A comparison between the cloned TKB and a vintage one:
Of course, if you want to, you can install jacks with whatever colour you like.
However, if you wish to remain true to the history and legacy of Serge, 24 red & 7 blue are the traditional.
colours
The touch keyboard of the TKB is really really special. When I first saw one I was mesmerized. It reminded me of the stylophone that I owned as a child. The Serge TKB however, doesn't need a stylus.
If I understand this correctly the TKB uses the capacitance principle (not FSR - force sensing resistors).
where detection of the plate capacitance is important. Touch keyboards can be found in many instruments (both old & new). The stylophone, the EMS AKS, The PAiA drum & Buchla keyboards from the 60's to the present day are but a few examples.
Finally, after a long delay (due to poor health) I'm finally getting my act together.
The TKB is a dream project. It's a magical instrument & learning how they are put together
is a wonderful opportunity.
The Boss DR.670 (Dr Rhythm) first came out in 2001.
This venerable line of Dr. Rhythm machines began back in 1979 with the Boss DR-55.
I believe that Roland (the parent of Boss) haven't finished with this line yet.
The history so far of the Boss Dr. Rhythm is thus:
1979 - Dr 55
1983 - Dr 110 Dr.Rhythm Graphic
1986 - DR-220A Dr Rhythm (Acoustic)
1986 - DR-220E Dr Rhythm (Electronic)
1990 - DR550 Dr Rhythm (Mk I)
1992 - DR550 MkII Dr Rhythm
1992 - DR-660 (DR Rhythm)
1993 - DR 5 - Dr Rhythm section
1998 - DR-202 (Dr Groove)
1999 - DR770 Dr Rhythm
2003 - DR-3 Dr, Rhythm
2004 - DR-880 Dr Rhythm.
I have never quite understood Roland's numbering system.
Sadly the display on the 670 is not backlit.making the screen a little hard to see in dark environments.
There's a good range of drum kits (255 drum & 64 user kits) and percussion & bass sounds 200 preset rhythm patterns and 200 user-programmable patterns. Preset and User patterns can be easily chained together to create up to 100 Songs
There are 16 distinct sounds including Finger Bass, Slap Bass, Acoustic Bass, Pick Bass. I think the sounds are
pretty sweet though the bass sounds are a little limited and I feel that the hi hat and cymbals lack that certain mojo.But you can edit and change their parameters....pitch, decay, volume, etc. You can also map different sounds to different buttons.
It was the second last in a long line of Roland drum machines which bear the CR (Computer Rhythm) title.
Roland started the CR range in 1978 with the CR-68 (Human Rhythm Player.)
Then followed the CR-78 CompuRhythm & CR-800.
In 1981Roland came out with theCR-5000 Compurhythm & CR-8000CompuRhythm. In 1991, the line ended with the CR80 Human Rhythm Player.
The Digital drummer is a preset rhythm machine featuring 16 digital sound sources. These are PCM sounds and they cover both the standard drum kit and some latin percussion.
The tempo is adjustable from 40 to 240 beats per minute Accent level and shuffle time are also adjustable and can be stored into each pattern.
The sounds are BD,Snare/Rim/HC, Timbale/TT, Cymbal/HH, Conga, Claves/CowBell.
There are 48 preset patterns. The hand clap can be added to any preset pattern by simply pressing the "handclap switch".
Intro, fill-in and ending patterns are controlled by footswitches to create structures for complete songs.
When used with a MIDI keyboard instrument, a special Key Start function activates the CR-1000 the moment a key is pressed.
MIDI In and Thru connectors for controlling the tempo by MIDI clock
messages or playing individual instrument sounds by MIDI note messages
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For more info on the history of Roland Drum Machines click here
I've tried to keep this mix in the deep house style.
The original samples were recorded on this video:
https://youtu.be/uOvcMBZy_RQ
The new mix is faster than the original.
The drums were added later along with some commercial loops.
I'm working on a new 2500 recording. All future samples will be original.
Some pics of the old patch:
From left to right we have: 1016:
Dual Noise/Random Voltage Source. Contains two independent uncorrelated
noise sources and filters to derive pink noise and continuous slow
random voltages. 1004-T:
Voltage Controlled Oscillator. Basic ARP precision VCO offering five
simultaneous waveform outputs: sine, triangle, square, sawtooth, and
pulse. FM and PWM. Built-in waveform mixer. 1023: Dual Voltage Controlled Oscillator. Two precision voltage controlled oscillators each similar electrically to the 1004. 1047:
Multimode Filter/Resonator. Combination highpass, lowpass. bandpass,
and band-reject filter. Ultra-high Q. Voltage controlled center
frequency and resonance.
1006: Filtamp. A compact module containing a mixer, a voltage controlled lowpass filter, and a voltage controlled amplifier. 1005:
Modamp. A complex function module containing a precision balanced
modulator, a voltage controlled amplifier, and switching circuitry. 1046:
Quad Exponential Envelope Generator: Ultra-compact module containing a
pair of envelope generators without trigger delay and a pair with delay. 1036:
Dual Sample & Hold/Random Voltage Generator. Contains two
ultra-low-drift sample and hold circuits, two noise sources, and two
voltage controlled pulse generators.
On the extreme right we have: 1050:
Mix/Sequencer. A combination sequencer, mixer, analog gate. Serves
dozens of functions as a utility mixer, sequencer, preset function
selector. 1027:
Ten-Position Sequencer: Unusually flexible and reliable sequential
voltage generator. Capable of creating highly complex switching patterns
with 30 preset voltages.
(descriptions are care of VSE)
Below is a close up of he wonderful ARP2500 envelope generator.
For more info about the 1046 envelope gen click here
These pics were taken in 2009. I never thought this would probably be the last time I'd get to visit Syria.
This is a section of the Bel Temple
This place dates back to the Neolithic times. Palmyra was mentioned in the bible.In the second millennium BC it was a caravan stop for travelers crossing the Syrian Desert.
It was incorporated into the Greek (HellenisticSeleucid Empire) and then by the Roman Empire which brought great prosperity. Palmyra gained its wealth from the caravan trade. The Palmyrenes were renowned merchants who established colonies along the Silk Road, and conducted their operations all around the Roman empire.
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For more travel postcards click here