ReBirth RB-338

Infobox Software
name = ReBirth



caption = A ReBirth file, running the program's default GUI.
developer = Propellerhead Software
latest_release_version = 2.0.1
latest_release_date = September, 1998
latest_preview_version =
latest_preview_date =
operating_system = Microsoft Windows 98 and better, [http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/support/support6.htm Windows FAQ page with system requirements] ] Mac OS 8, [http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/support/support5.htm Mac OS 9 FAQ page with system requirements] ] Mac OS 9
platform =
genre = Software synthesizer
license =
website = [http://rebirthmuseum.com/ ReBirth Museum]

ReBirth RB-338 (commonly referred to as simply ReBirth) is a software synthesizer for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS 8-9. It was developed by Propellerhead Software, and its first alpha version (for Mac OS) was publicly released in December 1996. Propellerhead Software ceased developing the program in January 1999. Support was officially discontinued in September 2005. Shortly afterwards, the ReBirth Museum Web site was launched and the last version's (2.0.1) disk image was made available as a free download. Propellerhead Software continues to develop other software relating to pop-oriented computer-based music composition, including Reason, its flagship software synthesizer.

Features

ReBirth emulates two Roland TB-303 synthesizers, a Roland TR-808, and a Roland TR-909 drum machine all at once. Each of the emulated devices has its own pattern selector, a feature the original devices are lacking. This allows fast switches between different musical sequences, and re-programming the TB-303 for playing different notes, for instance, is rendered unnecessary. This feature has been adopted in some of Reason's devices. ReBirth also features mixers, a pattern controlled filter (PCF) and some of the standard effects in software synthesizers like delay, compressor and distortion.
The program also supports user modifications, which may replace the samples in the drum machine emulations and modify the GUI. [ [http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/downloads/mods.htm The modification page on the ReBirth Museum Web site] ] There are four modifications included in the ReBirth installation by default (though the default ReBirth GUI seems to count as a modification as well).

The virtual knobs and controls can be assigned to physical counterparts via MIDI, so knobs, modulation wheels, faders and other performance controls available on keyboards and modules can be used to shape the software sound.

Critical Reception

ReBirth was an early fact|date=September 2007 software synthesizer, pioneering this class of instruments along with Cubase, Cakewalk, Digital Performer, and Reality in the mid-1990s. [ Rule, Greg. "Keyboard Reports: Steinberg ReBirth RB-338," "Keyboard" 23:9:256 September 1997.] The sound quality, assuming that the CPU could cope with the sampling rate, was imposed by the quality of the sound card itself. Cheap- and low-specified sound cards would degrade the otherwise great analog emulation achieved by this proto soft-synth.

The software emulates two monophonic bass synthesizers with filters, two analog drum machines, effects, other filters, and patterns simultaneously, also processing and sending MIDI messages. This suggests highly optimized programming on Propellerheads' account, contrasting with extremely CPU- and sound-card-demanding modern soft synths and plug-ins.

Some enthusiasts have criticized ReBirth's software emulation of the TB-303 as being an inferior copy of the genuine sound. Such criticism is common to allfact|date=September 2007 software synths that emulate analog synthesis (which the TB-303 featured), due to the reputedly inimitable sound of analog synthesis, and quality degraded by low-end sound cards. Despite this, Roland contacted Propellerheads to give it an unofficial thumbs up, which Propellerheads considered to be the Roland Seal of Approval. [cite web|title="The Debut"|publisher=The Rebirth Museum|author=Propellerheads|date=2005|accessdate=2007-04-15|url=http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/history/part4.htm]

References

External links

* [http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/ Rebirth Museum]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070812040416/http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/ Rebirth Museum via Wayback Machine] —download location (download is only available on BitTorrent). Dedicated to all things ReBirth.
* [http://www.propellerheads.se Propellerhead Software's home page]
* [http://www.audiorealism.se/products.htm AudioRealism's product homepage] - AudioRealism's BassLine plugin demo available in VST and AU formats.
* [http://www.experimentalscene.com/dgenr8/ DGenR8 VST] - ExperimentalScene's virtual analog synthesizer in the spirit of the TR-909
* [http://www.getobject.com getobject.com] - Free Pattern and Loops for ReBirth RB-338