Knobula Drum Farm Drum Module

A treasure trove of drum sounds

Knobula’s Drum Farm is an ecosystem for electronic drum sounds that combines synthesis, sampling and effects. It starts with the Drum Synth, which generates 16 drum models using virtual analogue and physical modelling synthesis. The drum sounds cover a vast sonic spectrum, ranging from sounds reminiscent of the TR series, bleeps, whoops and metallic sounds – the sort you might recognise from a Syncussion – right through to totally outlandish, new sounds. The sounds are highly customisable via two individual parameters (X & Y), as well as pitch and decay.

The sampler operates with up to three playback voices, each of which can be modified using Mute, Decay envelope, Pitch, Accent and Main/AUX routing. In addition, there are 16 sample slots that run continuously in sequence in the background and can be swapped out live. The signal sampled can be either the drum synth’s output—with or without effects—or an external signal, which could come, for example, from a chord oscillator or a field recorder. The sampling process itself can be triggered manually or automated via an external trigger.

The effects processor covers far more than just the classics such as reverb, delay, flanger or pitch shifter. Bitcrusher, distortion and ring modulation produce harsh, even destructive sounds. Reverse & Trim plays the sound backwards and trims the signal. The Cymbaliser attempts to shape any signal into a cymbal using a spectral exciter.

All three core areas combined result in an incredibly powerful module capable of generating an enormous range of both common and unusual percussion sounds. Thirty-two session banks can be saved to a microSD card, containing samples, control positions, settings and the buffer.