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Digital drum synth combines subtractive and FM sounds, plus a host of sequencing tricks

Sonic Potions and Erica Synths are set to release the LXR-02 drum machine, a complex standalone drum synth with a powerful integrated sequencer, which is an evolution of the former company’s original LXR.

There are six digital drum voices. Three are multi-purpose, and there’s also a dedicated subtractive clap/ snare voice, an FM percussion voice, and a hi-hat voice. Each can be shaped using modulatable parameters for the oscillator, amp envelope, frequency modulation, transient generator, filter and variable waveform assignable LFO.

This gives you plenty of scope to design your rhythmic sounds, but the beating heart of the LXR-02 is the sequencer. This offers seven tracks (one for each voice, and an additional one to control the open hi-hat of the sixth voice), each of which can have up to 64 steps. You can automate two parameter changes for each of these steps, and the sequences for all seven tracks can be saved as a pattern. Up to 64 patterns can be saved as a song, and you can have 64 songs in a project.

It also has a performance mode that lets you mute tracks and create manual rolls at the touch of a button. There’s sample rate reduction, too, and you can morph between active and target presets.

Connectivity includes four 1/4-inch outputs, a headphone output, MIDI I/O, USB and analogue clock I/O.

The LXR-02 is selling for €490/$599, and is currently available for pre-order.