The Massive Sound Of An Experimental Soviet Drum Machine From Latvia

The RMIF ES-2-5 is an experimental drum machine that was made in Riga, Latvia, in the last days of the Soviet Union (1991). It was an attempt at re-creating the Roland TR-808, but was hampered by the lack of microchip technology available. RMIF abandoned the project after only a testing run of 30 units where made. One rare surviving example found its way to my studio in a sorry state. I had it restored to better then new condition, as I feel it is a piece of instrument history. And it sounds so very very heavy and melancholic.
PATRONS get sounds of the ES-2-5: / hainbach
MY SIGNATURE SOFTWARE:
THE HAINPACK IS HERE: www.audiothing.net/bundle/hai...
GRANULAR SYNTH: apps.apple.com/de/app/fluss-g...
FASHION: teespring.com/de/stores/hainbach
CONNECT: / hainbach
BUY THE GEAR I USE (EU):
redir.love/thocf/n2lm9oo2ym
BUY THE GEAR I USE (US):
bit.ly/3nsnE9Q
(affiliate links, I get a few % if you buy through them)
BUY THE GEAR I USE (UK)
www.gear4music.com/blog/what-...
Image sources:
www.synthmania.com/sr-16.htm
www.muzines.co.uk/articles/bos...
www.muzines.co.uk/articles/yam...
www.muzines.co.uk/articles/rol...
rmif.lv
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
00:00 Unboxing
01:08 First Track: With Maestro
02:30 Second Track: Solo ES-2-5
03:27 A Closer Look
05:31 Third Track: FX
06:22 The Sequencer
07:41 History Time
09:16 The Competition At The Time
09:50 Relevance Today

[@Hainbach]

A Soundpack is available for my dear patrons: patreon.com/hainbach

[@mf_rat]

Is there a Bartosz channel?

[@DetroitMicroSound]

You need more stable stands, my friend.

[@Klopizza]

As a person who lives in Rīga and knows the factory, I have not heard of this thing! AWESOME! Thank you Heinbach!

[@inthefade]

I'm only saying this because I used to misspell it, but it's "Hainbach" :)

[@klementus]

This is truly a unique drum machine. Thank you Hianbaech!

[@mx676]

Thank you Heisenbach

[@samprock]

I thought it HeyBach! 😊

[@Apebek]

I thought it was HayBag

[@gwalla]

"It takes wonderfully to both compression and distortion and effects" *proceeds to drop the most insanely badass distorted bass sound anyone has ever heard*

[@mttlsa686]

That part inspired me to write a comment just some minutes ago. "It doesn't sounds brutal, it sounds brutalist." 🤣

[@DiegoSynth]

It's amazing, out of this world!!

[@tommj4365]

the most beautiful sound I've heard in a very long time... I was amazed

[@EarlyMist]

I gotta say I read your comment and thought, yeah whatever, some EDM drop or something. Holy crap was I wrong 5:30 on is an amazingly good dark plodding apocalyptic evolving rythym that puts some recent terminator soundtracks in their place, heck the original score even. Sacre bleur! Just epic and expansive through those pedals. I truly long for a somewhat accurate-ish/ballpark-ish plugin maybe doen the line.

[@ledbol]

Agree

[@TheKuzmann]

5:52 wow man.. what sound, what a flow. Im in love

[@Diamond_Tiara]

5:32 that bass drop is just lethal.

[@JairajSinghPatil]

@HAINBACH what distortion and reverb settings did you use for that sound?

[@Diamond_Tiara]

@@JairajSinghPatil dunno, but that sounds neat for a villain theme or some hacker scene. @Hainbach should try doing something like that. Myself I'm having fun with a 90's synth and will have to try doing some more vibes like that using it, but keeping that beat, that heaviness and darkness, also I'm tired of hearing >Sahara in every short

[@HerpinThaDerp]

you should record your repair sessions and upload them on a secondary channel i'd love to see the debug/repair process for something like this

[@Hainbach]

I have a whole recap session of my mixing board filmed - could be a good idea!

[@cherrymountains72]

Yeah, I would definitely watch that. Would be really helpful and interesting.

[@chaoswires2734]

Repair sessions and old hardware exploration with more tech details would be definitely interesting to watch

[@ferranmelero7727]

Same hear

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Definately ! Report videos are important for owners ! 👍

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

Would honestly love to see you do a Soviet drum machine plugin with Audiothing, as a way to make these sounds more accessible, and for the sake of historic preservation.

