Drum Machine History episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 25, 2024 · 56 MIN

Drum Machine History

from Electronic Music · host Sound On Sound

The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 40 years and the part that they have played in shaping musical trends.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Early Rhythm Machines02:57 - The First Korg Rhythm Machine04:03 - The Invention Of The Transistor08:02 - Solid State Rhythm Machines13:48 - Using Drum Machines In Mainstream Hits17:05 - The First Programmable Drum Machines21:53 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains25:22 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum 30:53 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines 37:06 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-90942:49 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines44:35 - The Introduction of MIDI46:45 - Standardised Layouts And Spec50:07 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software53:40 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular54:47 - Drum Pattern Generation With AIOli Freke BiogOli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.www.synthevolution.netwww.linktr.ee/olifrekeCREDITS1. Chamberlin Rhythmate - audio.com (@Drum Machine)2. Wurlitzer Sideman - Internet Archive (archive.com)3. Korg Doncamatic - Korg (Germany)4. Korg Minipops 3 - Corsynth Modular (Corsynth.com)5. Ace Tone F-1 - @YouAreTheRobots6. Roland TR-77 - @vintageaudioinstitute7. Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn8mxHfY4vM&t=4s)8. Maestro MRK-2 - @organ61 9. Korg KR-55 - Steve Porter (synthmagic.co.uk)10. Roland CR-78 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0CHoU24Dis&t=129s)11. Eko CompuRhythm - Hainbach (https://www.youtube.com/@Hainbach)12. Paia Programmable Drumset - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2afPnOpv4U)13. Boss DR-55 - Leonard de Leonard (https://www.sound-provider.eu/)14. Movement Computer System - @Theccrstudio15. Pollard Syndrum - recording: Joe Bataan, ‘Rap-O, Clap-O’16. Simmons SDS-V - Alain Levesque17. Linn LM-1 - John Diligio (@javd007)18. LinnDrum - @zibbybone19. Sequential Circuits DrumTraks - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhRyEEZCYA)20. E-Mu Drumulator - @synthmania21. E-MU SP-12 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDpvKBoJjug&t=287s)22. Oberheim DMX - @synthmania23. Roland TR-909 - @DoctorMix24. Roland 707 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eRhSRHFkMA)25. Yamaha RX-11, Casio RZ-1 - @synthmaniaCatch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 40 years and the part that they have played in shaping musical trends.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Early Rhythm Machines02:57 - The First Korg Rhythm Machine04:03 - The Invention Of The Transistor08:02 - Solid State Rhythm Machines13:48 - Using Drum Machines In Mainstream Hits17:05 - The First Programmable Drum Machines21:53 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains25:22 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum 30:53 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines 37:06 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-90942:49 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines44:35 - The Introduction of MIDI46:45 - Standardised Layouts And Spec50:07 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software53:40 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular54:47 - Drum Pattern Generation With AIOli Freke BiogOli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.www.synthevolution.netwww.linktr.ee/olifrekeCREDITS1. Chamberlin Rhythmate - audio.com (@Drum Machine)2. Wurlitzer Sideman - Internet Archive (archive.com)3. Korg Doncamatic - Korg (Germany)4. Korg Minipops 3 - Corsynth Modular (Corsynth.com)5. Ace Tone F-1 - @YouAreTheRobots6. Roland TR-77 - @vintageaudioinstitute7. Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn8mxHfY4vM&t=4s)8. Maestro MRK-2 - @organ61 9. Korg KR-55 - Steve Porter (synthmagic.co.uk)10. Roland CR-78 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0CHoU24Dis&t=129s)11. Eko CompuRhythm - Hainbach (https://www.youtube.com/@Hainbach)12. Paia Programmable Drumset - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2afPnOpv4U)13. Boss DR-55 - Leonard de Leonard (https://www.sound-provider.eu/)14. Movement Computer System - @Theccrstudio15. Pollard Syndrum - recording: Joe Bataan, ‘Rap-O, Clap-O’16. Simmons SDS-V - Alain Levesque17. Linn LM-1 - John Diligio (@javd007)18. LinnDrum - @zibbybone19. Sequential Circuits DrumTraks - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhRyEEZCYA)20. E-Mu Drumulator - @synthmania21. E-MU SP-12 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDpvKBoJjug&t=287s)22. Oberheim DMX - @synthmania23. Roland TR-909 - @DoctorMix24. Roland 707 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eRhSRHFkMA)25. Yamaha RX-11, Casio RZ-1 - @synthmaniaCatch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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Drum Machine History

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This episode was published on April 25, 2024.

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The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 40 years and...

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