Dynacord • Percuter (1984) // 8-bit Drum Module Machine w/cartridges

Dynachord
Percuter
Made in Germany 
1984
220v unit

Unit disassembled for cleaning before sale:
• 4 bars air cleaning
• components inspection
• all faders and connectors cleaned

Also included:
• original PSU
• 2 original ROM cardriges

Good cosmetic shape overall, with signs of use.
This unit was used on stage for years, so it has patina. But it's built like a tank — metal and wood sides.
Fully tested. 
Internally it's perfectly healthy (see last pictures for inside).

So what we have here?
This drum module/drum machine fills the intersection gap between several needs and eras.
It's basically an analog interface to trig digital 8-bit samples on cartridges.
The great innovation is the modularity of the system — as you can choose which sample you want and plug it in the dedicated slot (8 slots). Another manufacturers (Linn, Simmons) using e-proms (so it's inside the machine and soldered).
Dynachord developed a quite big library of samples working across several machines with it own flavor if you look toward 80'ish sound in 8-bit. As it's hard to find, I suggest to contact Ewan (Torino Synth Repair Lab) and choose your kit of cartridges to copy original samples in new cartridges with cases.

This Percuter is a fun machine, and I see 2 interesting ways of using it nowadays:
first as a drum module to extend an acoustic drum — yes classic.
But the trigger is analog voltage responsive, so it's a ton of fun with an analog sequencer or modular synthesizer — and this second way to use it was more interesting to me.

Another particularity is the pitch input (remote pitch), and this is not well documented on the demos online. It's a CV input with positive and negative wide range, so you can actually pitch the samples for each step of the sequencer! And this can be very wild as voltage can be evolutive or sliding during the sound is playing. Pitch range is quite large so you can achieve monstrous results on those lo-fi samples.

Actually I explored interesting territories with my SQ-10, but any multilayer analog sequencer will be fine (trig a sample and decide CV pitch) and even more experimental with modular synthesis if you have CV modulation modules. Of course you can run a pattern and add some performed trigs from pads or whatever.
If you add the fact it's also CV responsive about dynamic, you have here something really organic and fun to integrate in a setup and easy to sync in the analog world.

I include 2 cartridges so you can try it right away, and I confirm this unit is fully working and sounds nice.

It's designed to control pan for each of the 8 track too, so all sounds are played into a stereophonic field but you have individual outputs too. With general volume, sensibility adjustments and phones output it's clearly a professional piece of gear.

The release price was 1600 Deutsche Marks (DM) in 1984, which nowadays would be equivalent to 1800 €. And it's commonly shared this model was manufactured to about 2000 units only, making this Dynachord Percuter the rare and first version of something pretty strange in the drum machines family. Also an European answer to Japan and USA int he early digital days.

Ref.:
TC0219

Shipping:
Located in France. Shipping worldwide.
Be aware if you are located out of the European Union about import tax, duty, vat, custom fees or any other charges are not covered by me, nor included in the shipping fees.

Return Policy:
Pictures are of what you buy, no edits.

Sold as is, there is no return accepted.
Item tested before selling, so please contact if you have any technical problems with your purchase and I will strive to work it out with you.

I want the gear to be received as shipped, so you can expect a first class packing and tracked parcel.