7/11/23 (pulser-chirper) MFB 501 + Metasonix TM-1

video upload by Cfpp0

You see more in the window.

A SEQUENCER FROM BERLIN - THE MFB-601

video upload by Polykit Synth

"In this video I look into the history of MFB, a Berlin based manufacturer of musical instruments, and repairing a vintage jewel, the MFB-601 digital sequencer from 1983.

The MFB-601 is sequencing my Kosmo modular synthesizer. Two VCOs are going through a Steiner diode ladder VCF and a spring reverb tank. The MFB-601 is also triggering the MFB-501 drum machine to stay in sync.

0:00 - Intro
0:15 - History of MFB
1:06 - The MFB-601 Digital Sequencer
1:37 - Repair
2:26 - Programming of Sequences
3:40 - Demo MFB-501 & MFB-601
5:14 - Conclusion"

MFB 501 vintage DRUM MACHINE from 1980

video upload by Polykit

"This is the MFB 501 drum machine from 1980. I needed to make a custom power supply cable for this rather unusual plug. I'm pretty excited about this because it was made in my home town!"

MFB's Manfred Fricke Has Passed Away

Left: Manfred Fricke (via Amazona.de) back in the day with his first creations, the MFB-501 drum machine (right), and MFB-601 digital sequencer (left).

2nd image is Manfred Fricke with the MFB SYNTH II at SUPERBOOTH (unknown source).

We lost another legend in the synth world. Sad news in via STROMKULT: "'On June, 17th around 11am Manfred Fricke from Berlin alias MFB sadly passed away after having had a hard time with cancer for a while already. He left his wife Gloria and his son Jean-Marcel behind, we are all very sad having lost this partner, friend and father.'
HerrSchneider

Manfred Fricke was one of Berlins pioneers of analog synth and drum machine makers. He has been the weapon of choice for many (not only) starting musicians. Let’s be honest, who didn’t have one of his creations early in his or hers journey into electronic musical instruments – or at least thought about getting one – and why shouldn’t you? Manfred Fricke's machines always brought something unique to the table, they were mostly analog, affordable, in small plastic housings and just did the job. Manfred always focused on keeping his products affordable for his clients and the instruments quite often made their way to professional use later on, and the musicians often kept their first units as something almost holy, because it were these machines that paved the way into analog electronic music making.

But it would be too short-sighted to associate MFB only with budget entry-level products. Especially the drum machines Tanzbär and Tanzbär II, or the great Dominion 1 show that Manfred Fricke also built machines that met higher demands. The Tanzbär, in particular, is considered by many to be their favorite drum machine of the last few years, especially in terms of its amazing sound.

We hope that MFB will continue to exist and that it will continue to make it easier for many generations of musicians to enter the world of electronic sound production.

We wish Manfred Fricke's son Jean-Marcel continued success for the future of MFB and extend our condolences to him and his family. And lets hope that Manfred will finally meet up with all the other good guys on the other side.

Rest In Peace."

MFB TANZBAR 2 pic via STROMKULT.


video upload by 7V-STUDIO

MFB's Manfred Fricke's first procuct, the Fricke MFB-501 drum machine.

Description via this video:
"This little analog beatbox was developed in 1980 1979 by Manfred Fricke. It was offered at 380 DM. As a low-cost model on the market for analog rhythm generators the small black and white "Switch Box" quickly found a lot of friends, because its configuration could be compared to its expensive far east competitors: 64 patterns and as many fill-ins switchable via micro switches, speed ​​control via potentiometer, 10 analog percussion instruments (activated by means of micro switches), combined mono/stereo outputs (jack), In & Out (5 Vss) and trigger footswitch inputs (jack) for start and fill-in
(retail price for the switch at 16 DM). An external wall power supply provides 12 volts.

Approx. 5000 units of the MFB-501 had been sold. Not so bad for a one-man company. So this drum machine is one of the top-selling devices in the history of the Berlin engineer offices M. Fricke . If you're lucky, this iconic device can still be found on the relevant internet sales platforms.

Today, maintenance of this tiny noise machine is still easily feasible, because Fricke employed only commercially available components. Therefore, 'presumedly dead 501's' can be reanimated without major problems."

MFB 601 Vintage Digital Sequencer, Teardown, Repair and partial analysis


Published on Feb 2, 2015 FPV Electronics

Note this video is FPV Electronics of course, and not Manfred Fricke.
"This device is exclusively built from 7400 and 4000 series basic logic ICs. Making it must have been so much more difficult than just programming a generic µController as we would do today."

Timeline via http://mfberlin.de/en/about-us/:

1976: MFB was founded by engineer Manfred Fricke. So far there were more than some hundred products constructed and distributed. The first developments and products were primarly video games for industrial playmachines.

