The MFB 522 Drum Machine
This is a quick video demo of the MFB 522 Drum Machine.
Description:
MFB-522 is a drum computer with a fully analogue sound engine that offers plenty of editing capabilities. It includes a step-sequencer with popular TR-style running-light-programming. Memory locations are available for 72 patterns as well as for 8 songs.
MSRP: 280,- Euro
Product details at the MFB site.
If you’ve used the MFB 522 Drum Machine, leave a comment with your thoughts/ratings!
Available edit controls:
- Bass drum [Decay, Tune, Tone, Level]
The bass drum can be programmed in two different lengths per pattern. It also offers and individual output. - Snare drum [Noise, Tone, Level] – Rimshot [Level]
Snare drum and rimshot cannot be played simultaneously. However, they can be used in the same pattern. Both instruments share the same individual output. - Clap [Attack, Filter, Decay, Level]
The parameters allow setting the width and fullness of the clap sound. This sound also has its proprietary individual output. - Tom/Conga [Tune, Decay, Level]
This sound source can be switched between Tom and Conga instruments. Sounds programming allows setting of three different pitches. - Cowbell [Tune, Decay, Level] – Clave [Level]
Tune for Cowbell controls a detune-effect, while the pitch is set commonly with Cymbal and Hihat. Cowbell and Clave cannot be played simultaneously. However, they can be used in the same pattern. - Cymbal [Tone, Decay, Level]
Tune sets the pitch for Cymbal, Cowbell and Hihat - Open/Closed Hihat [Decay, Level]
Open and Closed Hihat cannot be played simultaneously. However, they can be used in the same pattern. This sound source offers and individual output.
The step-sequencer allows programming of 72 basic patterns plus 72 fill-ins. The latter being associated to the basic pattern memory location, resulting in a two-bar-pattern when using the fill-in. Patterns can be combined to eight songs that each hold a user-definable sequence of up to 64 patterns. In addition to the instruments, a global accent-track is available. When set, the corresponding step will be played with a higher or lower volume-setting in comparison to the standard level. The MFB-522’s sequencer offers three different steps of shuffling. A stereo output will carry all instruments minus those where individual outputs are in use (bass drum, snare drum/rimshot, claps and Hihat). Using the MIDI-In, drum-sounds can be played with a keyboard or external sequencer. Here, the sound sources act velocity sensitive. Finally, MFB-522 can be synchronized to incoming MIDI-clock.
The MFB-522’s dimensions are: 175 x 125 x 38/72 mm. The unit ships with a 12 volts power-supply.
Related Posts
- The MFB Schlagzwerg Analog Drum Machine
- MFB Schlagzwerg Drum Computer
- Drum Meister iPhone Drum App Demo
- Music And More (MAM) ADX 1 Drum Synth
- New Kits Let You Build Your Own Analog Drum Machines
Tags: demo video, drum machine, mfb522
They need to add FM as a feature in analog drum machines to make them sound just a little bit more realistic ! .
Great price , the built in quality is preety flimsy .
cheap build, but excellent sound and superb customer support, and very good user interface, and correct me if I'm wrong, but who else makes an analogue drum at this price thats sounds this good……
I just purchased the 522, nice little box.. Sounds great, fun to program and it responds to midi clock perfectly. I only wish they would've housed it in a wider enclosure with ''real'' knobs and an extra midi out/thru, but I guess that at this price corners needed to be cut. I also noted that the d-tune pot doesn't have that much of an effect on the clave/cowbell sounds. I'll check the unit on display at my local shop to see if it behaves the same way. Overall rating…. Thumbs up!
I think my clave/cowbell reacts the same way to the d-tune pot. I was also thinking that the clave track itself is unusually quiet compared to the other tracks.
Beginner's question: I tried to sync this thing to the midi clock of my Sp-555 sampler, but besides the clock, it also syncs activation of drum sounds. I know this is the purpose of midi and what many people prefer, but is there a setting that will just take in the midi clock and ignore the rest?