CRUMAR BIT99 | Analog Synthesizer 1985 | HD DEMO

(c) 2019 by AnalogAudio1
Synthesizer demo of the analog synthesizer Crumar BIT99 from 1985. Love it to BITs or leave it ;-)
For reverb effects, a Lexicon MPX 500 was used, along with a Korg SDD-3000 for delay effects. The sounds were programmed by me.
The Bit99 is a nice fully programmable polysynth with warm analog sounds made in Italy. It has a velocity sensitive keyboard and MIDI. 2 DCOs, 2 LFOs, 24dB lowpass filters, 2 ADSR envelopes, noise, make many interesting and great sounds possible.

[@eaglechildkeys]

Very rare synth. Ahh... Those beautiful brasses.. It’s sound reminds me very much the Oberheim Matrix 6 :-)))

[@AlexBallMusic]

Really enjoy the obscure machines you introduce and how you demo them. Always great to see an upload. 👍

[@AnalogAudio1]

thank you Alex! :-) Your videos are great too

[@fjfrancois]

Don’t fight dudes, both of you make great videos 👍🏻

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

This was gonna be my first synth but I fell for the Casio CZ101 as it was in a local shop with my name on it :)

[@juno6]

Really underrated synth. Capable of great analogue sounds, from very subtle to massive unison patches.

[@DaveG207]

My first analogue poly. I used to pair this with a DX21 and get some great combined sounds :)

[@dozer30]

It’s been said before but I’ll say it again. There’s absolutely nothing like analog synths. Pure audio bliss.😇😇😇🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@AnalogAudio1]

Yes!

[@timodeboer8229]

@UnderBridge Rock nah roland and yamaha both have that gameboy dmg chip on lock (yamaha reface cs, cs01, roland juno 106). Korg has the nes end of sounds. (Ms10/20, poly800)

[@dannybrazen]

Erm… it’s digital (well, the oscillators are)

[@1980VINZ]

@@dannybrazen? The Bit99 is analog.

[@SeverityOne]

@@dannybrazen It's a bit more complicated than that. The oscillators are DCOs: digitally-controlled oscillators. The difference with VCO is that digital circuit creates the voltage via a digital-to-analogue converter. This was, the voltage and consequently the pitch is predictable, and not wobbly and temperature-dependent, as is the case with a VCO. That wobbliness is what give 'true' analogue synthesisers their warm sound, but it's also a major PITA to keep them in tune. Even the fact that you're in the studio and emitting heat can have an effect on VCO synths. It's not always obvious what constitutes a DCO. If, rather than supplying a voltage for an analogue oscillator, the waveform itself is used as an oscillator, you get an entirely different sound. Think of the Waldorf Microwave, for example.

[@vietNguyen.]

This beautiful brasses reminds me of the old 80s and 90s😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭☹😭☹☹😭😭☹😭☹😭☹😭

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

I just love seeing and hearing what gems from the past that you come up with to demonstrate. It's always educational and inspirational. Thank you

[@AnalogAudio1]

thank YOU for watching!

[@marcuspearson6214]

ahhh, I remember when these came out, I use to play this in the local music shop where i grew up, sadly I could not afford one as a young teenage boy. Your video is excellent as usual.

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks!

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Crumar announced this year that they will be working on a new synth. Can’t wait to see what it could be.

[@AnalogAudio1]

I am excited too...

[@cnfuzz]

Hopefully they make it more reliable , bit one was omni mode only i remember and was notoriously unreliable ( bit 99 was better) , lots of button pushing too, anyway we would love to see some quirky italian design again

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@cnfuzz "working on a new synth" can also mean, they are working on a digital sample-playback synth with piano and brass sounds...

[@cnfuzz]

@@AnalogAudio1 Aaaaaaagh (throws himself of a cliff cannot bear general midi any longer)

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Did they? Wow! That is awesome news. Great Italian pride. I wish I had more access to their stuff back in the day but did not. I'll have to investigate who is behing Crumar these days.

