Arturia

Here we get one Kick (as opposed
to the two kicks on the original
DrumBrute), two Snare channels,
High/Low Toms, Cymbal/Cowbell,
Closed Hat, Open Hat and an FM
Drum. As before, each has a handful
of rotaries on the front panel for
controlling the level and one or more
sound parameters. The biggest
change here though is in the
introduction of a new Color mode,
which lets users quickly change the
tonality of each sound by shift-
pressing the pad underneath each
channel. Signifi cantly, the Color
parameter can also be engaged
per-step via the sequencer, giving
users a basic way to automate
sounds. One of the main drawbacks
of the original DrumBrute was its lack
of automation recording or MIDI CC
control for sound parameters, which
effectively meant that the only way to
add movement to sounds was by
getting hands-on with the front panel
rotaries. While this is still the case for
the DrumBrute Impact, the ability to
– but differing controls allow them to
be shaped into contrasting territory.
The fi rst has a Tone/Snap control
which ranges from a fl at white noise
hiss at one extreme to a punchy
tom-like thud at the other. The
second snare, meanwhile, has a tone
control which fi lters down the sound
to more of a murky, low-mid hit. The
fi rst snare’s Color option adds Body,
giving it a woody mid-range thump.
The second’s Color mode is labelled
Clap, and adds a slightly staggered
attack element for a handclap-like
quality. Both snares have wide
ranging decay controls, which can go
from long washes of sound to tight
rim-like hits.
The low and high toms are fairly
vanilla, Roland-style sounds, but both
have enough punch and body to cut
through a groove. Although they can
be sequenced independently, the two
sounds share a pitch control, so it’s
impossible to tune one without
affecting the other. Both lean towards
the low-mid end of the spectrum,
engage/disengage Color does allow for
an extra layer of variety within
patterns, particularly when it’s
coupled with accented steps within
the sequencer.
The sounds themselves are
noticeably punchier than that of the
original DrumBrute – hence the
name, I guess? – but also a little more
characterful, particularly with Color
engaged. While the Impact loses the
second kick of its bigger sibling, the
kick here has a broader range. At its
most vanilla, it has a punchy,
full-bodied 909 quality. There are
wide ranging controls for both the
pitch and decay, which allow for
everything from long booming bass
hits to tight, mid-range pops. The
kick’s Color mode engages analogue
distortion, which sounds great –
adding lots of gritty mid-range
harmonics in a really pleasing,
complimentary way.
The two snares are roughly similar
in their core sound – a mid-range
thud paired with fi ltered white noise
FM DRUM
The Impact’s FM Drum channel uses frequency modulation to create percussion sounds
with extra complexity. This uses two oscillators, the carrier – the main sound you hear –
and the modulator, an audio rate signal which modulates the frequency of the carrier when
the FM Amt rotary is turned up. Without FM engaged, the FM Drum sounds much like a
high tom, handy for simple top-end percussion hits. Dialing in modulation makes things
much more interesting though; allowing for discordant hits, clangorous tones and dark FM
bass throbs. The FM Drum has a decay rotary too, which lets it range from short percussive
knocks to longer synth hits. Sadly, however, you can’t sequence or automate the pitch. The
lack of CC control or
automation overall is less
bothersome, but the FM
Drum really misses it. The
drum sounds best when
you start tweaking the pitch
of the two oscillators as a
sequence plays, and it’d be
good to do this
automatically. An
expression/CV input for
either carrier or modulator
pitch would’ve been great.
Alternatively, pitch
sequencing would let us
use the FM Drum as a
basic synth; it’s a shame
that’s not an option.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Arturia
DrumBrute £395
With more sounds
and extra front panel
controls, the original
DrumBrute still has
more fl exibility
www.arturia.com
Moog DFAM
£459
If you like the idea of
the Impact’s FM
drum, but want
something that goes
deeper, Moog’s
modulation-centric
percussion synth is a
must-try
www.moogmusic.com
MFB Tanzbär Lite
£360
The Tanzbär is way
less intuitive than
the Impact, but MFB
gear has some of the
best analogue drum
sounds around
http://mfberlin.de
Reviews | Arturia DrumBrute Impact
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FMU335.rev_arturia.indd 82 08/08/2018 15:39