Sequential Circuits Drumtraks 400
Digital Drum Machine (1983)

Programmable drum machines based on PCM samples with early Midi control features.

DRUM MACHINE Main panel features a segment display, 13 dynamic trigger pads, 9 buttons and numeric pad.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- main signal out
- 6 aux analog out
- clock signal out
- metronome out (it generates +5V pulses)
- tape interface
- Midi interface.

 

VOICES main core 8 bits NEC D780C-1 CPU part of Z80 ZILOG family manages 6 channels polyphony, each channel features 2 main settings:

- individual volume gain - pitch tune quantised into 15 different steps. TECH: TOM channels are filtered by famous chip Curtis CEM3320 (static) HEAR

 

WAVETABLE the drumulator contains 13 PCM waveforms coded at 8 bits resolution stored on socket EPROMS (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories). The shortest factory sound uses 2732 EPROM type (32 kb) while longest sounds like crash cymbal gets 4 X 2764 EPROM (64 kb) - It is possible to change the soundset by swapping the eproms.

Sounds are: bass drum, snare, rimshot, tom (x2), crash cymbal + ride, open/ closed hihat, handclaps, tambourine, cabasa and cowbell. HEAR all PCM HEAR alternative eprom PCM

Finally the OS EPROM located on top left is also a 2674.

 

INTERFACE: the Drumtraks is quite easy to use with big buttons and knobs, all parameters are written on the front panel.

SEQUENCER record in real-time mode or step mode.
Recording quantisation at variable resolution levels from 1/2 to 1/96 in 10 values: 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12, 1/ 16, 1/24, 1/32, 1/48, 1/96 or swing shuffle.

SYNC internal frequency tempo range from 40 to 250 BPM, sync mode available in 2 ways: - external Midi clock - analog sync IN at 24 /48 /96 PPQ resolution, but it outputs only at 24 / 48 PPQ HEAR rec sequence

MIDI each sound is triggered with velocity levels and pads output MIDI with dynamic.
TIP: To change Midi channel number hold ENTER and 0 and select channel 1-16 with INC/DEC

 

MEMORY:

- 3289 notes - 99 patterns (up to 100 measure) - 99 songs Data can be saved either to Midi exclusive dump or tape backup battery replacement is a BR2-3 3V battery - click to enlarge-

 

EDIT the original brochure mentions a dedicated software developed for Commodore 64 model 910 for edit on both drumtraks and six-track synth.

RELATED FAMILY:

Sequential circtuits TOM the successor with different sounds and more edit functions VIDEO

 

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

-logic-cafe -machines hyperreal

free sample packs

n/a

 

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drumtraks designers

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