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Predator 3

Synth (Hybrid) Plugin by Rob Papen
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Predator 3
Predator 3 by Rob Papen is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin, an AAX Plugin and a Rack Extension Plugin.
Product
Version
1.0.2
VST3, 32 & 64-bits VST and 64-bits AAX for Windows 7/8/10/11
(Note: PC AAX for PT 12 or higher)
Product
Version
1.0.2
64-bits AU, VST3, VST, and AAX, for OS-X 10.12 - 11 (Big Sur)
Instrument
Formats
Copy Protection
Serial Number
My KVR - Groups, Versions, & More
348 KVR members have added Predator 3 to 82 My KVR groups 421 times.
Not In Your MY KVR Groups
(or group limitation prevents versioning)
+81 in private groups

KVR Rank

Overall: 827   653   816

30-Day: 872; 7-Day: 421; Yesterday: 1744

Predator includes powerful features such as Preset Morphing, Intelligent Preset Variation, MIDI and Synth Controllable FX, Unison Detune, Chord Memory and a versatile Arpeggiator. Preset banks include: Hip Hop (NY, Club, DirtySouth and Gfunk), Jump, hardcore, breakbeat, various trance styles, DnB banks and more...

It also includes PredatorFX, allowing you to use the filters, modulations, effects and vocoder as an FX plug-in within your music host.

Learn Predator and much more....
KVR LEARN: Rob Papen Predator: Unleashed

Main features:

  • Hybrid Synthesizer with Analog Style Sounds as well as Hybride Wavetable Sounds.
  • Over 6500 Presets in various music styles.
  • Bank Folders that start with 0 in their name are Predator-2, and Predator-3 Presets.
    Bank Folders that start with 1 in their name are Predator-1 Presets.
  • GUI is available in 3 sizes being 100%, 133%, and 200%.
  • Animated dials available.

Oscillators:

  • 3 Oscillators with Sub-Oscillators.
  • Subtractive analog-modeled waveforms.
  • Additive spectrum waveforms.
  • 8 User spectrum waveforms are available in each Preset.
  • Different dynamic waveforms Morphing inside each Oscillator.
  • Spread feature, creating a 3 Oscillator detuning within each Oscillator.
  • Various audio modulation in Oscillators 2 and 3.
  • Diverse routing options into the Filters.

Filters:

  • Two analog-modeled Filters with various routing options.
  • 38 Filter types.
  • Pre-Filter distortion Filter-1.
  • Filter Envelope with Attack, Decay, Sustain, Sustain-Fade, and Release.
  • Additional High Pass Filter with Resonance (Q).

AMP:

  • Volume and Velocity control.
  • Pan control.
  • EQ mixing preset menu.
  • 11 Distortion modes.

ARP:

  • ARP A, B, C, and D with each having up to 16 steps.
  • Step features are Tie, Slide, Tune, Vel, Free, Lenght, Offset, Rachet.
  • Different play modes for combining the four ARPs.
  • Additional Arp modes like 'Chord Mode', Sequencer mode, and 'Modulating Mode.'.
  • Different Ratcheting modes are available.
  • MIDI out available (available depending on the music host).

XY:

  • Recordable XY pad, included different tempo-sync options.
  • 4 X movement destinations and 4 Y movement destinations.

Pitch LFO:

  • Speed control and Tempo-Sync option.
  • Multiple waveforms included the user waves (Oscillator section).
  • Speed controls are Velocity, Keyboard, and Random.
  • Poly, Mono, and Free Modes.
  • Destination and Amount control feature.

Filter LFO:

  • Speed control and Tempo-Sync option.
  • Multiple waveforms included the user waves (Oscillator section).
  • Poly, Mono, and Free Modes.
  • Amount Filter 1, Amount Filter 2, and Amount control feature.

