EKO Computerythm

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EKO Computerhythm
General
Surname Computer rhythm
Manufacturer EKO
Sound synthesis analogous
Period 1972
properties
Polyphonic polyphonic
Multitimbral Yes

The EKO Computerhythm , wrongly also Computerrhythm , is an analog drum computer from the Italian company EKO , which has six times two combinable instrument sounds. It was built in an extremely small number of approximately twenty copies between 1972/73 and around 1977 in Recanati , but despite its rarity found its way into the music of the electronics scene greats Jean-Michel Jarre , Tangerine Dream and Manuel Göttsching . The device was sold in Germany by the Dortmund-based company Voss-Musikinstrument GmbH, which sold the instrument at a price of almost DM 3,000 ("Das Musikinstrument" 4/1973, p. 632 and "Das Musikinstrument" 4/1975 , Pp. 671 and 688).

General

The drum computer is special in that it already has very advanced technology for 1972. Dominant on the front of the instrument is a matrix of 6x16 illuminated buttons that is used to program the rhythms. To the left of this are the pushbuttons with which the twelve different percussion instruments can be activated, along with the associated slide control for volume control. Each pair of instruments has a row of 16 illuminated buttons in the matrix that can be freely selected. This means that the rhythm computer can be programmed completely freely by the user - this was not a matter of course around 1972, as drum machines were primarily used for use with electronic organs. These merely offered predetermined rhythms that could be combined but not changed.

A second specialty is the support of the punch card . Rhythms can be permanently saved and distributed on this by punching out certain pre-drilled holes. To do this, the card is pulled from above through a slot on the front. The user can follow the transmission of the rhythm live by lighting up the corresponding illuminated buttons and correct it in an emergency ("Hold" function).

In order to be able to program different time types (3/4 time, 5/4 time, 6/8 time etc.), the Computerhythm has the option of preselecting the number of steps of the pattern by push button, which in live use the rhythmic Expand possibilities by going live from 16 to z. B. can downshift 15 to 12 to 6 steps. In this point, computer rhythm is very closely related to contemporary analog step sequencers, as they decisively shaped the music of the Berlin School . If you hold down two keys of the step limiter at the same time, the instrument produces a kind of drum roll (heard on the album "Die Dominas" by Die Dominas ).

In addition, the Computerhythm has an individual volume control for each of the instruments. Two instruments can be assigned to each row, which can be used simultaneously or alternatively (e.g. "Cymbal" and "Rolling Drum" for row 1).

There is also a general volume control for the entire instrument and a speed controller. The downbeat is indicated by a lamp that lights up periodically.

The programmed rhythms can either be completely deleted from the memory with the "General Cancel" button or individually for each instrument per row - the seven silver push buttons on the right of the control panel are used for this.

Some devices are equipped with six 6.35 mm jack plugs on the front or back, which allow each of the percussion instruments to be output individually and individual trigger pulses to be programmed per row. For example, reverberation can be added individually to the bass drum .

Otherwise, the Computerhythm has two mono audio outputs that have different impedances, so one of them can be used as a headphone output, while the other can be connected to a musical instrument amplifier.

Others

The instrument was built between 1972/73 and around 1977 in only a very small number of rumored about 20 copies, which were available in two different versions. There are also two different prototypes that were created between 1972 and 1973. Today's number of pieces could be even lower due to technical defects and disposal due to ignorance about the rarity. It is certain that a copy is still in Manuel Göttsching's home studio Studio Roma today. Manuel Göttsching took over his device from Tangerine Dream musician Christoph Franke, who used the EKO not only as a drum computer (hear "Coldwater Canyon" from the live album "Encore" (1977)), but also as a trigger generator for the rhythmic control of his sequencer.

Despite its extreme rarity, the drum computer could be heard by two well-known electronic music artists. On Equinoxe , on it in particular Equinoxe, Part V by the French composer Jean-Michel Jarre, the instrument is prominently in use and can be clearly seen in the accompanying video clip.

The instrument is also used regularly on New Age of Earth by Ashra and Manuel Göttsching , especially in the song Sunrain .

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