DYNACORD P20 Programmable Digital Drum Computer / Computer & Drum-to-Midi-Converter

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

Pics and listing links previously posted here.

"Quick functionnal demo of the Dynacord P20.

Though being a very simple digital drum expander the P20 has quite some comprehensive features.

It has 24 builtin sounds and 5 more can be added with cartridges, the same used for the Percuter.

Sounds can be played by triggers or by MIDI, and the unit can be used as a trigger to midi converter. When using MIDI you get dynamics over the sounds.

You can program 90 presets with any combination of sounds (or midi out only), volume, midi notes and channel, dynamics and a very effective 'echo' effect. It's a re trigger features that mimics an echo effect. I demo this features at the end of the video.

There is also a special midi mode where you have the whole 29 sounds available at hands. I demo this also in the video."

Elka Wilgamat: all patterns and variations and some tips

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

00:00 intro
01:10 all patterns and variations demos
06:17 instruments played as solo"



"UNIT IS FOR SALE:
https://reverb.com/item/89181075
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306255320490

I've serviced several Wilgamat and I noticed that sometimes you can miss some minor issues in an otherwise working unit, mainly in the bass accompaniement arpeggios: missing notes, wrong pitched notes, double trigger notes... These issues (as most of the issues in this instruments) are caused by faulty CMOS chipsets. These are cheap and easy to replace. Issue can however be in the AY-1-1313 chipsets (Priority Latching Network chipset) and these are harder to find.

Here you can listen to a fullly working and proper sounding unit and compare it to yours. Pay particular attention to the bass part, especially in "walking bass" mode. If one or more patterns do not sound like these then you have some faulty chipsets somewhere.

There is a non intended use of these unit I like: when playing in "key" start mode with lowest tempo, you can use this unit as a simple bass or synth keyboard.

Depending on the pattern selected you don't get the same result. With a little pratice it can turn as a nice simple bass keyboard.

Also note the bass section only spans over 1 octave whereas the accompanient sections spans over 2."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Boss DR-110 analog drum machine with trigger inputs mod SN 537800

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"very short video to demo the trigger input mod added to the Boss DR-110.
It enables the drum machine to be played with external gear. Any positive pulse trigger from 1v to 20v would do the trick, you can even trig the sounds manually with a AA battery if you like !"

via this eBay listing

"Portable programmable analog drum machine from the early 80s.

Unit was modded to add trigger inputs so that now you can sequence the 6 sounds and accent with external gear. It uses optocouplers so any positive voltage pulse would trigger the sounds (v-trigger for instance). You could even trig the sound manually with a battery cell !

Unit is in fully working order. it comes with its original carrying case.
It runs on batteries or power adpater (not included). If you want to run it on power supply you'd need to get the boss PSA-120 power supply, other power adapters brings background noises.'

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar Performer MK2 (SSM 2040 filter) / analog polyphonic synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"The Crumar Performer is a string and brass synth that has some features that grants it to be part of the hall of fame of paraphonic analog synths.
First it's a quite compact and lightweight contender in such a category.
Then it has a very nice and warm sounding resonant filter, based on the SSM 2040 and 2050 chipsets, just like in the Sequential Prophet 5. First version of the Performer used a Moog inspired transistor ladder filter, also resonant. It sounds good too but I definitely prefer that one.

The string sound have variable attack and release time and those can be quite long, great for pads and ambiance. But in my opinion what makes it special is the 3 band Eq which allows for quite a large panel of variety of tones, and it can get into almost vocal territories (check video at 05:49).
recorded through a Dynacord VRS23 for added reverb."

via this Reverb listing

"the Crumar Performer is one of the classic string synth. This one is the second version with the updated filter (SSM 2040 like on the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5).

