Vermona DRM1 MKII

This is very straight forward. It's the first analog instrument with no learning curve. And it very light and portable.

Like everyone has said, "Just turn the knobes and go". I am giving a review because I think it's one of the best kept secrets of modern analog machinery!!!

Analog, did I say analog? The sound is vanglorious!!! You can recreate every Roland TR sound possible as well as some of the EMU and other drum machine sounds. The difference is you can make about 10 times more than all of those machines together. If you throw some effects on these sounds, it's all over. I am going straight analog on everything even if it takes an extra hour to program. This one only takes an extra minute to program.

Very reliable. I think I might get the chrom knob version just on GP (general Purpose).

Never Needed but it's good to know they are available.

Like I said, I am probably going to but another one just to make even more crazy but yet classic sounds.

knobs, knobs, knobs. no presets, just twist the knobs and see what happens. simple device to use. Manual is helpful. Assigning the 8 sounds to keys was the most difficult task and it took less than 10 minutes. overall and easy piece of gear to figure out.

couple of built in reverb, distortion, for snare/clap and kick. It is pure analogue. This thing rocks and does exactly what it was designed for. It is easily the best built piece of gear I own.

great analogue sound. Not meant to be realistic. Best for Electro/Dance/Techno. Anything experimental. If you want Aphex twin, Depeche Mode, or Radiohead sounds this it the Drum module to buy. It is velocity sensitive and works well.

I think this thing is solid. Vermona has a reputation for making great gear. this unit has not failed me yet.

never called

This unit is vital to my sound. I am trying to expand my studion with some true analogue modules/synths. This and The Dave Smith Evolver have added some Analogue balls to my studio. I wouldn't sell either for anything. Analogue is the best route for experimental sounds. My opinion at least.

easy as it gets...

twiddle knobs until you're happy (hehe)

vry easy to set up, and if you have trouble, the manual is right there

8 voices, 1 for each drum

has built in reverb for the snare and clap, and fm modulation for the three bass drums + some distortion for good measure (glorious analog distortion at that)

one midi channel- responds to channel 10

no on-board sequencer

this is a drum SYNTHESIZER. this is not for realism. it is for electronic music- get it?

the bass on this thing is insane. i find that it needs some compression to squeeze it down into a nice tight little zone (hehe)

i tried running it dry, but i found that running it into a nice ad/da converter where the individual sounds can be "fxed" in the virtual environment. i like to compress, add effects, and record each hit for sequencing in cubase.

this does not sound like an x0x. it is it's own machine with it's own flavor. it easily has as much punch as the classic roland units, however.

the snare can be tight and crisp to loose and crunchy; whatever you want.

3 bass drums- booty bass heaven if you want

one multi channel for analog effects

2 hihats, more crunchy than tinny, but definitely workable

one of the best claps i have heard yet

bottom line- this thing sounds incredible

i have used both the 808 and 909 extensively; i think i like this better (never thought i'd say that)

built like a tank

it'll never leave the house

they always answer when i email

never tried to call (they are in germany)

10

just buy one

you'll be glad you did

Well, if this is the first thing you've ever seen which requires you to know something basic about synthesis (like what FM is) you may confused for a moment, but really, the controls on this thing do what the labels say they do. It really is quite simple.

The DRM1 is refreshingly up-front about its features. It has an output for each module on the front, which is useful if you have a modular approach to your setup, but sucks if you want to connect up each channel independently to your rig. I use the former method, and have no complaints. MIDI is extremely basic. It would be nice to be able to set the midi channel (perhaps by DIP switches). It would also be nice to have some envelope control on some of the modules.

The Kick is it. The first three modules (Drum 1-3) are all capable of a resounding, chest-vibrating kick that is so deeply satisfying it's hard to imagine how you got along without it. Of course, these modules are also capable of other, stranger sounds. The other modules are Very Good, in my estimation, at producing the kind of analog drum sounds one would expect. I don't especially like the snare, but the cymbal sounds are especially nice and useful, and the clap is also excellent.

I like to run my hands over the Vermona. Everything about this unit speaks of extremely high quality. This is a machine built for people who want a specialized product that will last. The outputs are the finest I have ever seen on a piece of gear.

I have no idea.

If you want true analog drum sounds (they cannot be emulated and samples suck), this unit is definitely worth considering. I use a Machinedrum to sequence the DRM1 and have had great results doing this. You should have a good sequencing/triggering option available for this before you buy it. I started out with an Electribe ES-1, which was ok for this purpose but for the fact that it lacked one extra trigger, so I couldn't use the DRM1's full range of sounds.

It is important to note that the DRM1 should have a continuous power source, otherwise it forgets the note settings for its triggers. In other words, don't plug this into your power strip that you turn on and off every night, otherwise you'll have to reset the DRM1's settings every time you go to use it. The memory in the DRM1 is unfortunately dependent on continuous power being available.

If it were lost, would I buy it again? Probably not. I would just buy the "Drum 1" module Vermona sells, since I primarily use this unit for its INSANE kick.

81 knobs, 8 fully analog drum synths...how much easier (or fun) does it get? The hardest thing to do is set the midi note triggers, which requires pressing 8 different keys on your controllor keyboard :) No presets, and the only save function is in your head.

* drum parts, as I said, 3 kick/tom modules, 1 multi, 1 snare, 1 clap, and 2 hihat/cymbal modules (each hihat is capable of an open and closed by default). Technically, it's all effects, bends, pitchs, filters, fm modulation, resonance....you can make a totally hard and tight realistic drum kit, all the way to the spaciest thing you have ever heard for percussion! Midi is as easy as it gets, I think it's stuck on channel 10 no matter what, which is fine by me. It has 8 individual outputs, as well as a master out (in stereo) since each drum has a pan control. All of the outs can double as inputs, allowing you to run external audio sources through the drums filters.

Fat, tight, warm, distorted, clean, smooth....whatever you want, it can be done...just keep turning knobs! It reacts to velocity via midi as well...I love this thing!

Just got it, seems to be bulti like a freakin tank, solid metal chasis, all 1/4" outputs....nothing sketchy about it at all.

Haven't had any reason to contact them yet...

If it were stolen, I would TRY to buy another, if I could manage to talk my wife into letting me give up thew cash again!