Dynacord ADD-one + ADD-drive RARE PAIR

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ADD-one Audio Demo video upload by morbank01

Playlist:
ADD-one Audio Demo
ADD-one Diagnostic Display and LED Test
ADD-one Easter Egg

via this listing

Two pics of the inside below.

"Dynacord ADD-one + ADD-drive, Dynacord’s dynamic sampling duo! This combo makes for an incredibly powerful hardware synth/sampler with unparalleled capabilities for its time.


NOTE: Other recent listings only include the ADD-one, but if you are reading this you probably know that the increasing hard to find ADD-drive unit is essential if you want to be able to sample your own sounds.

So if you have been looking for a complete ADD-one/ADD-drive don’t sleep on this rare opportunity!

These two specific units were purchased in 2016 from Wavemeister AUT (receipt available on request). Both units are in incredible cosmetic condition for their age and are working as they should. Used in a smoke free, climate controlled studio and never gigged. The build quality on both units is top notch and all knobs and buttons feel great. ADD-one’s display is original, but it is bright and easy to read (see pics), although not from all angles, but this was never the case even when new. Serviced by Audio Rehab, CA (Greg Granieri) in 2019 (receipt available on request). All contacts, pots, jacks and switches were cleaned. And all 23 button contacts have recently been re-cleaned and are working as they should.

There is a very slight whine sound when powered up which can be heard at the outputs. I am no expert, but it’s possible this could be resolved by replacing the capacitors in the power supply. It has never bothered me enough to address so I will let the next owner decide if they feel this is necessary.

The ADD-one is running firmware v2.22 and passes all diagnostic tests and sounds fantastic (see video link below).

There are a few, very minor blemishes and scuffs on both units, with one small dent on the top panel of the ADD-one (see pic), and some erosion on the top edge of the left rack ear of the ADD-drive (see pic). However the front panels are mostly pristine, with only one tiny, tiny mark on the ADD-one visible (see pic), and some wear to “Dynacord” text on ADD-drive (see pic). Very, light rack rash on both units (I hit Reverb’s image limit but additional pics available on request).

The original non-replaceable memory backup battery has been swapped out for a replaceable Duracell 3v Lithium battery and a new receptacle has been soldered to the PCB (see pic).

NOTE: This ADD-one has what looks like a prototype or DIY RAM board (see pic). This was in the unit when purchased from Wavemeister. It wasn’t mentioned to me before purchasing and I haven’t been able to find any additional information about it since I discovered it (many years after purchasing). I have never had any issues with sampling so I can only say that it seems to perform as it should.

NOTE: The Add-one and ADD-drive for sale in this listing are in amazing shape but please understand that they are almost 38 years old and due to the age and fragility of these units I cannot guarantee that to be the case on arrival after shipping. Therefore sales are final and non-refundable. For the above reasons, local pick-up is preferred. And if picked up locally the buy is welcome to test the unit upon pick-up. If local pick-up is not possible and these items must be shipped, rest assured I take packing seriously and will double-box both units, pack the interior ADD-one enclosure and add reenforced corners to the box as well. Please take a look at my customer reviews if you would like further examples of my previous successful transactions.

I have done my best to describe the current condition of both units and document said condition with detailed photos. If requested I can send you a video of the ADD-one and ADD-drive working before you pay, mentioning your name in the video so you'll know it's not pre-recorded. Please ask any questions BEFORE you buy. In case of loss or damage during transportation, then this should be covered by shippers insurance. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.


Listing includes…

Dynacord ADD-one and ADD-drive
Original ADD-one and ADD-drive manuals (not photocopies)
Original ADD-drive floppy disk drive. Currently installed and verified to be working correctly. Formatting, sampling, loading all working as expected
Nalbantov USB Floppy emulator. Not currently installed. But has also been tested and is working as it should
Original ADD-drive 7 pin DIN cable (ADK05)
2 x New power cables
3 x “PC-2” sound bank cards. Each contains 8 EPROMs
3 x floppy disks: 1. Sequential Circuits TOM drum samples 2. BME: Kick and Snare samples. 3. Blank formatted disk

Description from Dynacord manuals:

ADD-one:

