Korg DRM-1

Last updated
DRM-1
Manufacturer Korg
Dates1987
Price$1314.11 US (1988)
Technical specifications
Polyphony 12
Timbrality 16
Synthesis type12-bit digital samples
Storage memory16 patterns, 16 songs, 4,400 notes
Input/output
External control7 trigger pad ports, MIDI in/out/thru, footswitch, remote control unit.

The Korg DRM-1 (Digital Rhythm Module) is a drum machine manufactured by Korg from 1987. Introduced at the 1987 NAMM Convention, it is a 1U rack-mount unit featuring expansion card slots and a 5000-note drum sequencer. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The Korg DRM-1 previewed at the 1987 summer NAMM with a complimentary Korg electronic drum kit. However, weeks later Korg announced they were halting manufacture of the electronic drum kit. Speculation was that Yamaha's takeover of Korg may have had something to do with it. [2] This resulted in "The Missing Link" ad campaign, highlighting that the rhythm module could be controlled by any kind of drum set. The ad image shows a Yamaha PTT8, Simmons SDS-V, and Clavia DDRUM electronic pads mixed with a Yamaha 9000 Recording Custom acoustic drum kit.

Sounds and features

The Korg DRM-1 Digital Rhythm Module is a multitimbral tone generator, that can be played from CV triggered drum pads (any brand) or via MIDI. It utilizes 12-bit Digital to Analog PCM wave memory synthesis and comes equipped with 23 internal preset timbres, which can be expanded by importing additional timbres from Korg DDD-1/5 ROM cards. Users can edit these timbres to create customized voices. Each voice is configured with Timbre, Sound mode (Poly, Mono, Exclusive), Pitch, Volume, Pan, Phase, Pad Settings, MIDI, and Output settings. The pitch adjustment employs a drop-sample method, periodically skipping data words to raise the pitch, which may distort timbres, particularly noticeable in cymbals. [3] [4] [5]

Additionally, each Voice can have a main timbre and a sub timbre, allowing for dynamic changes in sound with increased velocity—a feature distinct to this Korg model at the time. The DRM-1 can store up to 256 different voices in its internal memory or on a RAM card, and these voices can be grouped into up to 16 different settings, which can also be saved to the internal memory or RAM cards.

The DRM-1 features a built-in sequencer that allows for the recording and playback of rhythm patterns and songs. Users can record from either drum pads or an external MIDI controller. It employs a real-time input system that includes methods such as punch-in, punch-out, or overdubbing. The sequencer includes note quantization options which range from 1/1 to 1/64. [6] The internal memory of the DRM-1 can save up to 16 patterns and 16 songs, and its capacity can be expanded by using RAM cards.

The DRM-1 features seven input jacks for connecting 1/4" balanced drum pads. Each drum pad's sensitivity can be adjusted to ensure the velocity response appropriately covers ranges from pianissimo to fortissimo. The pad parameters include settings like Trigger Level, which dictates the minimum input level needed for the pad to respond, Voice Change Level that determines the point at which the sound shifts from MAIN to SUB voices, and Inhibit Time which sets the delay before accepting another signal. Furthermore, the pad functionality extends to controlling sequencer operations, allowing a pad to start and stop patterns or to toggle to the next or previous pattern. [6]

The DRM-1 features a pair of 1/4" unbalanced stereo output jacks and eight additional 1/4" unbalanced multi-output jacks. It also includes a stereo pan control that enables users to position each individual voice output at one of seven points across the stereo field. [6]

Expansion cards

The DRM-1 is fully compatible with the library of ROM sound card that Korg produced for the DDD-1 and DDD-5 drum machines. [2] There are about 45 official Korg cards: [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music technology (electronic and digital)</span>

Digital music technology encompasses digital instruments, computers, electronic effects units, software, or digital audio equipment by a performer, composer, sound engineer, DJ, or record producer to produce, perform or record music. The term refers to electronic devices, instruments, computer hardware, and software used in performance, playback, recording, composition, mixing, analysis, and editing of music.

General MIDI is a standardized specification for electronic musical instruments that respond to MIDI messages. GM was developed by the American MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) and the Japan MIDI Standards Committee (JMSC) and first published in 1991. The official specification is available in English from the MMA, bound together with the MIDI 1.0 specification, and in Japanese from the Association of Musical Electronic Industry (AMEI).

A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic keyboard</span> Musical instrument

An electronic keyboard, portable keyboard, or digital keyboard is an electronic musical instrument based on keyboard instruments. Electronic keyboards include synthesizers, digital pianos, stage pianos, electronic organs and digital audio workstations. In technical terms, an electronic keyboard is a rompler-based synthesizer with a low-wattage power amplifier and small loudspeakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roland D-50</span> Synthesizer

The Roland D-50 is a synthesizer produced by Roland and released in April of 1987. Its features include digital sample-based subtractive synthesis, on-board effects, a joystick for data manipulation, and an analog synthesis-styled layout design. The external Roland PG-1000 (1987) programmer could also be attached to the D-50 for more complex manipulation of its sounds. It was also produced in a rack-mount variant design, the D-550, with almost 450 user-adjustable parameters.

