Rob Papen Blue 3 up

[dune_rave]

I never heard of Rob Papen until recently. Can someone explain me the hype around Rob Papen synth? This look like the most niche synth community.

What does BLUE II/BLUE III compare to other existing synth out there? What does it make it more preferable to other alternative (and what synth are most similar to it)?

Rob Papen is a pretty much a veteran in sound design and synth development and has been making soft synths for decades. Blue started out as primarily an FM synth similar to FM7, Rhino, etc. but has evolved even further beyond that and now covers many different synthesis types. As mentioned, download the demo and try it. You’ve probably never used anything like it, so maybe you’ll love it.

Took some more interest in BLUE II in the past week just because its one of the few "modern" FM synth that still has the mod matrix...

FM synth are very rare these day, or at least, classic FM synth with algorithm or mod matrix (only opsix and e'fm are the other one I know that still do classic FM)...
Sytrus is outdated (cannot run it on a Mac except if running FL studio, they don't sell a mac OS vst, and don't see it as a first class product anymore but more as a built in FL studio plugin)
FM8 is outdated
Not interested in a dx7 clone
...

Unsure if there are other FM synth out there, if so which one?

Blue is not just an fm synth imho.
Anyway i'm an fm fan also. I like OPS7, and also have Arturia DX7. Zebra also have fm capabilities. Or Phase Plant if we consider such modern stuff.

[AsgardBS]

I never heard of Rob Papen until recently. Can someone explain me the hype around Rob Papen synth? This look like the most niche synth community.

What does BLUE II/BLUE III compare to other existing synth out there? What does it make it more preferable to other alternative (and what synth are most similar to it)?

Rob Papen is a pretty much a veteran in sound design and synth development and has been making soft synths for decades. Blue started out as primarily an FM synth similar to FM7, Rhino, etc. but has evolved even further beyond that and now covers many different synthesis types. As mentioned, download the demo and try it. You’ve probably never used anything like it, so maybe you’ll love it.

Took some more interest in BLUE II in the past week just because its one of the few "modern" FM synth that still has the mod matrix...

FM synth are very rare these day, or at least, classic FM synth with algorithm or mod matrix (only opsix and e'fm are the other one I know that still do classic FM)...
Sytrus is outdated (cannot run it on a Mac except if running FL studio, they don't sell a mac OS vst, and don't see it as a first class product anymore but more as a built in FL studio plugin)
FM8 is outdated
Not interested in a dx7 clone
...

Unsure if there are other FM synth out there, if so which one?

Blue is not just an fm synth imho.
Anyway i'm an fm fan also. I like OPS7, and also have Arturia DX7. Zebra also have fm capabilities. Or Phase Plant if we consider such modern stuff.

I really want an FM/PM mod matrix OR a selector for FM algorithm... Classic workflow, not a semi modular / full modular workflow where we can modulate any parameter and create FM by wiring thing... (like phaseplant or zebra)

Just love working with a more fixed architecture, well defined workflow (FM mod matrix or algorithm selection, or a classic subtractive analog synth)...

not a fan of those big sandbox modular synth where you create your own workflow.
A fixed workflow give some guideline to work in a specific way, and i love having those guideline

[Niowiad]

I never heard of Rob Papen until recently. Can someone explain me the hype around Rob Papen synth? This look like the most niche synth community.

What does BLUE II/BLUE III compare to other existing synth out there? What does it make it more preferable to other alternative (and what synth are most similar to it)?

Rob Papen is a pretty much a veteran in sound design and synth development and has been making soft synths for decades. Blue started out as primarily an FM synth similar to FM7, Rhino, etc. but has evolved even further beyond that and now covers many different synthesis types. As mentioned, download the demo and try it. You’ve probably never used anything like it, so maybe you’ll love it.

Took some more interest in BLUE II in the past week just because its one of the few "modern" FM synth that still has the mod matrix...

FM synth are very rare these day, or at least, classic FM synth with algorithm or mod matrix (only opsix and e'fm are the other one I know that still do classic FM)...
Sytrus is outdated (cannot run it on a Mac except if running FL studio, they don't sell a mac OS vst, and don't see it as a first class product anymore but more as a built in FL studio plugin)
FM8 is outdated
Not interested in a dx7 clone
...

Unsure if there are other FM synth out there, if so which one?

Blue is not just an fm synth imho.
Anyway i'm an fm fan also. I like OPS7, and also have Arturia DX7. Zebra also have fm capabilities. Or Phase Plant if we consider such modern stuff.

I really want an FM/PM mod matrix OR a selector for FM algorithm... Classic workflow, not a semi modular / full modular workflow where we can modulate any parameter and create FM by wiring thing... (like phaseplant or zebra)

Just love working with a more fixed architecture, well defined workflow (FM mod matrix or algorithm selection, or a classic subtractive analog synth)...

not a fan of those big sandbox modular synth where you create your own workflow.
A fixed workflow give some guideline to work in a specific way, and i love having those guideline

I bought Blue2 several years ago basically only for the FM part, then I eventually got to appreciate all the rest. But it still works great as "just an FM synth".

