Polyend Step vs Univox JR-5: Two drum machines made 50 years apart

[@TyeMorrisVlog]

It's a bit of an awesome trip back in time for me, seeing that old drum machine. My grandmother had one of these old Univox machines (among several others of various vintages, some incorporated directly into her electric organs of the day). Before she fell ill and her children distributed her musical equipment to others, her home was a museum of what we would now consider to be vintage electronic instruments. To my very young mind it was just another piano lesson with Grandma, but looking back with my adult recollection I'm blown away by how much musical history I was surrounded by back then. My grandmother was a professional musician from sometime during WWII up until the time when her aging body no longer allowed her to teach her piano students. She would play with whatever band, group, or organization needed her skills at the keyboard, which meant she was proficient in what I still consider to be an amazing number of genres. I am probably one of the very few people my age (44 this year) who can say their grandmother was both their music teacher and their first introduction into electronic music. From her I learned of Wendy Carlos, Jean Michel Jarre, Brian Eno, etc. Thanks for the trip down memory lane 😊

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

That is so, so cool! All the music teachers I knew growing up were classically trained and seemed to have no knowledge of any genre outside of classical. It's nice to hear about someone of that generation who was so open to musical exploration. My own grandmother was of the same generation: she wasn't a musician, but a painter, and had a similar role in introducing me to the visual arts.

[@JH-lo9ut]

On some of those old drum machines, you can push two button at the same time to get additional rythms. It's unclear if this was a bug or a feature. These old standalone drum machines have become somewhat popular because they have that very distinctly analog sound and they are often relatively easy to tinker with.

[@jamesportrais3946]

That old drum machine was so remeniscant of the sort of rythm sections you'd find on pretty fancy organs from the time - I've definately heard Jean Michelle Jarre using apparatus like this. A friend and I were convinced that the BoneyM drummer was likely a physical robot playing physical drums, but I was never able to follow that story up ;-)

[@ingraban98]

"Hope you enjoyed this video." - "I did." 😀

[@fromixty]

Both of these are awesome in their own right.

[@graced4844]

love these vids, and the samples are just a great bonus for me as a student composer. thank you!

[@LaurianeG.]

The original minipops was made very iconic by Jean-Michel Jarre. If anyone wants, there's a vst version from full bucket music, bucket pops, and it emulates accurately those sounds. In case you want them modeled instead of sampled.

[@alexdavidson2327]

Seriously one of my favorite channels! You are so awesome

[@JustAddAsh]

I love your videos, David! Thank you for doing this for everyone on KZbin!

[@andycordy5190]

Oh David. I laughed out loud because I played a festival stage way back in 1978 with a rhythm box that functioned in the same very limited way but was actually only about the same size as the poly end step. We had to make our own footswitch using a doorbell to get a hands free on and off. Like the vintage box you had it was designed to sit on your home organ. We didn't get booed off but it was right in the middle of the UK musician's union campaign "Keep music live" campaign during the first wave of PA's where artists appeared and sang over a pre recorded soundtrack. That was never going to catch on, was it!😅

[@jonjermey]

I've had the free Full Bucket software version of the Korg Minipops 7 for a long time now, and this video has inspired me to pull it out and dig a little deeper. It's actually got a lot of power hidden away behind a 60s console, including MIDI patterns, a sequencer, and saveable user patches. When bossanova makes its comeback, I will be ready.

[@rivingtonandstanton]

Thank you. You are like the Bob Ross of electronic music (with respect / zero irony). Deeply appreciative for the thoughtful way you take us on these creative journeys.

[@michaelkonomos]

I loved everything about your approach here. I even enjoyed seeing how you research. I actually don’t even really care about either of these drum machines at all, I just enjoy watching your videos because of how well produced they are and how it makes me see my own gear in a new light, with more curiosity and exploration.

[@djh6970]

The instant you cranked up that uni vox I heard Nick Kershaw’s song Human Racing from 1984….. ahhh the nostalgia. By the way, the drum machine in the bunnymen was apparently the ‘Echo’ and was used before the wonderful Pete De Freitas joined. Sounds like it was used for read it in books😀

[@JohnOSullivan]

That was the Bunnymen comment I was about to write, so I'll just echo yours ;)

[@tonematrix]

Oof seeing Sonic Foundry Acid for a second there took me back to paintin and choppin beats. Awesome video, love drum machines like this! :)

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

I really loved ACID Pro! The only reason I don't still use it is because I switched to Mac. I think my favorite thing was how you could pitchblend loops by just hitting the plus and minus keys

[@tonematrix]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic Yes absolutely! It was such a fun and quick way to get some complex and unique sample/beat manipulation. Danger Mouse was a wizard with it. :)

[@helluvakhai]

YOU SAVED ME FROM GETTING THE POLYEND TRACKER TO REPLACE MY DRUMMER LIVE!!!

