- Paul Haslinger, 2014 (composer/producer)


HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, USA: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce that Hollywood composer/producer Paul Haslinger has added BLUE-II — an all-new reworking of the Dutch business’ breakthrough BLUE soft synth for Mac (OS X 10.6 or higher) and PC (Windows Vista, 7, and 8) — to his well-stocked, state-of-the-art studio setup...

Self-confessed synth freak and world-renowned sound designer Rob Papen is no stranger to rave reviews with his popular namesake range of virtual instruments and effects plug-ins, a music technology ‘tradition’ that continues unabated to this day with BLUE-II, the latest soft synth to bear his highly-regarded name, one which has been busy making musical waves on both sides of the Atlantic since its eagerly-anticipated springtime release earlier this year. “Rob Papen has made a name and sound for himself in the soft synth world,” pronounces Paul Haslinger, himself held in high regard as an in-demand composer/producer.

Across the Atlantic, Haslinger has been busy making a distinguished name for himself in Hollywood film and television circles, thanks to his unique approach to sound, blending electronic and acoustic elements into his scores with a sizeable body of work ranging from the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated TV series Sleeper Cell and historic action movie The Three Musketeers through to the captivating sci-fi thriller Underworld: Awakening and beyond.

In truth, Haslinger himself is no stranger to the wonderful world of synths and sampling with which he first found fame and (good) fortune in the mid-Eighties to early-Nineties as a former pivotal member of Berlin-based German electronic trailblazers Tangerine Dream, extensively touring the world and scoring several significant soundtracks in the process, pioneering the use of computer- based sequencing on stage and in the studio before gravitating towards the Hollywood Hills. Which is exactly why he is arguably better qualified than most to professionally pass judgement on BLUE-II — and at a time when his highflying career sees him tipping his musical hat towards his Eighties electronic roots while scoring engrossing Eighties computer drama Halt And Catch Fire (scheduled to return to TV screens next summer). “BLUE-II is a revelation in realtime sound control and depth of programmability, and, as such, is perfectly suited to EDM-specific needs,” notes the trailblazer-turned-Tinseltown-worker, whose exemplary ears were first attuned to BLUE-II’s blue sky thinking during a personal demonstration at the 2014 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Completing the soft synth’s generous sound banks back in Holland ready for release, Papen was moved to name one of its 3,200 phenomenal presets ‘Haslinger’s Move’ so the admiration is evidently mutual!

Basically, BLUE-II excellently embodies Rob Papen’s present-day vision to devise a powerful dream synth by building upon the success of the original BLUE, a bona fide soft synth classic developed in close collaboration with RPCX (Rob Papen ConcreteFX) partner and music software developer Jon Ayres nigh on a decade ago — cleverly combining FM and subtractive synthesis with Phase Distortion and waveshaping synthesis to create ‘Crossfusion Synthesis’ — and skyrocketing its innovations onwards and upwards... quite literally into the blue, too! Taking the useful XY pad features from its popular Blade brethren — a state-of-the-art additive soft synth powerhouse with a helpful human touch — and transplanting them into its own out-of-this-world workflow, together with six oscillators beating powerfully at its musical heart alongside two analogue-style modelled stereo filters with no fewer than 27 different filter types, an astounding array of processing and modulation options, serious sequencer, and an amazing arpeggiator, BLUE-II is perfect for time- based movements and vector-type sounds like no other. Scoring films need never be the same again!

Little wonder, then, that Haslinger has seen (and heard) the (musical) light. Let BLUE-II lend a helping hand to trade new dreams for old, Tangerine-tinted or otherwise. And who knows? Those Hollywood Hills could come calling and a musical move might well be on the cards... if you play them right. Just ask Paul Haslinger!


BLUE-II can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €149.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$179.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-blue-2.html (BLUE owners can upgrade to BLUE-II for €44.00 EUR/$49.00 USD.)"