The LoFi Magic of a Scottish Tape Drum Machine

video upload by HAINBACH

"The Bandmaster Powerhouse is a drum machine unlike any other: it uses 8-Track tape recordings of drum and percussion loops to play back 'Funky Beat', 'Modern Waltz' and 'Disco' patterns. Made by GR International in Perth, Scotland in the 1970s, only few survive and the tapes are even rarer. The warble and flutter, especially when pitched down, is horrible from a technical perspective, but it adds layers of texture that are a dream come true for the rare groove enthusiast."

You can find addtional demos here and here.

Bandmaster Ltd. Scotland, BMI Powerhouse 8 Track Tape Based Rhythm Machine

video upload by Audio Animals Studio

Note: this post started with the pics below spotted and sent in via M Me. This is the first post to feature one.

Video description:

"Download all audio recordings and VST of Bandmaster Powerhouse here : http://www.audioanimals.co.uk/shop/sa...

We originally purchased the Bandmaster Powerhouse in order to sample it and create a VST and wav sample pack. Now we have completed doing so we are looking to sell the unit as the VST we have created is essentially an identical emulation of the hardware. The tapes include the following recordings. If you are interested in purchasing the Bandmaster Powerhouse drum machine in physical for you can do so via our website here : http://www.audioanimals.co.uk/shop/st...

Tape 1 - Quickstep / Shuffle / Twist / Funky Beat
Tape 2 - Old Time Waltz / Jazz Waltz / 12/8 Rhythm / Modern Waltz
Tape 3 - Slow Foxtrot / Tango / Pasadoble / Bolero
Tape 4 - Samba / Mambo / Meringue / Calypso
Tape 5 - Rhumba / Cha-Cha / Bossa Nova / Beguine
Tape 6 - March / Polka / 6/8 Rhythm / Jig
Tape 7 - Motown Slowbeat / Latin Slowbeat
Tape 8 - Latin Rock / Rock Rhythm / Cuban Rock / Glitter Rock"

Controls:
4 Modes per tape
Balance
Mains On
Volume
Mute
Mon.
Comp.
Basic
Mode Tempo
Footswitch jack on back

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Scottish Made Powerhouse Drum Machine

Click here for shots pulled from this auction.

Details:
"Here is something you won't see too often - a vintage SCOTTISH MADE POWERHOUSE DRUM MACHINE, made by a company called Bandmaster L.T.D./G.R. International, it looks to be from the 70's and is covered in what looks like Vox Vinhyde, as used on Vox AC-30 guitar amps, this is the only drum machine I know of that uses 8-track tapes!, it comes with 8 tapes, each of which have about 4 different beats on them, the tapes have labels showing a blond European babe boogieing with a guy playing drums behind her, there is a knob on the unit that controls tempo, i.e. it slows down or speeds up the tape, there are a couple pushbuttons for adjusting the sound and a couple that don't seem to do anything that I'm aware of, there is also a balance control since this is a stereo unit, on the back are a pair of RCA output jacks for left and right to hook-up to a stereo and a 1/4" phone output jack, there is s unmarked slide switch on the front panel that doesn't seem to do anything, on the back are a couple footswitch jacks, the machine comes with a dual pedal board that plugs in back, one pedal is a temporary pause/cut-off of sound and the other advances the tape program from one track to the next, I'm not sure if the footswitched are original equipment or not, I tried all the tapes and noticed some played better than others, might be the machine needs to be used some more, 8-track tapes have always been funky and these are no different, the program lights occasionally don't light, again, the machine may just need some "exercise", the tempo, balance and volume controls all are working, the machine is in nice shape cosmetically."

via Mike Ford