1979: A lowcost drummachine was introduced in 1979. (98 DM for the self construction kit). The legendary drumcomputer MFB-501 was finished and sold. Although it was not the most prominent drumcomputer of that time it surely was one of the best selling drum units in Germany. Some shops sold ten times more MFB-501s than Roland TR-808s. More products for the musician followed, such as the Digital-Sequencer MFB-601 and the digital drum machine MFB-512. All of these featured rich products were offered at exceptional low prices.

1984: The E-Drum module series 1000 and 2000 followed with corresponding pads.

1986: A new construction period started in 1986 with product launches of the MIDI-CV converter MFB-201 and the MIDI drummer MFB-SYNTH was finished in 1997, although its development dates back to the eighties. The machine never went into production since 2001, the year of the company´s 25th anniversary because of decreased interest in analogue synthesizer technology especially in the sales channels.

From 1986 Manfred Fricke specialized in products for video applications. Alone 20 different framegrabbers for the Apple II, C-64 und IBM compatible PCs were constructed. A very high percentage of these framegrabbers were and are still in use for special industrial purposes. Custom development is still done here, so these specialized tools are not available for other customers.

1994: MFB introduced the world´s first videomixer below 1.000 DM, the MFB-901. Its successor MFB-902 was available in 1995. Another important development in the video section was the model MFB-912, a digital video memory. This 1998 product was highly acclaimed by the press.

1999: The successor MFB-915 added sound and higher picture resolution. It´s available since October 1999. Another successor is the model MFB-920 with an integrated harddrive offering better options for nonlinear cutting and post processing of the recorded material.

2001: During this year, Manfred Fricke also developed another new MIDI drum-module. MFB-KULT, includes most of the famous sounds of the older machines. Both MFB-SYNTH and MFB-KULT are availabale since December 2001. Because of constant requests for the digital sequencer MFB-601 a successor MFB-602. was introduced in May 2002.

2002: Since August 2002 there´s also a little brother of the MFB-SYNTH, the MFB-SYNTH LITE

And of course the MFB DOMINION series and the MFB SYNTH PRO.

There have been 1747 MFB posts on the site prior to this one. MFB has been a mainstay on the site and Manfred Fricke will be greatly missed.

Merlin (Moog Modular and MFB-501) by Benge

zack dagoba

"Moog Modular and MFB (standing for Manfred Fricke Berlin) 501B drum machine playing together. The Moog is using a Dotcom S&H to produce the sequence of notes (with an up-saw LFO plus clock). The reverb is the original Moog 905 spring"

Building A Track: MFB / Wurlitzer Drums & Eurorack Modular Synth

isvisible isinvisible

"Working on a track and thought I'd share the different elements as they're added to the track.

Featuring:
Various modular drum sounds - Strymon Magneto.
Wurlitzer Swingin' Rhythm - Intellijel Springray.
MFB 501.
Music Thing Chord Organ - Doepfer LPG & Frequency Shifter.
Livewire AFG - Doepfer LPG, Marshall Time Modulator.
Synthesis Technology E350 - Doepfer Vactrol Filter, ZVex Instant Lo-Fi Junky.
Neutron Sound Orgone Accumulator - Doepfer Vactrol Phaser, ZVex Fuzz Factory."

New MFB-501 PRO

MFB-501 Pro flies in the air - HerrFricke Junior

via MFB

"The MFB-501 Pro drum computer is a modernized new edition of the MFB-501 from 1980. It offers eight analog drum sounds, each of which can be edited in three parameters. As an extension, the model MFB-501 Pro has eight slots for samples, as they were already found in the MFB-KULT. There is a selection of 128 samples of various drum classics in the internal ROM memory. You can import your own samples with a length of up to 1.5 seconds each from a computer via USB.

Patterns with up to 16 steps and A / B division can be programmed in the sequencer, from which songs can be put together. The sound parameters of all analog instruments can be varied with each step (parameter locks). The sequencer has a five-stage shuffle mode and can be synchronized to the MIDI clock or an external analog clock.
The MFB-501 Pro can also be used as a sound module, where all instruments can be triggered dynamically via MIDI and the sound parameters can be controlled via MIDI control change commands.

A stereo output, a controllable headphone output and a sync socket are available as connections. Power is supplied via the supplied USB plug-in power supply. Updates can be made from a computer via USB.

The parameters of the individual instruments:
Bass drum tune, decay, attack, volume
Snare tune, decay, noise, volume
Claps decay, attack, volume
Tom Tune, Decay, Attack, Volume
Bongo Tune, Decay, Attack, Volume
Clave tune, decay, attack, volume
Cymbal Tune, Decay, Mix Noise / Metal, Volume
Hi Tune, Decay, Mix Noise / Metal, Volume
Sample 1 to 8 tune, decay, volume"

MFB Kult Drum Machine

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

via this auction

"This thing is NUTS. A little box filled with samples of some of the best drum machines of all time. It sounds gritty and awesome. Perfect for experimental house, techno, or indy dance type stuff.

