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Description

The E-mu Drumulator is a vintage classic in the world of drum machines, beloved by DJs and producers for its distinctive 1980s sound. Originally released in 1983, this digital drum machine brings a nostalgic yet timeless touch to modern music production. It's famed for its 12-bit sampling technology, offering a warm and gritty audio quality that stands out in any mix. The Drumulator is equipped with a set of pre-programmed drum sounds that include kicks, snares, and toms, making it a versatile tool for creating everything from hip-hop beats to electronic rhythms.

The Drumulator's user-friendly interface allows for easy sequencing, making it accessible for beginners while still offering enough depth for more experienced users to explore. Its real-time control features allow you to tweak and customize your beats, providing endless creative possibilities. The unit also supports MIDI integration, making it compatible with other modern equipment and software, ensuring it fits seamlessly into your studio setup.

Whether you're a collector of vintage gear or a modern musician looking to add some classic flair to your tracks, the E-mu Drumulator delivers a unique sound that captures the essence of an era while remaining relevant today.

Key Features:

  • Vintage 12-bit sampling for authentic 1980s sound
  • Pre-programmed drum sounds including kicks, snares, and toms
  • User-friendly interface for easy sequencing
  • Real-time control features for on-the-fly customization
  • MIDI compatibility for seamless integration with modern gear

Product specs

Brand E-MU Systems
Model Drumulator 8-Voice Drum Sampler
Finish Blue
Year 1983
Categories Drum Machines, Samplers
Analog / Digital Digital
Polyphony 8 Voices

FAQs

What type of sounds can the E-mu Drumulator produce?

The E-mu Drumulator is known for its classic 1980s drum sounds, featuring a range of digital samples including kicks, snares, toms, hi-hats, and cymbals, making it suitable for retro and electronic music styles.

Is the E-mu Drumulator suitable for live performances?

Yes, the E-mu Drumulator is designed for live use, featuring a user-friendly interface and robust construction, making it a reliable choice for performing musicians.

How many voices can the E-mu Drumulator play simultaneously?

The E-mu Drumulator offers 8-voice polyphony, allowing you to layer multiple drum sounds simultaneously for complex rhythms and beats.

Can the E-mu Drumulator be integrated with modern DAWs?

While the E-mu Drumulator is a vintage piece of gear, it can be integrated into modern setups through MIDI connections, allowing synchronization with DAWs and other MIDI-compatible equipment.

Does the E-mu Drumulator allow for custom sample loading?

The E-mu Drumulator does not allow for custom sample loading, as it uses pre-set digital samples typical of early drum machines from the 1980s.

AnalogAudio1

AnalogAudio1

E-MU DRUMULATOR Vintage Drum Machine 1983 | HD DEMO | SAMPLE PACK

Video thumbnail for E-MU DRUMULATOR Vintage Drum Machine 1983 | HD DEMO | SAMPLE PACK by AnalogAudio1

E-MU DRUMULATOR Vintage Drum Machine 1983 | HD DEMO | SAMPLE PACK

AnalogAudio1

AnalogAudio1

Video thumbnail for E-mu Drumulator Tears For Fears ''Shout'' drums by SynthMania

E-mu Drumulator Tears For Fears ''Shout'' drums

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for E-mu DRUMULATOR | Early Synth-Pop Classic by Espen Kraft

E-mu DRUMULATOR | Early Synth-Pop Classic

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Video thumbnail for E-mu Drumulator original factory patterns by SynthMania

E-mu Drumulator original factory patterns

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for ZIF sockets on E-mu Drumulator by SynthMania

ZIF sockets on E-mu Drumulator

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for The E-mu Drumulator Drum Machine- The beat of the 80s (and Beyond!) by Nostalgic Explorer

The E-mu Drumulator Drum Machine- The beat of the 80s (and Beyond!)

Nostalgic Explorer

Nostalgic Explorer

Reviews

PROS

  • Intuitive and fun to use

  • Durable build quality

  • Iconic 80s sound from 8-bit eproms

  • Affordable compared to similar vintage drum machines

  • Swappable sound options for customization

  • Versatile across genres like synth-pop and italo-disco

  • Not steep learning curve for beginners

  • Unique sound that's hard to replicate with samples

CONS

  • Limited programming capabilities

  • Individual outputs are RCA, which may be inconvenient for some setups

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about E-mu Drumulator.

Setup and maintenance

  • The Drumulator's PSU shows no apparent issues, with precise rail readings: +5v at 5.63V, -15v at -15.28V, and +15v at 15.01V indicating stable power distribution.

    Source
  • A failed tin can regulator may overvolt and erase the program ROM chip, specifically at 12k, highlighting the importance of checking this component.

    Source
  • The Z80 CPU receives proper voltage signals: +5V on VCC, +4.5V on RESET, and +5V on INT, yet the machine remains unresponsive, indicating a possible deeper fault in the system.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Drumulator emits a burst of drum sounds upon startup, affected by the volume knob, but fails to display lights or segment displays, suggesting a deeper internal issue.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Adding a small SMPS to replace the original 5v regulator is recommended to prevent potential overvoltage issues that can erase the program ROM.

    Source

User experience

  • Inconsistent behavior noted with different EPROMs; new OS EPROM installations often fail to resolve issues, suggesting potential memory chip failures.