[@dangerszewski9816]

absolutely! those sounds are amazing!

[@OGbrundle]

Yes please

[@joachimdahl233]

agree

[@buckadillafilms]

I would love to use this sound

[@JamesEscobar]

Aw having a friend that understands how to fix the vintage equipment you are passionate about, such a wonderful feeling!! Bravo Bartosz bravo!!!

[@mariits]

1991 is transfer time from ussr to Latvia. When i was 6 years old i had one RMIF sinth, at this time i dreamed about yamaha sinth with modern drums paterns, when i grow i dreamed about real sinth like a RMIF :D to make cool elektro house whatever

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

ooooooh this looks funkyyyy! looking forward to it going live

[@TheVinci8345]

Lookmumusinganalogequipment

[@je7647]

Thx every trains potting character in one person

[@MikeMike-os5cv]

I agree. Today, this machine would be an ambient composers dream. It is absolutely perfect for ambient style music! It was born before its time and should be revived!

[@goalexey]

5:45 - such a Half-Life Opposing Force soundscape vibe. Love it! I always love your little composition examples of each instrument you feature - it really helps to get a sense of what the gear is capable of.

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! The music pieces are the true core of every video and take as long as the rest of the process.

[@OttosTheName]

Hooooooooold up. the SR-16 has been in production since 1991? I had no idea! That's insane, a run of 32 years and still going strong. That blew my mind.

[@AnalogX64]

5:32 That bass!!!

[@bricelory9534]

I must admit, I tend to not be too interested in drum machines - especially vintage ones - but this has a real charm. Like you said, its tone works so well with compression and distortion. It is heavy and warm. It is also especially cool for being so rare! Thank you for sharing!

[@peteraaron8626]

That second track is pure nightmare fuel. What a peculiar machine!

[@hundovir]

I believe the wobbliness of the stand adds considerably to the instrument!

[@poopoppy]

I found this a little hard to watch. Simply due to the wobbly-ass table.

[@hundovir]

@@poopoppy 🙂

[@alienteknology5390]

This machine is a beast & that's some serious sub bass it's putting out! I love old soviet technology. It has such character & the RMIF ES25 is a monster!

[@74goldenjet]

It's fascinating how much emotion you can squeeze out of just noises. You really make these machines sing. Love it! Thank you.

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

There's something I noted with all my vintage ex USSR (or east European) electronics: the general labelling of functions, almost identical to the one found on organs and Japanese machines of the 60s-70s (like the korg "traveler" series) - or early west coast modular like Serge ones... a definite incentive to experimenting and curiosity!

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

I think the softness actually makes it easier to add things to it. Like it hitting compression and saturation like you did make it sound huge, and there may still be headroom.

[@ATLS702]

I wanted to clarify that my like was indeed for Bartosz! What a gift people like that are that can help bring these machines to their former glory, you are certainly included Hainbach. Thank you for your work

[@SuperlunarNim]

Dang, if ever there was a single object that tells so much about the time and place that it was made.

[@baduino]

damn bruv, i just had my morning coffee and mj and that dark old skool synth blew my mind. swear i hear some of the selected ambient works that i had previously thought may have been filtered prepared piano. awesome vid.

[@DmitryPuffin]

In the beggining of the video I thought that Ģirts from Erica Synths could know something about this and then suddenly you are telling that you contacted him already and showing his reply. This machine prove one more time that we had and still have amazing engineers here in Latvia ❤️

[@edgeeffect]

Wow... quite seriously... that is the drum machine i have always dreamed of.... an 8 channel version would be the most fantastic live solo instrument!

[@brianspenst1374]

Thank you for sharing these obscure instruments. I love the raw and warm sound that this brings.

[@blackmoofou6385]

Oh man that sounds so cool its like an old Wurlitzer organ drum machine thats gone into outer space and got mangled up. Awesome machine and great work by your tech!

[@CyReNiUsX]

Hainbach, Bartosz and the Soviet Drum Machine. This could be a movie.

[@wm2922]

Adventure movie with a happy end ❤

[@elsantoproductora]

Your videos always put a big smile on my face. Thanks again my friend!

[@selviodiz9960]

This sound is monstrously terrific! Awesome groove/drum machine!

[@jessegimbel]

Excellent highlighting of the opportunity that comes within limitations. Really love the music you created in this video.

[@Rivenworld]

This carries a pretty terrific sound, love this, love the gear that you find, pretty dang good Dude.