Unit was serviced and is perfectly working. Power suply was recapped and everything was cleaned and calibrated. Cosmetic is quite good, despite some scuff and wear here and there.
It's quite compact and lightweight compared to others string synth (77x35x19cm 12kilos)"

CLICK FOR MORE »

declassicfied birds: Korg KR-55 externally triggered and synced

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"The Korg Rhythm 55 (KR-55) is a very nice and punchy sounding rhythm unit that is also very easily modifiable. Adding clock sync, trigger inputs and audio outputs is really just a matter of soldering some wires in the right places and connecting them to sockets. (well if you want a proprer 24 PPQN DinSync you need to add some components for the clocking part).
Here is a demo of a unit that has 10 trigger inputs sequenced by the Roland TR-8s and which audio is running into the TR-8s too in order to add FX.
All drum sounds are from the KR-55.
You can also still have the built in KR-55 patterns running and play/record some more parts on top of them if you like. So sync and play at the same time.
By enabling external sequencing the trigger inputs mod broadens the KR-55 territory and you can hear that is can easily fit into contemporary musical genres.
One peculiar thing about this unit is that it has 12 sounds but only 10 trigger possibilities. Indeed the 2 toms and 2 congas share the same trigger so there is no way in this unit to have both toms and congas sound at the same time. There is a very nice technical article about this drum machine if you’re interested in such knowledge here: https://electricdruid.net/analogue-dr..."

classic analog drum machines: Korg KR-55 & Roland CR-8000

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"KORG KR-55 for sale [via this listing]

Since they look so similiar it was too tempting to compare those 2 classic rhythm units. Despite their similar design they are quite different, and the comparision is not really fair to the Korg since the Roland has programing abiltities. The CR-5000 would have been a closer contender but I don't own one so it is the 8000.
Though the Korg Rhythm 55 has less features and sounds than the Roland it has more patterns (48 patterns wheras the Roland features 24 preset patterns and 8 user ones) and a tighter, punchier sound.
Overall I prefer the Roland, especially for percussive sound (cowbell, claves, tom, rimshot and that amazing clap) but the kick, snare and hi hats of the Korg are very nice.
The Korg was fitted with a 24 ppq clock input so it can easily be synced to other gear in the studio, as it is the case here, slaved to the Roland.
The Roland had it's Kick, Snare and Toms sounds modified slightly. The kick is lower and boomier than it originally is and the snare is way snappier than it originally is. The Tom had the white noise part removed to have a more round sound."

via this listing

"Classic presets analog drum machine from 1979.

Unit was serviced and is in fully working order.
It was fitted with a 3,5mm jack clock input. It works on 24 PPQ so like most of the gear you will have in your studio and much easier to sync than the 8 PPQ the unit internally runs on. Check the video, as it is synced to the Roland CR-8000

Cosmetic is fair with some cracks on the case and bumps here and there, see pictures."

CLICK FOR MORE »

E-mu Drumulator stock kit VS Linn Drum kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Here you have a comparision between 2 e-mu Drumulator units, one that has stock eprom sounds and the second one that was fitted with Linn Drum LM1 sounds.
I play all the patterns available in the units, which are factory ones except for a few programmed ones. As a bonus I added a comparision of the stock Drumulator and the custom kit I use, which is basically the stock kit with Kick, Clap and Hi Hats replaced by the Linn Drum ones.
Also by having both units side by side I discover something funny, I let you find it in the video..."

Italo discoing Poly 61 (with Tauntek MIDI mod)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Quick 80s inspired tune mainly to demonstrate the MIDI sync capabilities of the Tauntek MIDI kit.
(http://www.tauntek.com/Poly61.htm)
It's a basic MIDI kit that adds MIDI IN notes and Arp Sync control to the Poly 61, as well as MIDI receive channel. These features makes already a big differrence over a stock Poly 61, or over a Poly 61M which though has MIDI implemented only works in OMNI mode and don't let you sync the arp over MIDI.
All synth sound are from the Poly 61, drums and MIDI clock are provided by the Oberheim DX."

via this listing, also on eBay

Pic of the inside below.