[@thevickers]

I bought one of these in 1986 when I was a student. It’s kind of quirky but capable of some really amazing sounds if you experiment a bit. Unfortunately mine no longer makes any sound but I still use it to play MIDI into my DAW because the keyboard is so nice to play!

[@MPHORROCKS]

Remember when this came out! Great synth!

[@gustinian]

Early hybrid synth, the oscillators are generated 'digitally' by an original circuit which allows waveform combinations unlike rivals (I've modelled it). Distinctively rich sound once filtered by the 6 CEM 3329 VCFs. Julian Colbeck raved over them back in the day. Blends well but remains distinguishable. Capable of Memory Moog power if pushed, but excels at brass and string patches with just the right amount of richness and bite. LFOs can reach audio frequency (just). Best keybed this side of a Kawai K5000. Stereo panning and velocity sensitivity > pulse width ideal for living organic sequences full of character. 'Underrated' is an over used term in synth circles, but the Bit99 is genuinely underrated and little known.

[@AnalogAudio1]

Yes, it's a good synth, especially with keyboard velocity for that price! In my opinion the sound is in the same league as Roland JX-8P, Akai AX-80, Kawai SX-240, Siel Opera-6 and such.

[@cuttingedge1987]

I’m getting it soon ! Can’t wait !

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

Brings back memories. Memories of thumbing through Keyboard Magazine at all the stuff I couldn’t afford. And now that I can…🤔…I probably shouldn’t 😂😂 something about this one and the Sequential Tom and Six track that make me still want them though. Unique looking synths.

[@robsoncadete3340]

Sonoridade maravilhosa!!!

[@christianvandalstrom8337]

I think it sounds fantastic. Great for ol school house and electro.

[@mattyg499]

This synth and the Yamaha SK30 and the Roland SH2000 wee probably my favourite sounding synths…

[@AndyVonal]

This synth was the thing of dreams to me when I got play on one in 1985 in Music Ground in Doncaster, England. Couldn't afford it.... it was £100 too expensive. I bought a Korg DW6000 instead. Do I regret it? Not for a minute! Still got the DW!

[@playonkorg]

I used the DW6000 for a cd, fine filters

[@panagiotissalapasidis9887]

secret legend of the 80's BIT 99

[@longshotkdb]

in the 90's when everyone was suddenly a 'dj' analogue synths fell out of favour, it was 'the digital revolution' after all. anyway, i took the opportunity to buy some classic synths at stupidly low prices. i only have a few left, either because they died, or i couldn't resell them! this is one that nobody wanted! super under rated and so, there it sits, front and centre in my new home studio ... good to see someone showing what its capable of. cheers =)

[@jean-paulsabiche9653]

For sure,I bought a SCI-Pro1 in perfect condition for 1000francs(150euros) back in 1991,with the flycase from atelier 33,and the notice,I wish i had never sold it!That was a hell of a mono synth!

[@longshotkdb]

@@jean-paulsabiche9653 thats one of my favourites too ... the second hand music store only had two synths that day, probably around 1990/91 also, a micromoog and the bit99. i paid £120 for them. not each, altogether! lol

[@jean-paulsabiche9653]

Waouh!Awesome prices compared to nowadays!!! Also Found a little Moog cousin from yours,The Prodigy!(fan of depeche Mode younger)1500francs which was on sale since 2 years in the most famous Rock Magazine published in France(best magazine),and nobody was interested in it...everybody were too busy sampling, playing Roland D50, Korg M-1;or whatever...

[@DavidBoura]

@@jean-paulsabiche9653 Si j'avais su à cette époque... fichtre...

[@cnfuzz]

Oh no man ,the analog resurgance was well underway since early 90s , its depthpoint in prices was 86 to 90, shure analog was still cheapish early 90s but the market was so much smaller that is the reason, its internet that killed any form of reason

[@salvoinfanti]

Good synth, stereo out is beautiful when you send a sequence to the Bit. One correction: this synth was not designed by Mario Maggi, unlike many website said

[@AnalogAudio1]

are you sure? Who was the designer? Where is the information from?

