Trend price : 100-150€
Advanced drum machine: a true "rhythm synthesizer" based on a mix of virtual analog modeling synthesis and PCM samples.
Overview
(weight: 1.75 Kg) portable machine. Main panel features a basic segments display, 16 pads, a data entry wheel, 11 knobs and 34 rubber buttons.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
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Midi interface
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main out
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headphones
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2 signal inputs
Voice
6 voices polyphony each with individual volume, Midi channel and panning position. Voices are allocated into part A and B:
A-->4 parts VA analog modeling percussion synthesizers.
B-->4 parts PCM sample playback but only 2 voices since hihats and crash are channel-shared.
Analogue modeling
section is composed by 4 parts each can be either a sine or triangle waveform with a pitch tuning from 20 to 12000 Hz. A special ring modulation process can be applied between:
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part 1 / part 2
- part 4 / audio input
PCM sample
there are only 4 PCM waveforms:
- channel 1: open/closed hithats or crash cymbal
- channel 2: handclap
LFO
a single modulator (6 shapes) with positive or negative modulation, and a frequency range between 0.1Hz and 5kHz with variable depth.
Envelope
only the DECAY segment can be set for both PCM and VA sections but it also works as a signal gate for external sources process.:
Sequencer
classic Roland TR STEP mode for beat programming: variable time signature (4/4 or 3/4 or triplet timing) and other functions like accent, clear events, copy and swinged mode (humanize)
Memory
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16 songs
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256 patterns (each 64 steps)
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35700 events
Audio demo:
Video Clip:
Review
OK: price / percussion creation
NOT : quality built / waveforms
"A LOT of sound can be created on the fly there! Now cheap! A bit limited as single drum machine but ER1 can be a precious source of inspiration in a snap."
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci