Developer Eric Archer is now shipping his Andromeda MK-1 and MK-2 drum machines, DIY minimal drum machines “designed as an experiment of making the most minimal drum machine possible using analog circuitry”.

In the video above, Archer demonstrates the two new drum machines, how they can interact and how you can control them in real time.

The Andromeda MK-1 and MK-2 drum machines are available for $55 each as DIY kits.

Here’s another demo. This one features 12 of Archer’s tiny drum machines:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Andromeda MK-1 analog drum machine has a minimal sequencer with sixteen preset patterns, selectable by the red switch block.  The pushbutton restarts the patterns.  This feature allows you to shift the timing of the rhythm when synchronized with other Andromeda Space Rockers instruments.

The sound of the MK-1 is from a pair of damped sine wave oscillators, which are triggered simultaneously.  The oscillators are reffered to as “X” and “Y”.  Their pitch is controlled by the photocells AND the capacitors labeled X1,X2 and Y1,Y2.  The capacitors control the overall range of pitches that it can play.  Larger value capacitors here make lower pitches.

The square grid of holes is called the Personality Center.  You can use it to add additonal circuitry to your MK-1 to change its character.  I will publish the Personality Center mods as soon as I get a chance.

The Andromeda MK2 analog drum machine has a minimal sequencer with sixteen preset patterns, selectable by the red switch block.  The pushbutton restarts the patterns.  This feature allows you to shift the timing of the rhythm when synchronized with other Andromeda Space Rockers instruments.

The sound of the MK2 is from an analog white noise generator.  This noise is filtered by a resonant filter, and the cutoff of the filter is controlled by the photocell on the left side of the unit.

The sequencer triggers an envelope generator (EG).  This creates a signal that controls the duration and volume contour of the sound.  The EG is controlled by the photocell on the right side of the unit.

The EG’s signal is sent to a voltage controlled amplifier (VCA).  The VCA chops up the steady output from the filtered white noise generator into little bursts of sound, controlled by the EG.  This is what you hear at the output.

The sound of the Andromeda MK2 is like a primitive electronic snare drum / cymbal / handclap.

This is a sneak preview of Eric Archer’s DIY Andromeda MK-1 and MK-2 minimal drum machines, with hand cut cardstock enclosures:

The enclosure is actually an afterthought. I added it to address any concerns about the bare board, to make it easier to put the device in your pocket, and to offer six surfaces for your artwork. Although as a friend pointed out, the enclosure covers up the surface bend /body contact points inside. So its just an option.

This video demonstrates different ways to use/abuse the infrared wireless signals that keep the instruments synchronized. The unit on the far left is the master clock.

Archer says kits will be available soon.

This tutorial video shows the key features of the Impulse drum sampler in Ableton Live 8 and how some of these features operate.

This video is ideal for the novice to intermediate level Music Technologist wanting to learn Live 8.

Chris Randall of Audio Damage has announced Tattoo, a percussion synthesizer for Mac & PC:

With the caveat that the UI isn’t 100% finalized, here you go. Have a gander at Tattoo, our first instrument. Some salient points:

1. No samples. This is a drum synthesizer. Each voice is purpose-built, as well, rather than just having a general percussion synthesis voice.
2. Every synthesis control has a sequencer attached to it.
3. If you own Replicant, you can immediately see how the randomization/likelihood works for each channel/voice.
4. The sequencer also outputs MIDI (in the VST only, of course) so you can use the randomization features in other drum synths or external hardware.

So, there you have it. We haven’t decided on a price, and I have no idea whatsoever as to when it will be done. We’ve got the synthesis all in place, but not “tuned,” and the sequencer is about 80% complete, but the hardest parts haven’t been done yet.

It’s just a teaser, at this point, but it looks like an interesting mix of old-school drum synthesis and modern features.

Blue Couch Dog: Realtime Percussion Jam

via dr2050productions:

Live on-the-spot improvisation using timpani, Java drum, and an FM8. Everything is controlled in realtime. I’m using a Zendrum LT, a Novation Zero SL with various pedals, and a plastic white 13″ Macbook (with 4GB of RAM). On the software side, it’s all Ableton LIve and various Native Instruments plugins, including two Battery 3 instances and two FM8 instances.

I’m trying to show some of the subtlety and breadth of both the Zendrum and the virtual super-instrument that I’ve created. The ideas fall apart too fast and I think I get into distorted noise a bit too much, but who knows. Anyway, download the adjusted MP3 at http://www.thesixtyone.com/dr2050 (it’s Blue Couch Dog).

