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Dave Smith Instruments Tempest

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Photo of Dave Smith Instruments Tempest and more gear in a synths

Photo of Dave Smith Instruments Tempest and more gear in a studio

Dave Smith Instruments Tempest

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$1,536.16 Price Tier: High-end

4.5 (52)

3 Critic Reviews

9 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Dave Smith Instruments Tempest

5 community setups

83 wishlisted

145 saved

Page last updated Jun 30, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 30, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (20)

$1,536.16 17 available Used

View Deal

Average Price: $1,536

High-end/Boutique

$150

$601+

Price Tier

In the Drum Machines category, Dave Smith Instruments Tempest is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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The Dave Smith Instruments Tempest redefines what a drum machine can be, merging the creative genius of Dave Smith and Roger Linn into an extraordinary beat-making powerhouse. Packed with six analog voices, each featuring two analog and two digital oscillators, the Tempest allows you to sculpt unique sonic landscapes with ease. Whether you're in the studio or on stage, its 16 velocity-sensitive pads and 90 real-time controls offer an intuitive interface for creating dynamic beats.

The Tempest is not just a drum machine; it's a complete music production tool. Its advanced modulation capabilities, including a VCA with feedback, five envelopes, and two LFOs, provide limitless sound-shaping possibilities. The addition of analog effects like compression and tube-style saturation can add warmth and grit to your tracks, while the large OLED display ensures easy navigation through its complex features.

Designed for the modern musician, the Tempest includes USB and MIDI connectivity, six direct voice outputs, and stereo mix outputs, making it a versatile choice for any setup. The pressure- and position-sensitive Note FX slide controllers allow for real-time sound manipulation, elevating your performance to new heights. Whether you're crafting intricate rhythms or performing live with spontaneous flair, the Tempest is your ultimate partner in beat creation.

Key Features:

16 pressure- and velocity-sensitive backlit drum trigger pads in an 8 x 2 matrix
6 analog voices, each with 2 analog oscillators and 2 digital oscillators
Classic analog lowpass filter, highpass filter, VCA with feedback, 5 envelopes, 2 LFOs
Doubles as a 6-voice analog synth
6 direct voice outputs, stereo mix outputs, headphones output
USB and MIDI in/out for seamless integration
90 real-time panel controls with dedicated knobs for synthesis parameters
Bright 256 x 64 OLED display for easy navigation
Real-time and step recording capabilities
Unique effects including stereo analog compressor and distortion, beat-synced delay

Push the boundaries of your creativity with the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest, where analog warmth meets digital precision.

Product specs

Brand	Dave Smith Instruments
Model	Tempest 6-Voice Drum Machine
Finish	Black with Wood Sides
Year	2011 - 2018
Made In	United States
Categories	Drum Machines
Analog / Digital	Hybrid
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI
Polyphony	6 Voices

FAQs

How many voices does the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest support?: The Dave Smith Instruments Tempest is a 6-voice drum machine, allowing for complex layering and polyphonic drum patterns within your compositions.
Is the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest an analog or digital drum machine?: The Tempest is a hybrid drum machine, combining both analog and digital sound generation to offer a wide range of sonic possibilities.
Does the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest support MIDI connectivity?: Yes, the Tempest supports MIDI connectivity with MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and USB MIDI, making it easy to integrate with other MIDI-compatible gear.
What type of finish does the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest have?: The Tempest features a black finish with wood sides, providing a sleek and classic look that complements its powerful functionality.
Can the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest be used for live performances?: Yes, the Tempest is well-suited for live performances with its intuitive interface and robust sound engine, allowing for dynamic and expressive live drum programming.

Videos

Add video

Sequential

Dave Smith Instruments- Tempest Analog Drum Machine- Roger Linn Design

Sequential

Bad Gear - Dave Smith Tempest

AudioPilz

'The Tempest' Innovative Analog Drum Machine / Synth from Dave Smith + Roger Linn

Dubspot

Dave Smith Instruments Tempest - Sweetwater NAMM 2011

Sweetwater

How BAD was the DSI TEMPEST Really??!?

Noir Et Blanc Vie

Dave Smith Instruments Tempest Analog Drum Machine Video Compilation- Roger Linn Design

Sequential

Dave Smith Tempest 16 Beats Demo (NO TALKING) (NO FX)

Ch_Wa_

Dave Smith Tempest - FIRST LOOK! // My new Favorite Drum Machine? [ Ep. 17 ]

JAde Wii

DSI Tempest Demo - Favorite presets (no talking)

Nicolas Melis

Dave Smith Instruments Tempest Retired ?

