Origins of a Legend - The Simmons SDS-3 Drum Synthesizer from 1978

[@AlexBallMusic]

Here's the free samples and Kontakt Instrument: bit.ly/SimmonsSDS3 Enjoy!

[@votouragile9190]

thanks !

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Awesome. Thank you!

[@carlosserrano3985]

That's very kind of you, thanks!

[@MiguelMaravilla]

You are a modern-day hero for sharing these sounds. This is much appreciated!! :^)

[@dillipphunbar7924]

very nice...let me go check Behringer for an affordable alternative...or maybe the Korg Volca Drum?

[@mikeh2520]

The Brazilian fusion band Azymuth had some cool tracks with that high tomish sound long descending pitch tone that I liked since it was so unique and fit into the feel of the track so well. Many years ago I was working on a pop record in LA and wanted to have that Simmons sound so I called a bunch of equipment rental places but nobody had Simmons drums anymore. To the last guy I asked I did my best vocal impression of that descending tone and the guy said "why don't you just make that sound yourself?". So with a good laugh I set out to do just that and nailed it quickly. Nothing to plug in and no knobs to adjust and nobody knew that my voice was not a Simmons drum and nobody really cared anyway.

[@maxspencerkarinen6463]

sometimes physical > analogue > digital

[@brootalben]

Úû I'm in it in my I'm to kids I'm in iíííii hi just ⁶ see

[@SDS-1]

My CB handle has been SDS-1 since 1999 and I've never ever heard of these things till now.

[@geertvanschlanger8057]

I like the bend down schetting, if you know what I'm schaying.

[@dionysiaex5538]

I prefer a bend up you schaucey guy.

[@aleksamrkela831]

We need more Geert Van Schlanger tutorials in our lives!

[@lauratiso]

I prefer schauschasche fattener

[@rexterrocks]

It looks and sounds amazing. The control knobs with the big arrow pointers are really cool, it looks like it could have come off the set of 'Space 1999'.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Absolutely, part of the joy of these weird old devices are the whacky and kitsch designs.

[@carlosserrano3985]

Good observation, by the way I was fan of Space 1999. Cheers!

[@GrumpyTim]

I used to love the 80s Simmons hexagonal kits on Top of the Pops - never seen the earlier SDS-3 before - great video.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Very distinctive weren't they! I'd not heard of the SDS-3 either until this one wound up in my possession.

[@GrumpyTim]

@@AlexBallMusic I've never played a Simmons kit but I did get a Yamaha DTX kit in the late 90s - probably far more capable than the Simmons but nowhere near as exciting to look at.

[@cnfuzz]

@@AlexBallMusic thompson twins used one of these alongside a movement systems drumcomputer

[@mikeh2520]

Yea I remember going to a King Crimson show with Bill Bruford playing that kit in around 1982.

[@carlosserrano3985]

The hexagonal shape pads begins with the SDSV, the SDS-III and SDS-IV came with small round shape pads made by Premier.

[@carlshakes6095]

Mate....!! I can’t believe the timing of your review! Basically I’m about to design a syndrum unit loosely based on the SDS3. All of the other videos I’ve seen on here are just hands trying to replicate a 808/606 type sound. You’ve just demonstrated that this unit is much more capable of making more sounds than that. A brilliant review of a true classic. Dave Simmons is a big influence on me and I think people don’t realise what a pioneer he was and way ahead of his time. Well done and I look forward to (hopefully) some more of your reviews on drum synthesisers and drum machines!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Small world! A modern remake with improvements would be cool. It's great at all kinds of sound FX as well as synth drums as you say. The audio rate LFO really makes a difference there. Hopefully a Pollard Syndrum Twin, Ult Sound DS-4 and some others will appear at some point.

[@orangeflipflop485]

The aesthetics of this are amazing, with a sound to match! Those colors and knobs! GAAH! I need one!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, looks beautiful.

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

@@AlexBallMusic I want it, but the hats are samples or real processed?

[@carlosserrano3985]

Good luck, they are very rare to find!

