Simmons SDSV sound and filter demo

[drumdreamer92]

Is it at all possible to use modern pads or triggers with a vintage brain, one like this?

[simmonsmuseum]

@drumdreamer92 Basically yes. Particlluraly the SDSV "prefers" a very sharp pulse. Therefor it came with the rock hard Polycarbonate pads. Still it works with rubber or mesh pads, but you might get a little distprtion. All later Simmons brains, esüecially those who came with rubber pads already (SDS9, 1000, 200, 400, 800, MTX9, TMI) work fine with all current Piezo based systems

[lanswipe]

Does anyone still make this kind of stuff?

[simmonsmuseum]

@lanswipe Particularly analog Simmons drums: No. But there are a hand full of companies who deal with analog percussion: Clavia just released it's Norddrum, Vermona does some similar stuff, Waldorf Attack...

[lanswipe]

@simmonsmuseum i was meaning more hexagonal drum pads that sound like that although not neccecarily simmons

[simmonsmuseum]

@lanswipe pads normally don't sound at all. They only provide a transducer pulse which is being processed in a synthesizer. Hexagonal shaped drum pads are not available anymore. They still appear on Ebay and as the trigger technology has hardly developed you can still run them with many contemporary drum brains

[lanswipe]

@simmonsmuseum yeah i know the pads make no sound but to me an electronic drum kit is dead and lifeless without them - its like drinking coffee without cream - some things in life should be illegal :)

[DHTSciFiArtist]

Does anyone know if this was the electronic drum kit used in Luther Vandross "Stop To Love" The snare and clap in that song sounds like a Simmons gated through a heavy reverb.

[SRT80]

Wish Simmons would make a new line of these hexagon pads. Love the vintage 80s look. All the ones I find used are either broke or too high.

[SynthfactoryCH]

Why you have not made a demo of the cymbal modules?

[DHTSciFiArtist]

Was this the same drum used in Luther Vandross "Give me the Reason" Listening to the toms they sound very Simmons like

[epitaphgiraffe]

PEW PEW PEW!!!

[QuietStormMan]

the simmons SDSV really shaped the sounds of pop, funk, rock, r&b and soul bands and artists during the 1980's & early 90's.

[chongzilla]

I was wondering if you knew how Phil Collins and Bill Bruford got the upward bending noises in their stuff. Like in the more atmospheric/experimental sections you can hear them bending up. I want to recreate that, but I'm working with the roland TD-10, roland TD-20, and the Alesis D4. I don't know the names of those sounds or what filter was put on them. I don't know where I'd look them up.

[simmonsmuseum]

@chongzilla In the SDSV this filter is called "Bend". I don't have any Roland brain but you can look for something like velocity controlled pitch bend. Keep in mind that the SDSV is fully analog and the TD-10/20 are fully digital with a totally different concept of sound generation

[chongzilla]

@simmonsmuseum I contacted Roland and they say that it is not possible to control the pitch through velocity changes. Which is kind of a bummer! haha, the real Simmons should make a newer machine!

[ultimatesol]

yure awesome ^^ i searched this drum for info and how lucky i am ^^

[Ryoga2K]

I have a question about something I've been wondering since a lot of time, do you know what kind of brain or sounds did Rick Allen from Def Leppard used? particularly in the Hysteria album, you must know the sounds very well so I guess you are the most apropiate to answer this. thanks in advance!!

[simmonsmuseum]

@Ryoga2K He used a Simmons MTM, SDS7 (plus likely a sampler), of course Simmons pads and for his left food some pedals made by "Shark"

[CircleCityEric]

Does anybody know if the SDSV engine is simulated in the Elektron Machine Drum series? I know they simulate the Roland TR series, but what about Simmons?

[TrainmasterCurt]

The SDS5 is the best one

[racinjason74]

I'd absolutely love to get hold of an SDSV. I've got a SDS8 brain, and a Yamaha DTX, with a set of SDS9 pads, and I can't tell you how much I love them. I spent most of my childhood drooling over the Simmons kits and when I finally got hold of a set 15 years ago, it was like a dream come true, and they will never be for sale. Also I'm very envyous of your many Simmons kits Wolfgang, you're a lucky man :) Right, I'm off to continue my search for a Simmons SDX!! What are my chances? Lol

[lionelvillahermosa]

***the best electronic drum kit ever***

[SippRider89]

is the SDSV kit still available today? it seems as if every kit I've looked at lacks the analog sounds of the 80's kits.

[simmonsmuseum]

@SippRider89 About 3000 SDSV kits had been produced until 1983. Sometimes they appear on Ebay, but they are pretty sought-for

[CircleCityEric]

(I wrote a couple of comments in this clip before.) I love those sounds. Would've gone for this or an SDS7, but the Yamaha DTXPress IV kit I bought includes great recordings of the Simmons series.

[MrBrombomb]

The second part of the demo reminds me of the song "Vienna" by Ultravox.

[MrBrombomb]

The sounds remind me of the song"Tonight" by Genesis.

[fedestrat2caster]

Nice sounds! You can here it on Fiction Factory's song "Feels like heaven"

[Bang0r]

Where would be the best place to buy an old Simmons set??

[itolo]

I love the sound at 0:49 to 1:35 !! can I get the same sound whit the sds800 ?? thanks a lot !!

