Drum machines

Notes: Sonicware's 'neo-hyperactive' drum machine takes a proudly digital approach to rhythm, offering some fascinating creative takes on synthesis and beat making. Create and perform with generative patterns and randomisation.

Supplier's Notes:
CyDrums | Expressive Drum Synthesiser

4D Drum Sound Evolution
22 Custom-Built Sound Structures
Versatile Effects & Flexible Routing
Powerful 8-Track Beat Making
Endless Creative Possibilities

Included:

- CyDrums unit
- 32GB SD card preloaded with many preset programs
- Power Supply Unit
- Warranty
*Batteries, USB cable and the other connection cables sold separately.

4D Drum Sound Evolution

Wavetable x Velocity & Pressure Modulation = 4D Drum Sounds That React, Transform, and Evolve

22 Custom-Built Sound Structures

22 Sound Structures Tailored to Each Instrument for Endless Sonic Possibilities

Versatile Effects & Flexible Routing

Two Insert Effects, Reverb, and Master Effects with Flexible Routing for Versatile Sound Processing

Powerful 8-Track Beat Making

Non-Stop, Intuitive Beat Making Powered by an 8-Track Drum Sequencer

Endless Creative Possibilities

Generative Patterns with Randomization and Probability, Plus Numerous Performance Features incl. VariSpeed and Snip Loop

Wavetable x Velocity & Pressure Modulation = 4D Drum Sounds That React, Transform, and Evolve

CyDrums offers 64 original wavetables, each comprising up to 256 single-cycle waveforms. With full control over start/end positions, playback directions with modes, speed, and curves, the sonic possibilities go far beyond imagination.

22 Sound Structures Tailored to Each Instrument for Endless Sonic Possibilities

CyDrums features 22 sound structures specifically tailored to each instrument, combining dual Wavetables, Noise, and Pulse sources to deliver sounds that range from classic drum machine tones to deep, innovative sonic exploration.
No need to start from scratch

CyDrums offers 520 ready-to-use preset sound patches, covering classic drum machine tones, synth bass, and FX.

Find them quickly with the tag search feature.

Two Insert Effects, Reverb, and Master Effects with Flexible Routing for Versatile Sound Processing

CyDrums delivers five versatile effect routing modes, allowing you to assign any track to specific effects via BUS Routing.

Non-Stop, Intuitive Beat Making Powered by an 8-Track Drum Sequencer

CyDrums boasts a powerful 8-track, 128-step sequencer based on the acclaimed workflow of the Lofi-12 XT. Unlock the freedom to experiment with odd time signatures and evolving polyrhythms.

Store up to 128 patterns per project, enabling you to create complex song arrangements or seamlessly switch patterns during live performances.

Generative Patterns with Randomization and Probability, Plus Numerous Performance Features incl. VariSpeed and Snip Loop

CyDrums empowers your creativity with powerful generative pattern tools.

Randomization lets you craft unique variations per track or control all parts in real time, while Probability allows you to set trigger chances from 25% to 100% for tracks or individual notes-sparking endless possibilities and new musical discoveries.

Seamless Integration with Your Setup

TRS analogue output, digital output via USB, MIDI in/out, and AudioSync for effortless DAW and hardware compatibility.

Compact, Battery-powered, and Built-in Speaker

CyDrums is designed for inspiration anywhere-from your living room to the outdoors.

- A single project contains:
128 patterns (incl. 32 preset patterns)
16 songs
Up to 256 projects can be stored.
- 1,024 sound patches (incl. 520 preset sounds)
- 256 effect patches
- 128 drum kits
- Polyphony: 1 voice per track + USB & External stereo audio
- Realtime non-quantize recording (with MicroTiming edit)
- Directly enter notes for each step when playback is on or off
- Duplicate to extend a sequence
- Copy and paste function for various parameters between tracks
- Parameter Lock function to record parameter settings for each step
- Drum roll with the D-pad
- Play chromatic/scales in Pad mode
- Enter longer notes (Tied notes)
- Diverse Mute features?
- Pattern BPM / Global BPM can be set
- Switching between half-speed and double-speed BPM
- Metronome and pre-count function