Only I hear the click.

This is a video demo of the Simmons Digital ClapTrap, a digital sample playback percussion instrument.

via zibbybone:

Quick run though of a rare percussion synthezier.

This video offers an audio demo of drum synthesis using Plan B modular synthesizer modules.

Patch details below.

via bigcitymusic:

Plan B offers some alternative modules to your everyday “East Coast” style modules. In this patch we’re using a multitude of different modules, including some Cwejman and Analogue Systems.

The heart of this patch is the incredible sounding Model 13 Dual Timbral Gate. The M13 is in fact a low pass gate which is basically a cross between a low pass filter and a VCA. This is what gives us the beautiful, drum-like decay to the random pulses. The actual envelope is super short but the vactrols in the circuit ring longer.

We’re also using some random voltages in here. The Model 24 Heisenberg Generator is basically a sample and hold module, well, two of them really. The bottom section of the M24 allows you to move to the next random voltage when it receives a trigger or gate pulse. The Plan B Model 15 oscillator and the Cwejman VCO-6 are our sounds sources, each having it’s frequency modulated at a high rate. This is what gives you the hand slapping sound that a typical hand drum would have.

The Plan B Model 17 is also being used to great effect. The Triple Event Timer senses how high the voltages coming in are. There are three pots to set the threshold, deciding when a pulse is allowed through.

Specifications:

• 138 Waveforms
• 700 electronic drum and percussion sounds
• 40 Drum Racks
• 150 Drum Clips
• Compatible with Ableton Live 7 and Live 8 (including LE versions)
• Download size 135 mb

WDK is available now for €29.

Details below.

Description:

WDK was created from the ground up to work with Ableton Live. Transient, synthetic timbres were forged into the WDK sound set, creating a library suitable for a wide range of electronic music styles.

WDK takes advantage of the sound engine from Sampler – Ableton’s advanced sampling instrument. A carefully designed waveform is the foundation for each drum sound in the WDK sound library. As each waveform is played back as an oscillator within Sampler, further sculpting of the tone is achieved through Sampler’s sound design functions and Ableton’s powerful built-in effects.

The result? A staggering 700 drum and percussion sounds crafted into unique and expressive Instrument Racks. MESA+ sound designers gave special attention to developing Instrument Racks with the capability of producing new and different timbres that vary greatly from the original sound.

Macro knobs in each Instrument Rack allow WDK users to quickly customize the drum sound to their own tastes. The Instrument Racks in the WDK library have been constructed into 40 distinct Drum Racks, each rack loaded with 22 pads. The grouping arrangement of the Drum Rack pads is consistent, allowing for compatibility with the 150 MIDI clips included in the WDK library.

MFB has announced that their Schlagzwerg analog drum and percussion modular synth is now available.

Schlagzwerg combines CV-controllable percussion modules and a six-track CV/Gate-sequencer into a small drum-machine for live and studio applications.

The Schlagzwerg is semi-modular, so it is ready to play without requiring patch-connections. The CV-inputs, though, let the Schlagzwerg be modulated by external control sources.

Features:

• semi-modular drum-machine
• true analog sound sources
• kick, snare and tom (DRUM-04/-05/-06)
• cymbal and hihat (DRUM-07)
• step-sequencer with 16 steps and 16 A/B-patterns
• 6 gate- and 6 CV-tracks
• separate CV/Gate-tracks, e.g. for use with Kraftzwerg
• integrated MIDI/CV-interface
• integrated stereo-mixer with panning

MFB’s Schlagzwerg costs €680 and is available now.

Details:

The internal sequencer can store sixteen patterns, each holding A- and B-parts. Patterns can be advanced using gate-signals as well as thru start/stop and reset remote inputs. The sequencer can be externally synchronized. Start/Stop and clock-sync can also be remote controlled from the units MIDI-input without any further patch connections.

Schlagzwerg will double as a sixfold MIDI-CV/gate-converter. Two modes cover drum-sound control and a basic CV/gate-output of the sequences. Two additional modes allow conversion of incoming MIDI-data into CV/gate with the internal sequencer being inactive. Here, every drum sound is controlled by an individual MIDI-channel with a pitch range of two octaves. A separate channel with five-octave-range is used for synthesizer control.