[@NotDyatlov]

Love both of these!

[@gthreetimes]

You seem like such a gentle and caring spirit

[@majwilsonlion]

you turned that Univox on, and I was immediately waiting for David Byrne's voice to kick in!

[@tonystevenson26]

But instead John Foxx broke out

[@briancassidy6678]

Univox was a maker of great affordable instruments. They were very popular when I was growing up on Long Island in the ‘70s. They were located a few miles away from my home town and all the local music shops carried their products.

[@SpacePatrollerLaser]

The Univox was similar in sound to drum machines that came as part of, or options with, most organs from the '60's and even '50's by such companies as Hammond, Lowrey and Thomas. I like them for their futuristic effect. Between them and the sample-based machines came another generation, such as the Korg 2500 that had a more realistic sound and more options for modifying and mixing rhythims in almost a polyrhytmic way that is not possilbe today. A US company that made these was Maestro by Tom Oberheim. Check out the maing of Dick Hyman's THE MINOTAUR, which turned me on to synthesizers

[@tater5229]

Love your videos so much 😊

[@nathanielhamovitz]

This was lovely!

[@H6c6PlpM]

What is the synth used at 9:37 ? I love this sound.

[@dannyclark3864]

Could rock 1 be used on The Smiths Reel Around the Fountain? 🤔

[@csilt]

I'm really into analog sound and have had the Univox drum machine for awhile. It can add a cool vibe

[@jordanWAH]

I love polyend. The play holds a special place for me and I'd like to get the new synth when I can. This is the first I've heard of the step.

[@KB28L]

03:56 What does Mininmal mean?

[@Landonius144]

Like as little of something as possible, so rather than having super realistic drums it’s more subtle

[@robbybobbyhobbies]

@Landonius144 but in this case with more of that quintessential 'n'-ness than usual?

[@tonystevenson26]

Warm Leathrrette

[@JohnOSullivan]

Slightly more than minimal

[@thatsiriangrind]

You powered up that Vox and I was waiting for Sly to start in with the 1st verse of "Family Affair".

[@DM-si5je]

does it work with odd time signatures? I'mplaying with a prog keybordist who doesnt know what 4/4 is and we dont have a drummer to keep everything together this would be really useful

[@goomic]

Thanks!!!🎉

[@strangehermitage2299]

All very cool but which one sounds best in a food processor? ('Will it Blend' old web series)

[@ralphwinter6421]

Nice one David, wonderful vid...

[@gthreetimes]

That one univox break played throughout is in drunk by thundercat, and also maybe smooth operator by sade

[@gthreetimes]

The song is Walk on By

[@Mikko-Maggie-More]

putting "-ai" in your searches is soooo based

[@nocaster5120]

Is based good or bad?

[@LZ02-OVERTURE]

@@nocaster5120 Good.

[@og-urklu]

@@nocaster5120 It's good, if you mess with Lil B

[@Kirk.Schr0dinger]

I swear, that univox was used in In The Air Tonight

[@drTinta]

You never know, I used to have a Vermona ER 9. It sounded pretty much the same

[@ErickC]

I suspect the name "Piper's Cub" derives from the Piper Cub, a small airplane - but I could be wrong.

[@erlannderrantem6972]

I think it refers to organ players (organ have pipes, so the player is basically a piper) and lion babies, as in a baby add on drum machine to the big organ mama. Could also be a play on words and both are right. Edit: filled in a missing word

[@GhostScout42]

neat little machine. does it have some preset blues drums?

[@danwentz]

That vintage Univox drum machine (which has 2 more tracks) is how KORG got on the map... Polyend never fails to invent. Very cool design, just wish there were more than 4 tracks.

[@Cognosapien]

Sweet! I have an old Univox SR-120 that I got from a friend in a trade. I think I have to swap in new capacitors though - the output is super noisy

[@qbaxcpu]

good stuff

[@bluesky2145]

how do you do fills as you play

[@sarathmeegodawithana6552]

All the times Olds are Gold, moderns are very completed to handle.

[@sooperdt]

Wow, this is a journey

[@davexmit]

Hoping for samples….

[@danielpirone8028]

Check out time 9:30 in the video

[@TommyLoaded]

Wonderful video.

[@NabPunk]

I believe Mr. Hilowitz would love arranger keyboards if he tries them out. Playing rhythms for you while giving you live control over them is what they are all about.

[@jpshawcross]

For me as a pianist, arranger keyboards are so overwhelming - but when someone knows how to use them right, they’re awesome.