Hardware specifications

Pads: 15 velocity-sensitive pads with RGB LEDs

Controllers: Control knob x 5, Directional pad with 2 button controls

Display: 1.5 inch OLED display
Built-in Mic: Mono x1 (Omni-directional, 94dBSPL)

Built-in Speaker: Mono x1 (1.5W 4O)

Audio Inputs
INPUT L/Guitar (Switchable 10k and 1M impedance)
[LINE Gain] PAD: -20dB
[Hi-Z Gain] LOW: 0dB, NORMAL: +10dB, HI: +20dB
INPUT R/Dynamic Microphone
[LINE Gain] PAD: -20dB
[MIC Gain] LOW: 0dB, NORMAL: +28.8dB, HI: +50dB

Audio Outputs
STEREO LINE OUTPUTS (Max +6.5dBV)
*The above jacks are all balanced 1/4" TRS Jack Connectors
PHONES jack (stereo 3.5mm mini jack type)

USB port
micro USB Type-B
[USB Audio] USB 2.0 Full Speed, 48kHz-16bit Input: 2 channels, Output: 2 channels
[USB MIDI]
[Mass Storage Class] USB2.0 High Speed
*For iPhone, Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter required separately

MIDI ports
MIDI IN connector (5-Pin DIN type)
MIDI OUT connector (5-Pin DIN type)

Other connectors
SYNC IN jack (mono 3.5mm mini jack type)
SYNC OUT jack (mono 3.5mm mini jack type)
SD card slot (Standard size *Supports SDHC cards up to 32 GB)
DC IN connector

Bottom side hole
1/4-20UNC screw for tripod mount

Size and weight
Width: 147mm | approx. 5.8 inch
Depth: 175mm | approx. 7.8 inch
Height: 46mm | approx. 1.8 inch
Weight: 550g | approx.1 lbs 3.5 oz

Power supply
DC12V output AC adapter (500mA, Inner Diameter: 2.5mm, Outer Diameter: 5.5mm, Polarity: Center +)
Ni-MH AA SIZE Rechargeable Battery or Alkaline AA SIZE Dry Battery x 6
(Alkaline dry batteries life: approx. 4 hours)
*Batteries sold separately

Accessories

32GB SDHC card preloaded with many preset programs
Power Supply Unit
Warranty
*USB cable and the other connection cables sold separately

Notes: An interesting take on hardware drum synthesis, the Crum Drum offers dedicated kick, snare, hi-hat and bass channels with randomisation and probability options to help liven up patterns.

Supplier's Notes:
Crum Drum is a 4-voice drum machine. Get creative with fresh & unique beats using elements of randomisation & probability.

4 instruments: Kick, Snare, Hihat, Bass

8 sound parameters per instrument

Overdrive, Reverb, Delay & Swing

Send & Recieve Analog & MIDI clock

Send & Recieve MIDI sequencing

Randomized sequencing

And more!

Firmware 1.2 changes:

1. CV INPUT with 3 modes to control Frequency, Decay or Tone on one or more instruments.
2. Wider tempo range and more stable internal clock.
3. Improved delay feedback
4. Bug fixes

Notes: The new Multicassa is here, we added a snare channel with five dividers, tree trig out and tree trig input.

T3 input can now accept audio, CV and trig signal, while T2 & T4 only trig signal.

Routing an audio signal to T3 in, will give you the possibility to filter it with the Bongo and Legno channel and also trigger the sound.

A new swing switch, change the internal groove, updated clock in, synch to 2ppqn and 24ppqn. Individual audio out for each sound and a mix out.

