Conference napalm::commusic_v1

1130.0. "Review - Korg DDD5 Digital Drum Machine" by LEDS::ORIN (Raucous Roland Renegades) Sat Jan 09 1988 18:44

I'm going to list the features of the Korg DDD-5 drum machine, since retail
is $495.00 which puts it in the same price range as the HR-16. I would be
interested in a comparison of features and sounds by someone who has tried
both machines.

Korg DDD-5 features:

Modes: 2  Preset mode - using factory rhythm patterns with INTRO, FILL-IN,
                        RHYTHM, and ENDING patterns for each type
          Programmable mode - create your own rhythm patterns
          2 front panel overlays, one for each mode of operation, solid plastic
          not paper
MIDI:     IN/OUT no thru
Power:    Korg 9v adapter (included)
pads:     7 velocity sensitive with upper/lower select for 14 total instruments
          per drum kit
effects:  roll button, flam button
inputs:   MIDI in, tap tempo, intro/fill, start/stop, mic, line-in for tape
outputs:  MIDI out, left-right/mono, headphone, earphone, line-out for tape
cards:    2 slots! 4 types:
          ROM voice cards
          ROM rhythm pattern cards
          ROM pattern/voice cards
          RAM cards to store pattern, song, and instrument sets data
          I use the ROCK 2 and ELECTRONIC DRUMS 2 voice cards
controls: volume slider, data slider, cursor left/right,
          numeric keypad with multi-functions, rec/load, stop/verify,
          start/save, tap tempo/cancel, 8 button x 5 button function select
          matrix
resolution: 1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16, 1/16T, 1/32, 1/32T, HIGH (96 ticks)
instruments: 29 internal ROM voices as follows:
          bass drum (hard)
          bass drum (soft)
          bass drum (gate reverb)
          snare drum
          snare drum (low)
          snare drum (gate reverb)
          rim of snare
          closed hihat
          open hihat 
          ride cymbal
          crash cymbal
          two drumsticks hit together
          high tom
          mid tom
          low tom
          hi conga
          low conga
          muted conga
          timbales
          claps
          hi bongo
          lo bongo
          cowbell
          claves
          tambourine
          cabasa
          agogo
          thumb bass (low octave)
          pull bass (high octave)

pattern edit: pattern select
              swing
              copy
              append
              external copy
              available memory
              clear
pattern play/record: pattern select
                     time signature
                     number of bars
                     resolution
                     roll resolution 1/4 to 1/32T
                     flam 0-9 in 50 msecs steps
                     sequencer parameters, note volume, decay, tune (step mode)
                     real time or step recording
                     tempo
                     erase: entire instrument, section of pattern, single note
                     pattern name - using cursor, LCD display,
                                    and keypad or data slide
song play/edit: song select
                create
                repeat
                tempo change
                insert
                delete
                tempo
                copy/clear
instrument settings: select instrument set 0-5,
            each set can have any 14 instruments or variations of instruments
                     overall output level of an instrument
                     pan L3 (far left), L2, L1, Center, R1, R2, R3 (far right)
                     instrument tune 0-127 each step = 9.45 cents 64 = A 440
                     decay 0-15
                     assign to 1 of 7 keypads in 1 of 2 instrument groups
                     modes: polyphonic - for layering up to 12 sounds
                            mono - each note cuts off previous note
                            exclusive - for open/closed hihat, snare/rimshot
                     touch sense: velocity sensitivity of instrument keypads
                     copy: 1 instrument set to another
system functions: clock source: internal, MIDI, tape
               MIDI receive: NOTE AVAILABLE, OMNI MODE, CHANNEL, INSTRUMENT NOTE
               MIDI transmit: NOTE AVAILABLE, CHANNEL
               Metronome: 1/4 - 1/32T resolution
               operation: preset or programmable mode select
               data transfer: RAM card, cassette tape, System Exclusive

This pretty much sums up the features, mostly of programmable mode.

Review:

instrument sound quality: overall excellent
          bass drum (hard)             good
          bass drum (soft)             good
          bass drum (gate reverb)      nice
          snare drum                   good
          snare drum (low)             good
          snare drum (gate reverb)     nice
          rim of snare                 excellent
          closed hihat                 excellent
          open hihat                   excellent
          ride cymbal                  fair, I use the Linn ride
          crash cymbal                 good
          two drumsticks hit together  excellent
          high tom                     good
          mid tom                      good
          low tom                      good
          hi conga                     excellent
          low conga                    excellent
          muted conga                  excellent
          timbales                     good
          claps                        good
          hi bongo                     excellent
          lo bongo                     excellent
          cowbell                      excellent
          claves                       good
          tambourine                   excellent
          cabasa                       good
          agogo                        good
          thumb bass (low octave)      excellent
          pull bass (high octave)      excellent

programmablity: excellent, easy to use the function matrix, everything is
                labelled on the front panel and in the display

features missing: individual instrument outputs
                  mixer sliders
                  backlight for LCD display
                  MIDI thru

overall impression: After owning this unit for about 6 months, I have been
                    very satisfied. The only instrument which I don't care
                    for is the ride cymbal. The crash is just barely long
                    enough, the usual 1.2 secs approx. This unit is worth
                    checking out. It's big brother the DDD-1 has sampling
                    capability but costs twice as much.

Dave

    Whatza bandwidth and resolution?  22 kHz at 12-bit companded, maybe?
    
    Steve_who_still_likes_his_505

    	I looked closely at the DDD-5, when I was shopping and would
    agree that it is a very capable machine.  If it was a choice for
    me today between the DDD-5 and the HR-16, I would probably go for
    the Korg because it is here today and you can get plenty of sampled
    sounds for it.  (The HR-16 still is widely unavailable and I am
    pretty sure that you are stuck with the 48 sounds it comes with).
    However, I ended up buying the Kawai R-50 for three reasons:
    	1- It was cheaper than either of the above.
    	2- It seemed the easiest to use (the Korg can be cumbersome
           due to its "dual-mode" interface and is a bit busy).
    	3- A zillion accessory ROM cards on the Korg was too much of a 
    	   temptation for me.  I'd end up with a dozen of 'em with one
    	   sound I use on each.
    
    Clusters,
    Bill 

The frequency response and number of bits are not listed in the Owner's Manual.

Some additional specs:

100 patterns
24 songs
99 parts per song
24 preset songs
tempo variable from 40-250 quarter notes/minute
dimensions 13.4" x 9.1" x 2.2"
weight 1.5 kg or about 3 1/2 lbs.

Dave