Audio Damage has released Bitcom – a new ‘bit bashing step sequencer with attitude.’
Here’s what they have to say about it:
There are subtle plug-ins you put on the two-buss to give a nice gentle vibe to a track. Bitcom is not one of those. There is no “analog modeling” in this effect. There is no warmth or tube saturation. It is utterly devoid of anything to which the word “vintage” can be applied. Bitcom is a modern bit-shredding digital banshee that beggars description and lives on the edge of instability.
In a nutshell, a step sequencer drives a custom-designed bitcrusher, with a synth sidechain. But that sentence doesn’t begin to describe the abuse that Bitcom is capable of. We pulled out every trick in the book to build a modern electronic music effect that can turn even the most sedate input in to a swinging, screaming pain-monkey, wreaking havoc on lesser sounds.
Features:
- Bit Banging: Bitcom’s bit engine is unique; each step has eight switches that (to simplify matters greatly) turn individual bits on and off. So all 8 switches on, and the output is pretty much like the input. Start turning them off and Strange Things Happen.
- Synth Signal: Bitcom includes a simple monophonic synth that can either be always on, envelope driven, or controlled via MIDI. This is mixed with the input signal to create strange new sounds. Alternatively, Bitcom can be used without any input at all, as a moderately capable synth.
- Sequencer: Bitcom’s step sequencer syncs to the host DAW. The sequence can be of arbitrary length from 1 to 16 steps, and the sequencer has internal swing.
Bitcom is available now for US $39.00. If you’ve used Bitcom, let us know what you think of it!
Note: Bitcom requires OS X Intel 10.6.0 or later, or Windows XP SP 2 or later; the installers include both 32- and 64-bit versions.
At that price, I’m pretty sure I’ll buy it. And based on the few, short audio demos on their site, I’ll probably use it a lot.
$39 is a good price for this but I think Audiodamage is kinda late to release this. While Permut8 is more expensive it sounds more interesting to me…at least it does when compared to the audio examples on the audio damage website.
This is a bit like an Oto Biscuit that can sequence the bit-settings… hmm I wonder why Oto didn’t think of that?
You can use MIDI CC controllers to turn bits on and off with the OTO – hook the cc controllers to an LFO , especially one you can draw and you have sequenced bits
however IMHO $39 is way cheaper than a BIscuit
hey you are right! must try that! thanks for the tip! yeah the biscuit is a pricy little bugger, but then… I couldn’t live without one anymore, was among the best investments I’ve ever made! It’s not just a bitcrusher, it’s so much more!
To me this is more than inspiration. It’s a bad copy of Soniccharge Permut8. Now worth more
than 39$ that’s for sure…
* Now = Not
I live and die by Permut8 – it is my current most favorite plugin. I’m curious to see how this compares/differs.
This seems different than premut8…permut8 isn’t really a bitcrusher, where this definitely sounds like one.