Before Dave Smith gave the world MIDI itself, Sequential's first drum machine landed in 1984 with a sound all its own. The DrumTraks packs thirteen crunchy 8-bit sampled voices (bass, snares, toms, cymbals, claps, cowbell and more) onto swappable EPROM chips you can change to load new sounds, each with its own level and tuning. It sits tonally somewhere between the LinnDrum and the Oberheim DMX, with a groovy built-in sequencer and full MIDI, making it a favourite for 80s pop, synthwave and Italo disco. Punchy, characterful, and far less common than the Linns and Rolands. Original EPROM sound set fitted.

FEATURES & PROS:

• 13 Sampled Voices: Bass, snare, rim, two toms, crash, ride, open and closed hats, claps, tambourine, cowbell and cabasa.
• Per-Sound Tuning and Level: Tune and balance every drum individually, the trick behind custom kits, much like the E-mu SP-12.
• Swappable EPROM Sounds: Change the sound chips to load different samples, including DMX and LinnDrum sets.
• Early MIDI: One of the first MIDI drum machines, with clock and tape sync too.
• 6 Separate Outputs: Send individual drums out for proper mixing and processing.
• Real-Time and Step Sequencing: Program grooves live or step by step, with song mode.
• Rarer Than the Rest: A characterful alternative to the usual LinnDrum and Roland boxes.

AS USED BY

• Tame Impala, across "Currents" (including "Let It Happen")
• Chromeo and Daft Punk
• Midge Ure, a studio mainstay across his mid-80s work
• A characterful pick for 80s pop, synthwave and Italo disco

THE WORD: Synthtopia calls the DrumTraks a great, flexible American drum machine with per-sound tuning and a groovy sequencer, a favourite for 80s, synthwave and Italo. Read more at Synthtopia.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Sequential DrumTraks (Model 400)
• Year: 1984
• Type: 8-bit PCM sample-based drum machine
• Voices: 13 sounds via swappable EPROM chips
• Per sound: individual level and 15-step pitch tuning
• Pads: 13 dynamic trigger pads
• Sequencer: real-time and step, with song mode
• Outputs: main plus 6 separate voice outputs
• Sync/Control: MIDI, clock in/out, tape interface, metronome out
• Weight: approx 12 kg
• Condition note: vintage unit; may benefit from a service