Modor has released the DR-2 OS013 firmware update, adding four bassline synth models to the drum Synthesizer and other new features.
Last April, I reported on the firmware OS012 of the Modor DR-2 drum machine/drum synthesizer, which introduced new drum models. An exciting drum machine that relies entirely on digital synthesis instead of samples. For me, the DR-2 continues to fly under the radar and should actually be better known.
The next update for the Modor DR-2, OS013, is already available. I’ll call it the autumn update, and it’s a very exciting one that you should look at. For the first time, melodies are now being added to the DR-2 with the all-new bassline models. Away from pure drums, towards basslines and drums.
Modor DR-2 OS013
The new firmware OS013 introduces a versatile bassline Synthesizer and is the first sound generator that is not focused on drums for the first time. This turns the Modor DR-2 more into a groovebox than a pure drum synth/drum machine.
OS013 has four bass synth models in total. SAW SYNTH offers a sawtooth/square wave oscillator with a resonant lowpass filter, a controllable pitch envelope on the cutoff, and an amp envelope. SQU SYNTH is the identical core but with a square wave oscillator.
SIN SYNTH uses a sine wave oscillator with a sine sub-oscillator (one octave lower), a sine “super” oscillator (one octave higher), a soft overdrive, and an amp sustain time. FM Synth is a 2-operator FM voice with control over the modulator frequency ratio, FM amount, and FM envelope amount. Plus, you get an amp sustain time.
Each of these bassline engines can be tweaked using the same encoders (X, Y, Z, T) as the drum engines. They are tonal and can be tuned from F#-1 to F4. To create and make the basslines audible, you have to use the parameter locks introduced in update OS007.
Marcel, the developer, also has published sound demos of every bassline engine on the Modor website. They sound very good and fit well with the overall sound of the DR-2.
Other New Features
The new Modor DR-2 OS013 also has improvements for synchronization when slaved to an external clock source, which is important if you use the DR-2 in a large setup with other gear.
There is more. You can now enable and disable instrument tracks using the MIDI Control Change CC#95 or MIDI notes in the octave C-0 to B-0. This is useful, for example, if you use the DR-2 with your DAW.
Next, you can work with a new global accent level besides the single-instrument accents. This new global accent level determines how ‘heavy’ a global accent is pronounced but doesn’t influence the single-instrument accents.
Lastly, the new Modor DR-2 OS013 introduces longer bars with more than 16 steps per bar. So far, it has been impossible to program a rhythm in 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, etc. The new extension allows you to use the whole range of 1 to 64 steps (or 128 half-steps).
First Impression
Another significant update for the DR-2 drum Synthesizer. What updates Marcel gives to the drum machine is remarkable and makes it better and better—hats off for this work.
The new DR-2 OS013 firmware is available now as a free firmware update. The DR-2 is available now for $2099/1750€.
More information here: Modor Music
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