Cre8audio Boom Chick melts original Pittsburgh Modular circuits with modern sequencing into a new compact analog drum machine.
The East Beast and West Pest are two affordable compact semi-modular synthesizers that explore analog synthesis differently. The East Beast takes a subtractive approach, while the West Pest explores the West-Coast Buchlaesque landscape.
The two synthesizers now have rhythmic company. Cre8audio has unveiled the Boom Chick, a new original analog drum machine in collaboration with Pittsburgh Modular.
Cre8audio Boom Chick
Boom Chick analog drum machine follows the shape of the East Beast and West Pest semi-modular synthesizers. It functions standalone or as a 40HP Eurorack module (+12V/250mA, -12V/200mA).
It’s an analog drum machine with five uniquely designed analog drum voices inspired by classic machines. However, it’s not another 808 or 909 clone; it uses Pittsburgh’s newly developed, original analog circuitry, which premiered in the experimental Safari modules.
The team says it utilizes new analog synthesis concepts that provide fresh sonic possibilities while maintaining the punch and warmth of traditional drum machines.
Analog Drum Synthesis
Boom Chick offers five distinct analog voices: kick, snare, drum 1, drum 2, and hats. Kick uses a wide-range sine oscillator paired with an overdrive circuit, providing fat, deep, and punchy results.
The snare offers a razor-sharp attack with controls over the tone, noise, noise decay, and level. Pittsburgh Modular promises you can create crisp up to experimental results with it.
Voice drums 1 and 2 then go much deeper into analog synthesis. These are multi-functional FM voices powered by a wide-range dual FM oscillator drum core with sine-to-square wave shaping.
Each voice hosts a modulation oscillator to achieve the FM sounds with triangle, saw, square, and/or noise options. Plus, a super snappy percussive envelope lets you create all kinds of toms, claps, cymbals, and other creative sounds.
The fifth and last drum voice in the Cre8audio Boom Chick is a hats generator, using a custom noise matrix and highpass filter. It can produce bright, crisp hi-hats and metallic percussive elements.
Creative Drum Sequencing
Analog drum sounds also need to be triggered. For this purpose, the Boom Chick has a sophisticated drum sequencer. It has two modes on offer: step and live, giving you beat precision and real-time factor.
Each pattern can have up to 64 steps and be saved into 64 patterns that can be joined into up to 16 songs. Boom Chick’s sequencer can perform all XOX drum pattern tricks. More exciting is that it can take the user to wilder, more complex pattern levels.
Cre8audio and Pittsburgh have implemented advanced creative features in the sequence engine that take your sequences in richer groove spheres. This starts with the ability to set different step lengths for each voice, allowing you to create evolving, polyrhythmic beats.
Step shift, roll, and chance unlocks instant rhythmic variation. You can also add a humanizing factor, swing, and quantize to fine-tune your groove and its timing. Further, they also backed into the engine a generative engine in the form of Euclidean pattern and sequence generators for instant new rhythms.
Modular Connectivity
The Boom Chick’s I/O is located in the Eurorack-compatible patch bay. It hosts individual drum trigger inputs and outputs, line and headphone outputs, and analog clock in/out. Plus, you get analog reset in/out sockets.
Even though it is Eurorack-friendly, it doesn’t feature CV ins for controlling parameters.
First Impression
On paper, the Boom Chick is a very sophisticated, compact analog drum machine. I like that it combines original drum circuits with modern sequencing capabilities and does not try to mimic a vintage unit.
I can’t say much about the sound as I’m not in Cre8audio’s first-day review group, so I didn’t have the chance to give you a more detailed first look. But what I heard from the first demo sounded very lovely and varied. From classic punchy analog to experimental, everything is there.
It’s a shame there is no CV connectivity to modulate at least one or two parameters, especially considering its Eurorack module compatibility.
Cre8audio Boom Chick is ready for pre-order for $399,99/319,99€ and will be available mid-May 2025.
More information here: Cre8audio
Available at my partner
Awesome. A couple of CVs for the 2 Drum synth voices would have been great but at the same time any OSC/VCF/VCA could achieve drum stuff. A few West Pest/East Beast voices could be a drum machine! As a standalone drum machine, I’m impressed. The mixer looks nice as well. Nicely done Pittsburgh/Cre8audio! They have their own little, affordable, euro-friendly, Volca lineup.
What’s next? Desktop FX unit?