NAMM 2023: Donner has introduced the D1, a new straightforward, portable 12-channel sample-based drum machine.
A year ago, the Chinese brand Donner (not German Döner) surprised NAMM attendees with the announcement of the D1 drum machine. The portable instrument is now ready, and shipping will start next week.
To celebrate the D1 release, you can check out various new videos about it, including one comprehensive from Loopop.
As a reminder, the D1 is a 12-channel sample-based drum machine. It has the following features:
Feature Highlights
- 12 channels of sample playback (12 voices)
- 4GB of internal memory
- per channel controls of pitch, filter, envelope, distortion, bit-crusher, humanize, and pan
- send effects: delay and reverb
- master FX: bus compressor
- 16 velocity-sensitive pads (aftertouch support in an upcoming update)
- 4-bar step sequencer with 64 steps max, 64 songs, 64 kits, and 256 beats.
A downer of the D1 is the dependency on an app to transfer samples. If the app is no longer supported in 5 years or so, the hardware will also be obsolete.
Donner D1 is available now for pre-order $299,99/299,99€. Shipping will start next week. Donner always offers discounts, so never pay the full price. As a partner of their online shop, I have a 12% discount code: affiliate12.
More information here: Donner (partner link)
Article From April 14, 2023
The Chinese company Donner was previously known for its super cheap guitar pedals. But since mid-2022, the company also makes synthesizers. With the B1, they introduced a TB-303-like analog bassline Synthesizer. You can hear it in my latest pedal demo.
For NAMM 2023, Donner announced the D1, a new sample-based drum machine.
Donner D1
After the B1 analog Synthesizer comes the D1 drum machine, a logical next step. It has 12 tracks with 16 RGB backlit velocity-sensitive pads.
Each track can carry a sample that can be imported. However, there is no microSD slot for this. The samples can be shaped with classic parameters available on the color-coded user interface using touchable knobs. Including pitch, decay, and more. According to the specs, there is also a master effects section.
The sounds can either be triggered manually via the pads or using the built-in sequencer. It’s a 4 bars step sequencer with up to 64 steps. More, it can have up to 512 beats and hold up to 128 songs in the dedicated song mode.
Besides the pads and the knobs, you get 4 RGB backlit faders, 16 backlit tactile click buttons, and an OLED display giving you feedback of the sounds.
On the backside, you can find a power supply input, a USB-C port (USB-powered? no info), a headphone port, an aux-in, a MIDI interface (in/out), and a stereo output on L/R mono sockets. The design is strongly based on that of the B1 analog Synthesizer
First Impression
At first glance, the D1 looks like a very classic, intuitive drum machine. Few features, but very easy to use. The features that are known so far are normal. No surprise at all. I would have been happy about deeper sound manipulations. I’m looking forward to all the details and the first demos.
Donner D1 availability and price TBA.
More information will follow here: Donner
If it’s anything like the B1, the USB-C will be strictly for data/MIDI and not power. Was a HUGE missed opportunity on the B1 and… honestly one of the various reasons I didn’t keep it.
Missing info : 4gb internal ram and 12voice polyphony.
12-channels = 12 voices 😉
Donner should do an actual sampler, there’s a good starting point here.
Indeed. Would have been a far more interesting proposition, particularly given this device relies on an app. A missed t