Sequential Circuits Drumtraks

[harrymerchant456]

I just dont understand people with great machines like this posting the worst rhythms imaginable. No offence intended dude, but that was a god awful demo and probably the worst rhythm I have ever heard from this machine. Your video does nothing to enhance the Drumtrax, so why bother uploading drivel

[Bboybobo]

sound like roland tr 808 or 909 !

[douro20]

This wasn't the first sample-based drum machine, but it was probably the first one to be American-made. I would imagine the LinnDrum is still easier to use, though.

[ZenArcher9091]

This is perfect for New Order songs.

[eldany76]

It needs more cowbell

[jacco1967]

"may peace prevail on earth" look on the PCB inside :-)

[beatz04]

Instant Prince.

[SonicMMM]

@beatz04 Prince used the Linn line of drum machines actually.

[beatz04]

@SonicMMM

Yeah i know but i also do know that he actually used the Drumtraks a lot as well :)

And yes, he even used the Oberheim Line of drum computers in addition, too.

[Newcomingmusic]

Wow, I saw a picture and imagined it to be MUCH smaller.

Oh well, I'm a 21st century buy.

GO SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS!

[lucullusxerxes]

don't bring me dowwwwwwwn Bruuuuce!

[lucullusxerxes]

don

[salvadory]

yes programmking on a computer screen is as far from funky as you get- software recording is great but software synths lack the inspiration i get from my knobs and my analogs which walk allover most modern synths- plus my analog synth wil always go up in value where a program will be free in 6 months

[Michael55443]

Did SC borrow the Linn LM-1 soundset?

[paulj0557]

I wish someone would reissue the Maestro ring modulator. It had a CV-control voltage input. This is the perfect drum machine to trigger while playing a guitar or keyboard through that input. These pop up from time to time at Music Go Rounds for cheap.

[a1z2609]

How much did the drum machine cost and where can i get one? Would you recommend it? i like the way it sounds, i don't wanna keep using fruity loops

[krippadonna]

this ain't funky at all..programm something worth listening 2

[jakeschrock]

this is a demo

[jaikwillis]

@krippadonna you aren't funky, type something worth reading 2

[blauwolfenduro]

many thanx for this demo comin from germany

[afimearts]

Love these classic Modules and Drum Machines. I still love to play real drums but this is dope....That beat is cool it reminds of old Princes and Echo and bunny Men. DM sound.

[tommmo]

you boring bastard, with a machine like that why are you playing the most basic pish imaginable?

[jakeschrock]

hahah, best comment yet

[miamiwax]

prince is my uncle

[NUTWAVE]

does anyone know how to assign the drumtraks to a specific midi channel? i can use it with the clock in, but when put in a midi chain it plays on all channels. any secret button combos?

[Therealanimale]

No, you're wrong and I'm right.

Topartists like Prince can get anything they want, even a brandnew drumcomputer:)

Prince used the Linn as well as the Sequential Drumcircuits Drumtraks on Purple Rain. And after that.

Maybe you should get a hearcheck if u cannot make that out from, for instance, 'When Doves Cry";)

[waveterm]

Prince did not use the Drumtraks

[flannelking]

Are we really fighting over Prince?

[Therealanimale]

Maybe not, but my point was, he did use the Drumtraks!

No flannelking, there's no fighting going on here...luckily..if I compare it with what's going on on some other threads!

[eldorado303]

he did because i used to crash over at his pad and he had one at the studio.

i recall seeing cindy crawford there one day

[MARANTZamp]

Prince used an LM1..the very early 1980 version of the linn drum.

He used this up until the late 80's...he never used the drum tracks to my knowledge.

[THESonicMMM]

You are correct. I gotta admit that the Drumtraks "clap" sound is my fave clap of any drum machine.

[jakeschrock]

same here! i sold this for an LM-2 but I still miss that clap

[Therealanimale]

It was. Listen closer.

[Therealanimale]

Yes it dominated the early half of the 80's, especially into dance music /hip hop, etc.

It made Prince's Purple Rain album, just to name someone. And so many more known and unknown made unforgettable hits thanks to this piece of equipment. Even in de second half of the 80's it was still being used a lot on the side, but slowly the samplers came.

[fredericsebton]

I've had both the Linn Drum and the Drumtraks, once you listen to them the Linn is instantly recognisable from Purple Rain.

[Therealanimale]

Sure.

But the discussion below went on about Prince not having used a Drumtraks also on the album.

