Rob Papen Punch Review
Punch combines cutting-edge synthesis and sampling in a truly modern take on the drum machine. Mark Cousins is ringside...
Price: £125.00
Manufacturer: Rob Papen
Website: http://www.robpapen.com
After a slow start, the virtual drum machine is in rude health thanks to a range of solutions from the likes of Arturia, Native Instruments, iZotope and Apple. However, what’s interesting is the variety of different approaches these companies have taken. Some – Arturia (Spark) and Native Instruments (Maschine) – adopt an approach that combines cutting-edge software with a distinctive hardware controller. Others, including Apple (Ultrabeat) and iZotope (iDrum), stay within software, but all of these bring you a range of features that go above and beyond what classic 80s drum machines could offer.
Packing a punch
Following on from a string of very successful and well-received software synthesizers, Rob Papen now offers his take on the virtual drum machine – Punch. As you’d expect, Punch offers a wealth of drum synthesis technology, including highly tweakable drum ‘models’ alongside a range of inspiring sample-based content that can be dynamically combined with the various synthesized elements. In addition to sound creation, though, Punch also features its own internal sequencer, which can be used to build your own drum patterns to then trigger from your DAW of choice.
Punch has a total of 24 drum pads, some targeted to work with a combination of pure synthesized drums and Punch’s own sample-based content, while the remaining ‘Sample’ pads can be used to import your own user-generated or third-party material. Each pad has its own bank of parameters facilitating fine control over the synthesis models as well as options to envelope and filter the sample content. Impressively, there’s also an option to distort drum sounds on a ‘per-pad’ basis, enabling you to quickly add varying colours and amounts of distortion. Four global effects units cover reverb, delay, flange and so on.
Although you can create some great drum sounds using the content and synthesis features, it’s also good to know that you can import your own sample data into its powerful playback engine. Interestingly, the Sample pads allow you to import two samples (labelled A and B), which can be mixed together or dynamically switched using an alternating ‘round-robin’ system. There’s also a great Stereo Swap feature that effectively creates a user-defined auto-pan effect, as well as an option to create retriggering effects and sample offsets.
Fight club
Of course, no virtual drum machine would be complete without its own internal sequencer, and in this respect Punch adopts a unique approach. As well as being able to trigger the various pads directly via MIDI, Punch also includes a number of user-programmable Grooves and Breaks. In essence, a groove or break is a simple four-track, 16-step sequence, usually covering kick and snare, for example, or open and closed hi-hats. These grooves and breaks can be triggered from your MIDI keyboard (starting from C3), enabling you to sequence user-programmed loops from your DAW.
Although Punch’s sequencer includes a number of advanced features – such as variable envelope times, flams and panning – we still felt somewhat restricted by its 16-step limit and the fact that you can’t drag-and-drop sequence data into your DAW (although file-based MIDI export is provided). Having 32 steps would undoubtedly help to add variation to the patterns, and an improved link to your DAW would also expand the creative potential. Equally, it would have been beneficial to offer a full-screen edit mode for loop programming, making the pad usage between multiple grooves clearer, but also making the process proportionally more visual.
Heavyweight contender
Overall, Punch’s clear strength is as a drum synthesizer – ably demonstrated by some of the creative presets included with the package and the detail that exists behind the various drum synthesis models on offer. By comparison to the complexity of Ultrabeat’s interface, Punch also seems to strike an effective balance between the amount of parameter access and its usability – whether you’re using the easy edit page or tweaking individual pads.
Given 64-bit support from the outset, Punch looks set to become a highly desirable tool for those who enjoy a DIY approach to drum synthesis coupled with a high-impact output. MTM
8/10 Verdict - Rob Papen’s Punch delivers an impressive, high-impact sound thanks to
some well-engineered drum synthesis models and intelligent sample
mapping.
WHY BUY
Powerful and polished sound
Detailed range of drum synthesis options
Flexible sample import
WALK ON BY
Sequencer currently limited to 16 steps
No full-screen pattern edit mode
Score: 8/10
This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 101
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