Update: some pics and details captured. I made the mistake of trying to capture them all and then realized how many were listed. :) I ended up switching to the more esoteric models. Quite a few have never been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH before. What's a little bit interesting, is only two new labels were needed, one for Domino and one for Side-Kick-Er. All other brands have been featured before. See the labels at the bottom of this post. Side note: Blogger limits the number of characters to 200 for labels, so I wasn't able to capture them all for this post. You can always search for the brand names featured for more. I assume most do this anyway. The labels are more for maintenance and for finding posts that may not feature brand names in descriptions.
"Vintage Analog drum machine with TR style sequencer, made in Germany in 1987. There's not too much information available on the VERMONA DRM on the internet, so I will provide some of my own background knowledge.
It was released in 1987 by a German synthesizer company named Vermona. These days they are best known for their
analog drum module the Vermona DRM-1 MK3 .
It is the European answer to ROLAND's TR-X0X and CR-XXXX drum machines.
SEQUENCER:
First of all it offers a 32 step TR style sequencer. It is as simple to use as the roland machines.
It has 16 preset patterns and allows you to store 10 of your own. There is even support to chain patterns together, change pattern length, change time signature between 4/4 and 3/4. The unit is MIDI syncable, it will respond to midi clock, start and stop messages. It will also respond to MIDI note data allowing you to sequence the analog voices from any external piece of midi gear. It also transmits midi data as well allowing you to use it as your master clock source.
Alongside your preset and standard patterns you have fill mode, where the drum machine will play a drum fill. The ability to have just the bass drum playing. Flam is also available for the Toms.
In addition to the analog voice control their is a separate sequence for a trigger out, and 2 bizarre time signature sequences which can also be used as trigger outs.
SOUND:
The reason why I bought the Vermona was because I was so impressed by the sound. Just check out this video by KinK on youtube. For something over 20 years old it is surprisingly modern sounding.
KiNK composing live on Vermona DRM part I
YouTube via kink303
KiNK composing live on Vermona DRM part II
"KiNK composing live on the vintage analog drummachine with a t.r. style sequencer - VERMONA Digital Rhythm Machine (part II : 24 step sequences)" There are 11 completely analog voices on this machine. The timbre of each voice cannot be modified. Bass Drum - Nothing like an 808 or 909. Very simple oscillator design with transient click. But great for electro/minimal pulsing bass drum. Low Tom - The toms are all pitch varients of each other, with separate circuits. They sound nothing like real toms, something like a 606 tom. Mid Tom - Great for melodic rhythmic patterns. High Tom Claves - Sounds exactly like an 808 clave to me. Cowbell - AWESOME sounding FM synthesis based cowbell. Uses 4 oscillators to create a very convincing tone. Snare 1 - Filtered noise ciruit snare. Sounds great. Snare 2 - Similar to snare 1 with less punch. Clap - Incredibly modern sounding hand clap. Short, no reverb. Nothing like a TR clap. Closed High Hat - The high hats sound very similar to the VERMONA DRM MK3 high hats. Probably based on the same noise circuit Open High Hat - Similar to a cr-8000 but very metallic sounding Cymbal and Accent.
MORE FEATURES:
There are 10 volume sliders to control each grouping of sounds. A master slider for volume. A slider of accent.
The back of the unit features LEFT and RIGHT audio outputs, whereby each instrument is panned by a preset amount. Also features a Headphone out. A dedicated Trigger out and 4 foot pedal inputs to control program change, start/stop, fill and bassdrum removal.
There is an odd european style input port on the back which gives you access to each AUDIO OUT of each instrument. Also each TRIGGER out of each instrument. A dedicated TRIGGER out. And 2 addition rhythm Triggers.
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm
"First i demo a few patterns I programmed along some of the functionalities like "flam" (which affects either toms or snares depending on the state of the dedicated switch), "solo", "fill", "bass only", "second rhythm".
Then I program a pattern on the fly to show how straightforward it is to do (either in "TR" recording or in realtime).
After that I demo the presets of the unit and finally I hooked the Vermona to a Roland TR8S to use the latter as a MIDI pad and sequencer to play the DRM's sound."