"6 voices analog polysynth, serviced and upgraded with a Tauntek Midi interface.

The upgrade lets you play notes over midi and also synchronise the built-in arpeggiator to MIDI clock !

Unit was serviced and is in fully working condition. It did suffer the classic battery leaking but was fixed and a brand new battery was fitted, along with factory presets.

Cosmetic is overall very good, except for the side cheeks that are damaged, and a key that was glued but barely noticeable, see pictures. Otherwise a very clean unit."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dynacord EC-280 analog BBD echo / reverb (+ Elka OMB5)

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"EC280 FOR SALE HERE: https://www.ebay.com/itm/306026834216
https://reverb.com/item/86584891/

Here is an overview of this singular analog delay. The EC280 was allegedly the very first bucket brigade device delay around. I don't know about that but it was the first Dynacord released and it paved the way for their futur classic units like VRS 23, SRS 56 or TAM 19 / 21.
What makes this unit special is the use of BBD chipsets to create reverb spaces. The result are totally unatural reverbs but that are extremely deep and beautiful. The sound is dark and dense, and a bit gritty, you wont't get very define repetition out of this echo unit but it really glues the instrument you run into it. It further has a 'chorus" level that acts peculiarly too since you can't set the time of the chorus, it is tied to the delay 'speed'. With this chorus knob, fast speed setting and high feedback level ('regeneration') you almost go to flanger territories.
A very unique device it is."

"This is the rare first non tape delay produced by Dynacord. It uses 8 Philips TDA 1022 bucket brigade device chipsets and offers echo and reverb mode, along with some kind of modulation labelled chorus, very much like the modulation that will be found later on in units like Dynacord VRS23, Yamaha E1010 or Ibanez AD202, here in its simpliest form, the speed of the modulation cannot be set and is tied to the speed of the delay, thus giving some very strange possible effect. The sound is very deep and dark, the reverb mode in particular is magnificient.

The unit was serviced: every single electrolityc capacitors were replaced, everything was cleaned and it is calibrated. It is in fully working order and in very good cosmetic condition, with only minor signs of wear."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Blue Mondayish ELKA OMB5 with Custom Drum Kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"I just finished servicing an Elka OMB5 and building a custom drum kit for it so I had some fun with it.
All sounds are from the OMB5, no fx used."

ELKA OMB 5 with custom drum kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"herre is a demo of an Elka One Man Band with custom drum sounds.

The OMB5 is a nice 4 part arranger with rhythm channel, bass channel and 2 accompaniment tracks. Sounds are FM (from the elka ER/EK/EM 44) and the drums are PCM sampled from the Drumstar 80. It has MIDI in and out so you can either control and play the different part from the keyboard or from MIDI, it syncs and transmits clock as well as single input notes or sequenced notes. I like using it with external midi controller so I can play the 3 different melodic part separately (when playing from the keyboard notes always trigger the 3 part together).

Though the drum samples are actually quite good if you like 80s sounds (especialy percussion and cymbal sounds), I decided to replace some of them with some I favor more, using sounds from LinnDrum, Oberheim DX, Roland TR808, CR8000 and TR707. I also adjusted level by using compression on some other stock sounds.

The audio format used in the OMB5 (and the Drumstar 80 which drum part is derived) is the same as in those classic 80s PCM drum machines, ie 8 bit µ-Law unsigned sample. Sample rate is 25000 hz (or so) in that one.

Replacing sound is not as straightforward as in those drum machines because instead of using 1x eprom per sound there are several samples per eprom (7x 256 kbyte eproms are used in the OMB5 to accomode for 32 sounds) so you need to edit the audio file and replace the existing sample with your own but it needs to start at the exact same adress as the original one and it should have the same length or be shorter.