[@AramiMedia]

I was really frustrated when I couldn’t find really any channel that was dedicated to real retro music tech and theory. It is all just synthwave and all that, but my god your 80s chord progression video has introduced me to this wonderful channel and I can’t get enough!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the videos. 🙂

[@_P_M_]

Thank you for mentioning Bill Bruford. The stuff he was doing with his Simmons SDX influenced me to buy my first electronic kit. I recently sold my old, well-used- hex pads for a surprisingly high amount. My hands were covered with blisters after my first gig playing on those hard things!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes absolutely, he was basically an ambassador for them in some respects. I've seen old footage of him being interviewed on TV about them. Blistered hands - ouch! I've heard that they were quite fatiguing to play until they found a means to make more skin-like heads.

[@cnfuzz]

@@AlexBallMusic the real ambassadors were landscape in the early 80s , if it werent for them not so many british acts would be using them

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@cnfuzz Absolutely. I mentioned Richard Burgess as being pivotal in the development of the SDS-V at the end of this video.

[@carlosserrano3985]

@@AlexBallMusic But John Keeble of Spandau Ballet was the first drummer who recorded the SDSV on Chant No.1 song, Richard Burgess of Landscape was the producer of the first two Spandau albums and also a friend of Dave Simmons.

[@madrooster7]

I spent years playing the original pads in extremely energetic sets and never really had a problem with them being that hard on the hands, though they were more of a workout to play than real drums, as they weren't as bouncy. The bigger problem is that they were kind of unwieldy to set up and transport, and are extremely acoustically loud. I still have them, am currently in the process of building custom pads, am thinking of selling the originals.

[@JillKnapp]

I have the biggest grin on my face watching this instrument tour. I love the way this sounds so much, and the interface is glorious. Thank you for this awesome overview!

[@Jonky98]

I have been watching a few videos on drum machines and none have shown this one, so clever

[@carlosserrano3985]

The Simmons SDS-III and IV are very rare these days and I think a small number of them were made, remember that this one came before the Simmons SDSV, once the SDSV came out it was also the beginning of the hexagonal shape pads that everybody remember, the ones on the SDS-III and IV are rounded.

[@GaitaPonto]

It looks so nice with the color bands. The sounds are also great. Thanks for the samples!

[@carlosserrano3985]

Try to make a video of the Simmons SDSV, believe me you can make really amazing sounds with it, I still got mine after all these years (1984), still today the king of analog electronic drums.

[@roninheart_music]

Omg, this sounds so freakin good, this is juice to my ears.

[@discodave6153]

Great video Alex, the SDS3 sounds amazing. I have a SDSV, would love to see one on that too.

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

That thing sounds awesome

[@dreamyrhodes]

Kraftwerk already used drumpads with a metal stick on a metal plate in 1975

[@bontempo1271]

Man, i love the look and sound of it, especially those knobs

[@SirNotAppearing]

that is just the most beautiful piece of kit.

[@kz1000ps]

Dude I was JUST watching videos of this thing last night. Your timing is impeccable!

[@nikitosnkarpilianski154]

Thank You for the pack!

[@angaudlinn]

Great introduction to this wonderful piece of kit. My unit (and it's little brother SDS-IV) sends their greetings. :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

You have an SDS-3 and SDS-4? You just need the clap trap to complete the Musicaid set!

[@angaudlinn]

@@AlexBallMusic This might sound a bit like bragging... but I do. Both mk1, mk2 (and the digital Simmons one). :D

[@davidellismartin9619]

EXCELLENT thorough exploration, Alex! Thanks!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks David.

[@eyeball226]

I wasn't expecting Dave Mattacks's name to come up. He's a bit of a legend as a session drummer, I had no idea he reviewed as well.