The Yamaha AN1x is a DSP-based analog modeling synthesizer, produced by Yamaha Corporation from 1997 to 1998, and was marketed as an "analog physical modelling control synthesizer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic drum</span> Musical instrument

Electronic drums are a modern electronic musical instrument, primarily designed to serve as an alternative to an acoustic drum kit. Electronic drums consist of an electronic sound module which produces the synthesized or sampled percussion sounds and a set of pads, usually constructed in a shape to resemble drums and cymbals, which are equipped with electronic sensors to send an electronic signal to the sound module which outputs a sound. Like acoustic drums, the pads are struck by drum sticks and they are played in a similar manner to an acoustic drum kit, albeit with some differences in the drumming experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound module</span> Externally controlled electronic musical instrument

A sound module is an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a piano-style musical keyboard. Sound modules have to be operated using an externally connected device, which is often a MIDI controller, of which the most common type is the musical keyboard. Another common way of controlling a sound module is through a sequencer, which is computer hardware or software designed to record and playback control information for sound-generating hardware. Connections between sound modules, controllers, and sequencers are generally made with MIDI, which is a standardized interface designed for this purpose.

The DTX range consists of electronic drum kits and percussion controllers manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation. They currently cover levels from entry-level to pro-range. DTX kits use sampling for their sounds, meaning each kit has built-in digital recordings of real drums, and cymbals. When the drum or cymbal pads are hit, the digital recordings are played back to replicate what is being played. On all kits, the sounds are editable – the pitch can be made higher or lower (tuned) and many other features. The higher the range of the DTX, the more functions there are editable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stage piano</span> Electronic musical instrument

A stage piano is an electronic musical instrument designed for use in live performances on stage or in a studio, as well as for music recording in Jazz and popular music. While stage pianos share some of the same features as digital pianos designed for home use and synthesizers, they have a number of features which set them apart. Stage pianos usually provide a smaller number of sounds, with these being of higher quality than the ones found on regular digital pianos and home synthesizers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha Motif</span> Series of music workstations

The Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstation synthesizers, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. The Motif replaced the EX series in Yamaha's line-up and was also based on the early Yamaha S series. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Kronos and the Roland Fantom G. The series' successor is Yamaha Montage, released in 2016, followed up by the Yamaha Montage M in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korg Wavestation</span> Synthesizer

The Korg Wavestation is a vector synthesis synthesizer first produced in the early 1990s and later re-released as a software synthesizer in 2004. Its primary innovation was Wave Sequencing, a method of multi-timbral sound generation in which different PCM waveform data are played successively, resulting in continuously evolving sounds. The Wavestation's "Advanced Vector Synthesis" sound architecture resembled early vector synths such as the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic drum module</span>

An electronic drum module is an electronic or digital music device in an electronic drum kit that serves as the central processing unit and sound module. The drum module creates or produces the drum kit sounds or other sounds selected by the drummer. By itself, a drum module cannot play or sound drum beats. It only produces drum sounds when a performer strikes electronic drum pads or acoustic drum kit instruments that have electronic "triggers" attached to them. When the electronic drum pads or trigger-equipped instruments are struck, this sends a signal to the drum module, which produces the corresponding electronic drum sound. Even when drum pads and/or triggers are connected to a drum module, the drum module by itself does not make any audible sound. Like other electronic instruments such as the synthesizer, the drum module only outputs an electronic signal. The performer can hear this signal by connecting headphones to the drum module or by plugging the drum module into an amplifier and loudspeaker or PA system for audible practice or live performances. The drum module's output signal can also be patched into an audio console for concerts or sound recording. The nomenclature varies. For example, electronic drum modules are called "percussion sound modules" in the case of Roland Corporation, or sometimes simply modules. A common colloquial term for this device is drum brain..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha PSR-E323</span> Electronic keyboard

The Yamaha PSR-E323, also known as the YPT-320, is an electronic keyboard manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation in 2009. It is a basic home keyboard intended for learning and personal use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korg DDD-1</span> Drum machine

The DDD-1 is a sampling drum machine released by Korg in 1986. It was Korg's first drum machine equipped with MIDI control and it features 14 velocity-sensitive pads, 12-bit samples, and limited user sampling that allows for the addition of new sounds. It also offers sound expansion through ROM cards, six assignable audio outputs, and a backlit LCD display.

The Roland DDR-30 "Alpha Drum" is a digital PCM drum module built by Roland, in early 1985. It was introduced during 1985 Summer NAMM industry trade show in New Orleans.

The Yamaha PTX8 is a digital sample-based percussion tone generator built by Yamaha, in late 1986. It was included in the Yamaha D8 electronic drum kit.

References

  1. ↑ Reid, Gary (November 2002). "The History of Korg: Part 2". Sound on Sound. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Graham, Alex (2019). Electronic Drumfax. self-published. p. 110. ISBN   978-1701024229.
  3. ↑ Von Hom, Rick (January 1989). "Electronic Review: Korg DRM-1 Digital Rhythm Module". Modern Drummer. 13 (1): 92–94.
  4. ↑ Isaacson, Matt (February 1988). "Korg DRM-1 Digital Rhythm Module". Music Technology. 2 (3): 86, 88, 90.
  5. ↑ Korg UK. (1988). DRM-1 Digital Rhythm Module Brochure. Tokyo Japan: Korg Inc.
  6. 1 2 3 Korg DDR-1 Owners Manual. Tokyo, Japan
  7. ↑ "Korg DDD-1" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.