"Analog drum machine from East Germany, often tagged as the "east block TR-808". I think it deserves better than this comparision, since it's a very nice sounding drum machine on its own, with many features for the time (MIDI, optional trigger input and individual outputs etc)
Unit was serviced, calibrated and is in fully working order. You could argue some switches sometimes mis trigger or double trigger but nothing major, and quite normal for a 40 years old technology.
Cosmetic is in very good condition with some wear of course."
"quick demo of the great Vermona DRM. Recorded straight from the box with no effects or treatment (you can get an idea of the noise level).
Regardless of the name the 12 sounds are pure analog, in a very Roland TR-606, CR78 or Korg KR55.
You get a very useful 32 steps TR style sequencer, with the ability to record real time too.
16 presets and 10 user programs.
Stereo outputs, headphone outputs, several jack input to control start/stop, solo, bass only and preset change, MIDI IN & OUT.
Also there is a 30 pin connector that can get seperate outputs for each sound as long as trigger in and outs.
Very easy to make dedicated jacks outputs from the pin, I did it and you get a much better sound than the one comming from the stereo out (it bypasses the amp section).
All in all a great machine."
Update: some pics in via Vco Vca. Note this one may go up for sale on Reverb and eBay. If you are interested contact Vco Vca via YouTube.
"This thing is called the Kult for a reason... if you own any one drum machine, this should be it! Very low numbers of these were produced, and these don't come up for auction very often on account of being so wickedly amazing, raw, punchy, and flexible.
The MFB-KULT is a TRUE classic!
Sounds of 25 drumcomputers from the Eighties
192 sounds on 4 MIDI channels
Digital signal processor
Programable ATTACK time
Programable RELEASE time
Programable VOLUME
Programable PANORAMA
From MFB: 'On the occasion of MFB's 25th anniversary, we are proud to announce something special. Since 1979 four rhythm machines were developed and produced: MFB-301, MFB-501, MFB-512 and MFB-612. In Germany these devices are very popular, since the inexpensive machines contained interesting rhythms for rock musicians. MFB digitized some of these sounds, and a multiple sounds of other far common rhythm machines. All these samples are packed into the memory of the MFB-KULT. The 192 sounds are divided in 16 sets, whereby each set contains 12 sounds. Since not every each rhythm machine had 12 sounds, a set consists of sounds of up to three rhythm machines. On a keyboard each set has one octave, so that a 4 octave keyboard or each MIDI channel has four sound sets.
Sounds from following drummachines and devices are available:
"This thing is called the Kult for a reason... if you own any one drum machine, this should be it! Very low numbers of these were produced, and these don't come up for auction very often on account of being so wickedly amazing, raw, punchy, and flexible.
The MFB-KULT is a TRUE classic!
* Sounds of 25 drumcomputers from the Eighties
* 192 sounds on 4 MIDI channels
* Digital signal processor
* Programable ATTACK time
* Programable RELEASE time
* Programable VOLUME
* Programable PANORAMA
On the occasion of MFB's 25th anniversary, we are proud to announce something special. Since 1979 four rhythm machines were developed and produced: MFB-301, MFB-501, MFB-512 and MFB-612. In Germany these devices are very popular, since the inexpensive machines contained interesting rhythms for rock musicians. MFB digitized some of these sounds, and a multiple sounds of other far common rhythm machines. All these samples are packed into the memory of the MFB-KULT. The 192 sounds are divided in 16 sets, whereby each set contains 12 sounds. Since not every each rhythm machine had 12 sounds, a set consists of sounds of up to three rhythm machines. On a keyboard each set has one octave, so that a 4 octave keyboard or each MIDI channel has four sound sets.
Sounds from following drummachines and devices are available:
"Brilliant original retro drum machine with many combinations of patterns. Sound like kits from the Linn, DMX era. Has separate volume for each sound so you get a good balance on drum tracks."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Aug 19, 2019 GLvintageSHOP
Update via @vermonagear: "Indeed, this is not a predecessor of the DRM1, so it’s not the MKI. Its name is DRM which stands for Digital Rhythm Machine. BTW: It was the first GDR-device with MIDI."
"Vermona DRM 1 Vintage Analog Drum Machine European answer Roland 808 Original case Don't work "snare 1" Output - 1/4 jack The supply voltage of the unit - 220-230V/50Hz. For use it with 110/127V, a voltage converter is necessary/ not added. MADE IN USSR Because it's old thing - sold as is, no return or refund."
