Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
A-Ha
Artists How to re-create one of the most infectious synth riffs of all time
jimmy douglass
Producers & Engineers "This guy pops out of a trash can – it was Ginger Baker!": Jimmy Douglass on his early days working for Atlantic Records
Arturia KeyStep mk2
Midi Controllers Best MIDI keyboards 2026: Find your perfect match for the home studio
Secret Cinema delivers a techno masterclass in the studio
Tech "Record everything all the time – and keep it all": 8 pro techno producers explain how they create their tracks
Elektron Tonverk
Samplers “Easily one of the most inspirational and accessible Elektrons we've used”: Elektron Tonverk review
Hammer track from scratch
Tech 5 production tips we learned from watching house producer Hammer create a track from scratch
Basement Jaxx
Artists Re-create the sound of the powerful Where’s Your Head At bassline - which Basement Jaxx nabbed from Numan!
A pair of Focal Shape 65 studio monitors on stands in a studio
Studio Monitors Best studio monitors 2026: Studio speakers for musicians and producers on any budget
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
An Apple Mac Mini M4 on a light green background
Computers Best PCs for music production 2026: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
A pair of Kali Audio LP-6 V2 studio monitors on a studio desk
Studio Monitors Best budget studio monitors 2026: Make your mixes sing with these wallet-friendly home studio speakers
Japan
Artists We speak to Japan and Porcupine Tree synth polymath Richard Barbieri
A pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones in a studio
Headphones Best DJ headphones 2026: Booth-ready choices from budget to pro-level
A man DJs on stage with a laptop
Computers Best laptop for DJs 2026: my choice of PCs, Macs, and Mac-alternatives for playing out
More
  • Jimmy Douglass speaks
  • Ultravox's Vienna
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Elektron Tonverk Review
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Pirupa's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music published 26 May 2017

The techno and house-loving producer has Rob Papen to thank for his funky, chunky bottom end

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Ableton Live 9.7

Ableton Live 9.7

“I started with Cubase and found it way too difficult. At the time I was more of a DJ than a producer, and Cubase didn’t make sense.

“Ableton wasn’t so good technically, but it allowed me to find my way in the world of the studio. On average, I create three or four tracks every week on Ableton - that’s good enough for me.”

FULL REVIEW: Ableton Live 9

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Rob Papen plugins

Rob Papen plugins

“Almost all my bass sounds come from Predator and SubBoomBass. Many people comment on the quality of my basses, so I know these are the right plugins for me.

“When it comes to bass, I try not to make things too complicated - I make a cut around 40-50Hz, match the levels to the song, and that’s it. Anything else I leave to the mixing engineer.”

FULL REVIEW: Rob Papen Predator 2

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Arturia ARP 2600 V

Arturia ARP 2600 V

“Some of my tracks have more of a techno feel, and for that, I always turn to my Arturia package.

“The way they’re laid out and the way they sound seems to make sense in the techno environment. A little bit more electronic, a bit more quirky. Yeah, it would be great to have real hardware, but… maybe when I win the lottery.” 

FULL REVIEW: Arturia ARP 2600 V

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Ohm Force OhmBoyz

Ohm Force OhmBoyz

“If I had one small complaint about Ableton - a program that I love - it would be that the sound could be bigger.

“Sure, you can use the onboard delays and they sound OK, but as soon as you put it next to this, you can hear an immediate difference. Not only is it bigger, but it’s warmer and wider. This was a difficult choice for me… I use [Soundtoys] EchoBoy too, so I have to mention it - always my number two.”  

READ MORE: Ohm Force OhmBoyz

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
IK Multimedia Classik Studio Reverb

IK Multimedia Classik Studio Reverb

“When you first start making music, it’s natural to get a bit crazy with your plugins. But as time passed, I realised that I was always coming back to the CSR package.

“You get four reverbs with tons of parameters to play with. It’s very, very rare that I have to look for any other reverbs.”

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia Classik Studio Reverb

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Read more
jasper tygner
Artists "There's something about it that you just don't get with soft synths": Jasper Tygner on why he loves his Moog Grandmother
 
 
Secret Cinema delivers a techno masterclass in the studio
Tech "Record everything all the time – and keep it all": 8 pro techno producers explain how they create their tracks
 
 
Hammer track from scratch
Tech 5 production tips we learned from watching house producer Hammer create a track from scratch
 
 
fred again
Artists “I’ve spent so many thousands of hours wasted on plugins – it just doesn't matter”: Fred Again says all mixing plugins sound the same
 
 
Apparat live
Artists Apparat tells us how he regained his creative demon to make his first album in seven years
 
 
asg
Artists “I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with my Prophet ’08”: Art School Girlfriend on new project Lean In
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
 
 
reason
Tech "It's the DAW you love, redesigned around the only thing that matters – your tracks": Reason 14 launches in public beta
 
 
beautyflute
Tech This free plugin captures the shrill and squeaky sound of the most irritating musical instrument known to man
 
 
Electro-Harmonix has teamed up with MixWave to offer some of its most-famous pedals as plugins.
Guitars Electro-Harmonix launches six of its most-famous pedals as plugins
 
 
xln
Tech XLN Audio wants to put the fun back in drum processing with DB-30 Drum Butter
 
 
UVI
Tech A much-loved reverb plugin that we called "one of the most creative we've come across" is free for a limited time
 
 
Latest in News
Prince embraces Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the film 'Purple Rain', 1984. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)
Artists Prince’s Purple Rain co-star recalls the moment he had the idea for one of his greatest songs
 
 
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Olivia Rodrigo performs with Robert Smith of The Cure on the Pyramid stage during day five of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 29, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo still has The Cure’s Robert Smith on her mind on new single, Drop Dead
 
 
boc
Artists Boards of Canada are back with their first new music in 13 years
 
 
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off an accessible Yamaha turntable, $100 off an iconic Korg synth and healthy discounts on guitars and much more
 
 
David Lee Roth performs at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 1 - Day 1 on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Artists David Lee Roth has clarified his creative role in Van Halen (again)
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...