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Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 Drum Machine and Rhythm Synthesizer

4-voice Drum Machine with 4-track Sequencer, 4 Trigger Inputs, Multimode Analog Filter, FX Send/Returns, BBD Delay, and Modulation LFO
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Item ID: Perkons

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Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 Drum Machine and Rhythm Synthesizer
Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 Drum Machine and Rhythm Synthesizer
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A Thunderous Hybrid Drum Machine!

Named for the Baltic thunder god, the Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 drum machine is a roaring rhythm synthesizer that will supercharge your music like a lightning bolt! Boasting four hybrid voices, each with three digital sound engine modes and a multimode analog filter, Perkons is primed for creating unique rhythmic textures. An intuitive 4-track step sequencer makes generating patterns a breeze. Plus, advanced features — including step division and multiplication, ratcheting, probability, and swing — ensure that you’re never kicking out stale beats. Onboard effects include an emulated bucket brigade delay, an optical compressor, and a master overdrive control. Individual voice outputs and send/returns expand the sonic potential of Perkons, allowing you to augment your beats with external effects. To top it off, Perkons is housed in a gorgeous and sturdy chassis, with a vintage-inspired look that stands out onstage and in the studio!

Digital sound engine and analog filters

With Perkons, you have command over four hybrid voices to craft complex rhythmic patterns. Each voice boasts three digital sound engine modes, a multimode analog filter with selectable highpass, bandpass, and lowpass modes, and eight controls for precise sound design. Kits and patterns can be saved to 64 onboard memory slots, with additional storage via SD card. Sequence the kits with Perkons' built-in sequencer or trigger them in real time with a drum pad controller, a keyboard, or an external sequencer. Additionally, each voice has a dedicated output to give you greater flexibility to process your kits.

Intuitive sequencer with performance controls

The Perkons sequencer comprises four 16-step pattern lanes, enhanced with real-time performance controls. Each pattern lane offers four time-division settings and four time-multiplication settings, per-step ratcheting, and probability, as well as four shuffle algorithms to get you into the groove! Beatmakers at Sweetwater love the tactile interface and speedy programming of Perkons — it’s an inspiring beat machine that begs to be played!

Emulated bucket brigade delay and optical compressor

Whether you’re creating a straight-ahead banger or an experimental rhythmic excursion, Perkons opens myriad possibilities with its expansive effects options. First, you have access to an ultra-vibey emulated bucket brigade delay with two-time modes, evocative darkening repeats, modulation with dedicated LFO rate control, and a feedback control that can be driven into self-oscillation. An optical compressor is on deck for giving drum sounds just the right amount of squish, and a master drive control lets you dial up the aggression! What’s more, each voice is equipped with an effects send/return, which allows you to integrate outboard processors and stompboxes. Plus, you can glue a kit together using the master effects send and patching in your favorite reverb unit!

Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 Drum Machine Features:

  • 4 hybrid voices with 3 digital sound engine modes and a multimode analog filter
  • 8 controls per voice for detailed sound design
  • Built-in emulated BBD delay, optical compressor, and master overdrive control
  • Modulation LFO with morphing waveforms, phase shift, and 8 destinations
  • 4-track sequencer, with 4 time divisions/multiplication, per-step ratchets, and probabilities
  • 4 shuffle algorithms get you in the groove
  • Velocity-sensitive trigger inputs for use with drum pads and other external controllers
  • Individual outputs and send/returns for each voice
  • 64 onboard kit and pattern memory slots; additional memory available via SD card
  • 5-pin MIDI I/O
  • Housed in a rugged metal chassis

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Drum Machine Synthesizer with Sequencer
  • Pads: 64 x Step Buttons
  • Polyphony: 4 voices
  • Kits: 64 x Kits
  • Patterns: 64 x Patterns
  • Sequencer: 4-track
  • Effects: Emulated Bucket Brigade Delay, Highpass/Lowpass/Bandpass Filter, Optical Compressor, Master Overdrive
  • Analog Inputs: 5 x 1/4" (return)
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x 1/4" (master), 5 x 1/4" (send)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/4" TRS
  • MIDI I/O: In/Out
  • Other I/O: 4 x 1/4" (trigger in), 2 x 1/4" (clock in, out)
  • Power Source: 12V DC power supply (included)
  • Height: 3.54"
  • Width: 17.87"
  • Depth: 12.4"
  • Weight: 8.15 lbs
  • Manufacturer Part Number: Perkons HD-01

