A Potted History of Drum Synthesizers

video upload by Alex Ball and Nathan Curran Tugg the Drummer (Tugg)

"A look at a niche within a niche, the drum synthesizer; a story that begins in the late 60s and continues to this very day."

0:00 Intro
0:25 Definition of a "Drum Synthesizer"
2:24 Precursors, DIY and Impakt
4:03 Star Instruments Synare
5:09 How these Instruments Worked
6:13 Syndrum: The First Famous Drum Synth
8:45 Ult-Sound: Japan's First Drum Synth
10:10 Pearl & Tama: Here Come The Drum Companies
13:20 Simmons: The Zeitgeist
19:21 The Flood Gates & Mega-Montage
24:48 Soviet Offerings
25:17 Decline and the Splitting Point
27:05 Vermona: A New Era
29:28 Elektron: Blurred Lines
30:58 A Plethora of Machines
32:24 Clavia/Nord: Simply Red
33:39 Modern Day: The Culmination
34:44 Summary & Thanks
35:23 Patron Outro Jam

Update:

1/14/26 Simmons SDS6 + TAMA DS200 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"This is one of two videos I recorded for the great Alex Ball (‪@AlexBallMusic‬) to use in his video about the history of drum synthesizers. I’m using the Simmons SDS7 to trigger the two halves of the TAMA DS200, with reverbs from the Alesis MIDIVERB II and the CXM 1978. The DS200 is running hot through the MIDIVERB II, overloading the preamp. The CXM 1978 has a long predelay in lo-fi mode to create a grainy pitchy echo."

TR-1000 + Tonverk + TB-03 + EP-136 K.O. SIDEKICK + TIMELINE: Smooth Jungle jam

video upload by Freaky Tweaky

"I played around with the EP-136 again today.

While the punch-in FX requires a bit of practice to switch between modes, it's great to be able to operate it with just one finger in the often hectic world of Dawless Jam. Once you get used to it, you can even create your preferred nuances by adjusting the pressure you apply."

Jogging House – “Stenography” Walkthrough

video upload by Elektron

"Jogging House walks us through the workflow on 'Stenography', the gorgeous opening track of his new album 'Sender', which was recorded straight to 1/4" tape using only Tonverk and sampled kalimba.

Listen to and purchase Sender at Jogging House's Bandcamp:"

UDO Super 6 & Chase Bliss Gen Loss Lofi Jam

video upload by the nightwater

"Fun jam using the Elektron Analog Keys to sequence the UDO Super 6. Some effects from the Chase Bliss Gen Loss and the Strymon Bigsky Mx. Drums are the Dave Smith Tempest and bass is the Moog Mother 32."

Vexatious - Psy-Doom Dub Drone - Elektron Tonverk & Eurorack Modular

video upload by Abre Ojos

"‪@WeAreElektron‬ Tonverk & Eurorack
‪@afterlateraudio‬ Adventure case & Atom
Neutron Sounds Dust of Time
‪@QuBitElectronix‬ Scanned
Gehrin Plaits
@makenoisemusic QPAS
‪@EricaSynths‬ Black Joystick 2
Nonlinearcircuits Triple Sloths V2
‪@NoiseEngineering‬ Manis Iteritas & Viol Ruina
Livewire Electronics Vulcan Modulator
‪@1010music‬ bluebox

Live visuals using Year 2889 (1969) from Archive.org played through cracked ancient iPad and processed through: Video microscope
Sony ZV1
Roland V1-HD
‪@entropyandsons‬ Recursion Studio
Resolume Avenue
Recorded with Rodecaster Video"

Elektron Tonverk vs Eurorack Modular - Making feedback drone tones

video upload by Abre Ojos

00:00 Intro ramble - The Idea!
01:15 The Atom - Elements Clone
04:00 The Tonverk FX - Filter Folder
07:17 The other bits of the Tonverk
08:42 Joystick control and other modulations in the patch
14:32 Let's listen to the feedback patch
18:27 The feedback sample on the Tonverk - Do you Sub bro?
20:51 Let's listen with the kick & rumble
22:24 One more input into the Atom for extra feedback drone tones
26:18 Neutron Sound - Dust of Time layer
29:29 Plaits drone
30:39 All together now!

Elektron Analog Four MKII 4-Voice Tabletop Analog Synthesizer w/ Rack Ears

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

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Digitakt II Live Tutorial: Start With Some Good Samples

video upload by EZBOT

"Live tutorial on the Digitakt II. Let's make some house music from scratch. Always start with a good sample to build your track around and the rest will follow."

EZBOT resources: https://www.patreon.com/ezbot, https://ko-fi.com/ezbot/, https://www.modbang.com"

Morning Ambient Session | Machinedrum, SEQTRAK & Analog Four

video upload by Hideo Nakasako

"A slow and meditative morning ambient session built around the gentle rhythms of the Elektron Machinedrum. Layered with drifting textures from the YAMAHA SEQTRAK and deep pads and arpeggios from the Analog Four.

Created for quiet mornings, coffee, and slow moments.

ゆっくりと流れるリズムと淡いテクスチャーを重ねた、朝のアンビエントセッションです。

Headphones recommended."