The ADD-one is an 8-channel drum computer with eight trigger inputs, eight individual outputs, a master stereo, a master mono, a master monitor and a built-in headphone amplifier. It is possible to receive MIDI signals (MIDI IN), loop them through (MIDI THRU) and to transmit MIDI information (MIDI OUT)
The basic configuration is equipped with numerous digitally stored natural sounds, various bass drums and snares, a number of tom samples (which can be used to compose the most varied of tom lines), hi-hat, handclap, timbales, effects, etc.
This collection of sounds can be used to put together and store up to 128 different drumsets each comprising 8 instruments. Eight knob controls enable adjustment of the individual parameters (pitch, volume, decay, envelope curve, etc.. A further control knob is used to change programs• This method which enables a simple, rapid and yet precise adjustment of settings via so-called "rotary encoders" saves the user keying in endless numbers of figures.
In order to conveniently use the countless possibilities this produces, the ADD-one provides the capability of assigning all inputs, pads and instruments (samples) to any of the 8 output channels and storing this configuration. The drumset parameters will remain stored in the ADD-one even if the unit is switched off. In each drumset program it is possible to assign any of the instruments to the pads as reguired. Here are a few examples: a set with a bass drum, snare and 6 toms, or a set with 8 latin percussion sounds, or a set with different snare drums, etc. It is also possible, for example, to program the snare pad to trigger a different snare sample when struck aggressively than when struck softly - or both at the same time but with different decay lengths ...
Despite the tremendous number of possibilities offered, operation of the ADD-one has been kept as simple as possible. User-friendliness is enhanced most by the 2 x 40-digit HIGH CONTRAST LCD display which can even be easily read when the stage is in darkness owing to its adjustable brightness. It provides a clear display of the current parameter values for each of the 8 channels. The computer will assist you through the operating procedure for all special functions. Anybody at a loss, or forgetting what some of the abbreviations stand for, can simple press the "HELP" button and the computer will "pilot" you through the programming steps necessary for your application.
The ADD-one has a MIDI interface, thereby providing practically unlimited control capabilities for the sounds. The processing and input or output of MIDI data is fully programmable and enables countless variations when changing from "drum to MIDI" and "MIDI to drum".
For filing purposes, all data and parameters can be stored on tape. A cassette interface with a cinch jack pair which can be used to connect any cassette recorder with record and playback function. It must be noted that no analog sounds, i.e. tones, are stored but program parameters. The data stored on tape can be selected on the basis of a widely varying criteria, e.g. individual sound numbers, channel and trigger assignments, program chains, etc. and then read back into the ADD-one memory
The ADD-one has sound dynamics equalling the familiar top quality of a CD player and owing to its digital signal processing facility can offer an S/N ratio and distortion factor (THD) which has so far been unimaginable. enabling reproduction of sounds with a frequency bandwidth of up to 25 kHz. Eight voltage-controlled filters (VCF) with extremely keen edge steepness (24B/octave), eight voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCA), eight low-frequency oscillators (LFO) generated by program as well as 16 envelope curve generators (ENV) enable extensive sound variations and effects. The beat dynamics are also programmable.
When editing the parameters, the user can select whether to use the 8 rotary encoders (control knobs) to edit one parameter in all eight channels or eight different parameters in one single channel. In the "normal" PLAY mode, the encoders are assigned the VOLUME parameter, however it is also possible to select any of the other parameters.
ADD-drive:

The ADD-drive is a disk drive / audio sampling unit designed to work with the DYNACORD ADD-one drum machine. It is housed in a single height 19” rack enclosure with its own internal power supply and connects to the ADD-one with a 7-pin DIN plug provided.
The drive is used for storing and retrieving ADD-one programs and sounds via standard 3.5" DS (double-sided), DD (double-density) micro floppy. A single disk can hold 128 ADD-one programs, program chain, global parameters and up to 768 k bytes of sound sample data.
Both line and microphone inputs are provided along with a level control. A XLR connector is an electrical, balanced input for microphone connection and the 1/4" phone jack is provided for unbalanced input signals.
Recording is done at one of two possible sampling rates: 50 kHz or 25 kHz. The 50 kHz sampling rate will result in an extremely high frequency bandwidth. whereas the 25 kHz rate will allow recording longer or more samples as the memory requirement is halved.
Other programmable parameters for recording include input gain (X1 or X5), preemphasis, compes-sion, noise gate and record threshold level. Additionally, sounds in RAM may be selectively erased, or start, loop and end points may be freely varied.
Other parameters include: Variable start point, basic sample rate, filter frequency, de-emphasis control, envelope gate time, envelope release time trigger levels for multi-samples
One of the little known features of the ADD-one is the capability of being able to play more than one sound on one channel. This facility is known as "multi-sampling" because it is treated as one sound with single name, but it has more than one actual sample associated with it. Multi-samples may use from two to eight different samples.
Another useful feature is the "Variable Start Amount" (VSA). This allows changing the playback starting point of a sound depending on the trigger level.
For more information look up the Music Technology article and the Sound On Sound article circa both from 1986 (Reverb won’t allow me to include links)"