New Software Review: eXplorer 5 Bundle by Rob Papen

Rob Papen furthers the eXplorer bundle with version 5, featuring crucial new additions and upgrades.

Many producers, sound designers, and artists credit Rob Papen for creating some of the best software synths and effects available today.

Having worked as a sound designer (most notably on the highly-coveted Access Virus synth), Papen felt many other synths on the market were lacking, so he began designing instruments of his own. Since the success of the Blue and Predator soft synths, Papen has continued to stay at the cutting edge of synth design.

The Rob Papen eXplorer bundle is one of the most comprehensive music production suites available. Containing synths, audio effects, and more, it has become an essential tool for many music makers. Now on its 5th iteration, let’s see if eXplorer 5 can continue to push this innovative plugin bundle to new and exciting territories.

Features and Use

Combining all 12 Rob Papen virtual synths, plus the company’s 7 critically-acclaimed effects plugins and sampler, eXplorer 5 provides all the tools you need for a full in-the-box production. The included instruments are Go2, RAW-Kick, SubBoomBass2, Predator 2, Blue-II, Vecto, RG, Blade, Punch, Punch-BD, and RAW. The company has also included the first iterations of SubBoomBass, Predator, and Blue for backwards compatibility.

The eXplorer 5 audio effects consist of MasterMagic, RP-Verb 2, RP-EQ, RP-Delay, RP-Distort, RP-Amod, and PredatorFX. There is an included utility plugin called Prisma, which is Papen’s take on instrument layering. With Prisma, you can load multiple instances of any of the Papen synths to stack and layer for even more complex sound design possibilities.

The collection is available in AU, AAX, and VST (32-bit and 64-bit) formats, and compatible with Native Instruments’ NKS format for easy preset browsing and knob tweaking control. For this review, we will be using Ableton Live 10 as our DAW and focusing our attention on the new and standout plugins in eXplorer 5.

My two favorite synths in the eXplorer 5 bundle happen to be the classics that Rob Papen is known for: Predator 2 and Blue-II. Predator 2 is a 4-oscillator synth with 128 different oscillators types you can choose from. Each oscillator is dual, using 2 waves (including the 8 user waves), with mixing/morphing capabilities. For those who want to get hands-on, user waves are editable using up to 256 partials, with advanced commands for editing and shaping the wavetables. The dual arpeggiator was particularly notable, and can also be used in a sequencer arp mode. To top it off, Predator 2 comes with over 6,000 presets.

Considering the original Predator came out in 2007, it’s incredible to think that the debut Papen plugin synth has now been in use by producers all over the world for more than a decade. I found the sequencing and arp patterns in this 2nd iteration of Predator to be quite inspiring, and it overall reminds me a bit of the Dave Smith Poly Evolver I used to use quite heavily.

Blue-II has over 4,000 presets and can cover anything from tribal percussion to searing EDM synth leads—and everything in between. Even though it’s an FM synth, I actually heard that Rush had been using it on tour for some of their Moog Taurus sounds, proving it can cover a lot of analog synth ground too.

A closer look at Prisma, a key addition to the eXplorer 5 bundle which represents Papen’s take on instrument layering.

This kind of versatility comes from Blue’s unique “crossynthesis”, which allows you to mix vintage-sounding waveforms with modern synthesis waveforms. Though Blue and Blue-II have been around for quite some time, I found that this crosssynthesis is useful for crafting some very unique and fresh sounds that by all means can still sound modern today. I find that Blue-II particularly excels at heavenly pads and textures, and its included presets are a great starting point—from lush and complex soundscapes all the way to fat synth bass.

In terms of new plugins, eXplorer 5 features MasterMagic, a tool for your stereo mix or master that adds some final sonic polishing. Designed around one big “Air” knob, MasterMagic makes it easy to add some nice shimmer to your mix. There is a Mono/Stereo Split Feeder, which allows you to mono the bass and helps ensure that your low end sits just right. Being a big fan of mono bass, this is a standout feature for me. Though a very subtle processor overall, I found that MasterMagic’s Air control adds a quite pleasant quality to my mixes, and it seems like a really cool tool for mastering or sweetening a mix.

Raw-Kick is a kick drum creation tool that specializes in electronic-sounding, hard-hitting bass drums and low synth bass sounds. It gives you the ability to layer up to 3 different sounds and adjust the ADSR and filter for each one.

Go2 is a synth that prides itself on having control for every parameter available on one screen, and is arguably the most simple synth to use in eXplorer 5. Though the most streamlined, Go2 still retains a lot of Papen-esque properties, with a ton of different wavetables to choose from, as well as a chorus, flanger, reverb, and delay. I love using this synth to quickly create arpeggiated sequences as well as deep evolving cinematic pads. Go2 is capable of creating very complex evolving sounds, and it does so with quickness and ease.

To Be Critical

There is a lot of competition in the world of plugin synth bundles—most notably Arturia’s V Collection 6 ($499) and Native Instruments’ Komplete Standard package ($499). Because much of my projects have deadlines and require me to work efficiently, I do feel that eXplorer 5 fits my personal workflow the least of these 3 products. However, I imagine it would be a favorite for those who enjoy spending hours diving into synthesis and sound design. Products like U-He’s Diva synth ($179), or the above mentioned Arturia and Native Instruments products seem to offer an easier path to the sounds I’m personally looking for.

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