The individual drum-sounds derive from our MFB’s drum modules. Trigger inputs are level-sensitive and allow dynamic performance via drum-pads, piezo-pickups or microphones. All drums offer CV-inputs for different parameters. The different drum-sounds do not require attenuators because the sequencer allows for scalable CV-output.

The bass-drum is the powerful sound from the MFB-503 drum-machine and offers a wide variety of possible kick sounds due to its attack, tune, decay, pitch and drive attributes. All sounds are routed into the internal mixer with adjustable panning and stereo outputs. Alternatively, the sound modules also offer individual outputs.

If you’ve used the MFB Schlagzwerg, leave a comment with your thoughts.

This video is a demo of the Drum Meister iPhone app (App Store link), a $1.99 virtual drum set.

Features:

• 10 drum components are playable simultaneously
• Arrange drum components to make your fingers comfortable
• Mixes high quality poly-phony sounds with no clipping at the end
• 3-D Positioning sounds
• Open hihat features quick stop
• Record and save your own beats
• 25 pre-recorded beats (Rock, Jazz, Latin, Ballad, Dance…)
• Slide and play
• Activates motion sensor for playing bass drum and cymbals
• Great responsiveness for double bass and fast beats
• Animated visual effect

This is a quick demo of the Music And More (MAM) ADX 1,  a compact and inexpensive drum synthesizer.

It has 5 voice channels: Bass, Synth, Snare, Hi Hat and Metal (in ascending order on machine).

via zibbybone:

One cool feature about this machine is that the Snare and Hi Hat channels feature both “open” and “closed” variants. You can here the “closed” snare on notes 5 & 13 (on a typical 16th note Roland x0x style pattern) and the “open” snare on note 8 (same note step I have the “synth” sound programmed on). Only real compaint I have with this instrument is that the MIDI note numbers are fixed and cannot be reassigned. The MIDI Channel is assigned using 4 dip switches on the rear panel. The rear panel has stereo outs (which I used with the front panel pan pots in this demonstration) and individual outs for outboard processing and/or mixing. The LED for the Metal channel is out on this particular unit. The sounds are sequenced via Roland TR-909 External Instrument mode. If you”re craving some fresh drum sounds and cannot afford the Vermona DRM-1, this is a great alternative. The bass on this demo is pretty low and cannot be heard on my crappy lap top speakers. Enjoy and be sure to check out my other videos of synths, drum machines and effects.

Synesthesia has announced that it’s updated the Virtual Brain for the Mandala drum synthesizer to support multiple pads.

The new Virtual Brain v1.50 was developed from requests made by Mandala players and has been tested extensively in multipad experiments with Danny Carey of the rock band TOOL.

The new “Virtual Brain” v1.50 software is available now to anyone via free download from the company’s website at http://www.mandaladrum.com. Even without buying the Mandala, anyone can download the software and tinker with it – on its own, or with other PC or Mac-compatible musical devices.

The Mandala is an advanced drum synth device that works as a USB MIDI controller with most major music software such as Battery 3, Reaktor, FXpansion BFD, Ableton Live, Propellerhead Reason and Apple GarageBand. Synesthesia also offers a special set of presets and HD snare players for Battery 3.

Details on the update below.

New features include:

• Master Window and Pad Windows combined into one Main Window
• More user friendly for multiple pad connection and multiple pad control of program
• Onscreen pad zones light up upon strikes
• Double the amount of preset hotkeys
• Added preset changing via external MIDI program change
• Greatly reduced load time for full kit (multiple Mandala) presets
• Added ability (PC Users) for Mandalas to control the Virtual Brain and 3rd party programs simultaneously with MIDI Yoke (free download from http://midiox.com)
• Automatic audio level safety when changing presets
• Virtual Brain starts on last used preset
• Added visual of exact strike ring position over swirl logo
• Added screen jump edit button for laptops when more than 4 zones active
• Number of voices now saves with every preset

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at http://mandaladrum.com. Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped. Synesthesia also offers a discount to Dual Pack buyers from mandaladrumstore.com and will issue a $50 rebate with proof of a multiple pad purchase from MusiciansFriend.com.

This is a demo of the Tama Techstar TS306 drum synthesizer, under MIDI control.

Listen for the rhythmic bird squawks!

via bdufdiskc:

This is an old tama ts306 drum synth brain. Originally intended for use with a set of electronic drum triggers, it had no midi, only trigger inputs.

Thanks to the wonder of modern DIY electronic kits (thanks Paul Maddox and Laurie Biddulph!) I have installed a MIDI conversion kit. This is me playing it from my Korg electribe ER1.

