Synth Explorer returns to Loopmasters but we take a break from Synthesis for our third instalment as we voyage into Drum Machine territory with a very twisted collection of Beats and Drum Shots from the often overlooked 505 Drum Machine .

Whilst many of you analogue purists will be scoffing at the idea this machine could come toe to toe with a 909, the raw digital sounds of the 505 Drum Machine come alive with a little help of circuit bends and extra processing so before you make an early judgement listen up and hear how we have transformed the sounds of this unassuming rhythm machine into the ultimate urban beat terrorist.

The 505 was released in 1986 and was intended as a budget portable drum machine featuring 16 crunchy 12Bit samples including Kick, Snare, Toms, Rim Shot, Hi Hats, Crash and Ride Cymbals and some basic percussion sounds. It featured an on-board sequencer with 5 basic modes of operation including Track Play, Track Write, Step Write, Tap Write and Real Time.

This edition of Vintage Explorer features loop and one shot samples covering a wide range of sounds perfect for Techno, Dubstep, Drum & Bass or even Experimental Electronica.  The collection features an inspiring range of one shot sounds that have been sourced directly from a real 505 but you will have never heard a 505 sound like this before as we have tormented this digital beast with a range of tonal tweaks in the form of DIY circuit bends and heavy use of external processing from Distortion, Phaser, Delay, Reverb and Flanger and well anything that made it sound RUDER!

In Detail expect to find 385Mb 24Bit 44.1KHz Loops and one Shot Sounds including 100 Twisted Drum Loops at tempos of 90, 100, 120, 140 and 175 BPM 448 Single Shot Sounds, 100 Rex2 Files and 28 Soft Sampler Patches for Kontakt, Halion, Exs24, nnxt and Sfz formats.

505 Drum Machine - Specifications

Synthesis Type: 12Bit Samples

Polyphony: Max: 8

Controllers: Foot pedal for Start Stop

Sequencer: 40-240 BPM, 48 User Patterns, 48 Preset Patterns, 423 Measures and 6 Songs

Inputs and Outputs: Left/Mono + Right/ Headphones / Start Stop Pedal/ Tape in-out/ MIDI In + Out

Famous Owners: Vince Clarke, Aphex Twin

Each collection in the series will be produced, performed and recorded by highly regarded producers who will remain anonymous as they take a step back and let these classic instruments take to the stage. So get ready to sample the next machine with Digital Transistor Drums