LFO 1-4:

  • Speed control and Tempo-Sync option.
  • Multiple waveforms included the user waves (Oscillator section).
  • Phase control.
  • Speed controls are Velocity, Keyboard, and Random..
  • Poly, Mono, and Free Modes.
  • Destination and Amount control feature.

ENV 1-4:

  • Envelopes with Attack, Decay, Sustain, Sustain-Fade, and Release.
  • Tempo-Sync option.
  • Envelope Speed controls are Velocity, Keyboard, and Random.
  • Repeat option.
  • Destination and Amount control feature.

Multi-ENV 1-2:

  • Up to 15 stages with curve control.
  • Envelope Speed controls are Velocity, Keyboard, and Random.
  • Loop feature with start and endpoint.
  • Destination and Amount control feature.

Audio FOLLOWER:

  • 11 inputs available included the audio input (side chain).
  • Threshold, Boost, Smooth parameters for the input signal.
  • Envelope control are Attack, Hold, and Decay.
  • 4 Destinations with amount, and amount control.

MODULATION MATRIX (MOD):

  • 20 Slots with a bypass feature.
  • Advanced Mode with Offset, Lower Threshold, and Upper Threshold.

EQ:

  • PRE-FX EQ and POST-FX EQ.
  • 3 Bands with Frequency, Q, and 20dB Gain control.
  • 12dB LowPass, and 12dB HighPass Filters.
  • Preset menu (see also AMP section).

Special:

  • Intelligent Preset Variation Generator.
  • Preset Morph feature, to Morph two Presets into one new Preset.

Play Mode:

  • Poly, Mono, Legato, Arp, and Poly MPE Play modes.
  • Pitch Bend range control per Presets with range -48 Semi up to +48 semi.
  • Chord Memory control per Preset with up to 8 notes, included their panning, and velocity adjustment.
  • Advance settings for the Envelopes Attack Shape, Decay/Release Shape, and Analog Drift amount.

FX:

  • 3 FX in serial mode.
  • 34 Top-Notch FX types.
  • FX can be Modulated.

Bank Manager:

  • Preset section with Bank selector section.
  • Order by Date Preset listing option.
  • Find option.
  • Search Category option.

Back Panel:

  • Various Global settings, also appearing the main GUI Control Menu.
  • Global tuning option.
  • Tuning Scale options.

{See video at top of page}

Latest User Reviews

Average user rating of 4.50 from 8 reviews
Predator 3

Reviewed By Duncle22 [all]
May 10th, 2020
Version reviewed: RE on Windows

If your DAW of choice is Reason then Predator RE is the way to go. A great synth from one of the best synth makers in the game (Rob Papen).

Read Review
Predator 3

Reviewed By tommyzai [all]
December 11th, 2012
Version reviewed: 10.7 on Mac

Predator by Rob Papen is an amazingly simple, yet powerfully deep synth. The interface is well organized; knobs and controls are accessible and easy to use. Creating sounds from scratch is fun and rewarding, and for those who are less adventurous, the synth comes with a vast array of presets from the master himself, Rob Papen. One of the most enjoyable features are the randomize buttons, which allow the user to generate new sounds without much effort. This vicious beast has 128 waveforms, not just saw, square, sine, and triangle. There are also many ways to modulate and tons of high quality effects

Predator suits any kind of electronic music, and can produce many kinds of sounds — cutting leads, meaty basses, soothing pads, atmospherics, rhythmic soundscapes, etc., but where it really shines is with leads and arpeggios. For this reason, Predator is an electronic dance music producer's dream synth. Tracks created with this synth usually sit well in the mix, standing out just enough, but not getting lost and buried. Grrrrr, a gentle roar. The only area whereby I would suggest improvement is the patch browser it could be more intuitive. Otherwise, it's all there and is an extremely stable plugin. It has never crashed on me, launching smoothly and performing well in Logic, Studio One, and Numerology. Considering the depth of the sound, CPU demand is not bad, and the sound quality of the most recent version is fantastic, without any noticeable aliasing.

