Dtronics Digidrum 80s Style Eurorack Drum Module

Dtronics uploaded a video of their latest Eurorack module, the Digidrum.
(NOT the most original name btw...)

Here shown are 8 identical modules, with each of them carrying with a different (Linn) drum sample.

I'm impressed of how authentic it sounds, i hope to add more info soon...

Video: Dtronics Digidrum, 80's style eurorack drum module

" Dtronics Digidrum, 80's style eurorack drum module.
With a 80's soundset ( 8 sounds ). the samples are recorded with an Oberheim Prommer to get the right sound.

The unit also accepts home made sounds ( you have to put them in an serial eeprom or you can buy complete soundsets)
or you can place one original 4K eprom with your Linndrum / DMX sound.

-accepts original LINN / DMX etc eproms (2732 / 4K)
-accepts serial eeprom with custom sounds
-Sound can be tuned to the extreme (to get thos dirty strange sounds)
-only 6HP wide

More info soon here and on the Dtronics website."

Uploaded by Dtronicsmusic

Hexinverter.net Mutant Clap Demo

Hexinverter's latest in their series of dedicated drum-modules is the Mutant Clap, A TR-909-style handclap module.
Just like the other Mutant Drums, the Clap is a highly versatile module.
It is actually a voltage controlled LFSR noise oscillator as well as a powerful percussion synthesis engine!

- feature-rich, analogue handclap percussion synthesis reminiscent of the 909
- pitch control of noise generator means you can create everything from vanilla 909 claps to broken, chiptune-like alien sounds
- doubles as a voltage controlled, Commodore64-sounding noise VCO via the NOISE output and PITCH CV input
- SUSTAIN control lets you crank up the clap's sustain and use the module as an abstract synth voice with external inputs!
- external input allows you to synthesise claps from virtually any sound source you plug in
- built in internal reverb effect derived from clap tone
reverb decay forms the decay of the clap sound, and is fully voltage controllable from short reverb "snaps" to long, whooshing tails!
- you can select between internal and external noise sources as the source for the reverb sound generation, opening up really interesting sounds
- DRIVE control lets you dial in anything from clean to extremely overdriven sounds
- bandpass filter cutoff control

Video: hexinverter.net Mutant Clap Demo

" The Mutant Clap is a eurorack handclap percussion synthesis module reminiscent of the TR-909.
It will be available in Fall 2014 as a built eurorack module from modular synthesizer dealers around the globe as well as in DIY project form, from hexinverter.net's online DIY shop.

More info/full feature list: http://www.modulargrid.net/e/hexinver...
hexinverter project page: http://cv.hexinverter.net/?projects=m...
DIY products: http://shop.hexinverter.net
For built modules, please find your nearest modular retailer and inquire with them!

Gear used in this video: Mutant Clap, Orbitals step sequencer, Jupiter Storm, Galilean Moons, Mutant Bassdrum, Mutant Hihats, Low-gain Submix, WMD Pro Output, Make Noise Echophon..."

Also very interesting: " Rest assured the Cowbell will make itself known somehow! :) "

Random Video: MDLB by Maria Della Batteria

Now here's something you don't see very often:
YouTuber Maria Della Batteria shows how he triggers his modular synth with his drumset, via 2 A-119 External Input modules...

Video: MDLB

"Working on Drums controlling a modular Synth. Via 2x Doepfer a-119. Triggering Pittsburgh Modular Noise and Waveforms via Darktime and 4ms clock divider."

Uploaded by Maria Della Batteria

Jomox Bassdrum and Percussion Eurorack Modules Announced

JoMoX ModBase 09 Bass Drum Module

Last weekend Jomox announced that their first set of Eurorack drum modules are shipping...

The ModBase 09 Bassdrum module is an impressive looking module with many knobs and buttons and plenty of CV modulation options.
They also have MIDI Inputs, what makes them even cooler...

" For regular modular use, analog routable CV inputs and an analog output are accessible via 3.5mm jacks. The Gate can be configured as 0-5V (0-15V is accepted too), inversed or s-trigger.

