The Software Instrument - A ReBirth Review (cont.)
by David Turner Walter

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Standard Rebirth 2.0 hard at work.

Rebirth 2.0 Mod—Pitch Black

Rebirth 2.0 TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909 (in order)

Rebirth is all about features.  Some features have already been stated: the digital delay, a quad-input distortion, a compressor and an analog filter emulation unit, the PCF (Pattern Control Filter).  The good people at Propellerhead do not stop here.  There is an adjustable shuffle feature that swings your tune into a nice groove.  Accent and slide features on the TB-303 work in real time, as do all Rebirth features.  If you are unfamiliar with the TR-909 and the TR-808, Rebirth recreates each with the original features.  The 909 has eleven drum sounds and the 808 has sixteen drum sounds.  Each instrument, the two 303’s, 808 and the 909 each have a pattern feature with four banks that hold eight patterns each.  Songwriting with Rebirth is dependent on these patterns and with thirty-two patterns for each instrument the possibilities are endless.  There is a mixer for each instrument and a master-mixing panel.  The mixer panel for each instrument allows you to turn the distortion, compression and PCF on and off, and control the amount of delay.  You can also pan and control the level of a particular instrument.  The master-mixing panel controls the master level (to keep clipping to minimum) and compression.

Rebirth is simple to use and easy to get started on, although I think it would take quite some time to learn how to compose pieces similar to the samples that Rebirth provides.  The standard Rebirth interface is easy to read and simple to maneuver around.  You can program patterns using the mouse or the keyboard.  Programming the 303 is tedious, but the results are worth the work. The 808 and 909 are easier to program. 

The interface changes as the mods change and so do the sounds.  Some mods are more difficult to read than others, but they all work on the same principles as the standard interface.  The mods are easily downloaded from the Internet and even easier to put to use.  If you have the ability to work with graphics and sound sampling, Propellerhead encourages you to make your own mods and send them in.  They feature several mods made by many Rebirth users. 

Rebirth is a fantastic instrument that just happens to be a software program as well.  I still wish I had the hardware version of this, but since that would cost me $4000 or so I’ll be glad to stick with Rebirth.  Nearly any sound or rhythm you can dream up is possible with the standard Rebirth and with the ease of mods there are no limitations to what can be done.  I’m going to play with this some more, learn some tricks and throw a rave.  All of you are invited, just don’t tell the cops.

David Turner-Walter is a freelance audio engineer in Orange County. He enjoys indie Post-pop/punk/hard core/core/emo/moog/mood/trance/garage/noise/fuzz music and riding his 1967 Triumph Bonneville. His email address is turnerwalter@earthlink.net.

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