ELECTRO-HARMONIX DRM16 DIGITAL-RHYTHM-MATRIX DRUM

This beautiful drum machine was made in NEW YORK in 1978.
It's nearly 40 years old.
DRM = Digital Rhythm Matrix
The DRM 16 is a lovely red with a chrome metal sheen.

The 16 is the first in the DRM series (DRM 16, DRM 15 & finally the DRM 32)
They were also colour coded. The 16 is red, the 15 is blue & the 32 was green.

The DELETE dial is interesting. It allows you to remove various sounds such as the wood block and long and short cymbals.

The space drum switch adds an extra ?? into the beat. You can turn it off for 'normal' drum sounds

As far as I know, the 8 drum sounds  (kick, snare, open & closed hi-hat, conga, wood block, space drum and  handclap) are the same in each machine.

In my opinion, none of these sounds are anything like their "real" counterparts. I love this. It's cheezy and doesn't try to be anything but itself.

There are three outputs.
Outs 1 and 2 are the same. The 'Bass' output is logically, for the bass drum only.

The DRM 16 has (surprise, surprise) 16 available rhythms.
You need to use the two lower STYLE & COLUMN to select the available pattern.
The chart has 4 funk patterns, 4 disco, 4 rock (hard, boogie, soft, and slow), and 4 misc. (latin, reggae, cntry (country), and shuffle.

TT-303 acid with elektron A4 & Rytm - Three elements

A bit of TT303 acid.

KORG MR16

Korg released the MR16 in 1985.

This is not exactly a drum machine. It doesn't possess a sequencer so you will need to trigger this with external hardware such as a MIDI keyboard, MIDI sequencer, or a computer equipped with a MIDI interface.

But if you like Korg's pre-MIDI drum machines such as the DDM110 and DDM220 then the MR16 will find a place in your studio. It uses their sampled sounds with all their glorious digital PCM quality and adds to this MIDI. (the DDM110 & DDM220 had DinSync).

Plus there are16 outputs for most of the sounds. The Snare & Rim share an output as does the Cow Bell/ wood block.

Accents can be effected by MIDI data. The MR 12 can be set to receive on any MIDI channel. Will also produce metronome sound based on MIDI timing clock.
Metronome-time Settings (4/4, 3/4)

These drum sounds each have their own level, pan control, and individual output. NICE.
The sounds are: Bass drum; Snare; Rim Shot; Low and Hi Toms; Closed and Open Hi-hat; Crash and Ride Cymbals; Hand Clap; Low and Hi Conga; Timbale; Tambourine; Cow bell; Woodblock; Cabasa; Low and Hi Agogo.

POWER SUPPLY: DC 9V 300mA 
DIMENSIONS: 404(W) x 220(D) x 69(H) mm
WEIGHT: 2.5 kg
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For more info on the history of Korg Drum Machines Click Here

Electro-Harmonix Rhythm 12

The EH Rhythm 12 is ElectroHarmonix' very first drum machine.It came out in 1976.

It's pretty unusual isn't it. Nothing like their later pedals & effects.
It is actually made in the UK by a company called SoundTech.
This example must be a late model as the first examples had a EH sticker over the Soundtech logo.

The TOUCH plate is really cool. Its a touch sensitive on/off switch. This reminds me of a similar switch found on the old Roland 77 drum machine.

The sounds are of course all analog. There are 4 voices. They aren't realistic but put through some effects pedals they can sound quite narly which I like.

The dimensions are: 4" x 6" x 7/8".
There are 3 controls : Volume, Tempo and a preset selector.
There are 12 presets but sadly these can't be combined with one another like on similar drum machines from the period.

 The unit is powered by a DC 18V psu.

On the left end of the unit are jacks for the audio OUTPUT, F/S footswitch) , and 18V (the PSU).

BOSS DR-220e

The "e" stands for electronic.
This is the brother of the Roland/Boss Dr-220a.
Produced around 1985/ 86, it's very small & light.
The sounds are all digital.
It's electronic sounds are very different to the acoustic Boss 220e version.
Definitely worth having both.

The screen is similar in style to the Roland 707, 505 etc.
So it's easy to program.

Nice soft padded case.

One of the best features of this machine are the trig in & outs.

So easy to sync with other gear.

Runs off 9V or batteries.

Headphone & main audio out.

Bethlemen - Street Christmas lights

It's 21 sleeps till Christmas happens all over again. :-)
Can't wait.

These pics were taken on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem
Some wonderful memories. I'll upload pics of Bethlehem itself and the Church
of the Nativity in future posts.

Manger Square in Arabic: ميدان المهد‎
The main Christmas tree all lit up. So beautiful.
It's focal point for all of the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.

Waiting for Christmas Mass in Manger Square.
It takes its name from the manger where Jesus is said to have been born : the Church of the Nativity..... possibly the oldest existing church in the world.

Even if you're not religious, you should experience this just once in your life.

For more travel links click here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/travel-postcards-index-my-travel.html

KORG Mini Pops 45

The Minipops 45 is actually an improved Minipops 35.
It's also known as the Keio Giken 45.

The MP 45 is from 1976/77.
As far as I can tell, the only difference between the 35 & 45  is that  the later model uses a digital noise generator. Otherwise, both are pretty much identical.

So how do you describe it ?   ....Square & practical. It looks very much like the  Roland CR -78 which came out in 1978.  The square wooden box is a typical  Korg design of the 70s. (both of their rhythm machines & synthesizers).

 It has a real nice old school wood veneer which I think is quite beautiful.

There are 10 rhythms. The gray button  gives you a second VARIATION.

The BASS DRUM / Snare drum and CYMBAL dials give an extra 6 patterns to choose from

This gives many interesting interesting pattern variations .
The BALANCE controller has the same function as the TONE knob of the earlier models . 

No trigger out or in.

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For more info on the history of Korg Drum Machines Click Here