[@madrooster7]

Thanks! I'm working on rebuilding pads and a rack for a Simmons SDS8, which I have a solo project based around, and am actually playing the pads like a drum kit. I have the original pads, but they suck for recording, as I'm also using live cymbals. Also bulkier and heavier than necessary, which can be a pain when playing gigs. Also have a Synare Sensor in this kit. The 8 doesn't filter the noise setting with the pitch knob, but it also doesn't have an LFO at all, whereas the synare has two. I'm not knowledgeable enough about electronics to design circuits, but my DREAM synth kit would have everything the SDS8 has, plus LFOs on both pitch and amplitude per channel, Distortion/OD (especially a bit crusher) and Octave up/down buses with individual sends. Range trim pots on the tune knob, so you can more easily hit specific notes. The 8 has a problem where only about 2/3rds of the range of the knob are in audible ranges. Individual delays would be nice too, but not a must. Would also like to be able to sync the LFOs with one button. Also, it needs to send and receive MIDI. I know you could build this with a massive wall of modular, but that eliminates the practicality of playing shows, as well as being ridiculously expensive. I know I could also fake this in software, and with a mixer, but then I can't easily control it while performing, and I'm adding components that are likely to fail during shows. Similar things could be said about having a full rack of fx units or a massive pedalboard. I did install a Translator 2 in my brain rack, though it seems to eliminate all dynamic range when sending signals back into the Simmons, and I had to do some creative cabling in order to still have dynamic range when performing, and still get trigger signals into the Translator. Remains to be seen what I can get sending triggers from computer.

[@davebell3684]

WOW. Standing ovation. What a sound.

[@juanandresmonardes3390]

Fantastic video for a fantastic machine! Thanks for the sample pack!!

[@IvamMedeiros]

I was desperate to find this sample. Thank you for providing it. Saved me a lot o f time.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Enjoy.

[@SewerTapes]

The sample pack is awesome! Thank you so much.

[@jimmy_jamesjams_a_lot4171]

THIS is the sort of thing that has completely inspired me to dive deep on synth DIY, as if I were Alice chasing the white rabbit!! I couldn’t afford these great drum synth voices, but I figured I could study up and grab a soldering iron and some printed schematics, and learn how to build something akin to a few of these units. I feel as though I have literally dropped off of the face of the earth. I guess I have literally dropped out of society at large and left that behind, all in my efforts to own the baddest beat kit and be able to say that I built the friggin thing myself! Now, it’s been 5 years since I set off on this mission, and although I’ve got a pretty kick ass setup, I’m only just realizing that the end game for me hasn’t been at all about owning anything. That’s definitely a work in progress, and as refined as it gets, It will likely always remain a work in progress. But to attain some really deep understanding of electronics. To find such a rewarding hobby that has earned me such a skill set. To be able to make things that I couldn’t explain how or why they work but to make them and make them work. That’s the real thrill in picking up an interest in DIY through electronics. There’s limitless potential out there, so I don’t see why everyone can’t share some really thrilling times, and actually accomplish some big feats through electronics. THANKS FOR SHARING ABOUT THIS!! Your Simmons gear sounds great!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Great! What have you managed to build?

[@madrooster7]

I've been working on heavily customizing a simmons sds8 for several years, though I don't know enough about circuit design itself to make a rebuild of that kit with added features that I'd really like to do someday.

[@FrankNFurter1000]

GORGEOUS piece of kit! Thank you for sharing :)

[@JamesVytas]

I’m always curious why someone would go out of their way to downvote a video like this? There’s nothing to hate and if you weren’t interested surely you’d just go and watch something else. Very interesting video in my opinion.

[@carlosserrano3985]

Agree! And he was kind enough to give a sample pack for free.

[@jonathanredman8497]

Another great video Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you sir.

[@TDRKB]

Certainly not used on many p#rn soundtracks! These sounds are so familiar! I think the reviewer got it right when he said the sounds could be mis-used. How often was that the case? Great review as always - thanks for reminding us where so many of today's sounds originated.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, certain sounds that are more FX would get tedious if used continually through a song. If he's referring to that then I totally agree. I made a lot of those kind of sounds in the video. However, you can dial in a tight, beefy kick drum, snappy snare, hats and toms and make a more classic synth drum beat that's less OTT. In that respect it's more like a drum machine grooving away and isn't fatiguing to listen to.

