Emu Drumulator

MODEL #7000 (1983)

user manual Service manual Buy Drumulator sample by MPC60

" The Drumulator was the first sample-based affordable drum machine based after the Linn Drum and Oberheim DMX public success"

Overview

OVERVIEW main panel features a basic segment display, 4 drum pads, 2 knobs, a slider potentiometer and 25 push buttons.

Rear panel terminal connectors:
- 8 RCA CINCH separate out
- metronome out
- main mix out (jack)
- 4 gate inputs for pads control
- tape interface I/o
- 2 pedalswitch inputs for start/stop + repeat

EMU DRUMULATOR RESET PROCEDURE: FACTORY RESET press [SEGMENT] hold [ERASE] press [CASS] then POOF appears

Sounds and eprom

SOUNDS classic 8 bits Z80 ZILOG CPU manages 8 channels polyphony and each channel features a assigned samples.
The drumulator contains 12 PCM waveforms (bassdrum, snare, tom* (x3) clave, cowbell, claps, hihat open/closed and ride cymbal) coded at 8 bits resolution stored on 4 A-B-C-D socket EPROMS (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories) for a mere total of 64 kb. It is possible to change the soundset by swapping the 4 EPROMS + 1 needed OS EPROM with sample offset values.
*NOTE: TOM channels are filtered by 2 famous chip SSM2044 (static)

EPROM

Z80

SSM 2044

Alternate EPROM SET

Sequencer and edit

SEQUENCER Up to to 4 tracks can be recorded at the same time with free signature and variable groove-swing processor. The patterns (segments) are recorded in real-time mode with a variable auto-correct precision quantizer: 8/.8/16/16./32/32 (triplet).
TIP: In order to simplify recording, the sequencer features a smart programmable audio-metronome with various time dividers.

SYNC: analog trig (at 24ppq) or RS232 / tape sync.

EDITOR and PAD the original EMUARCHIVE (now offline) mentioned a special APPLE II GRC - Graphic Rhythm Composer - hooked to RS232 port. I never had a clue about this one after decades of searching.

REPAIR - MODIFICATION the Drumulator is a pretty reliable Z80 machine: classic push buttons may need to be replaced and sliders too are the main issues.smart programmable audio-metronome with various time dividers.
Classic and easy modification is the MIDI interface which need new OS 3.0 EPROM and a little DIY board, schematics can be found on the net.

MEMORY - 36 patterns or segments up to 99 measures + 8 songs Data can be saved only to magnetic tape out.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT: BR 2/3A soldered to mainboard