Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Peter -

I have also noticed all of those DX/DMX machines for sale. I checked out the
DX/DMX when they first hit the scene. They were originally very overpriced
(IMO) as was the Linn Drum. They use "brute force" mass quantities of hardware
to accomplish what a Korg DD5 or Alesis HR16 does in a minimal amount of
hardware. To tune the drums, you have to get inside the cabinet and move a
thumb wheel. Each instrument or group requires an individual PC card. They
have pretty good sounds, but no better than the Korg or Alesis (IMO). Notice
how cheap they are trying to sell these units. $500 now instead of $2k+ when
new. They are several generations back technology wise. If you can get a DMX
and some additional sound cards for under $400 it might be worth it.
Otherwise, I recommend the HR16 or DDD-5. See note 1168 for the HR16
continuing saga. I can't seem to give away my Linn Drum (no MIDI), and I paid
nearly $2k.

dave

    Dave,
     you can *give* the Linn to me if you can't find any other volunteers
    
    dave :-)

    I think the Oberheims represent the state of the art in analog drum
    synthesis.  This is sort of like representing the state of the art
    in steam engines.  Yeah, they work, they even sound good, but there
    are better (cheaper, more compact, more flexible) ways of doing it
    today.  If that particular sound (analog sounds, good as they can
    get, are recognizably different from the sampled/PCM drum sounds that
    are typical of just about all drum machines lately) is worth what's
    being asked for the machine, go for it.
    
    I assume they are MIDI compatible and interpret velocity.  If they
    don't, forget it.
    
    len.
    

    re -1   I used an Oberheim DMX drum machine a couple of years ago,
    and I recall it used sampled sounds, not analog as you stated. It
    was not MIDI, but had velocity sensitive pads. They can be MIDIfied,
    and I have seen some MIDIfied ones in the Want Ads. They sound very
    good, as good as the Linn units IMO.
    
    Mike D.

    When I was looking for a high end drum machine 3 years ago, the
    choice boiled down to the LinnDrum and the Oberhiem DMX.  Both
    were not MIDI.  I choose the Linn because it had better hi-hat,
    crash, and ride (longer samples, too).  I have since had the Linn
    MIDIfied with the JL Cooper mod.  You can get alternate chips for both,
    but they are expensive.  The Linn is not inherently velocity sensitive,
    but has 2 or 3 levels of velocity for snare, kick, and hi-hat by using
    mutiple buttons for each.  The DMX might be velocity sensitive but
    the DX is definitly not.  All three machines use 8 bit sampling. 
    
    I'm not ready to give up my Linn.  It's a classic, like a mini-moog,
    and has a few years left in it.
    
    For $500, I think the used Orberhiems are over priced.  The DMX
    is a better machine then the DX costing roughly twice as much
    when they first came out.  The DMX has longer samples too.
     
    Sounds like Oberhiem owners are panicking and trying to dump their
    machines before they are worth $100 so they can use the money to buy
    an HR-16  ;^}
    
    Dave
                                              

   > Sounds like Oberhiem owners are panicking and trying to dump their
   > machines before they are worth $100 so they can use the money to buy
   > an HR-16  ;^}
    
    A wise move...
    
    ;^)
    
    Edd (happy_as_all_hell_with_his_HR-16_despite_the_weirdisms)
                                              

    Yes, it is true...
    
    I sampled my favorite Linn snares and toms into the S-50 to enjoy
    the benefits of velocity.  Easier to change sounds too...

    I'm surprised that Oberheim, bastion of analogy, would use digital
    sampling technology, but I admit to only guessing, and the one Oberheim
    machine I auditioned sure didn't sound digital.  The remark that
    you had to change cards (rather than chips) implied an analog
    implementation (or a baroque (not to be confused with broke) digital
    implementation).
    
    len.
    

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Note 2127.0         Oberheim DX MIDI modification info needed            1 reply
ZEKE::WOZNIAK                                         5 lines  20-SEP-1989 15:29
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    Does anyone know how much it would cost to MIDIfy my Oberheim DX
    drum machine or know someone that is selling a MIDI DX or DMX?
    
    Thanks,
    Ross

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Note 2127.1         Oberheim DX MIDI modification info needed             1 of 1
HAMER::COCCOLI                                        6 lines  20-SEP-1989 19:46
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    	Here's the number of Rogue Music.......212-629-3708 or
    					       212-947-0027(shop)
    	These guys do mods on anything!
    				Rich
    

	There was an article in a recent (maybe 3 months ago) Electronic
	Musician magazine about a kit to retro-fit random gear for
	MIDI control. You could only control 8 notes (and only on/off),
	but, if I recall correctly, There was a PC card, 1 high rack
	panel & parts that you could order, read to go for it. This
	might be one direction to go. At least you could make the
	drum machine into a slave device & at least 8 different drum
	sounds. I don't recall the cost. I do recall some of the details
	as I was considering the kit as a MIDI light controller that could
	be driven by my sequencer (I'd add relays to drive the lights).

							Jens