Customer/User support is excellent. Rob and Jon are active on the threads and respond to emails within a day or two. They are great people creating great plugins — a pleasure to deal with!

I highly recommend Predator to any electronic musician or producer looking to add a powerful, killer VSTi to their plugin collection. This synth cannot do it all, but what it can do — it does REALLY well. It successfully combines the sonic nuances of analog and digital to deliver a punchy modern sound that you may quickly become addicted and never be able to live without. That's what happened to me! I've been going to counseling and a recovery program for nearly a year, and it hasn't helped. I keep launching every chance I get! Thank you, RPCX, for creating such a ferociously addictive synth. Tommy Zai gives Predator three thumbs up. Love it!

BTW, if you search online you will find many threads on electronic music forums comparing synths, i.e. this synth versus that synth. Don't be surprised if Predator is mentioned a lot!

Read Review
Predator 3

Reviewed By Introspective [all]
June 29th, 2012
Version reviewed: 1.6.2b on Mac

Predator was one of the first synths that I bought after my studio was broken into and everything stolen. Along with this synth, I also bought the Virus Powercore and Spectrasonics Atmosphere.

I ended up selling the Virus Powercore, because I found I was using Predator more often that the Virus.

Okay, I admit: that's a bit of hyperbole. The Virus sounds better than Predator, sorry. But the Virus GUI was much, much worse. I just wasn't compelled to use it, when Predator was there, inviting me to program new sounds... or tweak the bajillion presets. ...the presets, by the way, cover a LOT of territory and are all expertly programmed. I maintain RP is one of the best companies to buy from for preset sounds.

Anyway, the point is: the GUI is what makes Predator a great synth. Everything is laid out perfectly, there's plenty of power there, the modulation options are deep and interesting, and it just looks damn sexy, IMO. You want to play it, to program it. Of all the synths I've ever owned, I have written more patches for Predator than any other. ...many more, in fact.

As for the sound: I found myself most attracted to Predator's pluck sounds. Pads are... okay... not quite magical, compared to other synths in this class (Surge, Massive are better for pads). But for those really electronic-sounding, Berlin-school arpeggios, it's one of the best synths out there. In fact, the closest competitor IMO was Albino... and Predator definitely caries Albion's DNA: they sound very similar in character and soul. Predator has a little bit more "punch" to its arps, though: I suspect that behind the scenes, this synth is secretly adding a little PCM transient to the beginning of each wave and probably affecting the attack of the sound slightly to give it a little more "pop". For example, when I pull up Predator and Largo side-by-side and program the sounds from Predator into Largo, I get a much stronger attack on Predator. (In fact, I end up using the more complex envelope in Largo to match the attack a little more closely). ...By the way, Predator and Largo stack extremely well, I recommend it. Predator has a nice warmth to the sound where Largo has a more metallic quality, and the two together provide a lot of depth. ...You'll have to turn Predator's volume down, though: Largo's outs are not as hot.

It's also worth mentioning that Predator has a few neat tricks in its OSCs that give it more character than other synths (PWM on any waveform, for example). It's also good for simple FM sounds. The waves available make for some really great digital sounds, too: you'll get wonderful JD-like bell sounds out of Predator. Leads are generally very good, though (for reasons I can't put my finger on) I think I actually preferred Albino for leads. Still, passable. The effects are... okay. I usually end up replacing them with external FX, but they get the juices flowing.

BUT! (and it's a big but, I cannot lie, yuk yuk:) I don't use Predator anymore. [shrug] I don't. Never. ...I still have it installed, but I can't recall the last time I actually loaded it. I've become a Diva / ElectraX fanboy, mainly because these newer synths sound better. ...Quite a bit better. The filters have more depth to them and a (much) warmer quality. (The filters on Predator are... okay. The bandpass in particular has a nice quality to it that I enjoy.) ...I also find the digital sounds crisper in ElextraX, and Tone2's synth uses less CPU.

