Published 3/9/08
Rob Papen picks up an axe
New for software synthesizer designer Rob Papen is RG, a rhythm guitar synthesizer for Mac and PC. For a long time, the guitar has been one of the trickiest instruments to emulate in software, but designers say that, with RG, they have overcome the programming hurdles, creating an virtual instrument that is able to produce “classic” guitar grooves as well as rhythms and sounds that can’t be made on the guitar in real life.
To help the user get started quickly, RG ships with hundreds of grooves, but rhythms can be programmed manually, using a 32-step sequencer that occupies almost half of the RG Graphical User Interface (GUI). It’s here that conventional strumming, ghost strokes and glides can be added to the sequences, which can, in turn, be assigned to a note in a dedicated keyswitch group and triggered via MIDI.
A number of different guitar sounds are available, including that of a Fender Stratocaster and two types of steel-string acoustic guitar, and a number of effects and processors can be applied to the virtual instrument. There’s a filter, an LFO, various envelopes, EQ, and a multi-effects processor, which can run up to three effects at once. You’ll find audio examples of RG, which costs £99, on the web site of Time + Space.
In other Rob Papen news, Predator has been overhauled, bringing a number of new features. Predator 1.5 has improved browsing of ‘banks’, as well as new right-clicking functions, which allow for manual entry of parameter values.
Users can now assign up to eight simultaneous modulation modules, instead of four, as previously available, and outputs for the oscillators and filter can now be used as modulation sources. There are three new effects: a cabinet simulator; a distortion; and an auto-wah, and new CPU-saving algorithms switch off the effects processors if they are idle. The update to v1.5 is free for registered users. Otherwise, the full version costs £99. Again, there are audio examples on the Time + Space web site.
To further add to our extravaganza of Rob Papen news, the company have announced that they’re now implementing the Syncrosoft protection system — the little USB dongle that needs to be connected to the computer to authorise the software. Furthermore, they’ve re-designed their packaging, with a fancy new signature logo and swanky box graphics, featuring the face of none other than Mr. Papen himself!
Time + Space +44 (0)1837 55200
www.timespace.com
www.robpapen.com
New for software synthesizer designer Rob Papen is RG, a rhythm guitar synthesizer for Mac and PC. For a long time, the guitar has been one of the trickiest instruments to emulate in software, but designers say that, with RG, they have overcome the programming hurdles, creating an virtual instrument that is able to produce “classic” guitar grooves as well as rhythms and sounds that can’t be made on the guitar in real life.
To help the user get started quickly, RG ships with hundreds of grooves, but rhythms can be programmed manually, using a 32-step sequencer that occupies almost half of the RG Graphical User Interface (GUI). It’s here that conventional strumming, ghost strokes and glides can be added to the sequences, which can, in turn, be assigned to a note in a dedicated keyswitch group and triggered via MIDI.
A number of different guitar sounds are available, including that of a Fender Stratocaster and two types of steel-string acoustic guitar, and a number of effects and processors can be applied to the virtual instrument. There’s a filter, an LFO, various envelopes, EQ, and a multi-effects processor, which can run up to three effects at once. You’ll find audio examples of RG, which costs £99, on the web site of Time + Space.
In other Rob Papen news, Predator has been overhauled, bringing a number of new features. Predator 1.5 has improved browsing of ‘banks’, as well as new right-clicking functions, which allow for manual entry of parameter values. Users can now assign up to eight simultaneous modulation modules, instead of four, as previously available, and outputs for the oscillators and filter can now be used as modulation sources. There are three new effects: a cabinet simulator; a distortion; and an auto-wah, and new CPU-saving algorithms switch off the effects processors if they are idle. The update to v1.5 is free for registered users. Otherwise, the full version costs £99. Again, there are audio examples on the Time + Space web site.
To further add to our extravaganza of Rob Papen news, the company have announced that they’re now implementing the Syncrosoft protection system — the little USB dongle that needs to be connected to the computer to authorise the software. Furthermore, they’ve re-designed their packaging, with a fancy new signature logo and swanky box graphics, featuring the face of none other than Mr. Papen himself!
Time + Space +44 (0)1837 55200
www.timespace.com
www.robpapen.com
