Description
Prok drums are compact, expressive, morphing percussion modules. Synthesis not samples!
They have a 12-bit Lo-Fi crunch with virtual analog patch morphing. There is a free software editor that lets you edit and create new patches live on your PC or with older versions of OSX on Intel Macs.
These Soundcloud demos below are all untreated recordings direct from the modules. No external FX, processing, reverb, distortion or filtering has been added. This is what the modules sound like out of the box with trigger sequencing and external CV modulation. All drums are synthesised digitally, there are no samples.
Prok drum modules are a series of 4HP drum synthesis and morphing modules, consisting of a Bassdrum, Snare, Hi-Hat and Hand Clap. This module is the Snare.
Firmware hex files can be found here: http://prok.co.uk/files/ProkDrumFirmwares.zip
The kit includes:
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Prok SN Panel
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Prok PCB Set
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Prok components bag
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Headers for the Teensy are included but you must source the Teensy 3.2 yourself
SN : Snare Drum
Snappy stuff. Splashy things. Sounds a bit like the 808 and 909 but BETTER and does more than both combined. 2 oscillators and a specially crafted shift register based noise source. The 909 has one but this one is based on the famous SID chip. It also features variable sample rate so you can reach that sweet airy high noise as well as those low down digital dirty noise grains. Use the X and Y controls to find your sweet spot or create ever evolving drums by morphing between patches.
How Does It Work?
There are 4 banks of snare to choose from, which you can switch between by long pressing the button on the front panel. Each bank contains four corners or ‘QUADS’, which are made up of four patches. This means there are a total of 16 patches per bank.
1 Bank = 4 Quads = 16 Patches
But this doesn’t mean there are only 16 sounds. That would be boring. There is a morphing engine which allows you to continuously move between the sounds within one quad. This isn’t just 4 channels being mixed by volume. All the parameters of the synthesis engine are modulated in real time to create a continuously variable galaxy of sound. Each module comes with a full set of patches built into the firmware : just turn on the module, send in a trigger signal and you’re good to go.
The Front Panel
4 Red Squares
- Show current morph position
- When changing Quad will flash to show which quad is selected
X & Y Knobs
Control the morph position between the 4 patches in the current quad.
SD Card Slot
Allows you to store and load custom patches
To load custom patches from the SD card hold the button at boot.
Button
Retrigger the sound. Hold down to switch quads.
X & Y CV
The CV inputs only respond to positive signals from 0v to 5v.
For full range control from CV leave the knobs at the zero position.
CV inputs are scaled across the remaining range from the knobs.
For example if the X knob is halfway then the CV will control X from 0.5 to 1.0 using the full range of CV input.
Trigger Input
Trigger the sound on a rising edge.
Audio Output
Mono audio output.
Documentation, Software Editor & Customer Support
Latest Prok firmware and software tools
Live chat software support in your web browser
Open Hardware
Prok Drums are open hardware, they are a modified version of the Music Thing Modular Radio Music module by Tom Whitwell and have the Creative Commons license CC-BY-SA: Attribution / ShareAlike. If you use any work from this hardware, you should credit Tom Whitwell, and you must republish any changes you make under the same license. The Prok Drums Eagle PCB projects are available under the creative commons license here – Github Link
We only provide customer support for Prok modules constructed using genuine Prok PCB sets purchased from Thonk.
The software is an original development which has no relation to and shares no code with Radio Music. It is not open source. The Teensy in this kit comes pre-programmed with the software already loaded. We will sell pre-programmed Teensy’s separately if you accidentally destroy one, and will also provide firmware programming services to any verified existing customers who need their Teensy re-flashed. Reprogramming your Prok module as a Music Thing Modular Radio Music or Chord Organ will remove your ability to use the Prok firmware update tools and you’ll need to return your module to us at your own cost for us to reprogram it. We do not distribute hex files.
