The Dynacord ADD-One (advanced digital drums) is a German-manufactured, American-designed [3] drum machine that was first released in 1986. It uses recorded samples to produce its sounds through analog voltage-controlled envelopes and analog filters with resonance, to self-oscillation per voice. It comes with 1 Mbyte of memory and can be upgraded up to 8 Mbytes.
| ADD-One | |
|---|---|
 Add-One with Add-Drive | |
| Manufacturer | Dynacord/Fast Forward Designs |
| Dates | 1985-1987 |
| Price | £3000[1] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 8 Voice, 8 Dacs |
| Timbrality | 8 Part |
| Oscillator | 1 Oscillator/Sample per voice |
| LFO | LFOs triangle saw square sample and hold |
| Synthesis type | Samples |
| Filter | 8x Low pass resonant (self-resonating) Analog CEM 3389 filter per voice |
| Storage memory | 1Mbytes[2] upgradable to 8Mbytes |
| Input/output | |
| External control | MIDI, CV, Pads |
Sample rate and bit rate
editThe unit can sample up to 50 kHz at 12-bits [4] for up to 20 seconds. Actually it is 8 bits with 4 bits of companding according to one of the designers Michael Doidic.[5] The sample rate and therefore the pitch is variable, like the Fairlight and E-mu EII and other earlier samples, via the 8 separate DACs - variable pitch via sample clock rate change. Later digital samplers, including those that operate in software utilise interpolation and other techniques to alter the pitch of a sample - the effect, particularly in the low-end is not the same.
Display
editThe unit features an 80-character backlit LCD.
-
Credits page on the Add-One -
Easter Egg -
Legending on the top of the unit
Sounds
editBass drums, congas, snares, Hihats as well as single-cycle waveforms (sine/triangle etc.) contained on EPROMS.[6] With the optional 'Add-One Drive' one can sample any recorded sounds into the sampler via the microphone/line input with on-board compressor.
External control
editThe Chain mode allows these to be called up in any order and stepped through by a footswitch. The unit also features MIDI which allows it to be controlled from an external device such as a synthesizer or electronic drums.
Notable users
edit- Jeff Porcaro who appeared on the printed marketing material promoting the ADD-One
- Jean-Michel Jarre[7]
- Prince[8]
References
edit- ^ Everard, Chris (October 1986). "New Addition (SOS Oct 86)". Sound on Sound (Oct 1986): 52–53. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
- ^ Wiffen, Paul (November 1986). "Dynacord ADD-one (MT Nov 86)". Music Technology (Nov 1986): 24. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
- ^ Wiffen, Paul (November 1986). "Dynacord ADD-one (MT Nov 1986)". Music Technology (Nov 1986): 24.
- ^ "Dynacord ADD-one rare drum machine | Music Gear Daily". www.musicgeardaily.com. Retrieved 2018-06-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Dynacord ADD-one rare drum machine". Archived from the original on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ^ "Vintage Drums: Dynacord ADD-One". Kreativ Musik machen (in German). 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ^ "DYNACORD ADD-One". www.jarrography.free.fr. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ^ "Dynacord ADD One". Retrieved 2023-10-22.
It was used by Prince on Lovesexy and Batman for kick and snare samples.
Further reading
edit- "New Addition". Sound On Sound. October 1986. pp. 52–3. ISSN 0951-6816. OCLC 925234032.
- "Dynacord ADD-one". Music Technology. November 1986. p. 24. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.