images via
this auction"XR10 Specifications:
Sample sound format: 16 bit PCM tone generator
Drum Section/internal sound: 10 drum kits; 65 drum sounds; 32 user programmable sounds
Programmable sound parameters: Volume Level, Pan, Tune, Decay, Reverse On/Off, Effect Send Level
Polyphony: 8 voice
Pads and knobs: 24 pads (not velocity sensitive); can send on simultaneous MIDI channels
Other pads: numeric keypad (0-9); [<] [>] [^] [v] [-/N] [+/Y] [Enter]; Big Volume and Tempo/Data knobs
Sequencer: 450 preset patterns (50 patterns, 3 variations, 3 fill-ins, 1 intro, 1 break, and 1 ending) and 99 programmable (a max combined total of about 5000 notes a max of 4 bars/pattern); 20 programmable songs (with a max 99 patterns each); 3 variations; 3 fill-ins (nice for standalone performance)
Timing resolution: 96 clocks/quarter note (play)
Tempo: 40 bpm~296bpm
I/O connectors: (1/4 inch phone jacks) L (mono), R, Effect output; Stereo Headphone x1; Footswitch x2 (Start/ Stop, Fill-in); MlDl lN/OUT
Display: 16 characterx2 line LCD
Power: DC 12V in, 200mA (jack: negative on the inside, positive on the outside); On/off button PSU INCLUDED WITH BUY-IT-NOW
Dimensions (mm): 350(W) x 241(D) x 68(H)
Weight: 1,7kg
XR10 Description/coments:
» Akai's first (and only) preset drum machine, launched in the late 80’s (1989).
» Provides drum sounds unlike those found in competing products at the time. As well as 'stock' kit and percussion sounds, the XR10 is packed with many sounds of its time, such as Peter Gabriel-style gated power toms, big Robert Palmer kicks and snares, trashy Jam and Lewis sounds, Simmons kit and others!
» The sounds are very similar to the classic Linn Drum & the electronic kits do a very good 808 impression! Used by Alec Reece, Prince, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers), Peter Gabriel…
»The XR10 is one of a few 80s machines that doesn't have a filter (like the Yamaha RX5 and the Linn LM-1) which means that when you pitch down the sounds, you get some crunchy clock noise and aliasing artefacts, which can be quite cool.
» The compact XR10 contains 65 of the most impressive collection of 16 bit digital drum sounds you'll ever hear! PLUS! You can create YOUR OWN SOUNDS, using the extensive editing parameters including sweep, reverse decay, (fine) tune, and more.
»The decay parameter is adjustable from 0-1.5 sec in 31 steps. Other parameters such as Hold and Sweep let you select the desired sustain power and the pitch sweep. Reverse opens a whole new set of sounds! Programs you create can be stored in any of the 32 user programmable memory locations.
» The XR10 also gives you the powerful ability to create effect send mixes (fully assignable effect send) which will greatly help free up mixing channels on your recording studio board.
» It wasn't an overwhelming success as a drum machine due to its somewhat 'quirky' pattern/song programming user interface... however… it was very popular as a sound module when driven from an external sequencer (as a drum module triggered from external sources), as it provides a wide range of kit sounds from the era."
images via this auction
example the Phase Modulation algorithms are user defined with up to 16 oscillators available. The envelopes have up to 16 stages/per osc, and are loopable. Each program/sound consists of 2 'boundaries' which are essentially 2 separate timbres. You can morph between these timbres via velocity and key number. Voice allocation is very sophisticated, allowing for very complex 'floating' keyboard splits/layers/voice cycling. One can easily say that there are many amazing features on this instrument which have never been equaled or surpassed in other synthesizers."
