Arthur Joly Recodrum-S is a new handmade hardware drum machine from Brazil with eight tracks of vintage drum sounds.
In today’s modern world, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to drum machines. Off-the-shelf options range from super affordable to premium models with sophisticated engines and features.
For those who prefer handcrafted instruments with unique designs and character, boutique manufacturers like Arthur Joly from Brazil offer great options. One example is the Recodrum from 2023, a lovely drum machine with a spring reverb.
Arthur Joly has continued this project in his workshop over the past months/years and is now presenting the Recodrum-S, the successor of the Recodrum.
Arthur Joly Recodrum-S
Recodrum-S is a unique handcrafted drum machine built around the sounds of the original Recodrum. The design is typical Arthur Joly: very distinctive, charming, and with a vintage glow, with a touch of retro gaming. You immediately notice that this is not an off-the-shelf instrument.
Arthur Joly describes the Recodrum-S as a sampling instrument, and it even has a “Sampler” label on the panel. However, it doesn’t sample, but the sounds are sample-based.
The Reco Drum-S consists of two interface areas: the sound engine on top and the sequencer on the bottom. As mentioned earlier, it uses samples; thus, you have 8 tracks, each using a sample playback engine.
Vintage Sounds Right Out Of The Box
It is powered by the drum sounds of the original Recodrum, which remains its main character and sonic identity, the developer says. It also ships with a carefully curated selection of samples from its personal collection of vintage drum machines.
This includes sounds from the Roland TR-707, TR-808, TR-909, LinnDrum, Oberheim DX, Simmons, E-mu SP-12, Mini Pops, GATORRA, and many others. He recorded all the samples to magnetic tape and mastered using vintage tube equipment.
Arthur says that they share a unique sonic cohesion and musical consistency that only this kind of mastering process can provide, allowing the different machines to blend together naturally while preserving the character of each original instrument.
The samples are all pre-sorted and assigned to the correct channels. Lovely: instead of endlessly scrolling through menus, the developer simply printed the names of the built-in sounds on the interface. The red knobs make sound selection feel hands-on.
Saving kits works exactly the same hands-on way. No menu diving, just pressing one of the five red buttons.
Two Reverbs
Each channel also has a dedicated volume knob and an effect send amount. Yes, there are built-in FX. Arthur Joly Recodrum-S features two completely different reverb systems, selectable with a switch.
The first is a digital reverb “fake” inspired by the lush, spacious character of classic Lexicon processors, controlled with two knobs. The second is a true analog spring reverb, with a real spring tank mounted on the back of the instrument.
Turn the hardware to the back to interact directly with the spring reverb and create more unique spring reverb effects. With the send FX knob on each channel, you can perfectly dose the reverb.
Hands-On Sequencing
The second part of the interface is reserved for the sequencer. It has 8 tracks, each with 16 steps (no information on whether longer patterns are possible). You can easily assign sounds to the steps by pressing a key, and you can also work with ratcheting per step.
In the same section, eight switches also let you easily mute sounds from a pattern. Alternatively, you can use each channel’s volume knob. There is also a tempo control. You can save 16 patterns on the hardware and chain option
On the connection side, you have two audio outputs: main and alternative. The latter has different modes. In fake reverb mode, you can output the digital reverb. In real mode, you can use it for stereo reverb or for a stereo drum machine (L+R).
Let’s take a look at the back. Alongside the touchable springs reverb, you have a power supply input (12V), an analog clock output, and 5-pin MIDI In and OUT. No other audio outputs; they are all on the front.
Arthur Joly Recodrum-S First Impression
The Recodrum-S certainly stands out from the crowd of drum machines. The design speaks for itself. A real eye-catcher, but also very functional, making it very hands-on to operate.
It’s certainly not the most feature-rich drum machine you can find, but you get a very distinct instrument with personality. Especially in the huge market of mass-produced, often feature-rich drum machines, a creation like this is a welcome addition.
They highlight the often forgotten craftsmanship behind such a project and provide a good contrast to other available instruments. A beautiful new project from Recosynth aka Arthur Joly.
Arthur Joly Recodrum-S will be available for R$ 10.200/ 1,686.37€ (+/-), and the first units will be ready to go on September 20th, 2026.
You can secure your place in the production queue with a 50% pre-payment of R$ 5.100. RecoSynth makes each unit by hand in small batches in Brazil.
More information here: Arthur Joly (Recosynth)
It’s funny how, sometimes, it’s the littlest things that jump out at you. Like, I cannot express how much it annoys me, in the design of this otherwise lovely-seeming device, that the two knobs in the upper right section (Master Volume and whatever’s to the left of it) are just a bit too close together for comfort. That’s all! It’s the only thing I noticed that seemed like a concern, and it’s an admittedly stupid little thing. But now that I’ve seen it, I can’t STOP seeing it.