Also, some extra squawks from a bird we were birdsitting at the time.

Simian Drum Scape #1=Drum, Drone, Noise Synth by Arius Blaze

via benpumpkin:

Created by Arius Blaze of folktek = folktek.com and ariusblaze.com…video one of three…This piece incorporates a wide range of textural sound scapes as well as straight analog drum synthesis.

The synth is analog, the built in delay is digital.

Let me know what you think of Folktek’s strange synths!

Elektron’s Machinedrum SPS-1 is a state of the art drum machine and drum synthesizer. It builds on the features of the best classic drum machines, and adds improved drum synthesis technology. 

In his EM review of the Machinedrum, David Battino said:

Although it builds on the time-tested features of classic drum machines, the Machinedrum leaps off in a wonderful new direction with its distinct synthesis and live-performance capabilities. It may seem expensive, but a couple of noisy, unreliable vintage rhythm boxes would set you back a lot more, and they would have far less creative connectivity. You can control all 384 of the Machinedrum’s tone-tweaking parameters with MIDI.

The Machinedrum is a specialized instrument, but it’s one of the easiest to personalize. If you’re tired of the sampling bazaar, get to know the Machinedrum. Frequent EM contributor Todd Souvignier once advised, “Let machines speak with their own native tongues.” When the Machinedrum speaks, it’s so joyfully synthetic that it verges on being alive.

Here’s another video, via Zane Brzezinski, of the Machinedrum in action:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Features:

• 16 voice polyphonic drum synthesis
• Oscillators
  • Sample Playback and Synthesis; 39 drum sounds via 4 synthesizers:
  • TRX (12 instruments), EFM (8 instruments), E12 (16 instruments), and PI (6 instruments).
• 16 LFOs (2 per voice); dual-waveforms assignable to various destinations
• 1 Multi-mode resonant filter per voice 24 dB/oct (4-pole)
• 4 Master Effects: Rhythm Echo reverb/echo, Gate Box reverb, 3-band EQ, Dynamix compressor. Each drum sound has 2 independent echo and reverb Sends.
• Instrument effects: Amplitude Modulation, 1-band EQ, Sample-rate Reduction, Distortion.
• 16 Trigger pads for triggering sounds and/or programming patterns
• Memory: 64 Drumkits, 128 Patterns (up to 32 steps each)
• MIDI IN/OUT/THRU, External Audio Triggering

Resources:

• The Elektron Machinedrum website
• Machinedrum review at EM
• Machinedrum at Vintage Synth

Mildon Studios has released Cajon Fu – a free percussion synth for Windows:

It is a free VST percussion box instrument that really packs a punch. You can play it like a real percussion box in normal mode, or you can turn up the action and play sound effects. Each track has its own volume slider and mute buttons for easy exporting as audio files. A special ‘ghost’ key allows you to play alight triple tap that’s perfect for fill-ins.

Created for those who love to make latin music and acoustic arrangements, and also for those who just want to have some fun.

Compatible with any VST host music recording platform like Cubase, Nuendo, FL Studio, etc.

It’s Windows only; do you think Mac users are too busy to slap their Cajones?

Lovecapacitor shows his secrets for synthesizing a deep kick drum in Ableton Live. 

He uses two oscillators in Operator, tuned to 49 HZ & 73.4 HZ, snappy envelopes, a little compression and lo-pass filtering and gets a great kick. 

via Oliver Chesler

This Tiptop Audio video features the Z3000’s doing the Bass drum and Snare drum and the two Z5000 are saturated making the HH’s.

MFB Drum sequencer clocked by LFO triggers the sounds. All the outputs are then mixed with the Plan B mixer, playing the switches to open and close the sounds.

Teragon Audio has released KickMaker, a synthesizer designed specifically for making good kick drum sounds.

It feautures four independent oscillators and a wide range of effects, letting you create customized beats.

“KickMaker is the perfect solution for producers who are tired of using factory samples or ordinary drum machines, and want an easy way to create a wide range kicks for their tracks. ”

It’s a free download and is available for Mac and Windows.

via MakingMusic

This is a demo of a MOTM-style modular synthesizer analog drum voice.

via djthomaswhite:

Here is my MOTM-panel build of the Marc Bareille clone of the old Coron DS-8 drum voice analog synthesizer.

It is very flexible for synth percussion and can be built for a very affordable price.

More information and pictures will be posted soon on www.naturalrhythmmusic.com