Superbooth 2025: Erica Synths HexDrums is a new analog drum machine/Synthesizer development in collaboration with Hexinverter.
In 2022, the Canadian company Hexinverter announced its exit from the business. Thanks to Erica Synths, the modules lived on. The Latvian company took over the portfolio and has since re-released a large part of the product line, including the popular drum modules.
For Superbooth 2025, Erica Synths and Hexinverter go further with their collaboration and showed a prototype of a new drum machine called HexDrums.
Erica Synths HexDrums
HexDrums is a new analog drum machine/Synthesizer with 10 sound sources (bass drum 1, bass drum 2, machine, snare drum, clap, rimshot, hi-hats, cymbals) and a master section.
The 10 sound sources of the Erica Synths HexDrums are primarily based on the beloved Hexinverter Mutant series of percussion modes. Two kick drums for different (or combined) flavours – the BD9 and Bass drum, an optimized Mutant Machine, Snare drum, Clap, Rimshot, and hi-hats.
Since each voice has a variety of parameters and synthesizes in real-time the sounds, you can talk about a drum Synthesizer.
To complete the setup, Erica Synths Cymbals are added, featuring 10 sets of crash and ride cymbal samples. According to Erica Synths, the hardware will feature individual outputs for the sound sources.
Then, in the master section, they are panned in the stereo field before being sent into the compressor and master drive derived from the Mutant Glue. The developers promise a special feature: the kick drum-controlled sidechain, which can be used to animate drum patterns on the beat.
The industrial magic of Erica Synths techno weapons, fused with the DNA of Hexinverter’s mutant circuits is brought to life as the HexDrum – an analog drum machine forged out of deep respect for traditional designs with innovative improvements and the combined spellwork of its makers. Combining the range and flexibility of sounds by Hexinverter with the hands-on, no-nonsense layout and aesthetics of Erica Synths, the HexDrum offers the distilled, iconic essence of analog electronic drums in a practical form factor.
Sequencer
The rhythm part takes over a hands-on and easy-to-program sequencer that provides up to 64-step pattern design, nuanced, per-track accent, per-track micro-timing, ratchets, rolls, per-step probability, and built-in memory. You can save up to 16 banks with 16 patterns each.
“Our plan was always to use the Mutant Drum DNA to create a next-level desktop drum machine. We began early work on one before the Pandemic. I’m so glad that the Erica Synths crew was able to carry out the vision and finish the dream!”
There are also vintage-style classic clicky buttons like those on the other Erica Synths products. The Erica Synths HexDrums isn’t finished and is in prototype/alpha stage. Here’s a sound demo as a teaser.
First Impression
The HexDrums came as a surprise. I almost assumed Erica Synths had nothing new for Superbooth 2025. A logical step is to combine the drum modules into an analog drum machine. With Erica Synths’ power and partnership, this is possible.
At first glance, it looks like an exciting new drum machine. Anyone familiar with the modules and their sound will also know their rock-solid sound.
Erica Synths HexDrums is in development and will be released later this year. The first unit will be on Superbooth 2025.
Erica Synths HexDrums
More information: Erica Synths
Looks really interesting. I wonder what the pricepoint will be.
Pity if there isn’t any Swing on this (might be but it’s not printed anywhere).
I don’t see any repeat button either
There is a probably mode though.
Sidechain is a great addition, so is the reverb on the clap + the drive and dedicated filters.
Looks like it has shuffle, which would be swing. Or did you mean something else ?
Looking forward to more demos, it’s quite interesting!
I♥️
I’ll wait until December 2025 to buy it. It will be interesting to have it alongside my NAVA Extra 9 and AVP Synth ADS7 MkII.
What an odd demo.