Syndrum: The Electronic Drum

Cherry Audio

"A short documentary about the history of the Syndrum, the world's first commercially produced electronic drum, commemorating the release the release of the MRB Syndrum and poly Syndrum modules for the Cherry Audio Voltage Modular platform"

Pollard Syndrum Quad - Analog Drum Synthesizer - Pro-Service w/Restoration

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

via this auction

"This one is in good cosmetic condition and working 100%. It has just been serviced and has had some restoration. It is ready to be used and needs nothing! It will come with the cable and two original Syndrum drum pads."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Origins of a Legend - The Simmons SDS-3 Drum Synthesizer from 1978

Published on Feb 28, 2020 Alex Ball

"A look at the original Simmons Drum Synthesizer, the SDS-3 from 1978.

This instrument was built by Dave Simmons when he was working for a company called Musicaid in the late 70s and it served as the precursor to famous SDS-V with its distinctive hexagonal pads that cropped up on many hit records in the 1980s.

Free sample pack: http://bit.ly/SimmonsSDS3

Thank you to EvilDragon for scripting the Kontakt patches

Check out Simmons Museum which is a great online resource on the Simmons story: https://www.simmonsmuseum.com/

Here's the 2017 interview cited in the film: https://drummagazine.com/dave-simmons..."

Additional Alex Ball posts

Pollard Syndrum CM 8” Electronic Drum Synth w/ Original Box

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Model 278 Analog Drum Synth & Pad SN 1065

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

via this auction

"Rae two channel Pollard Syndrum Analog Drum Synth, Drum Pad SOLD AS IS. Shipped with Fedex ground, very limited testing ,the drum set and peddle works there is output, no other test was conducted. As you can see in the pictures, knobs are missing and one drum lid has lifted up, please check all pictures provided for cosmetic shape. Will be sold as is no returns."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum 477 Quad Drum Synth Trigger Kit w/ Stand & Road Case SN 525

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

via this auction

"SPECS:

1 - 477 sound modal
4 - 8" triggers
10' Ft 4-pin XLR to 4 - 1/4" TS snake
1 - control foot pedal
10' Ft 1/4" TRS cable

ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: This item comes as seen in photos, and does not include any accessories.

1 - double braced stand with 4-trigger mounts
1 - tool (To remove rear panel of triggers.)
1 - instructional cassette

EXTRAS INCLUDED:

1 - Trunk ATA Road Case with wheels
36" x 19.5" x 22", 58 lbs.
1 - plastic cooking spoon (While this is a very silly use for a plastic cooking spoon it seems it makes a good connection as a stick for the drums)
PHYSICAL CONDITION: Excellent - The stand is sturdy and holds all 4 triggers securely. The sound modal's side wood panels have a few dings and scratches, but its face plate is super clean. The previous owner put "Sweet Wheats" stickers on the bottom of each trigger and on the road case. The controls and connections are all in great shape, overall, it's in excellent condition.

WORKING CONDITION: Excellent - All drum pads are working great, the main unit is also in perfect working order. All toggle switches, control knobs, and sliders are working great. Pedal and footswitch are also in perfect working order. Overall working condition is excellent."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Model 178 Analog Drum Synth, Drum Pad, and CV Pedal

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

via this auction

This is the one featured in the demos posted here.

"The "Snare 1" preset setting in the "Snare" section does not seem to work. This is not a problem as you can create the same "Snare 1" preset sound with a low Snare "Sustain" setting. The "Snare 1" setting is a preset short sustain, whereas the "Snare 2" setting allows you to set a custom snare/noise length. Please see the YouTube links to see how the Snare section and Snare Sustain control work.

The Syndrum Model 178 is a single voice analog drum synth that is triggered by hitting the Syndrum mesh drumhead trigger. The drum synth sound/tone and modulation is adjusted manually to create different types of drum synth sounds. The Syndrum is capable of creating kick, tom, special effects, and best known for its decending “Dooooooooooo” sound (think disco toms or space drums). The Vibrato/Modulation section can be used to created vibrato effects as well as ring-modulation when the rate is set to higher values.

Here is what is included with this auction:

Syndrum Model 178 Drum Synth
8” Mesh Syndrum Drum Head Trigger
Syndrum Drum Head Trigger Key (plastic padel)
Syndrum CV & On/Off Footswitch
22VDC Power Adapter (included)
1/4" Output Cable
1/4" CV Footswitch Cable"

CLICK FOR MORE »

EMEAPP SONIC TEST DRIVE: VINTAGE ANALOG ELECTRONIC DRUMS

Published on Aug 2, 2019 EMEAPP

"EMEAPP SONIC TEST DRIVE: Simmons SDSV, Ult-Sound DS-4 and Pollard Syndrum from your good friends at the Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project. More information at emeapp.org, please join us as a member!"

Great and rare demo of the rare Ultimate Sound DS-4 drum synth.

Synth Quest Episode 4 | Pollard Syndrum

Published on Jan 25, 2019 madFame

"In this episode of Synth Quest we take a look at the Pollard Syndrum. This video is the most in-depth, high-quality demo of the Pollard Syndrum on the internet, I hope you enjoy it!