"Rare and highly collectible vintage drum machine from legendary drum machine / sequencer / electronics company MFB, long discontinued.
This legendary machine contains 192 Sounds from classic drum machines including:
Roland TR-606
Roland TR-727
Roland TR-808
Roland TR-909Boss 55
Casio PT-68
Casio VL-1
CR-78
CR-8000
Sequential Drumtracks
Drumulator
El.-Harmonix
Hohner
Korg DDD1
Korg-220
KPR-77
Linn 1
MFB-401
MFB-501
MFB-512
MFB-612
Pearl SC-40
Rhythm-Ace
Simmons Clap
Simmons SDS
Vermona / 20 Rhythmen
- Digital Signal processor / Attack / Release/Volume/Panorama
- Stereo Output
- Midi In
- Good condition, fully working last time it was checked
- No power cable included"
"Rare and highly collectible vintage drum machine from legendary drum machine / sequencer / electronics company MFB, long discontinued.
This legendary machine contains 192 Sounds from classic drum machines including:
Roland TR-606
Roland TR-727
Roland TR-808
Roland TR-909Boss 55
Casio PT-68
Casio VL-1
CR-78
CR-8000
Sequential Drumtracks
Drumulator
El.-Harmonix
Hohner
Korg DDD1
Korg-220
KPR-77
Linn 1
MFB-401
MFB-501
MFB-512
MFB-612
Pearl SC-40
Rhythm-Ace
Simmons Clap
Simmons SDS
Vermona / 20 Rhythmen
- Digital Signal processor / Attack / Release/Volume/Panorama
- 1x 1/4" Stereo
- Midi In
- Good condition, fully working last time it was checked
- No power cable included"
After this year's massive New Years post, I thought it might be interesting to see how many new makers and new gear announcements we received in a single month.
This may or may not become a monthly theme on the site depending on interest. If you think it's worth while, leave a comment.
At a high level we had 12 new makers, one new old maker previously never featured on the site, and a whopping 193 new synth related products. Check out the module list below. The list is a combination of what was either announced or released this month.
"Trying out many of the preset rhythms on the Rhythm Ace FR2L with different settings on the Vermona Retroverb Lancet. The Retroverb has a spring reverb, state variable filter, voltage controlled amplifier, LFO, envelope follower and envelope generator. There is also variable routing on the lancet and an input stage that can be overdriven into distortion.
Today's digital effects and plug-ins can create almost perfect room simulations. However, when it comes to characteristic and charismatic reverb, analogue effect-processors are yet to beat. The reverberating sound of a spring is so lively and unique that its sound is almost impossible to recreate in the digital domain. In addition to this, Retroverb Lancet is not just a spring reverberation system - it is an analogue multi-effects-processor. It offers overdrive, filtering, VCA, envelope and LFO to manipulate the spring sound and create different sounds like Auto-Wah, Tremolo, Distortion, Delay, Gater and of course Reverb.
The DRUMMER ONE is a very rare, professional analog rhythm box from Elka, Italy. High quality hardware. All rhythms are mixable. All drum sounds have volume knobs to set the volume individually. It was primarily used by krautrock artists as Cluster (Zuckerzeit) and Kraftwerk.
I played the Drummer One with a small amout of ambience from a Lexicon MPX-500 and delay from a Korg SDD-3000. At the end of the video you hear SDD-3000 echo madness ;-)
Do you like the Elka Drummer One sounds? You can purchase it as SAMPLE PACK for 6,99 Euros. All drum sounds of the machine are included (16 bit / 44,1 kHz wav samples).
Recording was made in high quality using RME studio equipment. All original pure sound directly from the machine's output, without any treatments.
After payment through PayPal you will get the sample pack via email.
If you want to buy the sample pack, send a message to
Update: some pics and details captured. I made the mistake of trying to capture them all and then realized how many were listed. :) I ended up switching to the more esoteric models. Quite a few have never been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH before. What's a little bit interesting, is only two new labels were needed, one for Domino and one for Side-Kick-Er. All other brands have been featured before. See the labels at the bottom of this post. Side note: Blogger limits the number of characters to 200 for labels, so I wasn't able to capture them all for this post. You can always search for the brand names featured for more. I assume most do this anyway. The labels are more for maintenance and for finding posts that may not feature brand names in descriptions.