It's a shame, though: this is a wonderful synth, with one of the best GUIs I've used (I do wish patch-management weren't so old-school, I'll add), a great sound, great OSCs, great versatility. And RobPapen's company is very classy. I've contacted them multiple times for support, and they always replied within a day or so, and were very nice and very helpful.

...If Predator added a filter like Diva's, I would gladly and quickly go back to using it: the interface is wonderful and, as I said, I love the versatility of the oscillators. It was my workhorse synth for many, many years, and I love it. :)

Bottom line: it's a very powerful, very classy, surprisingly good synth... but it's getting dated. Not to wax philosophical, but: I think we're entering a new age of VST capabilities. I hold hope that Predator will get a major update and join the ranks of the new wave... but at the time of this writing, that doesn't seem particularly likely.

Read Review
Predator 3

Reviewed By djphenaproxima [all]
October 23rd, 2011
Version reviewed: 1.6.1b on Mac

This is, in a sentence, the best synthesizer I have ever used.

USER INTERFACE:
If you know the basics of subtractive synthesis, and you probably do, Predator's interface is immediately crystal-clear. Pretty much everything on a single page, although certain features, like the arpeggiator, are tucked away behind buttons. The interface is consistent with the signal flow, so you don't need to RTFM in order to get going. The interface itself is clean and attractive, although I admit I'm not a big fan of the font they use for the readouts. But that's a minor complaint.

SOUND:
I find Predator to be clean, unbiased, and punchy. To my ear, it's more "flat" than, say, Arturia's V-Collection synths, which pack an enormous amount of fatness and warmth without having to do any tweaking at all. You might have to do a little bit of mixing work to get extremely fat sounds out of Predator, but I think that is an advantage because, as I said, it's unbiased and can fit easily into any mix. For me, that characteristic more than anything else is probably what makes Predator my go-to synth, because I know it will work in any situation.

FEATURES:
Man...it does pretty much everything that you could ever want a subtractive synth to do. There are 3 oscillators, with 128 waveforms each, which means you can immediately get a universe of different textures without touching the filters or modulation. Each oscillator has FM, ring mod, sub osc, and PWM. The sheer number of possibilities offered by the oscillators alone is staggering!

The filters themselves are multi-mode, and the main one has a dedicated envelope and LFO. The second filter ONLY has a cutoff knob, but the main one is so versatile that you may very well never need to touch the second one. The main filter has a very cool pre-filter distortion knob. One thing about the filter that bugs me is the "vowel" (formant) mode - this doesn't really sound like any other formant filter I've used, and I don't really "get" it or find it too useful. But's probably just me.

You get two freely-assignable LFOs and envelopes, PLUS an expansive modulation matrix. The arpeggiator is very easy to understand and can also be used as a modulation source. It has a handy swing control, too :) There is a dedicated LFO for the pitch, so adding vibrato is effortless. I love the chord learning feature - very simple and highly useful!

The on-board FX are unbelievable; there is a ton of them and they all sound fantastic. The FX are so freaking good that Predator can be used solely FX plugin, completely bypassing the synth bits. You get 3 FX slots in Predator, which is usually more than enough. The whole FX chain has two dedicated modulation routings, though I rarely have need for them. One unfortunate thing is that there are no presets for the FX themselves, but that's probably not a big deal since Predator is, after all, a synthesizer.

DOCUMENTATION:
The manual is perfectly fine; it's clear and readable, although you can tell that English is not Rob's first language. Every control in Predator is explained in the manual, and that's basically it. There are no tutorials in it or any kind of theoretical knowledge; it's strictly a reference.

PRESETS:
Predator has a ton of preset banks, probably comprising more than 1,000 presets, covering every conceivable style. The presets and interface are actually what convinced me to buy Predator in the first place, after only 20 minutes of using it.

