Trend price : 500€
The Drumulator was the first sample-based affordable drum machine based after the Linn Drum and Oberheim DMX public success.
Vintage PCM 8 bits sounds on EPROM with sequencer with a design very close to legendary sampler EMULATOR II.
Company: EMU
Model: Drumulator
Class: Drum machine
Dates: 1983
Country: USA
Weight: n/a
Dimensions: n/a
Display: segment
Technology : PCM EPROM
Resolution: 8 bits
Polyphony: 8 voices
Sounds: 12 PCM
LFO: none
EFFECT: none
Sequencer: 36 pattners
Sync: Trig 24 PPQ
Quantisize: 6 levels
MIDI: optional Fit
CPU: Z80 Zilog
IC: SSM 2044
OS: latest V3
Demo: 1
Video: 1
Review: 1
DOWNLOAD: user manual - service manual - all PCM sampled
Overview
DRUM MACHINE main panel features a basic segment display, 4 drum pads, 2 knobs, a slider potentiometer and 25 push buttons.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
- 8 RCA CINCH separate out
- metronome out
- main mix out (jack)
- 4 gate inputs for pads
- tape interface input
- tape interface output
- pedalswitch input for start/stop
- pedalswitch input for repeat function.
Voice
classic 8 bits Z80 ZILOG CPU manages 8 channels polyphony, each channel features a assigned samples out of 12 PCM available.
The internal sample cannot be much altered but 15 quantized volume levels.
TECH: TOM channels are filtered by 2 famous chip SSM204
Wavetable
the drumulator contains 12 PCM waveforms coded at 8 bits resolution stored on 4 A-B-C-D socket EPROMS (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories) for a mere total of 64 kb.
Internal factory sounds are: bassdrum, snare, tom (x3) clave, cowbell, claps, hihat open/closed and ride cymbal.
TECH: It is possible to change the soundset by swapping the 4 EPROMS + 1 needed OS EPROM with sample offset values - last one should be 3.0 with Midi instructions
Sequencer
the patterns (segments) are recorded in real-time with a variable auto-correct precision quantizer: 8/.8/16/16./32/32 (triplet).
Up to to 4 tracks can be recorded at the same time with free signature and variable groove-swing processor.
In order to simplify this task, the sequencer features a smart programmable audio-metronome with various time dividers.
SYNC: analog trig (at 24ppq) or RS232 / tape sync.
Midi
No factory Midi, but an "easy" DIY mod can be done, but you need also a V3. Os EPROM.
Memory
-
36 patterns (segments) up to 99 measures
- 8 songs.
Data can be saved only to magnetic tape out.
Video :
Review
OK: still affordable -sounds good on a mix
NOT : - key combo -limited - old sounds
"Not as sough-after asthe Linn Drum, but still the Drumulator is a piece of music history with classic 80 design."
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci