free web creation software

"  Handheld analog drum box with internal sequencer 
    A nice and affordable Roland TR-808 "clone" made in Berlin by iconic Manfred Fricke."

Overview and synthesis

OVERVIEW Main panel features 7 buttons, 26 knobs, a switch, 8 not-sensible pads.
Rear panel terminal connectors: 
- Midi input 
- Main 1,5 mm analog signal out 
- 1 separate outs for kick drum 
- 1 separate outs for snare drum 
- 1 separate outs for clap 
- 1 separate outs for hihat. 

TECH main core 8-bits Atmel AT89C4051 manages 7 channels polyphony.  The voice board generates 9 analog percussions (some are channel-shared) each with individual mix gain for a precise mix control.  Generated sound list: kick, snare, tom, clap, clave, rimshot, conga, cymbal and hihat. 

ATMEL

Sounds and sequencer

DRUM SOUNDS  each drum pads is assigned to a specifc drum sound that can be modified with some sound tweak controls:
kick 
 - tune changes pitch
- decay defines length
- tone smoothes the initial attack portion.
snare / rimshot (shared)
- tune changes pitch 
- noise filters the amount of white noise
clap 
- filter balances between bright and dark sound 
- attack changes width
- decay adds the TR-808 "reverb" trick using white noise
clave
 - uses the cowbell channel 
- hold SHIFT to switch.
cowbell
- decay sets length release 
- tune changes the square waves phasing pitch
- overall tuning can be changed using cymbal tune knob
tom/conga (cannot be played at same time)
- tune is for pitch tuning 
- decay for length
cymbal 
 - tone smoothes the attack portion
- decay changes the cymbal length 
- tuning variates t pitch but also for cowbell and Hi HATS.
hihat 
 - decay changes release length
- tuning can be changed using cymbal tune pot.
 
SEQUENCER :MFB 2 modes to record events:
- real-time entry mode 
- step mode is limited to only to 8 button-steps, so you have to switch between A/B parts.Other sequencer functions: accent and 3 shuffling levels (aka swing effect).

SYNC / MIDI  machine can be synched to external Midi clock. MIDI implementation is pretty basic and sounds mapping cannot be changed - no special controls but dynamic sounds triggering 
MFb

MFB 522 Technical Data

Company: MFB
Model: 522
Class: Drum machine
Dates: 2009
Pads: 9 non-dynamic
Display: none
Synthesis: analog
Polyphony: 7 channels
Sounds: 9 percussions
Sequencer: 72 patterns
Midi: IN
Songs: up to 8
Fill-ins: 72
Accent: yes
Swing: 3 levels
Sync: Midi clock
CPU: Atmel AT89C4051
PSU: 12V DC
Country: Germany
Weight: 1 kg
Dimensions: 175 (w) x 125 (h) x 38 (d) mm
MFb 522

Do you use this machine ? do you like it? You do not agree with our review?  Let us know in the comment field just below 

DISQUS COMMENTS WILL BE SHOWN ONLY WHEN YOUR SITE IS ONLINE

SHARE

Audio demo and video 

MFB 522 MFB 522
85 out of 100 based on 1 user ratings
200 to 350 from 1 sellers Sellers: