Vermona DRM1 MKIII User Manual
User Guide
Introduction
The analogue drum-synthesizer DRM1 MKIII is not just another instrument or
piece of equipment. It is also part of history - our history.
In its first version, we have reentered the market under the brand name
Vermona with a first product. A return to a market from which we temporarily had to pull back due to significant historical and political changes. This
product was introduced many years ago but the DRM1 is still being produced.
Why? There are still musicians that do not own this product. Actually, we are
surprised by the unbroken demand for the unit. Because of this, the DRM1
has been continuously refined and has reached version MKIII today – the best
drum-synthesizer we have ever created.
Now it is up to you, dear user, customer and musician, to design the best beats
you ever created!
The VERMONA-team
Erlbach/Vogtland
EN
VERMONA DRM1 MKIII - analog drum synthesizer
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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
Important Safety Information ...........................................................................................3
Setup ......................................................................................................................................5
Scope of delivery ...........................................................................................................5
Connection and Startup ...............................................................................................5
Setting up audio connections ..............................................................................5
Setting up MIDI connections ................................................................................6
Control elements and connections ..................................................................................7
Front Panel/User Interface .........................................................................................7
Rear Panel .......................................................................................................................8
The Sound Generation ........................................................................................................9
The DRM1 MKIII’s sound channels ......................................................................... 10
KICK ....................................................................................................................... 10
DRUM 1/DRUM 2 ................................................................................................. 12
MULTI ..................................................................................................................... 13
SNARE .................................................................................................................... 15
HI HAT 1/HI HAT 2 ............................................................................................. 17
CLAP ....................................................................................................................... 19
MIDI Functions .................................................................................................................. 20
Setting the MIDI-channel and note numbers ........................................................ 20
Setting the MIDI-channel and note number for an individual DRM-
channel ............................................................................................................ 20
Setting the MIDI-channel and note numbers for all DRM-channels ......... 21
Factory Defaults .................................................................................................. 22
Individual Outputs/Inserts............................................................................................. 23
Use as individual output ........................................................................................... 23
Use as insert ................................................................................................................ 24
Trigger-Inputs (optional) ................................................................................................ 25
Sound Examples................................................................................................................ 26
KICK .............................................................................................................................. 26
DRUM ............................................................................................................................ 26
MULTI ............................................................................................................................ 27
SNARE ........................................................................................................................... 28
HI HAT .......................................................................................................................... 28
CLAP .............................................................................................................................. 29
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Important Safety Information
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions. Always include these instructions when passing
the product on to third parties.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Only clean the product when it is not connected to the mains power
supply. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer‘s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug.
A polarized plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the
apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long
periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord
or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, when the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does
not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC mains, disconnect
the power supply cord plug from the AC receptacle.
16. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this
apparatus to rain or moisture.
17. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no
objects filled with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the equipment.
18. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily accessible.
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VERMONA DRM1 MKIII - analog drum synthesizer
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Installation
• Ensure that the room in which you use this product is wired in accordance
with the local electrical code and checked by a qualified inspector.
• Only use this product indoors.
• Do not install the product in hot, humid, or excessively dusty locations, in
direct sunlight or in locations where it is exposed to externally generated
vibrations.
• Do not place burning objects (e.g. candles) on top of or near the product.
• If condensation has formed on the product, e.g. because it was moved from
a cold environment to a warm one, allow the product to acclimatize to
room temperature before using it.
• Do not overload wall outlets and extension cables as this may result in fire
and electric shock.
4
Setup
Scope of delivery
To ensure top quality, we carefully inspected the DRM1 MKIII before packaging.
Nevertheless, the module could have been damaged during transportation.
Therefore, we ask you to take a serious look at the unit when unpacking. Do
not hesitate to contact us, should there be anything unusual with the unit or its
packaging.
You should find the following items in the box:
• the DRM1 MKIII
• a power chord
• this manual
• a big portion of fun
Connection and Startup
EN
The DRM1 MKIII is a pure sound module. To make use of it, it needs to be
connected to a sequencer, a computer or keyboard as well as to a mixing desk
or an amplifier. After connecting the module to a power socket using the
supplied power chord, setup the audio- and MIDI-connections as follows:
Setting up audio connections
IMPORTANT CONNECT FIRST, AND THEN SWITCH ON! To protect
your speakers, your audio-interface and, last but not
least, your ears, we urgently recommend setting up all
cable connections while the equipment is switched off.
Do not underestimate level peaks and resulting possible
damage that could occur when plugging in or removing
audio cables.
VERMONA DRM1 MKIII - analog drum synthesizer
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1. The jacks OUT LEFT and OUT RIGHT 9 on the module‘s rear output all
signals in stereo. Connect these jacks to two line-inputs of a mixing desk,
a computer-audio-interface or to an amplifier using two 6.3 mm cables
(TS). Alternatively or in parallel, you may connect a headphone
on the
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module‘s front panel.