So basically what you do is:
read the eprom bin
convert to uncompressed audio
edit that file and edit/replace the sound you want making sure you dont change file size nor start adress of the sound
convert the uncompressed audio to µ-law 8 bit
burn the new bin file

if you're interested in getting those sound I can sell you a full 7x eproms kit ready to use. I can be fitted in the DrumStar 80 too.

here is a list of the 32 sounds, with original and replacement when there is:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Farfisa Syntorchestra demo and tech tips

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"i've serviced several Syntorchestra and I found out that because of the age, build quality and design limitation of the synth, owners can sometimes wonder if their unit is working and sounding how it should.
So here you have an example of a properly working unit, with its strength and weakness. These instrument are quite unique. Before I laid my hands on one I was not really convinced by the demos I heard. Sure is sounded nice but nothing to rave about. But I must admit that when you have the chance to play with one you get quite quickly drowned in its sound. There is something very unique about that instrument, nothing I can really compare it too. Especially when you play both sections together, something magical happens.
First part of the video is a quick performance using a Welson S12 drum machine and Vermona VRS23 for reverb. Second part is recorded dry from the synth with no production. I go over every sound and parameter of the synth in that section so you can compare to your unit.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg Poly 61 with Tauntek CPU board upgrade

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"demo of a Korg Poly 61 that was recently upgraded with Tauntek's new CPU board (www.tauntek.com/Poly61newKLM.htm) which adds several functions to the synth that make it more versatile.
As well as extended parameters value range and MIDI Control Change for every parameter, there are some more waveform available for LFO1, DCO2 and a second LFO with 4 possible waveforms (this LFO is permanetly assigned to PWM and can be assigned to DCO pitch modulation instead of LFO1. The latter is always assigned to VCF modulation).
Other nice features are the possibilty to desactivate DCO1, MIDI synchronising the arpeggiator, random mode for the arpeggiator, the ability to use INC/DEC switches to select programs, 80 users programs (vs 64), MIDI OUT and THRU etc Nothing fancy in this video, just live editing the synth to showcase some of the new features."

Italo discoing Powertran Transcendent 2000

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"I recently repaired and modded a second Powertran Transcendent 2000 analog mono synth, adding a sub oscillator circuit and LFO flashing led.
I made a quick tune to illustrate the groovy side of this synth, which can also sound quite wild and nasty.
Track is made exclusively with the T2000 (well 2 units as a matter of fact) and an Oberheim DX drum machine"

Akai AX80 with realtime MIDI controller

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Demo of the Akai AX80 8 voices analog synth with Tauntek upgraded firmware that allows among other improvements MIDI Control Change editing of all the synth parameters.
Just tweaking a bit on a bass preset and a pad preset, and further demoing a few patches I made. No FX were used."

rare birds: Rolling REC-4 analog BBD delay & spring reverb with no so rare Elka Solist 505

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"The Rolling REC-4 is rebadged Evans Echopet EP-250, exact same PCB (labeled EP-250 by the way). It's a very nice spring reverb and BBD delay combo. It uses 3x Panasonic MN3005 chipsets, the same used on more famous BBD delay like the Yamaha E1005 / E1010 and Ibanez AD202 among many others. What's make it quite unique is that the delay sound goes to the reverb tank so you can get some very dense effect. If you want only the spring reverb sound you need to leave the "repeat" control of the delay fully counter clockwise.

The Elka Solist 505 is a simple italian monophonic analog synth with preset and some limited sound editing control, like a simple attack release enveloppe that can be routed to VCF or VCA, a 'wow' effect, which is more or less a resonance control; cutoff control, vibrato depth (speed is fixed) and 'bend'.
It is however very nice sounding because of the Moog inspired transistor ladder filter."

via this listing

"The Elka Solist 505 is a simple italian monophonic analog synth with preset and some limited sound editing control, like a simple attack release enveloppe that can be routed to VCF or VCA, a 'wow' effect, which is more or less a resonance control; cutoff control, vibrato depth (speed is fixed) and "bend". It is however very nice sounding because of the Moog inspired transistor ladder filter.

