The UNO Drum from IK Multimedia is, as you may have guessed, based on the hugely popular UNO synth formula. They’ve taken the familiar compact enclosure, circuit-board-style user interface and analog sound engine, and transformed it into a powerful programmable drum machine. Groovy.
Key features
- True analog drum machine engine plus 12 PCM voices
- 12 wo-velocity pads and 4 dynamic encoders
- Save & recall 100 kits and 100 patterns
- Powerful 64-step sequencer
- USB & MIDI 2.5mm integration
- Powered by USB or 4 x AA batteries
12 punchy drum elements
The UNO drum combines analog sound with PCM (playback samples) technology. The kicks, snares, claps and hi-hat sounds are totally analog, designed by Soundmachines; think 808/909-style fatness that’ll cut up any mix with ease.
Next up, the 54 tom, rim, coach, ride and cowbell PCM samples are derived from SampleTank 4. This variety of samples allow you to add colour and dynamics to your beats; go for ‘80s retro or abstract trip-hop, the choice is yours. 11-voice polyphony means you can weave thumping beats and intricate textures without the UNO drum breaking a sweat!
Playable and programmable
The 12 touch-sensitive dual-velocity pads and the 16 sequencer buttons form the central focus of the user interface. Record steps in real-time or program gradually – you get the best of both worlds. Stutter, random and roll controls allow you twist your beats and add a little bit of flair for new sections; you also get full control over a huge number of parameters, including level, tune, decay and much more.
Despite its tiny size, the UNO drum is armed with a whopping 64-step sequencer. It doesn’t end there though; 8-parameter automation per step, 100 pattern user presets and 100 kit user presets allow you really make the UNO drum your own.