Musician Paradise

DSI TEMPEST - NEW SOUND PACK - SYNTH SOUNDS

Home Records Label

Reviews

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PROS

Exceptional for live performances due to responsive controls
Versatile sound design, combining analog filters with digital samples
Offers powerful sequencing capabilities, including song mode
Capable of producing unique, bizarre percussion sounds
Acts as both a drum machine and a polyphonic synthesizer
Includes a modulation matrix for deep sound customization
Presets are high quality and usable out of the box
Suitable for complete song creation with its extensive features
Encourages creativity with a non-traditional drum machine approach
Designed by industry legends, ensuring professional-grade quality

CONS

Steep learning curve might deter beginners
Cannot import custom samples, limiting external sound integration
Some users find the built-in sounds and filters lacking
High price point may be prohibitive for some users

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Dave Smith Instruments Tempest.

User experience

0 0

Voice stealing occurs frequently when playing more than four sounds simultaneously, affecting the reliability of complex performances.
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0 0

Owners report the Tempest demands a deeper understanding of subtractive synthesis, offering rewarding sound design opportunities for those willing to explore its depths.
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Tempest's modulation matrix and live assignable parameters, with three auxiliary envelopes, offer extensive sound design capabilities.
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Some users report noticeable oscillator noise, especially with compression or distortion, which might indicate a firmware or hardware issue.
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Comparisons

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While the Tempest offers extensive tone shaping options, some users find it challenging to dial in desired sounds from scratch compared to more straightforward machines like the Elektron.
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Tempest's higher resolution of individual note placement allows for more precise real-time beat building compared to the Rytm's retrig method for similar effects.
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Elektron Rytm offers better sequencing capabilities with independent track lengths and trig conditions, unlike Tempest.
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Value and pricing

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Despite its high price, the Tempest maintains strong resale value, often allowing owners to recoup their investment fully or even profit if kept in good condition.
Source
0 0

While Tempest remains high-priced, it's considered a versatile instrument, providing a 6-voice polysynth module with extensive programming capabilities.
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Features and functionality

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The Tempest is noted for its ability to live record complex, customizable parameter locks, providing real-time expressive control over 32 individual sounds within a kit.
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Tempest excels in live performance with its capability to select patterns on the fly and utilize "roll" and "reverse" functions along with performance controls.
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Tempest allows up to 8 bars at 16 beats per bar, doubling Elektron Rytm's capability, offering more flexibility in live performances.
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0 0

Voice architecture includes 4 oscillators, 2 analog and 2 digital/sample playback, but lacks a true ring modulator for sound creation.
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Use cases and applications

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Users find the Tempest naturally cuts through the mix in live settings, offering a unique sound presence that complements live band performances.
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Tempest is seen more as a rhythm synthesizer rather than a traditional drum machine, ideal for those interested in unconventional sounds.
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Other

0 0

A known issue is the waveforms having a few samples of silence at the beginning, causing phase issues when mixed with analog oscillators.
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0 0

The Tempest's combination of analog and digital paths through the same VCA can cause sounds to drop out, especially during dense audio passages.
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Build quality

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Some users report that the Tempest's pots feel a bit fiddly, potentially impacting precision during performance.
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Pads are noted for their amazing feel and great velocity response, enhancing the playability of the device.
Source

Critic Reviews

Dave Smith Instruments Tempest

soundonsound.com

The Dave Smith Instruments Tempest is an ambitious blend of analog drum machine and polyphonic synthesizer, born from industry legends Dave Smith and Roger Linn. Its deep synthesis engine and dynamic performance potential are highlights, but it's still a work in progress with a hefty price tag. The Tempest impresses with its hands-on control, responsive pads, and robust sound design capabilities, yet its lack of onboard effects and limited beat storage are downsides. Ideal for dedicated musicians seeking a unique, live-oriented instrument, but not for casual users or those on a budget.

neutral

Full Review

Dave Smith Instruments & Roger Linn Design Tempest review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Dave Smith Instruments Tempest is a unique blend of analog and digital synthesis, offering an MPC-style sequencer with rich, tweakable sounds. It excels in live performance and studio settings with its hybrid sound engine and intuitive user interface. The build quality is robust, featuring a visually appealing metal and wood design. Despite its impressive features, the Tempest is hindered by some operational bugs and missing updates, such as user sample uploads and external sequencing capability. While it's a bit pricey, its long-term value is underscored by its versatility and sound quality, making it a future classic.

