Product: Simmons SDS-400
Price Paid: 200 (euro) used
Submitted
04/12/2006
at
08:00pm
by
Niko
Ease of Use
:
8
No manual needed: no memory, no menu's, no midi.
It all pretty much speaks for itself, although I had to spend some time with it to really get to know it.
Features
:
9
Connectors: jacks - 4 triggers in, 4 drumsynths, 4 indiviual outs, stereo and 'mix' out, phones, footswitch. There's also a 'sequencer trigger in', I believe for connecting the Simmons SDS 6.
Controls: 4x10 knobs: input sensitivety, filter pitch and sweep, 2nd skin (some kind of ringmodulator), tone pitch and bend, decay, balance (noise/tone), click level, output level.
The drumsynth most to the left has a 'run generator' for controlling it's pitch. Run generator controls are: threshold, step and run time, balance (random/run), up or down. That's five pots, plus an on/off button. If on, the pitch on the drumsynth will act as your tuning. I think intended to make those 'bidibadabobobumbum' kind of tom fills, but with little creative effort great for bass/fx/whatnot sequences.
Masters: Left, right and 'mix' volume.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
9
Lots of possibilities. It can go from bass drums, snares, high hats, cymbals, toms with a tweak, very hands-on. I make melodies on it as well.
I don't think it is ment to sound realistic. As a synth it is realistic! After all it's got CEM chips.
Great for acid.
Reliability
:
10
If I'd throw it down the stairs I think it would still work. It's a brick.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
9
Simmons!
I've paid to much for this, two years ago, but I really don't mind. I was looking for one and there wasn't much to find, so it seemed. But this one was and is in excelent condition.
Sequencer by drumcomputer, it goes great with my roland sh101. I'd never sell it. If it were lost or stolen I'd get another one.
