Kastle Drum

Imagine squeezing industrial glitch drums out of a device smaller than your palm— that's the magic of this pocket-sized rhythm box, born from Bastl's Kastle series but dialed in for raw, algorithmic beats.

At its heart is a digital drum engine with 8 synthesis styles, from punchy kicks to noisy textures via a dedicated "noises" output, all shaped by a wild dynamic acceleration charged envelope that builds tension and release like nothing else. Twist the DRUM knob to switch sounds, tweak PITCH with its offset and CV attenuator input, and dial DECAY for voltage-controlled tail lengths; a voltage-controllable clock spits square and triangle waves to drive the stepped pattern generator in random, 8-step, or 16-step modes. Patch via two flexible I/O CV ports that route anywhere, pump audio out a 3.5mm headphone jack, and power it with 3 AA batteries or micro USB—its black and gold PCB enclosure measures a compact 70x60x50mm, complete with 10 patch cables to start exploring.

Folks love how it slots into mini setups alongside Volcas or Pocket Operators, delivering endless glitchy fun that's surprisingly versatile for live tweaking, though some note the battery voltage subtly shifts the tone compared to USB.