[simmonsmuseum]

at least a similar sound. The SDS800 exclusively provides analog filters, but they are realised with different/lower quality components compared to the SDSV

[Boxbearer]

had one of those back in 1986, remember them hard to program (no synth experiense)

and it hurt like hell in the wrist if you missed the sweetspot

but they were nice to mix into the ordinary drumkit

[Incoherente]

man all that voices/tones have name ??

id like to know the name of the 2:27 voice as my parter below ; )

[simmonsmuseum]

All these voices are snapshots of the filter settings. The snare sound at 2:27 is much noise and just a very little part of tone (filter "noise tone" balance). Furthermore there is high cut on the noise (filter "noise"). That's it. You don't have any named presets in the SDSV

[dwightddddd]

@simmonsmuseum Hi please could you tell me if you know anyone that has a SDSV5 or SDSV7 kit and brain in good condition for sale please. thanks

[pianoman74]

Hmmmmmmmmm. 1981 was this? Some of the percussive, noise-laden sounds you demonstrate sound EXACTLY as those you can hear on Human League's classic "Being Boiled". However, the album "Travelouge" came in 1980 already! So it can hardly be the case they had a SDSV at their disposition at that time...

[chrisbern75]

I have wait for a long long time for THIS demo movie!! Thank YOU!!

[falkenlaser]

Absolutely love these drums! I had a SDS8 with a couple pads I bought off of eBay a few years back. I could never get it to play the snare sound at 2:27, which Neil Peart used a lot in the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire albums.

[cdspoo]

@falkenlaser: I think you're thinking of the Simmons' Clap Trap. It nails that massive sound from the opening of "The Big Money" and "Mystic Rhythms".

Btw, for the Rush fans in the crowd, I happen to own SDSV #2112.

[Incoherente]

LOL i lovee so muchh that song :(

and its to hard to fing a module to have that same song :((

if you know something about let me kno

[lionelvillahermosa]

'''excellent''.....i have...sds8.

[steevidrums]

My first ever electronic kit was an SDS9 which I bought for £200 in 1991. I loved the way it looked, and still do. However, it didn't play that well and not only did it not track great but dynamics weren't realistic at all. I used the pads on an Alesis D4, that was much more the ticket. Even that after a while became limited. My last e-kit was a Ddrum 4 which I had for years, it was awesome to play and sounded great. But I had such a warm feeling watching this vid, so many memories! G Job!

[digitrontube91]

I have had electronic drums SEAK ADM 5 it was similar battery. The sounds are very good - as Simmons sds 5.

(SEAK PREŠOV ELECTRONIC DRUMS -MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1989-1990)

[TimFrith24]

I knew that.

[TimFrith24]

When did they discontinue the hexagon drums?

[simmonsmuseum]

in 1995. The last generation of hexagonal pads had been the hexaheads

[digitrontube91]

Cool sounds!!!! I love simmons.

[simmonsdrumsrule]

You are an awesome drummer! do you know where i could find a set of simmons drums with the shiny hard plastic shells not the rubber ones?

[Kelesis666]

Y!!!!!! but why!!!!!! Thy don't make like those any more! I am so envy at you!

[DX5]

I can recognice Oldfield'd "Five Miles Out" sounds.

Some of his singles have the Simmons drums on credits.

[potrezaml]

Ooooh yes, I remember... being born in 1981,I do have souvenirs of these hexagonal things I would see on TV ...I guess it was fascinating me as a kid ( kinda "what is that...?? lol)

[krad1313]

that thing is sooo cool i want one. is it on ebay?

[hexadecimalcode]

Cool.

I have to listen to "second home by the sea" by Genesis now.. :)

[900GTi]

@hexadecimalcode or 'The Brazilian'

[ChazYocom]

Can u do a SDSV white drum solo? (a crazy drum solo!)

[simmonsmuseum]

Oh, I am really no big soloist on drums....

[ChazYocom]

Can u try to do a drum solo?

[Nord72]

Hello Wolfgang,

The 15V synth input is trigger in?

Which source could drive it, how its working ?

[gunterbutt]

Wolfgang! Absolutely fantastic! I really, really love your website, and now you're doing this brillant videos! Keep doing this, I would be absolutely stunned if you could do a video like this with your SDX!

[warpto80]

Anyone has listened to the Pseudo Echo's album "Autumnal park"? It's totally recorded using a Simmons SDS-V... Extraordinary faaaat sounds!

[eiffe]

Nice to see the SDSV in action! What does it sound like going through effects like reverb, compression or limiting?

[simmonsmuseum]

in this video there is only some reverb on snare and toms. In the other video (Deja Vu) there is also compression on the snare and eq on the bassdrum

[monzarottie]

Nice review Wolfgang! If you do another SDSV review, can you include the cymbal and HH modules and optical foot pedal?

Thanks for providing the world with this valuable record on musical history.

[simmonsmuseum]

Hi, yes, that's what I thought: A demo which exclusivley deals with cymbal and HiHat

Thanks!

[hindsighter]

Well done, Wolfgang. I never get tired of watching this. Here's a challenge for you. Can you do the drums solo at the end of Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science" (extended version)?

[UnchainTheNight1]

i found these to be surprisingly cheap compared to what i had expected

[warpto80]

I'm a proud owner of a Simmons kit (and a fan of your great site).

 Simmons rules!

[robste]

I miss my SDSV!!!! :(

[CircleCityEric]

Great demo, it's very enticing, even with the current crop of digital drums by Simmons. Considering a purchase of electronic drums and struggling between a secondhand SDSV (or 9) and one currently available.

[CircleCityEric]

I'd like something that'll offer up a facsimile of what rick Allen used on Def Leppard's Hysteria record (exactly what Simmons brain(s) he used, I haven't figured out yet).

[simmonsmuseum]

as far as I know he used an MTM and a SDS7. In order to compensate his lost arm he also used a couple of pedals made by a company called "Shark". At least this is what I remember

[CircleCityEric]

Thank you very much. That's certainly more than I've been told by other people. Sincerely appreciated.

[adamcal]

Good work, now a SDS7 video

[simmonsmuseum]

please join the end of the queue... ;-)

Thanks!