[@ShortP1089]

that is so cool sounding, funnily enough exactly what i imagined from the thumbnail. thanks for the inspiration hainbach!

[@timg335]

Hainbach, tank you for sharing your music, experiences, and instruments on the internet! I am a young musician, and your videos and works inspire me to try more experimental music, and remind me that music doesn't always have to follow theory or formula. May God bless you!

[@scottm8685]

I know it's a touchy subject and people get a little sensitive, but if some company would clone this, Id love to buy it.❤

[@AlexBallMusic]

What a brilliant video, you really clicked with it. My jaw dropped when you mentioned it was made in the 90s! Miles behind the times, as you said, but somehow it has a brighter future.

[@Hainbach]

Yeah its a thing out of time. Its like when I talk to Riccardo about the unfinished and never made Italian synths that must be in some basement still.

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@Hainbach That's where the gold is found, yeah!

[@joshroolf1966]

​@@HainbachBy St. Hoffman's Beard, that is the Legend!!???🙊🧠💢 Rare artifacts of our universe...::💚💛🧡

[@joshroolf1966]

Like a less powerful, but radiation hardened widget for space travel; a beautiful milspec drum machine..:::😂💚

[@poopoppy]

Yeah. We love that retro jank :D

[@maxernst37]

Incredible thanks for the video ; the distortion sound great and the link to Fusion Modules of Erica Synth made the video more great ¡

[@swujawn7463]

wow I just signed up for your Patreon for loops from this, and I’m almost shocked at how much value and content you have up for download on there! So worth it

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! It a huge archive now, hard to communicate how much there is

[@raffaelemonego]

Holy crap this is an industrial dream machine!

[@fjfrancois]

What a masterpiece of track and video 😊 thanks dude

[@darkpoem9]

Amazing machine and nice demonstration! 👍

[@thehandoflenin]

Can't say I'd rush out and try and find one.

[@jibberism9910]

That is pretty awesome (and a bit), nice catch!

[@WORSAW666]

Damn, this thing surprised me, great job !!!

[@dikbozo]

I watched this and then the Vermona video. Fascinating. These, old some would say outdated, machines that require a player not a button pusher. from the older musical styles such as the Baroque, we still hear 'original instruments', which in many ways could easily be dismissed as out of date and/or out of tune and while some don't like it, other do. More than enough to support multiple orchestras. I argue that these old obscure synths are of the same lineage. It is up to the performer to produce something from the instrument, not the other way round. Synths in particular have their own quirks, which any musician will tell you is the difference between instruments. I am quite impressed by the wide range of synths you have featured. Thank you for showing them to me, if no one else.

[@iTimestretcher]

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

[@chambre466]

good work man, thank you and bravo

[@Nemorosus]

Awesome, especially the third track! I always appreciate when it's time for a little Haindark.

[@Mike.Barclay]

Très intéressant comme d’habitude merci beaucoup 👍

[@simonisenberg4516]

That first beat was absolute Trip Hop.

[@indisguiseFUCK]

What a cool device! Sounds really unique.

[@valk_real]

Amazing machine, thank you for sharing. I think you used it well, it's sometimes difficult to use machines from another era

[@patkelly8309]

The lovely metal enclosure gives a tone too

[@Gynkys]

Amazing noises! Such heaviness and sadness it carries. I d love to have something like this in my arsenal, sad to see it be so rare

[@oscarstorm]

Third track is a bomb! Would love to hear the full version somewhere ) thNk you for the video brother!

[@fl7210]

That bass is nuts

[@chapoteaukatz]

this sounds amazing wow

[@scholasticdeth]

Still amazed how you can read any language the equipment is made in and explore it further! The soundscapes you created rock

[@isweartofuckinggod]

You forgot to say "it's good to have you back" and I feel slightly less warm inside than usual.

[@Hainbach]

Thanks for noticing! Sometimes I wonder if people still care about it, I don’t want to do things just out of habit.

[@moosestach1579]

@@Hainbach it’s very inviting and every time I hear it, a little bit of peace is brought to me. Thanks Hainbach

[@joshroolf1966]

​@@HainbachIt is a comfortable familiarity, but I agree you shouldn't do things out of habit. A nostalgic feature of an era of Hainbach..:::🌤💚🐾

[@chinmeysway]

@@Hainbachis ok to experiment w saying other stuff or no stuff too :)

[@pywidem5823]

@@Hainbach „Good to have you back“ reminds me of the greet „Freundschaft“ from DDR and I would really like those kinds of greetings to come back

[@JG-uj7oo]

This thing seems haunted, superb! Great rundown as always

[@ametdepri1919]

Hey didn't expect to see my country on your channel, nice!