NOTE All of the DRM1 MKIII sound channels offer individual
outputs
, allowing them to be patched to the inputs
5
of a mixing console or an audio-interface. Find more
details in chapter “Individual Outputs/Inserts” on page
23. Use the stereo output as a starting point.
2. Before switching on the unit by pressing its POWER button
, complete
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all audio connections to avoid loud impulses and cracking noises in your
audio system. These peaks can lead to distortion and could even harm converters when connected directly to an audio-interface. For safety reasons,
while connecting and powering up the unit, turn down the MASTER control
of the DRM1 MKIII as well as the input controls of the units that follow
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in the signal chain. After powering up the DRM1 MKIII, a corresponding red
LED next to the POWER button
will light up.
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Setting up MIDI connections
1. The unit that is supposed to control the DRM1 MKIII’s sounds needs to
be connected to the DRM1’s MIDI IN jack
hardware-sequencer, the MIDI output of a software-sequencer (using the
computer’s audio- or MIDI-interface) or a keyboard.
2. MIDI THRU forwards the MIDI data from the DRM1 MKIII’s MIDI input and
allows connecting more MIDI devices.
. This can be a groove box, a
10
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Control elements and connections
Front Panel/User Interface
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1
KICK
DRUM 1
DRUM 2
MULTI
SNARE
HI HAT 1
HI HAT 2
CLAP
DECAY
TRIG
TRIG
DECAY
DECAY
TRIG
TRIG
DECAY
DECAY R
TRIG
DECAY
TRIG
DECAY
TRIG
DECAY R
TRIG
BEND
PITCH
PITCH
BEND
BEND
PITCH
PITCH
BEND
DECAY N
REVERB
FILTER
BEND
FILTER
BEND
REVERB
CLAP FILTER HIGHPASS
WAVE
TIME
FM INT
ATTACK
FM INT
ATTACK
ATTACK
PITCH 2
NOISE
ATTACK
ATTACK
RESO
ATTACK
RESO
NOISE
RESO
NOISE
FM FREQ
FM FREQ
PITCH 3
RESO
MIX
MIX
2 3 4 5 6 7
POWER - power switch with LED
1
TRIG button/LED - triggers sound in channel
2
sound shaping parameters
3
PAN/VOLUME - channel volume and panning
4
OUT - individual outputs/inserts
5
ATTACK
WAVE
WAVE
HIGHPASS
FILTER
PITCH
PITCH
VOLUME
PAN
PAN
VOLUME
VOLUME
PAN
PAN
VOLUME
PAN
VOLUME
PAN
VOLUME
PAN VOLUME
PAN VOLUME
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
POWER
analog drum synthesizer
PHONES
MASTER
MASTER - overall volume
6
PHONES - headphones output
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VERMONA DRM1 MKIII - analog drum synthesizer
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Rear Panel
Use only with a 250V fuse
Employer uniquiment avec
un fusible de 250V
8 9 10 11
Trigger-inputs (optional)
8
Main outputs (OUT RIGHT/OUT LEFT)
9
MIDI-IN/MIDI THRU jacks
10
Power connector and fuse holder
11
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The Sound Generation
Now that you have carefully unpacked and setup the DRM1 MKIII, let’s take
a closer look. Sorry for bothering you with mainly theoretical and security
aspects. To get the most out of this unit in a creative and musical sense, this
was necessary. Now, let’s find out what the DRM1 MKIII really is!
The DRM1 MKIII is a sound module, specialized to create synthetic drum
sounds that are produced by pure analogue circuits. It allows the creation of
eight independent drum- and percussion sounds. Although these sounds carry
the component names of a traditional drum kit, these are “only” imitations of
the real thing. However, this is fully intended. Synthetic or analogue drums
provide an individual character and aesthetic. These sounds have significantly
influenced different musical genres if not made them possible at all. Neither old
school Hip-Hop, Electro, House nor Techno would have been possible without
the aid of the famous analogue drum machines invented by our friends from
Japan.
The DRM1 MKIII has a lot to offer. It covers many aspects of those classic units
but also a lot more. But one thing can certainly be said. The DRM1 MKIII is all
original and not a clone, trying to reproduce 8 or 9 classic sounds.
EN
Let’s take a closer look at the individual drums, consecutively referred to as
channels. At the same time, we will also name possible applications for their
use.
All eight channels in the DRM1 MKIII share three elements:
TRIG This button manually triggers the channel’s sound. Here, the
volume is constant and equals the level at 75% MIDI velocity. Note,
for channels HI HAT 1 and HI HAT 2, these offer an additional
choice of sounds (see “HI HAT 1/HI HAT 2” on page 17).
PAN this control adjusts the channels’ position in the stereo panorama
when using the main- and headphone outputs
audible effect, the channels on the receiving mixing desk need to
be panned to the left and right. Note that PAN is effectless when
using the channels’ individual outputs
VERMONA DRM1 MKIII - analog drum synthesizer
.
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. To make an
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9
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