Vintage Recording Equipment Archive

The Yamaha TG77 Tone Generator was a rack-mount synthesiser that combined AFM and AWM2 tone generation systems with RCM synthesis to offer advanced sound design capabilities in a compact format. It featured a 16-voice multi-timbre mode, eight individual outputs, and a comprehensive user interface with a backlit LCD display.

The Sequential Circuits TOM was a digital drum machine that offered eight sampled sounds with extensive programmability for tuning, volume, and panning. It featured 99 pattern and song locations, non-volatile memory, and MIDI connectivity for integration with other instruments. The inclusion of humanisation features like the Improv Factor and Human Factor aimed to add musical nuance to the digital output.

The Oberheim DX is a programmable digital drum machine combining sampled drum and percussion sounds with real-time recording, step programming and song arrangement. Its six independent voices provide 18 sound variations, with individual tuning, level controls and direct outputs. Memory accommodates 100 sequences and 50 songs, while quantisation, swing, tape synchronisation and external clock connections support rhythm programming and integration with other equipment. MIDI-equipped versions add note control, synchronisation and programme transfer.