[@Dolores5000]

We need a reissue!! That thing sound fantastic

[@ENIACofficial]

great channel - great videos

[@tranceemerson8325]

this is one of my favorite drum machines EVER

[@AlexBallMusic]

It's a thunderous thing, really has an OTT sound. Love having it around.

[@Luzmarvids]

I like this drum machine sds3, if i will go to compose music, greetings from Panama. PD Thanks for downloading

[@kevingamache1512]

Those tones you got doing the ben up/bend down. That is a familisr sound from my simmons pads from the 80s Great video

[@sms3037]

Finally a decent SDS3 sound demo!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Was surprised to find there are a couple up on KZbin which do show the sound pretty well. Nobody had walked through the history and all the features though, so thought a video was worth it.

[@StanwaxLaser]

Nice to see this in action, a Simmons product I was aware of but knew little about. Thanks for this, any plans to do any stuff about SDSV or any others?

[@XavierRadix]

Everybody needs a little "bweep bwoop bwap sweeep pew pew boom" in their arsenal.

[@AlexBallMusic]

It's an absolute must.

[@XavierRadix]

@MomoTheBellyDancer It's all you need.

[@nomdeplore7604]

I wish I could find it :.(

[@carlosserrano3985]

Simmons started using Roman numbers on the first models like the SDS-III, SDS-IV and SDS-V.

[@DEADLINETV]

You Sir, are too cool and too kind! I learn so much!

[@AlexBallMusic]

👊

[@papanovembermusic]

Sick design, great vid

[@themushieman]

Great, great sound. Thanks for your vids mate

[@ericmichel]

Such a great channel. brilliant work sir !

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Eric.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Ironically, I recently used my Korg clone of the ARP Odyssey to grind out individual drum tones for my current (for February/March 2020) recording project. Great to hear that it was the original ARP synth line which motivated the initial manufacturing of the SDS line. Didn’t Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge also have this module during the Ling Distance Voyager sessions? You can sort of hear it during the first two cuts, “The Voice” and “Talking Out of Turn”.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Makes sense to test out the sounds on a 2600 and then make a plan from there. In fact, the original 2600 and Odyssey patch books have drum patches. Moody Blues - not sure to be honest. I don't think the SDS-3 really sold to anyone famous. That was more the SDS-V onwards. I might be wrong though.

[@Aquatarkus96]

Moody Blues used their own bespoke piece of kit made by Brian Groves and Graeme Edge

[@bobz1736]

Excellent review as always 😊

[@Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

Now that Behringer is short before releasing a clone of the SDS-3 I bet this video will get many new viewers beforehand. Good luck!

[@V-Pee]

no way

[@MrAliensix]

I loved this! SDS-V next please ;) Big thanks for the sample pack too!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Hopefully doing more drum synth stuff at some point. Pollard Syndrum, Ult Sound DS-4 and Syncussion might be possible.

[@BeatRatio]

That sounds (and looks) like and epic piece of kit! I have an SDS-V which compared to this , sadly cuts back significantly on modulation options. Perhaps because the SDS-V, in it's own very unique way, was marketed as a classic Bass, Snare, Toms setup whereas the SDS-3 was meant to "complement" acoustic drums. Btw, the slightly annoying "White Noise filter VS Pitch" design seems to have carried on to the SDS-V too... You can kind of find a sweet spot but it has a very narrow range indeed... Great video as always!

[@AlexBallMusic]

That's very interesting, thanks. I've seen an SDS-V but not played with one yet. I guess the noise filter / oscillator tuning put more functionality into a single knob, but it doesn't correlate very well. I'm surprised that made it onto the famous SDS-V.

[@carlosserrano3985]

Yes, The SDS-III and SDS-IV was made to complement acoustic drums while the SDSV purpose is to replace acoustic drums, it was the first full size and complete electronic drum kit.

[@markorendas1790]

THATS VERY GREAT OF YOU TO HELP FOLKS ON THE SAMPLES AND KONTAKT PLAYER..!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Enjoy the samples. Hope you get some use from them.

