Synthesis Machines
Drum
General information
The Drum Machine is a per-voice drum-synth: each voice runs a single drum model, triggered on note-on with a percussive envelope. There is no looping or sustain stage — the Decay parameter sets the length of every hit. 15 drum models are available, covering kicks, snares, hi-hats, claps, plus FM, Noise and Glitch sources.
The Machine has its own dual-mode signal chain: every drum hit goes through a Filter section, then a Drive stage, then an output Volume with Accent before reaching the Mixer. The Filter and Drive are integrated into this Machine — they are not the unified Filter/Amp sections used by the Synthesizer.
flowchart LR
MOD["DRUM MODEL
(15 models, BD/SD/HH/CP/FM/Noise/Glitch)"]
FILT["FILTER
(single slot)"]
DRV["DRIVE"]
VOL["VOLUME + ACCENT"]
OUT["TO MIXER"]
MOD --> FILT
FILT --> DRV
DRV --> VOL
VOL --> OUT
classDef src fill:#06b6d4,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
classDef filter fill:#65a30d,stroke:#a3e635,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
classDef drive fill:#eab308,stroke:#facc15,color:#000,stroke-width:2px
classDef vol fill:#ec4899,stroke:#f472b6,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
classDef mixer fill:#9333ea,stroke:#c084fc,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
class MOD src
class FILT filter
class DRV drive
class VOL vol
class OUT mixer
The Machine is fully polyphonic: trigger different voices simultaneously to layer hits. There are no choke groups — every voice rings out independently for the duration of its Decay envelope.
MAIN tab
| Model | Frequency | Transpose | Volume |
| Selects the drum model. 15 choices — see Drum models below. | Fine-tune the pitch. | Tune the pitch in semitone increments. | Output level into the Filter stage. |
SHAPE tab
The SHAPE tab adapts to the selected model. Decay is always present on Button 1 and controls the length of the hit; the other buttons and pages change with the model. Every parameter on this tab triggers the on-screen waveform preview (the DrumWave view) so you can audition the shape of the hit while editing.
See Drum models below for the per-model parameter list.
FILTER tab
A single filter slot per voice. The same dual-mode filter family as the Synthesizer: 31 filter types selectable via Type, with Cutoff, Res and a third button that follows the filter type:
| Cutoff | Res | Trans / Gain / Feedback | Type |
| Filter cutoff frequency. | Filter resonance. | Context-sensitive: shows Trans for SVF 12, Gain for BELL EQ, Feedback for the TLD ladder family. Empty for filter types that don't expose a third parameter. | Selects the filter type. Set to Off to bypass the filter section entirely. |
OUT tab
| Drive Type | Drive Amount | Accent | Volume |
| Post-filter drive curve. Set to Off to bypass the drive stage. Same drive list as the Synthesizer. | Drive intensity (0–100%). Disabled while Drive Type is Off. | Per-hit accent. Modulate Accent (e.g. from a Shape sequencer or velocity) to add dynamics to a drum pattern. Modulating Accent affects both the level and the brightness/punch character of the hit. | Output level with VU meter. |
Drum models
15 models, organised by drum family. Each model has its own internal parameter set on the SHAPE tab — parameter counts vary from 2 to 9, spread across 1 to 3 pages.
| Model | Family | SHAPE pages | Per-model parameters |
| BD Complex | Kick | 3 | Decay · Curve D. · Shape · Punch · Sweep · SweepTime · ClickType · Click · Sub · Click Decay |
| BD Analog | Kick | 1 | Decay · Tone · Punch · Feed |
| BD Synth. | Kick | 2 | Decay · Tone · Dirt · FM · Click |
| BD FM | Kick | 2 | Decay · Ratio · Index · FM Decay · Feedback |
| BD Fold | Kick | 2 | Decay · Fold · Symmetry · Noise · Sweep |
| BD Acoust. | Kick | 2 | Decay · Tension · Strike · Beater · Shell |
| SD Analog | Snare | 1 | Decay · Tone · Snappy |
| SD Synth. | Snare | 1 | Decay · FM Amount · FM Decay · Snappy |
| SD Acoust. | Snare | 2 | Decay · Tuning · Wires · Stick · Shell |
| HH Metal | Hi-Hat | 1 | Decay · Tone · Noisiness |
| HH Synth. | Hi-Hat | 1 | Decay · Tone |
| CP Hand | Clap | 1 | Decay · Impact · Spread · Amount |
| FM | FM | 1 | Decay · Ratio · Index · Feedback |
| Noise | Noise | 2 | Decay · Color · Tone · Metal · Snap · Sweep · Reso · Chaos |
| Glitch | Glitch | 1 | Decay · Formula · Bit1 · Bit2 (see below) |
Glitch model
Glitch is a bytebeat / chiptune-style noise synth. Instead of a fixed algorithm, it exposes a Formula selector that picks one of many built-in glitch algorithms (kicks, snares, vocal-ish chants, ring modulators, gates, fractals, low-bit textures…). The two Bit1 and Bit2 parameters tweak internal variables of the active formula — their meaning depends on the formula chosen.
Each Formula reacts differently to Bit1 and Bit2, so the most efficient way to explore is to pick a Formula, then sweep Bit1 and Bit2 while listening.
Tip: modulate the Formula parameter from a Shape sequencer or a Sample & Hold to step between glitch algorithms over time — gives evolving, never-quite-the-same percussion.