Unit is in fully working condition, see demo.
Cosmetic is not so great, mainly the front panel paint and lettering."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland CR8000, SH101 and Teisco Vocal 120

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"demo mainly intented to show the Roland CR8000 and Teisco Vocal 120 i'm selling in action.

The Teisco is a nice 5 channel mixing amplifier. It's very nice used as a submixer to add some character and spring reverb to keys and drum machines as you can hear. Simple Treble / Bass EQ that sounds very musical, and a 3 stage gain attenuator that can make the input just slighthly overdriven and compressed to totally smashed. Channels are transistor based, not op amp.
The CR8000 is a classic groovey programmable Roland drum machine, 2 step away from the CR78 and 1 step from the TR808."

via this listing

The Teisco is listed here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Welson Super-Matic S12 analog drum machine

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Very nice analog preset rhythm unit from the late 60s. It features 12 patterns that can be combined and 4 manual trigger sounds (snare roll, claves, tom 1 and tom 2), very much like the Farfisa Rhythm 10.

On the back of the unit you can set the 'impedance' and the "tone" of the unit. Also a pedal input is availbale for start stop.

intro synth used is a Korg Poly 61. Drum and synth recorded through a Teisco Vocal 120 in order to add spring reverb."

via this listing

CLICK FOR MORE »

rare birds: Farfisa Rhythm Maker 16

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

via this listing, also on Reverb

"rare analog drum machine from the 60s.

Basically it's almost 100% the same circuit as the Ace Tone FR1 / FR2L and as the Farfisa Melodic Rhythmer CER-60 in a different case.

Was also sold / rebranded by other manufacturers like NDK, Nomad or Goya, often in slightly different cases and different names but sharing the same pattern and cancel switches.

Unit was serviced: every electrolytic capacitors were replaced and unit was calibrated. Sounds and works as it should.
Cosmetic is in quite good condition except sor some minor scuff and wear."

CLICK FOR MORE »

rare birds: Dynacord Magic 370 spring reverb [& Korg Mini Pops 120]

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

This appears to be the first one to be featured on the site.

"this is a quite rare spring reverb built by Dynacord in the late 60s. As minimal as it can possibly be: a black box with only a socket (input/output) and a gain level. Not even a power switch ! This particular unit was fully recapped and it sounds very nice, deep but quite bright for a spring reverb. Tank is a Accutronics one and electronics is only transistor based. The pot is not a blend pot but a gain level. As you can hear you can get the unit to overdrive quite easily. You need to set the unit as an aux to your mixing desk or soundcard. If you plug an instrument directly you will get wet sound only. In this demo it is connected to a RME babyface as an aux, and I used a Korg Mini Pops 120 (btw for sale here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/305744488287) and a Roland SH-101 as source materials"

via this listing

Note the listing is for the Minipops only.

"classic Korg Minipops 120, the last drum machine from the Mini Pops serie. Unit was serviced, partially recapped and calibrated. It's in fully working order. Unit was also slightly modded: the balance knob which originally acted as a kind of EQ (boosting bass on the left side and high on the right side) is now acting as a HI Hats / Cymbal volume (like it should have IMO) so you can totally dialed off the hi hats / cymbal and it allows for more rhythmic variations, perfect for those breaks."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dynacord VRS 23 / analog BBD delay and reverb

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"UNIT IS FOR SALE HERE: https://www.ebay.com/itm/305722769747

quick demo of the Dynacord VRS 23 "Vertical Reverberation System", an analog BBD delay and unique stereo reverb. As a bucket brigade device delay, the VRS23 is among the best sounding ever produced (listen to those very long yet defined repetitions).
But what makes it truly unique is the reverb mode, which is a true stereo reverb (circuitry is double inside the unit to produce the reverb mode).
I used a Roland SH-101 as a source but the unit sounds great on any material you can provide."