drum machines Flashcards
when was Rythmicon created and by who?
1931 by Leo Theremin
Rythmicon was the first machine that could be called a drum machine but what were its limitations?
it was limited in capacity and preset patterns
what was created in 1978?
Roland CR-78
what did the Roland CR-78 do which was the first of its kind?
one of the first programmable drum machines that used analogue synthesis to generate its sound banks
what was the first digital drum machine to use drum samples from live drums, and when was it created?
Linn LM-1, 1979
what are some benefits of the Linn LM-1?
- the samples were short in length so they didn’t take up much memory
- meaning costs kept down as memory at the time was very expensive
- produced realistic drum sounds
- features on Prince’s ‘when doves cry’
when was the roland TR-808?
1980
what genre used the roland TR-808 mostly?
hip-hop and is still in huge demand today
what is a limitation of the roland TR-808?
uses analogue synthesis so lacked the realism of competing digital units of the time
(features in Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’, The Beastie Boys ‘Licensed to ill’ , ABC’s ”The Look of Love’)
when was the Roland TR-909 and why was it better than the 808?
1984, uses analogue synthesis combined with digital cymbals to produce its drum sounds
what was created in 1988?
Akai MPC60 by Roger Linn
what are some features of the Akai MPC60?
fully programmable digital drum machine that included pads to help with programming
what genre used the Akai MPC60?
popular with electronic artists and hip hop producers
what became available in the early ‘90’s and what was different about it?
Roland V-Drums. pioneered the electric drum kits using midi to triggers drum and percussion samples
