New Hardware Drum Machine

US MFB Schlagzwerg offers analogue drum and percussion sounds in a compact desktop unit 20/05/09

Buying Choices

Affilliate Links help support the site

Here's all the details on the new Schlagzwerg drum machine directly from MFB in Germany...
SCHLAGZWERG combines the power of analogue drum and percussion sounds with modular versatility in a convenient and compact desktop unit. SCHLAGZWERG fusions CV-controllable percussion modules and a six-track CV/Gate-sequencer into a unique drum-machine for live and studio applications.
Thanks to its semi-modular concept, SCHLAGZWERG is ready to go without any need for patch-connections. Its internal pre-wiring comprises trigger-assignments for the gate-tracks of five (of six) drum-sounds as well as hihat decay-control. The additional CV-tracks can freely be patched to any of the modules' functions. Naturally, the available CV-inputs can also be addressed by external control sources like LFOs, envelope generators or a Theremin-controller.
An additional CV/gate-track-pair can be used to either control a variable function of a drum-module or an analogue synthesizer like MFB's KRAFTZWERG. The CV-track output is quantized in pitch for perfect tuning.
The internal sequencer can store sixteen patterns, each holding A- and B-parts. Patterns can be advanced using gate-signals as well as thru start/stop and reset remote inputs. The sequencer can be externally synchronized. Start/Stop and clock-sync can also be remote controlled from the units MIDI-input without any further patch connections.
SCHLAGZWERG will double as a sixfold MIDI-CV/gate-converter. Two modes cover drum-sound control and a basic CV/gate-output of the sequences. Two additional modes allow conversion of incoming MIDI-data into CV/gate with the internal sequencer being inactive. Here, every drum sound is controlled by an individual MIDI-channel with a pitch range of two octaves. A separate channel with five-octave-range is used for synthesizer control.
The individual drum-sounds derive from our MFB's drum-sound-modules. Trigger inputs are level-sensitive and allow dynamic performance thru drum-pads, piezo-pickups or microphones. All drums offer CV-inputs for different parameters. In difference to our modules, the different drum-sounds do not need attenuators because the sequencer allows for scalable CV-output.
The bass-drum offers the powerful sound MFB's MFB-503 drum-machine respectively our DRUM-04 module. It offers a wide variety of possible kick-sounds due to its parameter-set with attack, tune, decay, pitch and drive.
The snare-drum is also based upon the MFB-503, respectively our DRUM-05 module. Snap, decay, tune and pitch parameters allow for broad sound-variations.
The tom-sound derives from the MFB-503 respectively our DRUM-06 module. Here, pitch and panorama-position can be coupled to achieve the classic pan-spread sound of hi-, mid- and lo-toms.
Hihat and cymbal derive from our MFB-522 drum-machine, respectively DRUM-07 module. The sounds are based upon a six-oscillator-mix. Cymbal, open and closed hihat can be triggered separately. In addition, the decay of the cymbal- and open-hihat-sounds is under CV-control.
All drum-sounds are routed into the internal mixer with adjustable panning and stereo outputs. Alternatively, the sound modules also offer individual outputs.
Key Features

semi-modular drum-machine
true analogue sound sources
kick, snare and tom (DRUM-04/-05/-06)
cymbal and hihat (DRUM-07)
step-sequencer with 16 steps and 16 A/B-patterns
6 gate- and 6 CV-tracks
separate CV/Gate-tracks, e.g. for use with Kraftzwerg
integrated MIDI/CV-interface
integrated stereo-mixer with panning