CLICK FOR MORE »

MFB-KULT - Rare Vintage Drum Machine Synth

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

via this auction

"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"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Rare MFB-KULT Vintage Drum Machine Synth

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

via this auction

"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"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Gelbart in Worm/Klangendum Studio - ARP 2500, Kawai 100F & MFB-501

Published on Oct 12, 2014 Defekt Records

"written and played in Worm/Klangendum studio, October 2014
http://www.gelbartcorp.com

instruments: ARP 2500, Kawai 100F, MFB-501"

U-Resista: MFB-501, Tama DS-200, Roland MKS 50, Analogue Systems, Yamaha CS-5, SCi Sixtrak Jam

Published on Dec 9, 2013 Daniel .J. Gonzales

"A little analogue* jam with Cubase and some gear...

String pad:
Roland MKS 50 + MAM Phaze 2 Stereo Analog Phaser

Rhythm:
MFB 501 + Tama DS 200 (Bass Drum) + DP/4 Reverb.
*Additional "muffled beat" is a sample on Cubase (self made) no more samples were used :)

Synths:
Yamaha CS-5 (lead), Sci Sixtrak + Doepfer Mini Synth modular ("B.o.C. sound" + bass), Analogue Systems RS 95e + 500e + 510e (crying sequence), Roland SH 101(blips n clicks)

More FX:
Ensoniq DP/4 (Drums + send Reverb), Dynacord TAM 19 (CS 5 Chorus), Ibanez AD 202 (Doepfer MS), Yamaha AD Model E 1005 + Roland RV 100 Spring Reverb (A S EMS Modules)

Track made and mastered by me @home. Video 2...
U-resista 2013"

1983 MFB 401 / 501 / 512 / 601 German Ad

via synthmuseum.de

1983 MFB 501 / 601 / 512 German Ad

via synthmuseum.de

8-track Dub

Published on Nov 3, 2013 Peik Erhola·15 videos

"Tascam 688 -- can it dub?
8-track cassette dub with bass, guitar and flute played by my friend Sampsa (he also wrote this song). The drums are from MFB 522 and Roland TR-606 and the organs are from Roland Juno 106. Mixed on Tascam 688 Midistudio. 2 percussion tracks are going into the Boss KM-60 mixer to free up some channels for effects. I'm using Boss RE-20, Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo, Dynacord DRS-78 and Lexicon MPX-100 for effects."

MFB Kult Drum Machine with Original Box

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

via this auction

"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:

CLICK FOR MORE »

1980 MFB 301 / 501 Ad

via Synthmuseum.de

Rare MFB-712 Drum Machine

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

"One of the world's first digital drum machines. A pioneering piece of electronic music gear from legendary synth designer Manfred Fricke, Berlin beautiful in terms of its design and form factor, this drum machine has the same white housing shared by the legendary MFB-501 analog preset drum machine which is next to
impossible to find. Used by Conrad Schnitzler, as evidenced by video of him in his studio. One of the first MIDI drum machines. You won't come across it again any time soon."

CLICK FOR MORE »

MFB 501 Rhythmusbox

YouTube Uploaded by uNTERHOLz72 on Jul 31, 2011

"a small & affordable german analog rhythm machine.features:
-9 mutable analog instruments.
-64 presets with 64 fill ins.
-can play 1, 2 or 4 bars in the loop.
-mono/stereo out
-trigger in & out
-foot control for start
-foot control for fill in

watch it at work (hidden link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B70McaT3KfY [below]
u- resista 2011
http://www.myspace.com/unterholz"

U Resista - Ambient Live Pt.1

Published on Mar 4, 2012 by uNTERHOLz72

Unterholz Resista 2012 (http://www.myspace.com/unterholz)

"Analog Drums :MFB 501, MAM ADX1
Analog Synths: Roland SH101, Roland MKS50, Sequental Circuits Sixtrak, Yamaha CS5 Digital Synths : Hohner HS-2/E a.k.a. Casio VZ10m
Sequencer: Cubase LE , MFB 602 (SH101 & MFB 501)
Effects: Ensoniq DP/4 Multi Effects (SH101), Vesta Fire RVD 901 Digital Reverb (MKS50), Dynacord DDL12 Digital Delay (CS5), Digitech DSP 256XL Multi Effects (Hohner HS2/E) durch MAM Phaze2 Stereo Analog Phaser
Audio Interface: Echo Audiofire12"

MFB KULT drums machine synthesizer

via this auction

"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:

CLICK FOR MORE »