With Hexdrums, Erica Synths presents a drum computer with TR-909 Style sequencer and refreshingly new analog sounds. In collaboration with Eurorack manufacturer Hexinverter, this lavishly equipped drum computer was created with the massive sound of the MUTANT Drum modules. The operating concept is so wonderfully simple: each parameter has its own knob or toggle switch, that's it. No submenus or shift parameters, no presets for drum kits, just screw sounds like 40 years ago! This is not only intuitive but also encourages you to explore the extensive possibilities of the individual instruments. The individual instruments all sound excellent and are well scaled. Their control range covers some of the iconic TR sounds, the majority of the possible sound spectrum ranges from dry/woody to fat and rich in overtones, short and crunchy to long decaying and, above all, industrial, hardcore and schranz are also covered!
The Hexdrums voices in detail
Bass Drum 1 - greatly expanded TR-909 Kick with sub-oscillator and switchable waveform for really hard kick drums
Bass drum 2 - based on the Mutant bass drum, but without Distortion and moves covers the TR-808 Kick
Machine - Percussion Synthesizer Voice for sounds "from outa space", lots of common stuff to fill in the gaps and complex loops that almost make a track on their own.
Snare - a broad spectrum of classic electro snares with 808 character through to wacky alien percussion.
Clap - offers the iconic TR-909 Clap sound with an enormously extended sound spectrum and reverb.
Rimshot - Two sounds in one: The Rimshot is based on the TR-909, the Clave sound is a child of the TR-808. Rimshot is available in High and Low versions. It offers a lot more than the two TR classics ever could.
HiHats - the legendary TR-808 Hihats as an extended mutant circuit! Can produce open and closed Hihats simultaneously. The Exclusive switch determines the interaction behavior of both sounds when triggered simultaneously.
Cymbals - The crash and ride sounds were contributed by Erica Synths themselves and come from the module of the same name. Here, too, there are 909 sounds with great enhancements.
In the master section is where all the instrument tracks come together. In addition to the final volume, a compressor and a distortion are provided here. Both together have a well-dosed effect like acoustic glue that sticks sounds together and intensifies them.
Sequencer
The layout of the sequencer is very reminiscent of the TR-909. Compared to the 40-year-old classic, there are several more functions, but the ease of use is the same. The memory capacity is 16 banks, each with 16 patterns (256 patterns) and 16 songs. The patterns themselves can have a length of up to 64 steps (4 bars) and can be programmed using STEP or TAP input. Scale is used to set the beat grid and Shuffle adds a good dose of Swing and Chicago factor to your own grooves. Individual steps can be provided with accent, ratcheting, trigger probability and microtiming.
Connections
The lavishly equipped rear panel focuses on individual outputs for each instrument and, of course, the stereo sum output and headphone output. In addition, there are analogue clock inputs and outputs and hexdrums eg. to synchronize with a modular system. The drum computer can be connected to other MIDI equipment via MIDI In and Out. MIDI Sync and note triggering from the master sequencer included.
Erica Synths x Hexinverter HEXDRUMS sound demo
ERICA SYNTHS HEXDRUMS 04 // LØSTLVLS
Manufacturer information
Erica Synths Tiklu iela 3 1048 Riga Latvia info@ericasynths.lv https://www.ericasynths.lv/support/
