All Types ‘O Drum Machines Part 2

The Synare

Looks like we have some late arrivals to the drum machine party… First: the ever fashionable Synare percussion synth by Star Instruments. The company made about a dozen or so different percussion related products including a neat looking percussion sequencer as well as a EWI – type wind controller called the Starwind. This particular model does not have the built in pads, but it triggers quite well from the individual outputs of the DMX. I’m sure further experimentation with the Linn Drum and the 808 will yield a similar result. There are 4 trigger inputs on the Synare, but unfortunately they aren’t sensitive enough to plug a regular peizo sensor into. Other models of Synare had the pads built in. There seems to be very little info about these on the internet, but there’s pictures and descriptions of a couple of different models here. Now what kind of electronic drum fest would be complete without at least some mention of Simmons? First of all, I was surprised to learn that Simmons is still around and making electronic drum kits that look very similar to Roland V-drums or the like. Nothing that looks as cool as the stuff they made in the 80s though, like this SDS – 1. It’s entirely self contained, with the sound eprom in a quick-release socket for quick sound changes. This is yet another reason why it’s nice to have a Prommer around. I love the grainy yet punchy sound of these, and the pitch control sounds really wild, almost like it’s been circuit-bent. I had a good time perusing the Simmons Museum site. There are still people out there using these today, and it’s not hard to see why!

SDS-1