Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware is proud to announce availability of the all-encompassing eXplorer-10 — the latest incarnation of its inspirational bundle, boosted to 33 plug-ins (including the option to add 10 legacy products, such as the original Blade, RP-Distort, and SubBoomBass) with the welcomed introduction of RAW-2, improving the virtual instrument and effect plug-in developer’s critically-acclaimed cutting-edge EDM (Electronic Dance Music) synthesizer aimed at harder musical styles with a focus on ‘distorted’ sounds by giving it an even grittier-sounding edge while also benefitting from additional features, alongside SynFex, an all-new go-to virtual FX synth suited to anyone creating contemporary music, games content, and movie music, or simply adores FX sounds; speaking of sounds, the boosted bundle also comes complete with BLUE-III eXplorer-Xand Albino-3 Legend XPS soundsets (also available for purchase individually) — as of March 7…
Anyone already appreciative of Rob Papen’s so-called ‘distortion’ synthesizer since its introduction over 10 years ago might still be appreciative of its historical background, so let us step back, briefly, in time — to 2014. This was when company founder and sought-after sound designer Rob Papen attended the Dutch Dancefair on his home turf to demonstrate his namesake software products; he later left with an almost fully-formed idea for what would become an all-new virtual synth, thanks to producer Sebastian Hoff (a.k.a. DJ Promo) and producer Freek Vergoossen (a.k.a. DJ Free-K) collectively making an approach to propose a synthesizer that focused more on ‘distorted’ sounds with an easy-to-use layout. RAW resulted from a creatively-charged collaboration with the two producers in question, its edgy sound subsequently supporting many notable productions, whether leaning towards harder musical styles or otherwise.
On the face of it, then, RAW-2 effectively represents Rob Papen getting out the soft sandpaper, so-to-speak, to give RAW a virtual rub-down, resulting in an even grittier-sounding edge while also benefitting from additional features. RAW-2 retains its predecessor’s feature-packed OSC 1 and OSC 2 sections, each with an X/Yfield to distort the waveforms (using phase distortion), while users can continue to 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. An additional feature well worth noting now is the ‘Ribbon Controller’ carried over from the likes of BIT-2, allowing RAW-2 users to, likewise, dynamically change their sound with its innovative tempo-based SPRING BACK feature.
Although all of Rob Papen’s superb-sounding filters are included in RAW-2, EQ, WAVESHAPE, DISTORT, and LOW-FI have all been added on a per-voice synthesis level to allow for further flexibility. Further effects such as CHORUS, FLANGER, PHASER, STEREO DELAY, and Rob Papen’s proprietary high-quality REVERB all add to the superlative sound sculpting possibilities on offer, while the super-cool 32-step sequencer/arpeggiator and, last but by no means least, a preset bank manager are all included as standard. Speaking of which, RAW-2 comes complete with an abundance of new presets alongside the the original RAW presets, with contributions from several well-known DJs and producers for instant inspiration.
An all-new virtual FX synth appropriately called SynFex is included in eXplorer-10; everybody has heard the noise rises and low drops that have become so prevalent in today’s film and contemporary music, so SynFeX ensures that its users need not waste time searching for an appropriate tempo-based audio FX sound. Indeed, its MOVEMENT section allows anyone to quickly adjust their rises and drops to suit their needs.
For more information, visit robpapen.com.
