MFB update their drum machine line with new names and a smart new look. Si Truss gets into the groove
The Tanzmaus and Tanzbär Lite are the latest compact analogue drum machines to reach our shores from German brand MFB. Broadly speaking, they’re a new generation of instrument replacing MFB’s discontinued 503 and 522 machines respectively. In a very loose sense, the pair are inspired by Roland’s classic TR-808 and TR-909 grooveboxes, but these are far from copycat machines – the similarity only stretches as far as the range of sounds on offer, rather than the machines’ sound and functionality.
Visually, both drum machines look completely different from the instruments that preceded them. The 503 was a black plastic box with a sizeable central screen, while the 522 was a red and black plastic device laden with several rows of knobs. Both the Tanzmaus and Tanzbär Lite come in a near identical off-white metal chassis, each equipped with a rectangular bank of 21 rotaries surrounded by click buttons and a row of smaller channel gain knobs along the top. There are no screens on either, just an assortment of parameter labels (in brown on the Maus, orange on the Lite) and a list of hidden parameters in small print down the bottom. Stylistically, both look really smart, and the metal chassis feels reassuringly rugged. Having said that though, in my tests I noticed a bit of unwanted noise when turning a couple of sound parameter knobs, which makes me slightly less confident about how the build will hold up in the long term.
Curious machine
Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Future Music.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Future Music.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SONIC DESTRUCTION
From overdriven signal paths to rhythmic malfunctions, there’s plenty of creativity to be found by doing things just a little bit wrong
Feed Me
EDM producer Jon Gooch revives his cartoonish Feed Me moniker. Danny Turner finds out how the use of live instrumentation changed his production approach
Exploring Akai MPC
Leo Maymind takes a detailed look at an iconic groovebox whose influence helped shape modern hip-hop and much more besides
Liars
Dissolving the contours of rock and electronics, Danny Turner charts the making of Liars’ 10th album with Angus Andrew and Laurence Pike
Jean-Michel Jarre
The pioneering musician who introduced generations to futuristic sounds the first time around is at it again. He joins Matt Mullen to talk experiments in VR gigging, spatial audio and more...
Noise
With roots as far back as 1913, noise is the genre that’s also a state of mind
1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549
Rob Redman finds out whether this updated sampler box of tricks contains any more surprises
Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499
Rob Redman braces himself for another resurrected blast from the past
Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169
Modal are back with an update to their SKULPT synth. Bruce Aisher takes a listen to see if it can rustle up a big sound
Reason Studios Reason 12 £399
Now in both DAW and plugin realms, Reason gains a sampler and refreshed Combinator. Si Truss investigates