MFB's Tanzbär arrived during a golden age of analog drum machine revival, offering something that boutique manufacturers could do better than the big names: a fully analog, deeply tweakable percussion synthesizer in a compact, reasonably priced box that actually sounds like it was designed for house and techno rather than retrofitted for it.
The Tanzbär packs 16 individual analog drum voices including two bass drums, snare, rimshot, claps, three toms, cowbell, claves, cymbals, open and closed hi-hats, and maracas, plus dedicated bass and melody synthesizer tracks for melodic sequencing without external gear. The heart is a sophisticated 16-step sequencer that lets you program per-instrument step lengths independently, creating polyrhythmic patterns with selectable 32nd, 16th, triplet, and 8th-note resolutions. Every drum voice offers extensive parameter control—the bass drums alone give you decay, pitch, pitch modulation, transient level and type, noise level, noise filter, and distortion—while global and per-instrument shuffle keeps things loose and human. You get 144 storable patterns with A/B variations, fill and chain functions for live performance, roll and flam recording modes, and three CV outputs plus two gate channels for controlling external gear or adding dynamics modulation.
The unit measures 330 x 170 x 60mm with a metal and wooden construction, offering 12 individual 1/4" outputs plus a stereo mix out, full MIDI in and out, USB connectivity, and clock sync. The Tanzbär has earned cult status among house and techno producers for its punchy, characterful analog sound and immediate hands-on workflow—the combination of real-time button control and step programming means you can jam intuitively or dial in precise sequences. While it's been discontinued, the Tanzbär remains highly sought after in the used market, a testament to how well MFB nailed the balance between deep sound design and practical live performance features.
