Free, Open-Source OpenRB-338 Brings ReBirth Back For Modern Computers
OpenRB-338 is a free, open-source reimplementation of Propellerhead’s ReBirth RB-338, bringing its combination of two TB-303 basslines and TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines to modern macOS, Windows, and Linux computers.
Originally released in 1997, Propellerhead ReBirth RB-338 combined software recreations of classic Roland instruments into a streamlined virtual studio.
OpenRB-338, a free and open-source application developed by pingw33n, recreates ReBirth for current desktop operating systems, with an audio engine designed to reproduce the original software’s output.
The project also supports original ReBirth song files and provides tools for working with the format.
Features:
- OpenRB-338 recreates the original ReBirth configuration, including two TB-303-style bass synthesizers, a TR-808 drum machine, and a TR-909 drum machine.
- The audio engine was rebuilt based on ReBirth 2.01 to provide bit-accurate rendering. The project documentation describes byte-for-byte comparisons against the original software’s exported loops, tested against a collection of more than 1,200 songs.
- The interface brings the complete virtual studio onto the screen, including the four instruments, mixer, delay, distortion, PCF filter, compressor, pattern and song modes, shuffle, loop, and recording functions.
- A scalable vector-graphics interface keeps the control panel sharp at different window sizes and display resolutions.
- OpenRB-338 can open ReBirth 2.x song files in RBS versions 4.0 through 4.2, as well as ReBirth 1.x songs. It can also save RBS 4.2 files that can be opened by the original ReBirth software.
- The application supports ReBirth modification files, allowing users to load alternative drum samples and associated mod sounds. The standard drum kit is included, so the original installation media is not required for that kit.
- Audio loops can be exported in WAV, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis formats.
- The project also includes a command-line application called orb. It can render songs to audio files, play songs without the graphical interface, inspect song information, and unpack, repackage, or re-encrypt modification files.
- OpenRB-338 is distributed for macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel processors, Windows on x64 and ARM64 systems, and Linux on x86_64 and ARM64 systems.
- The source code is published under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. The developer states that OpenRB-338 is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Propellerhead Software or Reason Studios.
*Note: The software is a standalone application. The project’s documentation currently lists MIDI input, MIDI synchronization, VST, AU, and ReWire support as unimplemented. It also notes that some original pattern-editing functions and undo are not yet available.
OpenRB-338 is available now as a free, open-source download.
