Born from the combined genius of Dave Smith and Roger Linn in 2011, this hybrid drum machine redefined analog beats with its six powerhouse voices, each blending two analog oscillators and two digital ones loaded with samples for everything from punchy kicks to ethereal pads.
At its core, six analog voices drive the sound, each with a classic Curtis low-pass filter (switchable 12/24 dB/octave), a high-pass filter, analog VCA with feedback, five ADSR envelopes, two LFOs, and eight modulation paths via a flexible mod matrix. Sixteen velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads in a 2x8 layout let you trigger 32 drum sounds across banks, sequence in 16 time steps, mute tracks live, or switch between beats—perfect for real-time performance. Hands-on controls include dedicated knobs for oscillators, filters, envelopes, and a 32-channel mixer, plus two pressure-sensitive touch sliders for capturing parameter sweeps like filter cutoff or pitch on the fly. A clear OLED display shows waveforms, envelopes, and values precisely, while effects cover analog compression, distortion, glide, and a unique MIDI delay for rhythmic echoes. Compact at 15.4" x 9" x 2.5" and just 6.5 lbs, it packs six stereo TRS outs, MIDI/USB, and 650 patches into a portable desktop design that doubles as a six-voice poly synth.
Players love its live responsiveness—the pads and sliders make beat-making feel organic and fun, with humanized swing and song mode for full arrangements. It shines for bizarre percussion and deep sound design, though some note the factory sounds and MIDI delay as areas where external gear complements it best.
