Korg DDD-1

Korg DDD-1 Image

The DDD-1 is a digital programmable drum machine from Korg from the mid-eighties. It offers 18 electronic drum sounds with a sound that is typical of this era. Basic kicks, snares, toms, rimshot, closed hi hats, open hi hats, ride, crash, claps, cowbell, tambourine and cabasa. Additional sounds can be added using ROM cards. The DDD-1 also featured a sampling option allowing very short and limited sampling for that extra edge of unique sounds to add to your drumkit. Drum sounds can be triggered from the 14 assignable velocity sensitive trigger-pads and there are some individual outputs.

Korg DDD-1 Image

Programming the DDD-1 is fairly straight forward. Memory holds 100 patterns which can be linked or chained to form songs, for which there are 10 song memory locations. The drum sounds have editable parameters such as decay and tuning. For added groove in your patterns there are Roll and Flam effects. The DDD-1 is equipped with full MIDI implementation making it an easy drum machine to use in any MIDI studio. If you like typical eighties drum sounds, the DDD-1 would be a formidable alternative to other similar drum machines like the Roland TR-707 and offers more professional features than its counterpart, the DDD-5.

28 Visitor comments
David
August 25, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
I had one of those back in 1994 and I really loved it. I wish I had it with me right now so that I could use that nice kick that I got from one of the cards.
Dave S
July 7, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
I had one of these for quite a long time, loved it, and got a whole lot of good use out of it. I miss it sometimes. The assignable outputs made it quite flexible as the DDD-1 had no effects.
kris
February 14, 2010 @ 3:34 pm
A fantastic 80s drum machine! Really flexible with all the assignable outputs, ace sounds! Intuitive and fun to use!
Rex
January 7, 2010 @ 11:49 am
I have a DDD-1 that I bought from a swap meet and am wondering if a RAM card is still available and if there is a manual available for this unit. I am interested in selling it if anyone is interested. Email me and we can chat about this unit.
DiggyDOg
July 16, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
This was my first drum machine back in 1988...

It is a very underrated machine and it's really versatile. You can use step programming or tap in your different drum parts. You can also play it on the fly like a drumset by just hitting the velocity-sensitive pads.

Last year I got one with the optional sampling board and it is great!
The samples sound really crunchy when they are overdriven going into the machine but they are pretty clear when the level is right. ( I prefer 'em crunchy.)

Pick one up if you can. Also, the sound cards really exand the possibilties so get some of those if you can find them.
You won't regret it!
 
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  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - 18 voices
  • Sounds - 18 sampled sounds: 2 Kick, 2 Snare, Low/Mid/Hi Toms, Rimshot, Claps, Crash, 2 Open hihats, 2 Closed hihats, Ride, Cowbell, Tambourine and Cabasa
  • Controls - pitch, dynamics, decay, roll and flam
  • Patterns - 100
  • Songs - 10
  • Keyboard - 14 assignable velocity trigger buttons
  • Effects - None
  • Control - MIDI
  • Date Produced - 1986 - 1987

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