positive

Full Review

macProVideo.com

macprovideo.com

Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 9 Reviews and 52 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

michael_xavier1

100

over 6 years ago

An incredibly versatile and intuitive instrument

The DSI Tempest is incredibly underrated. It's the best drum machine I've ever used. Though the learning curve is steep, once you jump that hurdle you'll find yourself making some incredible music, with absolutely off-kilter and bizarre percussion sounds. It's basically a polyphonic synth and drum machine combined, and though the price tag may be steep for some, it offers near-infinite sound design potential. Not only that, but the actual sequencing of new beats is incredibly fun and easy and actually reacts to pad pressure, the slider position and pressure, and velocity of your playing, which becomes particularly useful when playing live. There is even a modulation matrix for your sounds with filters and feedback and noise generators and distortion and compression and tons of different routes and destinations for your sounds. It might take a little time to make a beat in the Tempest, but the results are absolutely game-changing when you do, and to those who complain they just want to make beats on the fly, well, that's what template sounds and projects are for! I'm amazed by the range of what this small machine can do. if you get the chance and it's selling for anything $1,200, nab it while you can. It's way more worth it than a vintage set which will cost thousands more.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Drummer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop

pausetc

141

over 9 years ago

Simply the Best Synthesis-based Drum Designer and Drum Performer

Like the Toraiz after it, most reviews of the Tempest are heavily covered by it's price. The other concept that negatively colors them is the conservatism of drum machines and drum machine users, who all expect drum machines to be faithful recreations of some combination of the 606, 707, 808 & 909. The Tempest is of course a drum synthesizer that it capable of house-shattering renditions of those sounds but isn't meant to be a preset and forget initializer of those sounds. It is however a machine so capable and so inspiring that I could easily make an entire album I'd be proud of using just the Tempest, a Yamaha MG16xu mixer and a microphone. Hell, I could improvisationally tour on that album using just those things as well, since the Tempest is a great playback + performance tool as well. If Roger Linn or Dave Smith created a Tempest 2 with polyrhythms, an SD card slot, per-pad MIDI channel, custom sample loading, a mic input, reverb and an additional MIDI channel for a chromatically triggered pad (it already has one chromatic single sound channel and one multi-pad channel), then the Tempest would be not only capable of doing a whole album by itself, but a luxury to do so with. Such a Tempest 2 would be worth $2400

xaqary

5455

about 9 years ago

Best damn drum machine ever & more.

Hnads down the best drum machine I’ve ever used...and a 6 voice Poly. Damn.

2 digital oscillators loaded with about 500 samples & 2 analog as oscillators w/ a full analog signal path (hp, lp, 5 envelopes, 2 lfo’s, loads of modulation destinations, FX, etc.)

Extremely capable drum machine & Poly synthizer. It’s a handful to learn but for those not turned away by that it’s a endlessly enjoyable to play, program, & the sequencer is kick ass, a joy to work on.

Absolutely recommend you check it out if you have the chance.

xaqary

5455

9 years ago about 9 years ago

Holy shit this is getting good. I've got my feet wet now. Proper review coming soon...

olleyollet

278

about 11 years ago

Really awesome to use the sounds out of this thing under some more organic and real percussion.

DSI never does anything wrong. The sounds I can get out of this thing are incredible. Really awesome to use the sounds out of this thing under some more organic and real percussion. The distortion and compression out of this thing is as warm as can be.

etche

185

about 11 years ago

Good functions, no that good sounds.

It has many options that are great, amazing to use live. What i don't like from this drum machine is that you can't download samples to it, you have to use the sounds that come with the machine. This sounds I find a bit skinny, its hard to create a kick with body. Filters are not that great, and its not cheap. Im thinking about selling it and buying a eltron drum machine or an MFB.

bradflora

576

11 years ago about 11 years ago

I had one. I found it crazy impressive but just didn't find myself using it as much as I expected so I sold it.

etche

185

11 years ago about 11 years ago

i think im gonna do the same thing. fortunately i bought it used, so i can sell it at the same price and buy another drum machine. maybe an electron or an mfb which i really like.

bradflora

576

11 years ago about 11 years ago

Yep. Same story here. I bought one used for $1500. Sold it for $1600 3 months later.

etche

185

11 years ago about 11 years ago

;) nice, thats my plan too.

molifir

over 10 years ago

Great Drum Machine

Really awesome for live acts aswell as producing in the studio. Sadly can't put any samples in it but it doesn't affect me because I have a sampler for that purpose. The pads are awesome and everything is layered in a way which enables artist to have a good workflow which I find really important.

eric_cole

117

about 10 years ago

WOW!

6 voice drum computer is what this is. All kinds of sound design. No you can't sample to it but if you can't get the sound you want with what's under this hood...I don't know what you want,lol!?!