Notes: The VSYSTEM-3 is a complete synth in a case of exactly the size of the Korg Volca synths. t contains the following AE modules:

DRUMKIT (lofi digital drum module):

DRUMKIT 010 consists of 11 8-bit drum sound samples; 6 of them can be triggered in parallel in any combination by the trigger inputs. With a BANK selector knob, different combinations of the 11 samples can be selected. The PITCH knob affects the pitch of all instruments together, and with the REVERSE button the sounds are played backwards - quite a nice effect to be added here and there.
Don't expect high quality from this module - it's by design a nasty, lo-fi drum sound source, but definitely with its own character. Works great together with the analog KICK module.

KICK (analog kick drum):

It has three knobs: PITCH for the overall pitch of the sound; with DECAY the length of the sound can be set and with DRIVE a nice distortion can be added to the sound.
With the pitch decay switch the pitch follows the amplitude, giving a bit different character.
And a trigger button is available to check the sound without an external trigger signal.

SAMPLYR (sample player with micro-SD card, various loop modes, almost unlimited sample length):

The samples are simple 8-bit mono WAV files. Features of the module are:
CV control for pitch with 1V/octave
Gate input
NO (practical) LENGTH LIMIT for the sample playback, because the module plays the samples directly from the memory card
Sample is displayed on the included OLED display
For each sample, following playback parameters can be edited: Sample start/end, loop start/end, loop crossfade, transpose/tune, all this settings are visible in the display and are saved per sample
Different loop modes can be selected: Oneshot, Reverse, Loop forward/reverse/alternating, loop hold (loop remains playing when gate goes to off)
Editing of the different parameters is accomplished with an endless encoder and a small menu
CV control for playback start, loop start, loop length, reverting playback, sample selection
Six buttons can be used for quick switching between six samples of the current folder
Additionally to the audio output, the SAMPLYR provides trigger outputs for loop start point, loop end point, playback end; by this, certain other operations can be triggered at these specific points, e.g. synchronizing to the loop points.
...and all this in a 1-unit AE module!

The sample files are organized as simple folders on the micro SD card named "A"..."Z" and per folder files named "0....wav, 1....wav, ..."

Included with the module is a micro-SD card with some demo samples; and each buyer will receive an update for the factory samples, made by the sound designer "empty vessel" exclusively for the SAMPLYR module (provided as download later in 2024).

The SAMPLYR module is of course not a hi-fi, high quality sampler module due to its 8-bit design. It has the flavour of the early samplers like EMU II, Fairlight CMI IIx, Ensoniq Mirage... The typical, recommended sample rate is 16000 Hz. these samples can be pitched up by approx. 1 1/2 octaves max.

Beyond the 8-bit resolution, the samples can be also encoded as uLaw and aLaw; in this case, the resolution is true 10 bits. For converting your existing samples, the open-source audio editor "Audacity" is great for the conversion and editing process.

Note: The SAMPLYR module is a sample player only; it doesn't offer recording of audio.

MIXER 4-4 (4-channel mixer):

This module consists of:
An audio mixer with 4 inputs and their level knobs
Additional 4 separate inputs that are mixed at full level (especially for mixing CV signals) and a separate output

HEARTBEAT (precise clock source, with BPM setting, and tempo-tapping):

HEARTBEAT is a master clock source for AE modular, with some additional features. The module offers:
Precise BPM setting with an encoder in the range of 30-300 BPM in steps of 0.1 BPM
A graphical display for the tempo and additional info and menu
A big tap button for setting the tempo by tapping it
An illuminated start/stop button
Six independent clock outputs; each of them can be configured by a menu to a time signature between 1/1 to 1/32th plus dotted and triplets.
Inputs for clock, reset and two CV and trigger inputs that can be assigned to different functions
The clock source can be either internal or an external clock (at 1/96th rate which corresponds to MIDI real time

TRIQ164 (4-channel, 16-step trigger sequencer, with repeat/ratched per step):

Four track buttons select the track to be edited; with 16 buttons each step of the track can be activated an is then displayed by an LED.

Stereo Headphone amplifier, 2 IN/OUT sockets via a stereo minijack

It is delivered completely with power wall adapter and patchwires; everything needed to get the modular system started!

This is a REAL modular synth system; all modules can be rearranged and swapped as you like.