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Reviews

Nevermind the naysayers
I spent a year futzing around with Eurorack(et) crap before getting the Perkons, and I immediately started finishing tracks. If you are looking for a creative machine with no clear expectations as far as emulating specific sounds, that can be tweaked in real time and sounds real tough, this is your man. Also - the sequencer is incredible… it has spoiled me for sequencing forever. Some have made comments about how lightweight it is as being a negative… I don't really care what's on the inside - it's just an amazing instrument, full stop. Try it with pedals, it was literally made for it with all the send-return options. I also have a Pulsar-23 that I love dearly, but please don't ask me to choose between the two.
Music background: Guitar, synth, saxophone
Amazing piece of kit!
I am having an absolute blast with this instrument. It truly is much more than a drum machine and it just begs to be played. Intuitive tactical layout, powerful parameter control over each voice giving you the lower to sculpt the exact drums you need. Power you just don't get from sample a based approach or most drum boxes I've used. You can make a lot of different drums on here but it does have an industrial kind of sound to it. Does it do 808s? Well it own way...I use this in conjunction with maschine so I can cover any ground it doesn't. The modulation capabilities on this thing cook up some seriously crazy sounds. I have spent hours just jamming and tweaking. So easy to save kits and patterns to go back and make songs out of later and the per step automation simplicity is just inspiring. What would I like? I'd like to see some options for scale/mode pitch control over the kick voice to do accurate pitch bends...can you kinda do it now? Yes but by ear and it's not super easy in a live situation. The individual outs don't go through the compressor so they lack the life of the sequences (that compressor really adds a lot)I prefer to solo and record into my daw individually through the main out instead of through the individual outs as I had planned to use it for this reason...bummer but it is what it is. Hopefully we see some new algorithms added to the voices over time so the sonic palette widens a little but i am very very pleased with this very unique instrument. Having a blast pairing pedals with the different voices too. Really the sky's the limit.
IT REALLY IS ALL THAT
It's rare that a piece of gear can deliver such a range of opportunities as this one. Separate outs is a drum multitrack dream come true. On top that, per channel send and return as well. Amazing. And the sounds?

Incredible is just the start. Think if this a a rhythm synth slash drum machine. If you are tracking into a DAW or sampler like a Digitakt, expect to be able to craft an entire Techno song. Easy. The more time I spend on it, the more powerful I become.

Just the other day, I learned I can fly. And I can now summon lightning from my fingertips, just like an evil Sith Emperor. Be careful, wielding this much power requires discipline.
Music background: Techno Certified Brain Astronomer
Incredibly awesome and strangely not at the same time
The voices are not as diverse as one would imagine for this price and it being a digital synth. Often there is very little change when moving parameters or the change makes the sound unusuable. I also think the filter is sad. With some resonance it could be awesome and this machine could be a bassline monster, but the cutoff parameter is weak. There are lots of other little quirks too...BUT. I just played this on a professional sound system in front of a crowd, and there is something about the quality of sound and the punchiness of some of the sounds and the ability to route through effects processors that made the parts of my set where I used the Perkons stand out. Moving the decay on the kick and rumbling the subs definitely got crowd reaction. There was a clarity in the low end from the Perkons that my other drum machines didn't quite have. Maybe Erica can take feedback from clients and add an update that brings a little more life to some of the voices and cutoff and take this thing to the next level.
Music background: Producer/DJ/Live PA artist
Overpriced and underwhelming
Where to start? Voices randomly drop out. Voice 3 switch gets set back to setting 1 every time I hit play. Ability to save kits is tied to patterns, if you disable pattern linking you cant save kits and you cant save a kit without something saved in the matching pattern bank. The sequencer is limited to 16 steps unless you chain, then you can get up to 64 with only using like 1/16 of your pattern memory for a whopping 4 measures. All controls on the master section can not be controlled via midi making the BBD worthless. About half of the mode switches seem to do next to nothing. I saved the worst for last though, it sounds absolutely anemic without the compression settings pinned and even with still gets drowned out in the mix.2 stars for the handsome appearance and quality feeling hardware. Despite multiple delays it still feels half baked.