I rescue and repair unwanted synths and drum machines and put them back into service, making music as they were intended. In this video series I present some of the history and sounds of the various synths and drum machines here in my studio.

If you have any unwanted synths and drum machines that you would like to contribute to Synth Quest, you can email me at madfame@madfame.com

If you would like to support this channel and the production of future episodes you can consider joining my other patrons at: https://www.patreon.com/madfame"

Pollard Syndrum Model 178 Drum Pad Foot Pedal Synth

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

via this auction

"Pollard Syndrum model 178 comes with extra wires foot pedal drum pad and synth. all items are in very good working order please note last picture drum pad show a small hair line crack drum .This is a vintage lot and you will receive everything in picture overall a great collectors item at a great price."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Quad Drum Synthesizer Synth Trigger Sound Module

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

via this auction

"PHYSICAL CONDITION: Fair - The "Tone" toggle switch is missing, but the internal switch function works by using a pen-like object. The unit is missing 3 of it's 16 screws and 1 of it's rubber feet. It's also missing 4 of it's 28 colored tips for the sliders. Someone has used a black Sharpie to mark their settings. Both of the side wood panels are slightly loose and have a few dings, chips and scratches, overall, it's in fair condition and worthy of restoration. All internal components are intact."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage 1977 POLLARD SYNDRUM QUAD MODEL 478 4-PAD Analog Drum Synth SN 208

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

via this auction

"This amazing analog drum synthesizer comes with the following components;

CLICK FOR MORE »

1980's Pollard SYNDRUM Percussion Synthesizer

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Quad

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

via this auction

"As you probably know, this is a very rare piece of kit. The Quad is king of all the Pollard Syndrums. Made famous by the Cars, Bozio, Porcaro, Queen, Little River Band. You can’t get this tone anywhere else.

This synth was owned by David Eagle who recorded and toured a lot in 80’s, 90’s, 00’s. His previous ownership of this unit is evidenced by a sticker on the bottom of the unit. It has been in a foam case for quite some years.

The Syndrum Quad was clearly of high build quality. The circuitry is fully discrete, putting it at a level that Moog and ARP were at the time."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Twin - Vintage Analog Drum Synthesizer model 178 serial no 2176

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Twin - Vintage Analog Drum Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"This one is in excellent cosmetic condition and is working 100%. It is ready to be used and needs nothing! As you can see, this one includes the two original Syndrum pads and the original foot-pedal."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum 178 demonstration, electronic drum, analog synth

Published on Jan 12, 2016 Carl Wiedemann

"A demonstration of some of the sound capabilities of the Pollard Syndrum 178 electronic drum module, analog synthesizer. This also presents some of the slider and switch issues with this particular unit. The full array of sounds are accessible, but some of the sliders and switches are a bit glitchy. These were manufactured by Pollard in the late '70s. I'm selling this particular unit on Ebay (January 2016). These units were used by many pop/rock musicians in the early '80s. The Cars drummer David Robinson had two Syndrum Quads and eight Syndrum pads can be seen (along with the self-contained Synare pads) in his drum array in videos of live performances."

Classic Pac-Man at 4:18.

via this auction

"Vintage Pollard Syndrum (circa 1978) analog synthesizer, electronic drum module with original pad and (non-original) 22 volt power supply. The unit is generating the full array of sounds (as compared to the two others that I have). The switch for the snare (noise generator) is a bit ornery and it sometimes takes several tries to turn it on or off. The sustain slider for the noise generator is not adjustable (it generates one short burst). This seems to be an issue with these units (I have another Syndrum with the same slider issue and another that won’t generate sound in the #1 position). The sustain slider seems a bit ornery in the low position and it’s difficult to adjust shorter duration sounds. Also: the tune switch audibly crackles when positions are changed. That being said: it is generating the full array of expected sounds. Given the slider issues it may be best used for sampling and recording rather than live performance. The module can be triggered with most drum pads or other external sound device via a quarter inch audio cable. There is quite a bit of cosmetic distress on the exterior of the module, including spots of rust. Most of the slider caps are missing. I’ve posted a video on YouTube which demonstrates the great array of sounds this unit can generate as well as presenting some of the slider and switch issues."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum Twin Model 278 Analog Drum Synth

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

via this auction

"The Twin Pollard Syndrum 278. This machine is amazing and fairly rare 2 drum/osc version. In great shape, only missing a few slider caps.

This includes the brain only, no pads. Comes with drum mount bracket attached."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pollard Syndrum 178 Analog Drum Synthesizer With Original Trigger Pad SN 1977

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

via this auction

"Pollard Syndrum 178 Analog Drum Synthesizer With Syndrum Trigger in very good condition. This includes the console, original trigger pad, with the original mesh head and the power supply, which has been repaired (see pic). The unit was tested and appears to be in good working order!

Some of the plastic slider caps are missing, but the sliders appear to work fine. There are some minor surface scratches."

CLICK FOR MORE »

POLLARD SYNDRUM MODEL 178 X2 SN 1187 & 1186

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »