OneTrick SIMIAN Is An Open Source Drum Synth, Inspired By The Simmons SDS-V

Punk Labs has introduced OneTrick SIMIAN, a new drum synth for Linux, MacOS & Windows that’s inspired by the Simmons SDS-V, the iconic ’80s drum synth with hexagonal pads.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Crash into the 80s with an open source drum synth inspired by hexagonal classics like the Simmons SDS-V. Thumping kicks, punchy snares, and sizzling cymbals coalesce with its clacky claves and crunchy claps. Bring saccharine synthwave sauce to your sublime soundscapes or drop indelable pewww pewww tom toms into your new nu-disco.

Highly customizable voices with great dynamics, filter sweeps, saturation, and drive that will literally flam your tracks. Toss [OT] SIMIAN into your DAW and just see what happens.”

Features:

  • 10 configurable voices
  • 33 factory preset kits
  • Velocity sensitive pitch, filter, and amp dynamics
  • Lofi EPROM for classic cymbal sounds
  • Gated Reverb bus
  • Selectable voice icons and colors
  • Saturation (per-voice and global)
  • 1176-style limiter with drive control
  • All parameters are automatable
  • No telemetry or analytics
  • DRM free
  • Open source to inspect, learn from, adapt, and improve

Audio Demos:

Pricing and Availability:

OneTrick SIMIAN is available now for $35 USD.

8 thoughts on “OneTrick SIMIAN Is An Open Source Drum Synth, Inspired By The Simmons SDS-V

  1. Really nice. Would be interesting to hear a comparison with other vsts, e.g. hex drum. But great idea that they make the source open, so there’s no chance of abandonware.

    @Mods, Sorry to split hairs but in the first paragraph I think the pads were hexagonal rather than octagonal.

    1. It’s like Mutable Instruments’ products – commercial, but they give away the source so that you can adapt it to your own purpose or build something new with it.

    1. Yes, I agree that OneTrick Simian looks a lot like Oblivion Sound Lab’s Hex Drum.

      You’re not the only one to notice it, with the horizontal sectioning of the different kit. Remove the colors and the different is more striking.

      Hex Drum is NOT based on the original SDS-V, so as a point of derivative-ness, Simian definitely feels like a tribute/knockoff depending which way you want to take it.

      I asked them and they haven’t replied.

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