[@salvoinfanti]

AnalogAudio1 yes, i’m sure. There is an italian facebook group called ‘synth cafè’; once someone asked about this synth so i wrote my impressions and i also wrote that the bit99 designer was Mario Maggi (several website said this). Then I was rebuked by the son of the firmware designer who told me that the electronic project was made by Gervasio Pannelli.

[@salvoinfanti]

And probably also Luciano jura was involved in the bit99 project. Strangely the internet is full by other informations.. it would be nice to have some kind of assurance.

[@synthesizerhome2041]

@@salvoinfanti so you're saying Mario Maggi had nothing to do with this project at all ? Maybe the son of the firmware designer even didn't work there. Someone says that someone is saying something and all should believe that now? I believe it only if Mario Maggi would say this

[@luisneitzke106]

@@synthesizerhome2041 but ain't that truth for the whole Mario Maggi rumour as well? Just because it's widely spread online doesn't mean it isn't misinformation.

[@robsoncadete3340]

Wonderful sound

[@TheFreeRadikal]

I used to have the Unique DBK, which was the US version of the Bit 99, it stopped working unfortunately, I really liked that synth, it was the only poly I had with 2 lfo's and the velocity modulations were cool too, I still have the editor for it, a VST editor called Bit Control

[@HealingSoundMovement]

Does the BitControl also work for my Bit One (no sysex there...)? And on Windows 10?

[@TheFreeRadikal]

@@HealingSoundMovement Not sure, with no sysex I'm guessing not

[@xxheartbrokexx100]

Love my BIT 99

[@AnalogAudio1]

yeah, love it to BITs :-D

[@loomPEDAL]

I went through two of them, both of them had huge problems - constant repairs. Shame because they're beautiful sounding.

[@AnalogAudio1]

sounds like my car.... but that did not happened with the Crumar :-)

[@cuttingedge1987]

What happened ?

[@neonvoid]

Fantastic

[@doordedeur]

I once recomended it as an alternative to a Roland JX-8P, but after listening to this video, the Crumar sounds more like a beefed up Poly 800.

[@AnalogAudio1]

it's definitely better than the Poly-800

[@cnfuzz]

Its more like a very limited matrix 1000 , curtis and dco, its not as distinctive sounding as other italian synths like siel opera or dk600, that said you can love or hate poly 800 but a lot of synthpop swear by that synth over bigger ones , human league used it on human

[@maccagrabme]

I don't think its much like a Jx8p but definitely has a touch of Poly 800 in there, kind like a Poly800 meets DW8000, would be good if Behringer remade it.

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@maccagrabme Behringer should remake synths which are rare or very expensive, like Oberheim or Yamaha CS80. That makes more sense than cloning a BIT99. The BIT99 was already some kind of copy of Oberheim in a cheap package.

[@maccagrabme]

@@AnalogAudio1 I think there is a market for these more obscure synths, the flagship ones are great but in a lot of ways these basic ones sound more interesting

[@EuroDJ]

Great Sound!

[@ymotechnopopfan]

Nailed it!

[@FOKKR]

Fantastic!

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

It has really interesting character, thin and slightly but crushed. Would probably sound great with other instruments

[@christdolphin69]

why cant modern digital synths like the hydra sound this good? that character is unreal

[@nichelcruz7749]

Does it worth it to buy if you have a Roland Juno 60? Im interested to know your opinion about it Great sounds Greetings from Berlin

[@AnalogAudio1]

Well, they sound different... the sound quality and UI of the Juno-60 is hard to beat. Anyway the BIT is more flexible with 2 oscillators.

[@t55a2]

A rarity. Have you tried the Crumar Spirit?

[@AnalogAudio1]

yes, I tried one for few minutes, but never owned one myself... quite rare

[@DannyConeHeadOnceLer]

I really love your music, great job on the keyboards that you've used so far I hope that me or Doomsday DeathByte would get to hire as composer

[@EuroDJ]

Why are the sounds so digital as the POLY-800 .... DCO - analog or digital?