[@NabPunk]

@@jpshawcross It's not that hard for someone with decent proficiency at keyboards (unlike me), just gotta give em a chance.

[@sypialnia_studio]

SoundForge Acid ftw!

[@abydos-musique]

Thx ! Take a look about the Yamaha MR10 vintage drum machine, it sounds great.

[@Defines1776]

Polyend is great at packaging its software into all sorts of different hardware.

[@ThePointingArrows]

Awesome bit of kit, but 500 is way too much. I’d buy that for 300 tho

[@iloveACID]

hi really enjoyed this vid.. just subbed

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

Was really excited about this because I'm fond of Polyend devices. But after watching this and about 10 other videos on the Step, I realized I don't need this. Any drum machine will do and I already have a few. Cool to see the UNIVOX, though.

[@PeteGostelow]

Add an autowah, delay pedal, maybe reverb, record to tape, then half-speed it. It’s a whole new world to add to your primitive drum machines.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

I have to admit, it didn't even occur to me to try to use it with effects. I might have to go try that now

[@denkerry91]

blondie's heart of glass vibes 0:42

[@TheDeadEndsMusic]

PLEASE FIX THE ACCORDION FROM THE 10 DOLLAR GUITAR VIDEO

[@pthelo]

You know... for $499, the STEP sounds like a solid value. Thanks for sharing, David!

[@senpaisylnsr5253]

$499? Yikes.

[@Lunolux]

499$ wtf that super expensive

[@bricelory9534]

At $499, I'll just take a V1 Polyend Play, frankly.

[@pthelo]

@@Lunolux Imagine the price if the same device was made by Teenage Engineering! 😂

[@Lunolux]

@@pthelo xd, i Will not imagine that

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Very nice, 👏. Like deployed 👍

[@MuzikJunky]

The arpeggiation at the end is waiting to be sampled! Peace.

[@alancalvitti]

-1 need to show how u would stomp on wall wart onstage

[@tresero2862]

You youngsters don't even remember Drum Drops :) Yes, we made demos with them.

[@nckwntzl]

Wish you had run the univox through a distortion 😢

[@WrathOfWood]

the polyend looks like it ain't a bad rhythmer. and always add a lil microFreak

[@strangehermitage2299]

Aphex Twin - minipops 67 [120.2][source field mix]

[@spinyuk]

stealing the '-ai' search modifier, thats a winner!

[@sharktamer]

"Mininmal"

[@leorod2000]

A pedal you control with your hand? Seems weird. The Beatbuddy came out in 2014. It's cheaper, sounds better and easier to control. But the step looks prettier.

[@nadiayorc]

honestly the 70s one just sounds like every 90s to mid 2000s "toy" keyboard's built in drum beats, which is obviously nothing against the drum machine as that's the style the toy ones are copying

[@springcar]

could record also the better interesting sounds even year 1970 and create music that sells good even shopworld wants to show you lesser soundshapes that not sell because they think you are competitor to big companies

[@peffken8834]

Sorry, beside the fast overviews, it make only sense for people who got never in touch with drummachines. Ok, it's your choice to compare one thing of the past (f.e. a 1950's 'Philco' fridge) with one of today (2024 Fisher & Paykel f.e.)... makes for me only sense if have to get finally a new one or if I'm without any clou about development, quite subtle. So, never mind - of course it's absolutly ok to do that...

[@IloveRocknroll-t6v]

:)

[@BrentBlueAllen]

I hadn't seen the "-ai" flag in Google searches before. Does that suppress the gemini results? I'll have to try that out myself.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Yes, I just discovered it recently! :)

[@brentsmith9411]

I'll take these funky old rhythm boxes over a modern generic drum machine every time.

[@Ziraya0]

-ai 🤝

[@big-smoke-rc]

I dunno. This seems a little too basic for me

[@AndrewLaSane]

Not bad for the price (from the perspective of someone who doesn't actually make music)

[@ionageman]

Shame it’s mains electric

[@marantz1]

Crazy how the 70s one sounds better than the new one. That step couldn't sound more flat and boring.

[@marcusbohlmann42]

please clean the gear before you film it the univox on a big 4k screen is a bit disgustung

[@gtberg]

These new drum machines are way too complicated!

[@runrin_]

this it basically an ad.

[@darioNRG]

I don't understand the usefulness of the Drum machine

[@Mikko-Maggie-More]

some are a little overpriced including the one that appears in this video, but there is some use. To be honest though they are basically just glorified metronomes with more features. Nowadays having a physical one is more of a novelty than a useful tool.

[@tonystevenson26]

Same use as a guitar