You get the big matrix on the bottom and simultaneously all the operators' main controls on the top.
You have to alternate between "matrix display" and "envelopes display" since they share the same portion of the screen, but still, I've always felt like It all worked smoothly for FM patches.

I haven't tried Blue 3 but I would expect the same kind of workflow.

[syntonica]

Gave B3 a spin. It definite has some GUI bugs still. Plus what I can't tell are bugs or just bad design choices. But the no most egregious sin of all is no patch browser. What year is it again?

The demo patch selection is too limited to get a sense of what this can do. Sprt of meh. Hopefully, they will do an updated demo.

[AsgardBS]

There is a patch browser, I watched the video and there is one.

Issue is its an old school patch browser, like on zebra and most old synth, and not a easy to use preset browser like vital/phaseplant/pigment or any modern synth.

The interface is free from most gimmick, however it is a little bit old school, for the worst and the best.
I like the vector pads, and the preset morphing they will implement in a future update, this remind me some feature from alchemy.

[dune_rave]

Gave B3 a spin. It definite has some GUI bugs still. Plus what I can't tell are bugs or just bad design choices. But the no most egregious sin of all is no patch browser. What year is it again?

The demo patch selection is too limited to get a sense of what this can do. Sprt of meh. Hopefully, they will do an updated demo.

Definitely there's a cool patch browser (maybe not included in the demo..)

[DJ Warmonger]

Oh my... it was a behemoth already at version II.
But honestly I gave it up just for that reason - too much stuff is confusing and distracting.

I'd rather stick to synths dedicated to a specific type of synthesis, or sound.

[mountainmaster]

But the no most egregious sin of all is no patch browser. What year is it again?

I have not tried Blue 3 yet, but Blue 2 does have a patch browser (under the "MAN" button). It seems unlikely that a new and improved version would remove this.

[AsgardBS]

Oh my... it was a behemoth already at version II.
But honestly I gave it up just for that reason - too much stuff is confusing and distracting.

I'd rather stick to synths dedicated to a specific type of synthesis, or sound.

Basically, thats what I am trying to do... Synth focused on one kind of synthesis (not an issue if a synth can do more, but as long as it has a main focus). I do have pigment for hybrid, its always nice to have a synth that can do multiple kind of synthesis to layer up many kind of sound, also have some modular because it can be fun to play.

My current synth ;
- Hybrid / Multi engine : Pigment, Alchemy (Logic only (and I am moving away from logic toward Reaper) )
- Granular : -
- Traditional FM : -
- West coast : -
- Subtractive / Analog modeling: -
- Additive: -
- Wavetable : Vital
- Modular (Full/semi) : Phaseplant, Zebra legacy
- Sample manipulation based : -

Then I still need some synth to fill some category...

For traditional FM, Blue III maybe? Don't see much interesting traditional FM (mod matrix / algo) out there, the trend is everyone make wavetable synth with flexible modulation to make modern "FM" (like phaseplant)

About granular, I get a little bit covered by pigment, but quanta 2 and/or novum would be great to add.

For subtractive / analog modeling, diva, tal-un-o-x and tal-j-8 and synapse audio obsession are kinda interesting option

For a west coast kind synth, Generate from newfangled audio give an interesting take on it.

For additive, yet again, few option out there, but Abyss seem an interesting choice. I think Predator 3 from Rob papen is also additive?

For sample manipulation based, pigment and alchemy can do that a little bit, else omnisphere?

[syntonica]

Gave B3 a spin. It definite has some GUI bugs still. Plus what I can't tell are bugs or just bad design choices. But the no most egregious sin of all is no patch browser. What year is it again?

The demo patch selection is too limited to get a sense of what this can do. Sprt of meh. Hopefully, they will do an updated demo.

Definitely there's a cool patch browser (maybe not included in the demo..)

I hope so. That patch selector is the same as is in Predator 1. It was so painful to use, I just never did...

[Hanz Meyzer]

The presets sound again outstanding. I am a bit confused by this statement "M1 ARM processor compatible". Does it mean it runs natively on ARM, or just with Rosetta?

[AsgardBS]

Hopefully Rob papen do sales during the years, because I skip/missed the Blue II promotion, hesitated too much (already bought zebra and hive 2 in the past few days…)z

I am really intrigued and interested in Blue III but cannot justify buying another synth right now

[Alex_Longard]

I install Blue3 and I am very happy))))
It's cool update, I waited long time for this))))

[WatchTheGuitar]

Just upgraded to Explorer 8 and this plus the new RevSane reverb effect is a fun combo.
Preset 04/015 (synth ambient longgggg) with 06/077 (Stars 01) and Blue 3's own FX bypassed sounds pretty dramatic.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Hopefully Rob papen do sales during the years, because I skip/missed the Blue II promotion, hesitated too much (already bought zebra and hive 2 in the past few days…)z

I am really intrigued and interested in Blue III but cannot justify buying another synth right now

You can still buy Blue 2: https://www.robpapen.com/blue2.html
I dont' see why the free upgrade would not still be valid.