[@AnalogAudio1]

DCO means digitally controlled oscillator, not digital oscillator

[@EuroDJ]

@@AnalogAudio1 Kawai k4 has DCO - but oscillator is digital ... Roland Alpha Juno has DCO - but oscillator is digital ... Poly-800 has DCO but sound like digital ... Kawai k5000 has DCO but oscillator is digital . I think the company that created synthesizers, meant anything under DCO - analog and digital oscillators controlled digitally

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@EuroDJ I was talking about analog synthesizers.

[@cnfuzz]

@@EuroDJ Ppg were the first to use a digital controlled analog oscillator before they went into Wavetable , the italians also used it before roland

[@fjfrancois]

Dude you rock

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks!

[@spazkong]

Nice. Sound wise reminds me of the Cheetah MS6.

[@robertogalli8691]

Good job!

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks!

[@Napalbe]

SIEL OPERA 6 want to hear!! thanks Analog Audio

[@AnalogAudio1]

Indeed, it's a great synth! I hade one years ago but it was broken... I hope to find one again.

[@retrosound72]

Der Klang ist sehr gut. Erinnert mich an den Oberheim Matrix-6/1000

[@AnalogAudio1]

Ja, vom Filtersound her recht ähnlich. Finde den Sound auch nicht schlecht, die Oszillatoren des Oberheim klingen im Vergleich jedoch fetter und lebendiger (ist halt auch ein Oberheim).

[@sP33DyEdOld]

@@AnalogAudio1 was muß man heute zahlen für ein 99?

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@sP33DyEdOld 700-800 Euro, je nach Zustand. Der Vorgänger Bit One ist günstiger...

[@annother3350]

is there much real time modulation capability?

[@AnalogAudio1]

just the wheels...

[@annother3350]

@@AnalogAudio1 to what? the filter or just vibrato?

[@AlekseiDroganov]

Звучание синта просто волшебное! Сколько стоит такая игрушка интересно??

[@nandodolleman7819]

back in the days where 5 octaves was the standard

[@AnalogAudio1]

Back in the days where a keyboard player knew how to play keyboard...

[@MonoMemory]

@@AnalogAudio1 rofl

[@ПоручикРжевский-с4з]

Такое ощущение, что похоже на все остальные аналоги. А в чем отличие?

[@ineedstuff8286]

you guys say this is thin... boy, if Com Truise made his stuff? then boy, this thing is amazing

[@Eyepatchfilms]

Would love to find a white one someday.

[@AnalogAudio1]

If you're working at a hospital, white would nicely fit to the other equipment I must admit.

[@PrismaticSpray]

ive got 99 problems but a bit aint one... :pic of my white bit99: Seriously. It was given to me as a gift. Never seen another and I definitely aint selling.

[@RoofLight00]

Mine is white! And still fully working. I love it. Are they rarer than the black ones?

[@christoroppolo8742]

Character rich . Peace Christo 👽🐕🛸🎶☮️💀

[@histakes12]

Are these sounds available as sysex, please?

[@AnalogAudio1]

No, I just made a few.

[@histakes12]

@ nice work! Would love to have em as sysex or wav file. Thanks!!

[@superhussein]

is this synth good for a newbie?

[@AnalogAudio1]

I would take something with knobs/sliders, I think it's easier to create and modify sounds

[@unknownfilmmaker777]

Where have ai heard that first patch? Nice video.

[@zechariahfrink3707]

Will you do any demo's of the new Berhinger Poly D when it's released?

[@AnalogAudio1]

I'm not planning to buy one...

[@steve2972]

I bought one of these back in the day.Only thing I didn’t like was the keyboard,very cheap and plastic toy like

[@AnalogAudio1]

it's a normal plastic keybed, nothing special, but not really that bad... very similar to the Ensoniq ESQ-1 or Mirage

[@SisterRose]

sounds kinda Oberheimy!

[@luisemiliano3046]

hot

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

I hear too shy!

[@lars-fenin]

a bit thin sounding, but still unique..... (remember my bandmate had one when starting a band back in the dayz..)

[@SPAZZOID100]

2nd patch way out of tune.

[@timbermicka]

Sounded beautiful tho

[@PrismaticSpray]

derp