    Source

Critic Reviews

E-mu Drumulator (EMM Jun 83)

muzines.co.uk

The E-mu Drumulator impresses with its affordability and ease of use, providing essential features akin to pricier models like the LinnDrum. It boasts twelve individually sampled sounds and dynamic programming capabilities, ensuring versatile rhythm creation. While it lacks advanced mixing and panning options, its individual audio outputs lend flexibility for external processing. The Drumulator's design maximizes software over hardware, keeping costs reasonable without skimping on sound quality. However, swapping sound chips isn't user-friendly, and its limited memory might require frequent data management. Overall, it's a solid choice for budget-conscious musicians seeking a reliable digital drum machine.

positive

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
jimmarchi1

I grew up with this bad boy

my dad and uncle were always fucking with this guy in the 80s. They used it heavily in their proto chill-out record, "Stress Break" around '85 when I was in grade school. I was excited to discover recently my uncle had it in his basement. So I traded him some guitar stuff for it and have it in my arsenal now.... this is pure Depeche mode and just a great, singular sound in rhythm machines that always loses something when individual hits are sampled.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Andy Latimer uses E-mu Drumulator

Andy Latimer

Guitarist, Composer

Camel

...
Verified via Discogs

Latimer used it on Vopos

See how Howard Jones uses E-mu Drumulator

Howard Jones

Singer, Keyboardist

The Conspirators

...
Verified via Muzines

"I think the snare and the bass sound are absolutely horrific, we used to have to eq them to death to get anything. The rest of the sounds I love, you can't get them anywhere else — it's just that bass and snare that are bad. Now when I use the 808 I don't use its bass and snare, I get them to trigger the Drumulator's bass and snare, a hybrid of the Drumulator and the 808. The 808's hi-hats are great, and the congas — they don't sound anything like congas, but they have such a character to them."

See how Daniel Miller uses E-mu Drumulator

Daniel Miller

Keyboardist, Music Producer

...
Verified via Muzines

"For percussion we used the Drumulator mostly, for bass and snare sounds, and also the ARP 2600 for tomtoms and loads of other percussive effects. I think it was good to use the Drumulator, because up till then we'd always used completely synthetic percussion set-ups, Simmons and things. We actually treated the Drumulator sounds quite heavily with ambience though, we didn't use them straight."

See how Peter Hammill uses E-mu Drumulator

Peter Hammill

Singer, Guitarist

Van der Graaf Generator

...
Verified via Muzines

"At the other end of the studio I just have a Drumulator, DX7, grand piano and various guitars."

See how Alan Howarth uses E-mu Drumulator

Alan Howarth

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

Alan Howarth, known for his collaborations with John Carpenter, uses the E-mu Drumulator drum machine. This is evidenced by a user-uploaded photo showing Howarth with the equipment.

See how Sharooz uses E-mu Drumulator

Sharooz

...
Verified via YouTube

In a studio tour featured on MusicRadar Tech's YouTube channel, Sharooz showcases the E-mu Drumulator as part of his setup.

See how Martin O’Donnell uses E-mu Drumulator

Martin O’Donnell

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

This showcase a snippet of the interview that Marty O'Donnell did with his long friend Michael Salvatori, which Marty shown the gear they owned during the early 1980s. As shown in the highlight 38:30.

Marty'O Donnell recalls owning the E-mu Drumulator in this new studio, as seen in this studio picture.

See how Keith LeBlanc uses E-mu Drumulator

Keith LeBlanc

Drummer, Music Producer

Artists United Against Apartheid

...
Verified via Muzines

Today the record's equipment list reads like a catalogue of might-have-beens. But four years ago, it was state-of-the-art stuff: Oberheim DMX drum machine, Octave-Plateau Voyetra 8 synth, Drumulator...

See how Chris Hughes uses E-mu Drumulator

Chris Hughes

Drummer, Music Producer

Tears for Fears

...
Verified via Redbullmusicacademy

"We had a LinnDrum II box, a drumulator drum box, a Roland Super Jupiter synthesizer, a Fairlight synthesizer, a DX7 keyboard, a rack of guitars, a Steinberger Bass, a Fender Stratocaster and a Gretsch maple drum kit. Those instruments were the kind of workhorse elements to the sound."

C

Colin Thurston

Music Producer, Audio Engineer

Bewlay Bros.

...
Verified via Muzines

"I worked with the first Simmons drum kit that was ever made with a band called Landscape, on a single of theirs. The thing was a whole bunch of wires and PCBs sitting on the couch at the back of the studio - it hadn't even been put into a box at that time. To tune them you had to take a screwdriver and just turn a preset pot -'yeah that sounds like a bass drum'. In those days there were no pads to hit or anything, it was just strange things being triggered off this peculiar time code again. Of course, it has now become the big thing — everyone triggers everything all the time. I saw a real drum kit the other day and I couldn't believe my eyes! I think I've only recorded one real drum kit in the last three years, otherwise it has all been Simmons or Linn or Drumulator etc."

See how Guy Grengs uses E-mu Drumulator

Guy Grengs

Audio Engineer

Stoney Point

...
Verified via Photo

In the image, to the left of Joseph Johnson, Guy Grengs is seen playing his E-mu Drumulator. Joseph Johnson has confirmed that this instrument was used in unreleased recordings.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use E-mu Drumulator, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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