[@leolovetoparty]

Good for you man 😜 I think your videos are awesome, and at the same time as a (financially) struggling artist the last thing I’m interested in is some rare piece of unobtainable equipment. You should obv continue to make these videos as there are many who love watching them. And they are well made. Thank you

[@weeverob]

sounded great, very interesting sounds

[@NicStage]

What a frying, moody vibe. Lovely track, Hainbach! Nice work Bartosz!

[@rkkristalovich653]

This an awesome find!!! At first , the sound reminded me of Ultravox. Great job on thr slavic melodies.

[@Moonrakerd]

wow, never thought I will see it again, once I had a chance to buy one but had no money that time

[@TristanBaldi]

@5:32 that is a (great) track right here. Seriously. Crazy mood you got there, lovely video

[@CrimsonButterflyBand]

Right now I am recovering RMIF ELSITA analog trigger drumkit for our shows, this video was really useful!🔥

[@Decoy303]

When you added the FX this lady really shows her voice.

[@brujua7]

With Maestro is a hell of a track, please some day release the tunes in some streaming platform, and keep them coming! This device fits you very well

[@MrTekTrip]

Very good description of the machine. RMIF drum synth was my first instrument. I got to choose from two available in the shop at the time and picked the one which produced a more pronounced kick drum on the first channel (the beauty of analogue machines). I used midi trigger pads that were available as an option with this synth instead of keypad sequencer and had a ton of fun with it. Its raw sound and straight forward control was way more fun to play with than Yamaha DX21's digital library when I paired it with RMIF later. I might even have some recordings left if 2-track tapes are not perished with time. Thank you for memories Hainbach. 😊

[@laurentboireau1248]

Amazing sound!

[@rosscobosco]

Awsome vid dude

[@piperfox74]

That third track is some wonderful dark industrial.

[@Stonehawk]

Built in 1991, LOOKS like it was built in 1961. Since this device is VERY FAR out of production, it would be a tragedy if the last few were lost. All of its electronic functions could probably be emulated in software today... For the sake of historical preservation, I wish you (or an electronics inclined friend) could draw up complete schematics for its components and assembly.

[@user-qy5gc5rj3c]

I absolutely love the dreamy/eerie/depressing/nostalgic vibe that emanates from seemingly every instrument made in the Soviet Union, it's so uniquely heavy.

[@Rob_65]

"Made in 1991" and I'm like "well, that's quite a new piece of equipment" 🤣

[@dougllewellyn4620]

Awesome! I might try duplicating some of these sounds on the DFAM

[@Koopakid917543]

I would love to see this be remade with a few updates. Its such a unique instrument and it sounds amazing

[@loonarsix]

Beautiful!

[@randomexcessmemories4452]

RMIF made a number of interesting synthesizers and drum machines, so hearing and learning about this one is really nice!

[@dickheadrecs]

well done bartosz i am just looping that groove at the start and grinning at my cats

[@kiviakinstruments9665]

This one is a beast ! Love it !

[@regplasma7906]

Wow , it's a beauty , I make industrial music and I love it .I think Vlad took a few concepts from the RMIF ES--2-5 for the Pulsar.

[@calhoungames]

Love this machine, wish I had a vst for it lol.

[@CC01E]

Just discovered your channel via KZbin rabbit hole. Glad I did.

[@pgpete]

that drum machine is kookydooks - i love it!

[@electrosonicnebula]

That third track certainly rocks.

[@demons21100]

The song you made with it is crazy good

[@andrileonardo]

How cool is that!

[@Valentinbtw]

There is something nice about seeing how people abroad are now discovering the sound of Soviet synthesizers.

[@Povilaz]

Very interesting!

[@ljs8888]

Third Track is pure Portishead!

[@b.slocumb7763]

What a sound! Now that’s time travel!

[@blipblip88]

Odd, fun and dreamy sounds. Neat!!

[@user-pm8je4fo7e]

It made a lot of sense when I first read the name of your channel as LAIBACH

[@viiririiv]

I always get nervous about your precious gear when I see your table wobbling 😅Wonderful sounds here!

[@NTRSN-Archive]

3:26 Holger Czukay is thinking in heaven Hainbach mister you are the modern Can .

[@Hainbach]

That is one of the nicest things someone ever said to me

[@DavidPasajero]

Awesome machine ❤