Stratification - Psy-Doom Ritual Techno Drone - Elektron Tonverk & Eurorack Modular

video upload by Abre Ojos

"54bpm - Layers and layers of layers

@WeAreElektron Tonverk & Eurorack
@afterlateraudio Adventure case & Atom
Neutron Sounds Dust of Time
@QuBitElectronix Scanned
Gehrin Plaits
@makenoisemusic QPAS
@EricaSynths Black Joystick 2
Nonlinearcircuits Triple Sloths V2
@NoiseEngineering Manis Iteritas & Viol Ruina
Livewire Electronics Vulcan Modulator
@1010music bluebox

Video:
Live visuals using The Time Travellers (1964) from Archive.org played through cracked ancient iPad and processed through:
Video microscope
Sony ZV1
Roland V1-HD
@entropyandsons Recursion Studio
Resolume Avenue
Recorded with Rodecaster Video

Dark ambient audiovisual stuff: https://abreojos.net"

Superbooth 2026: Twelve Things That Actually Caught His Eye

video upload by SynthDad

"Superbooth 2026 just wrapped up and here are the things that caught my eye over the week. As always there was way more to see than I could cover, so this is just my personal highlights from what I got to spend time with.

Let me know in the comments what stood out for you this year, and if there's anything you want me to do a deeper dive on in a future video.

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Elektron Outbox
01:26 Boredbrain Xcelon SL mixer
02:01 Ohmforce Bohm new kick model [& new Ohmni]
03:09 Quray gesture controller
03:38 Mimu glove controller
03:56 Making Sound Machines Plinky Chords
05:00 Bastl Kalimba
05:48 Enjoy Electronics Memento
06:58 Shakmat Queens Court
07:46 Neuzeit DROP new volume rings
08:08 WMD Cosmic Debris
09:03 Xaoc new modules
09:33 Thanks again!
09:51 Live performances"

Moog Matriarch | Oxi one | Novation Peak | Octatrack MKII | Improvised live set

video upload by Onyx track

The depths in nothing | Ambient IDM with Cirklon, Prophet 10, Minimoog, machinedrum, JD990, SH-101

video upload by MIDERA

"I don't even remember the gear I used. I uploaded this weeks ago, but had too much stress to even publish it. So here it is now.

Uploaded April 21, 2026

Used Native Instruments RAUM for reverb.

#cirklon2 #sequentialprophet10 #machinedrum"

HWJ - MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY

video upload by FL3SHB4CK

"Hardware Jam Challenge: MAYDAY

PAM, BR, NOISWASP, LI, EFI, AHH, PRISM

Recorded live thru Syntakt delay & reverb"

Geist Maschine OST | Forever A Kid | Theme of Oro | Monomachine, Machinedrum, Microkorg, A4 Jam

video upload by buromaschinen

"Having fun creating some tracks for my three books series Geist Maschine.

More info about Geist Maschine can be found here:
https://www.lrnz.it/geist-maschine-01
https://baopublishing.it/prodotti/gei...

French edition:
https://www.editions-ruedesevres.fr/G...

Elektron Monomachine SFX-60 MKII+: main synth and sequencer
Elektron Machinedrum SPS1-UW MKII+: percussions
Elektron Analog4: pads and power bass
Korg Microkorg: additional organ pads
Strymon BigSky: reverb on monomachine channels EF
Analog Heat: Saturation/EQ/compressor, head of chain in the master track

Mixed and mastered with Softube Console1, SSL4000 on individual channels, Weiss Gambit at the end of the master track fx chain.

You can find my music at http://buromaschinen.bandcamp.com

Buromaschinen is part of the Distant Future Association, distantfuture.bandcamp.com"

Bad Gear - THIS is a JOKE!!!

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Digitone Keys. This 2019 FM synth, Photoshop gag gone wrong and lost sibling of the original Digitone who seemed to have shown a little too much interest in the family medicine cabinet not only comes with more or less the same underwhelming spec sheet - other brands are already embracing the meme power of its design philosophy."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:47 Overview Digitone Keys
01:48 Concept, Additional Features
02:48 Synth Engine
03:54 Filter Section, Envelopes, Overdrive, FX
04:25 LFOs
04:33 More Gimmicks
04:51 Pricing, Midi, Decksaver,...
05:18 H*te Screen
05:46 Jam 1 ( Lyrical Techno )
06:33 Jam 2 ( Multitrack Noodling )
07:35 Finale ( Contemporary Dance Floor Brutality )
08:04 VERDICT

TONVERK & EVIL PET: One Sound Source and Modulated Lines

video upload by keinseier

"Proof of concept type thing - the idea was that tonal tracks are using the same single sample and all the single melodies fade in and out independantly by unsynced LFOs.
Needs more work, but works. Evil Pet delivering the flourishes as a send effect.
(Edit: Ok, the strings are not from that one sound source...)"

Elektron Syntakt 12-Voice Drum Computer and Synthesizer w/ Decksaver Cover

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Elektron Model:Cycles FM Synthesizer + Groovebox

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

CLICK FOR MORE »

One Of The Best Performance Templates For The Octatrack (Updated!)

video upload by EZBOT

"Today we take a look at one of the more popular Performance Templates for the Elektron Octatrack MK1/MK2, the Hybrid 4X4 Performance Template, which now includes an alternate version called Hybrid 4X3. Hybrid 4X3 sacrifices a track to include a live looper for classic DJ transitions.

The Ultimate Wavetable Pack: / ultimate-pack-1-153880313 and https://ko-fi.com/s/b7bb5da64b

Download the Octatrack Hybrid 4X4 Performance Mixer here: one-time purchase https://ko-fi.com/s/82279613bb and here for ongoing support / hybrid-4x4-1-0-140477341"

DIGITONE II - Emptiness // Experimental Electronics #emptyset

video upload by Catenation aka Dissonant Witchcraft

"Still in Leveld. Norwegian writer Jens Bjørneboe used this loft to write several of his works."

Sounds and Samples: https://dissonantwitchcraft.com/

00:04 Music Starts
03:53 Music Ends