Well, obviously he did:)

[Stakker]

He used an Oberheim DX/DMX on Purple Rain.

[Therealanimale]

Sure. And he also used a Drumtraks on the album Purple Rain.

[phrozen3]

it would be nice to have a longer video ; )

[surrealism33]

This thing really opens up once you use Ableton (or other sequencer).

you can have finer resolution to your paterns.

but the biggest advantage is the velocity control that you can not get from the drumtracks interface.

DOWN SIDE: this is not really made for live tweaks or breakdowns... so I had to go buy a mixer to mute individual tracks. but that allowed me to add reverb to just the hats etc etc.

Nice piece of history. (thanks for posting)

[MARANTZamp]

fuck abelton...software isn't the same as the experience of having a real drum machine in front of youl

[macintosser]

@MARANTZamp

Fuck Ableton Live indeed. Not only is it the sittiest sequencer ever made, but why all manufacturers are en masse betting on Ableton is a mystery to me... There's Akai, NI, Novation and various others making controllers exclusively for that shitty Ableton... even Avid/M-Audio giving copies of Ableton with their hardware... What a depressing thought. Still... I mustn't veer off the subject...

[TheStoryWeLive]

@MARANTZamp but you still need ableton to mix dumbass. or any DAW

[taigkyo]

@TheStoryWeLive, For some reason, I don't envision many albums were made in 1984 using the Drumtraks and "Ableton to mix dumbass, or any DAW".

[TheStoryWeLive]

@taigkyo but they used sequencers. sure it wasnt on a computer but almost the same.

[VectronMusic]

@MARANTZamp

True, but it's $400 less you need to spend on hardware.

When it comes down to actually making -music-, and not having an old piece of kit for posterity and the tactile experience, the difference is completely negligible.

[MARANTZamp]

@VectronMusic

To me, these old machines have a charm and punch that hardware does not YET have.

[Synthomania]

Cool, it sounds pretty mutch like the Oberheim DX

[jacco1967]

I've also had one...20 years ago.

When you look at the inside there is a message on the board that says: "may peace prevail on earth".

[Helderhugo]

Thats funny

[fredericsebton]

Ha, I had completely forgotten about that!

[zurtur]

doesnt it unit sound maybe a bit too commercial ?

I know it's analog and classic, but, just a point of view...

Snares and other sounds reminds me of the roland tr 505 (too packed) sounds.

thanks for sharing! great unit, fat character.

[cubdukat]

Actually, it's not analog. It used samples just like every other 80's drum machine. The main difference was that it had the tuning controls easily accessible so you could tune the drums. It's a shame they don't make that easily accessible anymore.

But no, this was a digital unit. After the TR-808 and the Drumatix went out of production, the closest you could get to analog was the TR-909.

[emarum]

it means the same, but nuestro amigo went nuts thinking you were attacking him for his poor english. ve hazte un pete, zurtur mamon culero

[OrganCat]

I had one of these-it was GREAT! You could program the pitch individually of every drumstrike in every pattern! You could do a 20 tom roll if you wanted. I also bought optional extra updated chips for alternate sounds.

[jakeschrock]

I've never played one but from the description it seems like they are very similar except the Tom allows you to reverse sounds, which is a plus

[djretro83]

i had one once. it was kind of a pain to program and it only had stereo outs on it but it had an "atari 2600" type slot on the front where you could slide a TOM sound cartridge into, thereby expanding the sounds a bit. wine country productions used to have carts for it so if anyone that has a TOM could check them out.

[markduff]

great machines!

[razcasket]

Just bought one of these yesterday!

[godadameve]

EXCELLENT demonstration of this cool drum machine! Fast and to the point without any EGO ; "Hey, look at me!" stuff. Very nicely done, amigo!

[deltajamwins]

i had one of these. Thanx 4 the memory dood.

[PHAEDRIDER]

i just got mine..i really really like it!

[slorpus]

i think aphex is a genius... .some of his stuff is unlistenable but some of it is mind expanding....

[marcvanderloo]

Excellent drum machine, pity Aphex Twin has to be associated with it, he's an overrated arse.

[lvngdead]

word.

doesnt he use the studio 440, though?

[PHAEDRIDER]

i'm holding out for a good deal on one of these.. it can trigger the arpeggiator on my juno 60 cant it?

[u2opia]

Never heard one of these drumtraks before....cool :o) thanx!

[oticowgirl]

you can hear this drummachine in every aphex twin record.... specially on druqs...