MATRIXSYNTH: Simmons SDX


Thursday, January 05, 2006

Simmons SDX

Simmons SDX sample based drum system circa 1988. Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Thanks Matt!



Some details from the auction:

"This is the mother of all drum machines. I purchased this machine 3 years ago and have had a blast with it. Although this machine was released by Simmons in 1988, it still reigns as one of the top drum machines in history. It is also good to note that there were only about 250 of these made EVER. The serial number on this machine is 000074, and I have heard of two other machines, one having a serial below mine, and another right above 200. I have personally conversed with Danny Carey of Tool, who owns two of these machines, and he swears that they are among the best in history.

Simmons SDX console with 4 mb of internal RAM (see picture for buttons and layout of the actual board).

7 white-backed trigger pads (1 HexaBass, 5 Zone-Intelligent Pads, 1 Cymbal pad)

1 hi-hat trigger pedal

71 floppy disks contained tons of samples from drum kits to organs to synths, etc

10 guitar cables (one has the alternate connection in the picture below...the 4 pin cable"

Update via the comments:
"bruce mason said...
I own 3 SDX consoles and a few pads .the pads are not based on normal triggering systems but have a thin layer of plastic film with a 3 way spiral circuit [a little like an electric cooker ring but hexagonal and with three lines running in parallel]..on top of this there is a black film with small raised dots which keep it from contacting the circuit until it is struck.when you hit the pad contact is made and a voltage resistance is created across the spiral circuit.this is how sdx calculates the position of the strike as well as the force.depending on these values it selects from a 3x3 matrix of samples..a central area...an area close to the rim and one in between..the width of these zones is programmable..each zone is 3 deep by velocity.also the pitch/ filter brightness/pan position etc/etc/ of the whole drum [1 to 9 samples] can be defined bey velocity and position creating an amazing warping of sounds if desired.absolutely without peer for the weird stuff.analog filters.digital samples.eats the competition alive.the only other serious choice is the ddrum3.end of opinion."

5 comments:

  1. The guy from Think Tree used to have one of these-- he sat surrounded by a ring of hex pads, playing drum sounds and triggering other samples.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yeah, and I was told that the Zone-Intelligent pads have something like 9 layered piezo sensors embedded in them and are sensitive to both position and pressure. I know that they sure weren't as cheesy and 80's-y as you'd think from the hex pads. They sounded really good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I own 3 SDX consoles and a few pads .the pads are not based on normal triggering systems but have a thin layer of plastic film with a 3 way spiral circuit [a little like an electric cooker ring but hexagonal and with three lines running in parallel]..on top of this there is a black film with small raised dots which keep it from contacting the circuit until it is struck.when you hit the pad contact is made and a voltage resistance is created across the spiral circuit.this is how sdx calculates the position of the strike as well as the force.depending on these values it selects from a 3x3 matrix of samples..a central area...an area close to the rim and one in between..the width of these zones is programmable..each zone is 3 deep by velocity.also the pitch/ filter brightness/pan position etc/etc/ of the whole drum [1 to 9 samples] can be defined bey velocity and position creating an amazing warping of sounds if desired.absolutely without peer for the weird stuff.analog filters.digital samples.eats the competition alive.the only other serious choice is the ddrum3.end of opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks bruce, I updated the post with your comments.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If anybody has a copy of the system disc for this, I really need one. Please e-mail me and let me know how much you want for it. My e-mail address is: PullThis1@aol.com. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

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