SUPPORT:
Rob and Jon are frequent posters here on KVR and seem to be very good about answering their users' questions and taking their suggestions, although I have not had any problems with Predator myself. On the occasions when I've had to get support, it's been due to some kind of activation snafu (although this has improved since Rob got stopped using the eLicenser dongles), and they have been both responsive and more than reasonable. These guys take care of their customers.

VALUE FOR MONEY:
I'd have happily paid twice the amount that Predator costs. In fact, if you're cheap like me, it's likely that you can find a copy of Predator for about $150 (it costs $180 if you buy it from Rob's site).

STABILITY:
Predator has never crashed on me. Ever. I have had it on four computers since I got it years ago, two PC and two Mac, and it has not crashed one single time. Need I say more?
Read Review
Predator 3

Reviewed By tibah [all]
May 8th, 2010
Version reviewed: 1.5.8 on Windows

I was looking for a good go-to-synthesizer for all my needs in the studio and I ended up with Predator.

Interface:
One of the best out there. Easy to use and intuitive. Everything, beside 2 sub-pages (arpeggiator / advanced settings), can be accessed at a one single page interface. The overall layout is clean and simple. Since I had already some experience with different synthesizers I think even beginners will quickly get into the handling.

Sound:
Very good sound that's all I can say. It can sound very warm and even the phrase is sometimes over-used *analogue*, but in the same time it can sound very digital.

Even with just one oscillator turned on you get nice results immediately, thanks to features like the spread button and the dedicated sub-oscillator each oscillator has.

The best thing about Predator is the width of possibilities when creating sounds. Most of the subtractive synthesizers I know just have the standard waveforms like saw, square, triangle, sine and a noise generator. Predator offers you a range of 128 different waveforms, including spectral waveforms and loads of different vocal waveforms.

Features:
It comes with a PredatorFX version too, which gives you access to the decent FX on each track and other instruments. This way you can use all the build-in effects also as an insert in your DAW. All of them are good and the reverb is one of the best build-in reverbs I know.

Another top feature for me are the variation options which is the randomizer of Predator. You got 4 different variation modes, randomizing different parameters of a sound by an amount you can select. The results of those variations are always useful, and you don't turn up with useless sounds, where the volume are other essential parameters are set to 0 or other, weird "randomized issues" you sometimes get with other tools.

Morphing lets you combine 2 single presets by a amount you can select.

Having LFOs already set up to the Filter and the OSC Pitch is a nice idea, since I usually go for these anyway and this I don't have to set them up manually each time.

Presets:
I think they are 2.000+ presets for every style you can imagine and all of them are very useful and inspiring. After browsing trough them, I instantly recognized some sounds I know from some productions I really like. You got all classic synth-sounds, modern sounds for dance or ambient and banks that really show the possibilities like the bank made by Antonio Sage, which is one of my favourites.

A decent amount of 3rd party banks is available to, made by designers like Ummet Ozcan, Arksun and Andy Tau.

Documentation:
A decent manual.

If you click on the "?" on the Predator GUI, a help file going to open up, which is like a quick start guide.

Customer Support:
Rob Papen got his own forum here at KVR and I see him posting here daily, helping out people having problems or bugs.

Value For Money:
For what you get, the price is unbeatable. A workhorse for all your subtractive (and beyond) synthesis needs, with new sounds in no time, more presets than I ever saw in any other synthesier and some great build-in effects.

Stability:
Not one single crash here in the time I've been using it so far.

All I can say, after 3 weeks of having it is that I already have nearly 2 banks full of custom made sounds by myself. I never was getting into any synthesier as quick and easy as into Predator. It can sound very soft, warm, fat, harsh, whatever you want it to sound like. With all those features on top, I never had one single moment playing around with it, not having a smile on my face.
Read Review

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Comments & Discussion for Rob Papen Predator 3

Discussion
Discussion: Active
Sophiam
Sophiam
27 December 2011 at 7:01am

I wish Predator had a better browser.

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