[@carlosserrano3985]

I use a lot of Simmons equipment and some of them still with me today. Use to have an SDS-8, SDS-9 and one SDS-1, those are gone, I just kept the TMI (Trigger to MIDI interface) and of course the SDSV with white pads. Please Dave, make and SDSV mkII with MIDI, all seven modules and electronic memory storage for kits, very simple!

[@morismateljan6458]

Beautiful. Very "The Residents" vibe.

[@stacybigfoot4801]

The "Drumfire" by In-Line Effects was a killer also. Mad sounding unit.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ooo, not seen that one before. Looks interesting!

[@stacybigfoot4801]

@@AlexBallMusic Its noisey and grimy and I think the best results are when you stack the channels - feed one channel into the next and tune oscillators separately. Hey, thanks for the samples ;) Such a great addition to the vid. Would be cool if you could provide and little bit of something with each presentation - even if its just a few sounds - especially of the expensive rarities. All the best.

[@LoudPaul1]

I've made a pretty in-depth video on my drumfire df-500 on my channel if you're interested! I love mine

[@chriswareham]

I had a Drumfire! There's a track where it does all the percussion on my Soundcloud page: soundcloud.com/namesinmarble/deep-water

[@djdigital3806]

Cool drum machine 🥁

[@ScottAmpleford]

Any mention of Mr Dolby makes you alright in my book :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Is that a Science book? Or would that cause blindness? 😀

[@ScottAmpleford]

Alex Ball Neither actually. I left both of them in a submarine. Which of course I then misplaced!

[@Mouxbar]

Many thanks for the samples. Awesome fun :-)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Enjoy!

[@stationlightyears1532]

Loved this, I still have an SDS 400, it's lined up for a major re-capping soon!

[@carlosserrano3985]

The SDS-200, 400 and 800 was the last analog gear that Simmons produce in the 80'S, they partner with CB-700 to offer a line of electronic drums.

[@LouisSerieusement]

thank you Alex !

[@onkelberra3166]

Never heard about this. Awesome and fun video. Spacesounds for everyone! XD

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, a forerunner that isn't very well known. It's a very sci-fi little dude.

[@mrotaveria]

best freaking channel on youtube now!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Martin.

[@retrosound72]

very nice.

[@cornerliston]

And not just that, it has one of the greatest designs of that time and still is to these days.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Certainly has a strong look!

[@EannaButler]

I was thinking of saying "Man you should put out a sample or loop pack from this" - and you've done one better, a kontakt instrument.. Thank you!

[@markusdaxamouli5196]

The designer of the Grafical display and intuitively laid out box really out did themselves.

[@CertainlyCaro]

A machine fit for Wolfgang Flür I'd say

[@benh.635]

That was immediately what I thought of

[@lundsweden]

Wolfgang Flur would probably modified it- lol

[@CertainlyCaro]

@@lundsweden Ralf and Florian definitely would have

[@SlinkiestTortoise23]

New to your channel! Excellent stuff! That gizmo looks cool as! Also, you could use that very creatively in conjunction with acoustic drums! Good stuff!

[@JaseLovesDub]

Fantastic video! What a beast! :)

[@gcoudert]

I lived within a couple hundred yards from Simmons in St Albans, not knowing they were based there. I only found out ladt year!

[@hasko_not_the_pirate]

7:18 and 7:50, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Toccata right there (about five minutes in though i suspect they’ve been using it throughout that piece)

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

I got a synare myself, lovely

[@fjfrancois]

Man thank you for the video 😍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks for watching.

[@christofferainek]

Cool and crazy machine. Will we get to hear it in a complete mix any time soon?

[@AlexBallMusic]

It's actually mine rather than borrowed this time, so yes, will certainly appear more going forward.

[@soepil]

Very cool unit. I still have my Pearl Syncussion, a somewhat similar unit. Perfect for your Joy Division tribute band. :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Nice. Hopefully doing something with one of those at some point.

[@chriswareham]

The Syncussion was acquired after they became New Order. During the Joy Division period they had a Synare (used on the Unknown Pleasures album) and a Boss DR-55 (only used on As You Said, a weird little instrumental that came on a flexi disc). They may have had their Musicaid Claptrap during the Closer sessions, as that may be the snare sound on Decades.