Everything is storeable and can be recalled via encoder klick from 100 presets. But for the analog feel of modular, eight potentiometers give you the fine and precise editing of the most important parameters without stepping through menus.

E-Drummers can create complete E-drum setups, because there is an internal Jomox analog connection bus with a fast digital link which can do a submix and an FX send mix from each module hooked up to the bus.
With this system bus you won't need to use the audio outputs but instead you have a programmable bus system that can link to future master, sequencer and mixing or effects modules - which can take control over the single modules.
This makes the whole modular setup recallable and storeable from a center module like a drum machine.

Also, to link the ModBase modules to our other products, they all have a Midi interface on the rear that can be wired within the rack case and being cascaded from one module to another.
The menu selection is paged by two-colored LEDs for both sides of the menu.
Two internal LFOs which both control the tuning of the kick drum VCO expand the sound spectrum once more.

All analog parameters are either storeable and controllable via Midi. The Midi notes control the pitch of the kick drum VCO.
The modules are controllable via CV/Gate and via trigger pads for live drummers. With the trigger input, the threshold and velocity dependend dynamics can be adjusted.
Four routable CV inputs let all internal sound parameters (incl. LFOs and metallic noise) be controlled by CV sequencers. Every CV input provides an own programmable amount which can be negative too (i.e. subtracting the CV value from the internal value). The range goes from 0..5V."

JoMoX Mod.Brane 11 Percussion Module 

The ModBrane 11 Percussion Module is dedicated to all kind of sounds from classic snare to insane metallic pickaxe sound.

" In the Mod.Brane 11 there are two 2-pole filters (F-OSCs) arranged in a way that dampen is like a limited range of resonance. They can interact between each other by two coupling parameters 1_2 coupling and 2_1 coupling. Coupling is a combination of addition (mixing) and frequency modulation. 2_1 coupling acts inversely with negative values and even with positive values. So every possible feedback and interference mode can be produced.

A dual noise generator which provides either white noise or a multitone metallic noise or a mixing of both, combined with a decay envelope, can produce percussion-like and cymbal-like tones which are mixed to the rest of the membrane signal. A part of the signal excites the F-OSCs, and the other part is mixed as a noise envelope to the signal.

Two internal LFOs which control the tuning of both F-OSCs expand the sound spectrum once more."

Video: JoMox goes modular ! Expect fat sounds

" JoMox was at Modularsquare november 30 to show his new eurorack modules dedicated to drums !
On the left side of this case you will find 2x ModBase 09 Bass Drum modules obviously dedicated to kick drum, and on the right side, 2x Mod.Brane 11 percussion module dedicated to all kind of sounds from classic snare to insane metallic pickaxe sound.
We are totally in love.
Nothing fancy in that video, just exploring presets to find good combinations. We will come back later with deeper videos.
(All these modules are controlled by a Doepfer A-155 sequencer, no FX nor compression added)"

Video uploaded by modularsquare

Booktip IV - The Complete Simmons Drum Book by Bob Henrit

Perhaps a bit of an outsider on this blog, but this 104-page book about Simmons Electronic Drums is in fact quite an interesting read.
The British Simmons company produced drum modules since the late seventies and is perhaps best known for their distinctive sounds and their 'hexapad' drum-surface design.

This book tells the whole story, their conception, development, and even their problems.
Allmost all their drumkits are included in this book, from their first SDS-3 (SDS series), ClapTraps and expanders up to models that were never released.
The book was written and published in 1987, seven years before Simmons produced their last products so only a few models are not mentioned in this book ( like the TurtleTrap and the SDS-2000 )

I have no idea why this book was written, but it looks like a nice thick brochure to sell Simmons products.
It is filled with (b/w) pictures, background stories and stories by players and is very well-written.
I recommend this if you are interested in (drum)-synthesizer history.
A good read from beginning to end.

Wise Publications ISBN: 0-7119-0933-4
Order No. AM 63173

Most Wanted II - Drum Modules

Drum-synthesizers and drum-machines have been around for a long time.
The first analogue drum synthesizers were introduced in the 1970s, and everyone remembers those classic analog and digital rhythm-boxes made by big companies as Roland, Korg, Simmons and Linn.