[@BillDerBerg]

Those Simmons pads were hard as a table top

[@Spellcheekswammablamma]

My wrists are still in pain from 1981

[@carlosserrano3985]

Yeah, now the MK-4 ones were better, love those but the most beautiful are the originals MK-1, the ones that came with the SDSV.

[@HarveyKarate]

Fantastic video Alex! Wondering if there are any alternative drum synths that can also take an acoustic drum signal as you explain at 2:45? I’ve been looking around at a bunch of drum synths but get confused at which ones can take an acoustic signal and/or if they are velocity sensitive. The division department 01/iv for example has a similar layout to the sds3 but I’m not sure if it can take acoustic drum signals or even take a midi drum tigger signal? Any help would be much appreciated!

[@paulbali9998]

what a beautiful instrument. electro drums with depth. i'm surprised this sound wasn't all over everything from 1978 on. my sense is it took music a long time to really embrace the electronic drum sound. i know this kit was embraced by musicians, some of whom you mention, but still. . . many 80s tracks with those terrible gated shotgun snares would have been better served with this, i think. and i'm amazed at how conservative so much 80s rap production was, based on breakbeats, or drum machines emulating drumkits. i know there are tons of counterexamples/exceptions. . . .

[@paradoxstate5018]

Alex, I know this is a couple of years late, but not every unit came with the multi pin connector, we bought ours brand new back in the day (yep I'm that old hahahahahahahaha) and we got 4 jack to jack leads with the pads, in fact to be honest I never saw one for sale at Carlsboro in Sheffield (where we got ours) that had the multi pin connector. just a bit of added history for anyone who might want to know.

[@aleksamrkela831]

Great video as usual! :D

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you

[@JEANBRUCEnocturbulous]

Looks so modern, I first thought it was a new gear.

[@swillm3ister]

This is amazing

[@swillm3ister]

But my dog didn't like it.. LoL

[@ericbgordon1575]

I'm led to believe that the SDS3 & 5 were both potentially capable of emulating a wide range of drums and other percussion stuff, even though they weren't so frequently used for it.

[@JuniorTan]

You need to teach or create your own online BA / Masters degree program. Competent composer with terrific music technology knowledge and a good sense of humor. This is the modern composer and teacher's essential skillset.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

An LFO up to 1,000 Hz? Wow, FM synthesis. In 1978. Impressive.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Exponential FM was quite common and goes back at least into the 1960s. Digital, linear FM on the other hand was what was yet to come.

[@klinkske]

Ooohhh i love this what you did

[@Dolores5000]

Wow this kicks ass!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, it's got something I think.

[@demonicsweaters]

damn, that thing sounds insane!

[@nofretzDW]

Awesome!

[@LondraCalibro9]

great video!

[@MarcWeertsMusic]

Great video!

[@Cochese]

yellow magic orchestra!

[@VintageMusicGearTV]

Cool piece of kit bro

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, quite a little character.

[@jaggass]

It's like a mini modular synth.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Not dissimilar in terms of discrete settings and modulation per channel. But obviously limited with signal routing and total control.

[@djexac]

Oscilator sound from the future past!!!🎹🔈📡

[@AlexBallMusic]

Retrofuturist's dream.

[@ms20user]

very good!

[@Ancaja123]

Off topic, but something I’ve noticed with my SDS9, is that the triggers are “velocity sensitive” in the sense that hitting a pad at different velocities varies the volume of the trigger sent to the Simmons brain, great for realistic variable snares, as velocity can effect pitch. Ive never found a gate/trigger sequencer that can vary the volume of a trigger, I’ve done it using simple mixers for the triggers, but as for analog sequencing it doesn’t seem like there’s much out there that will do this (EHX Clockworks is great at this + polyrhythmic beat generations, but it’s not a sequencer per say)

[@carlosserrano3985]

The SDS-9 have MIDI and respond to velocity that way.

[@Ishkur23]

Sounds like an excellent Kraftwerk box.