 The Mid-nineties analogue revival triggered a whole bunch of new manufacturers like MAM, Vermona and MFB (to name a few) to produce (modular) drum synths.
I always wondered why Doepfer hasn't come up with a modular drum series yet.
The only drumsound-providing module they released so far was the A-117 Digital noise/808 Source, a module that only produces two 808 sounds... ehh well... building blocks.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could fit a variation of different Doepfer drummodules in your rack, perhaps an A-117-X series? How about dedicated Basdrum, Snare, Hihats, Cymbal, Clap and Toms modules etcetera, with (dynamic) triggers and CV-controllable functions like decay, tune, attack and so on, so you could use any CV signal ( like from an LFO or ADSR) to change the different parameters. I see a world of interesting possiblities.

In combination with trigger-producing modules like the A-160/A-161 Clock Divider, the A-166 Logic module and/or a sequencer i'm sure modules like this could create very interesting and vivid rhythms. And how about control with one of the forthcoming touch-sensors...? Hmmmmmmm.... Want!

Analog Noise vs. Digital Noise

My Doepfer A-100 system includes 2 Noise different generators, the A-118 Noise/Random Voltage Generator, and the A-117 Digital Noise Generator.

A noise generator is an oscillator that produces an internal noise signal, typically white or pink noise.

Noise Generators produce random signals, containing harmonics on all frequencies, and can be modified into the desired tone. 

The A-118 produces white and colored noise. The white noise is the well-known 'hiss'.

The spectrum for the white noise has the same amount of energy in every section. 

The colored noise output of the module is a mix of blue noise ( high frequency component ) and red noise ( low frequency component )

Noise in the audio spectrum can be used in many ways, most commonly in wind-effects, or in cymbal crashes and hi-hat -sounds.

The A-117 Digital Noise sounds very different and has less control possibillities.

This module has 2 outputs, consisting of mixes of multiple oscillators to re-create vintage Roland TR-808 and TR-606 sounds like the hi-hat, cymbals and cowbell.

One output has a mix of 2 fixed digital oscillators, that can be used as a basis for the distinctive 808 cowbell-sound, the outher output has 6 oscillators to form cymbal and hi-hat sounds.

The Random outputs of both modules can be used as a Control Voltage for all kinds of stuff. I prefer the Analog Noise for that, simply because it has more controllers.

I often use it as a modulation source to add subtle changes in a filter (check out a short example HERE), but these modules can also provide interesing effects in combination with the A-148 Sample and Hold module. More on that in a later post...

Video: A-118 Demo 

A118 Noise and Random voltage generator demo made by @Hawklord2112

A-164-1 Manual Gate

I love hands-on control over my Doepfer A-100 Sytem:
I simply love my Ribbon Controller, the Joystick, Wheels and Theremin Modules, and this one is also one of my favorites.

Perfect for manual ( one-shot ) triggers is the A-164-1 Manual Gate Module.

This module has 3 seperate trigger-buttons that generate a 12V voltage at their respective Gate outputs when pushed. On release no voltage is sent.

All 3 Buttons have double outputs for even more flexability and functionality, and Gate/Button 1 can also be controlled by an external signal ( e.g. the rectangle output of an LFO ),  what makes button 1 act like a momentary on/off switch. This can add some nice ( rhythmic ) effect to your patch.

I prefer to use this module as a manual trigger for self-made one-shot sounds like cowbell sounds or other weird electronic (drum-) sounds. ( Pjoewwww)
In these patches i mainly use the buttons to trigger one or more ASDR's or envelope generators

Another interesting application for this module is extreme filtering...
Because the output of each  Gate is 12 V, feeding this voltage into a CV input of a filter ( or it's resonance control ) will lead to an abrubt ( and full! ) opening and closing of the filter at the push of a button.

As with almost all A-100 Modules, possibillities are limitless.
Leave a comment if you have more interesting and/or creative use for this module.