BeepStreet Drambo

There has been a great deal of interest in it since it was first announced. In recent months, a number of videos have been posted demonstrating its many features. After a long and desperate but also somewhat entertaining wait, Drambo was officially released to the public on April 1st, 2020.

Drambo is a sequencer and easy-to-use modular synth with user sample support. For an FAQ, scroll to the end of this article.

App type: App and AUv3

App store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drambo/id1469365718

Developer: Beep Street

Developer AB Forum Handle: @giku_beepstreet

Manual: http://beepstreet.com/public/downloads/Drambo%20manual.pdf

NOTE: Some of this page and some videos below were created while the software was in beta. The software was released to the public on April 1, 2020.

Drambo's sequencer is built around a pattern concept. Each pattern has a certain number of steps and repeats and unless the “Loop” symbol on the transport bar is enabled, all patterns will play in a linear sequence. After the last pattern has finished playing, Drambo will continue playing the first pattern again.

The sequencer has a modular concept, much like the synthesis modules but with features specific to sequencing. Sequencer step modules are called “Step Components” and they can be shown by hitting the STEP button on the right. Apart from the most common “Note” component, many other step components are available that perform certain actions or define conditions under which the following step component is executed. This is one way to play, for example, a sequenced note only every 4th pattern repeat or randomly at this position. Polymetric sequences with different sequencer lengths on different tracks can be achieved by adding a “Jump” step component on any sequencer step. It allows for jumping to any other step in the sequence as soon as the playhead in this sequence reaches that step.

There are different types of signals inside Drambo. Some of them are unique, others are interchangeable and only have different labels to facilitate a straightforward workflow. As of December 2020, Drambo works with the following signal types:

These all behave like “analog signals” like you find them in hardware modular systems. Check Drambo's built-in manual (page 6) for details. These signals are interchangeable, they might need math modules to adjust their levels to work together as intended though.

A stream of MIDI messages. It's a unique signal that can only be used with modules that have MIDI ports. There's a number of modules available though to convert between MIDI and control signals.

Another unique signal that can only be used inside a Wavetable Oscillator rack, currently only suported by the “Wave effect” and “Wave filter” modules. (Tip: Here is where you can have low, high and band pass filters with arbitrary steepness by combining Wave filter modules and using your sampled waveforms processed to 2048 samples length.)

Drambo offers multiple methods to manually and automatically change one or multiple parameters, knobs and buttons. They all have the same type of destination, the parameter(s) under control but they have different sources. These sources are available:

These are tied to sequencer steps. Each step can store one or more value changes. Changes to parameters remain active until the next non-empty step in the sequence of the same track. Note that these are the only way to store parameter changes inside a sequencer pattern.

A wide choice of modulation sources is available. You can use LFOs, oscillators, envelopes, graphic modulators, or even the Flexi sampler which could be used to record an automation signal and play it back either whenever triggered, or in a loop and in sync with the pattern playback.

Independent from patterns and track modulators, scenes can store parameter changes as “presets” or “snapshots”, so to say. Up to 16 different snapshots can be stored and recalled on scene pads A to P, and choosing a scene is done by hitting either the left or right button next to the horizontal crossfader which will allow for seamless morphing between the snapshots stored on the scenes chosen on the buttons left and right from the crossfader. Like modulators, these are independent from the pattern sequences and will work globally.

• Ben Richards has posted a number of Drambo tutorials, demonstrations and tracks on his YouTube channel
• SoundForMore has posted a large collection of Drambo tutorials on his YouTube channel.

Quick start (6 minutes):

A more detailed tutorial (38 minutes):

A fun video teaser – Digital Katharsis 2 – from @Giku_beepstreet:

QuickStart — from bcrichards

Copy/Paste Trick

WaveSequencing Experiment

Tutorial Series (Playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNsn-cj_8McLT6AZsTFqYi663gNPIdSrT

This section lists Drambo-related vieos some of which were posted while it was still in beta. Many of these were posted in theMonster thread on the Audiobus forum.

Resampling any track in realtime: In this case, the master track. http://youtu.be/glpg-URP_f8

Indian chief/heavy breather and a super saw at the end, all drambo modules. http://youtu.be/UF3TqNUwPAE

Using Drambo standalone and simultaneously use other unrelated ios apps at the same time. Meaning I can make music and watch youtube! Game over! http://youtu.be/ppC5skRwrjc

Flexi sampler is feeling great now, quick lofi sample automation. http://youtu.be/m9YUSQuk1Po

Export audio files as perfect loops. http://youtu.be/yyFvwJo3tQg

Drambo Beta step component’jump’ https://youtu.be/edF0xkKt7UI

Drambo beat 4 https://youtu.be/SHsgX3oJNBM

Drambo beta 2: http://youtu.be/gWi003jWg2Y

BeepStreet Drambo Chinese Circus (prerelease demo): http://youtu.be/DPZzZErS_X0

Drambo App test 1 - live - modulated event generators http://youtu.be/Cx4w7YOXXMM

Drambo App test 2 (low quality) http://youtu.be/l8HS77aUiYE

Drambo Filter modulations http://youtu.be/jrDygRSQ6nQ

Drambo First impressions http://youtu.be/q2sICzoZ_5k

Drambo Scratch patterns http://youtu.be/ltzEyjR-7Uk

BeepStreet Drambo Alpha Testing: http://youtu.be/yYpu8EmgBIg

BopPad+Drambo: http://youtu.be/-YNHdCANrRo

Drambo AUV3 (Instructional): http://youtu.be/pmLSEBVECGw Covers several use cases for the AUV3 instance of Drambo: sequencing other apps, recording midi, audio effect, and as a sound source in other apps.

Drambo Cello: http://youtu.be/ifeSC1fTMEQ

Drambo Clocks and Scenes: http://youtu.be/j7HJArUqYao

Drambo Generator Modules (instructional): http://youtu.be/BsNCES_3t-8 Overview of most of the Generator modules in current beta version Drambo

Drambo Processor Modules (instructional): http://youtu.be/gJl-pEy5nus Overview of most of the Processor modules in current beta version Drambo

Drambo Sample mangling: http://youtu.be/lDzkV_CQsFU

Drambo Sample slicing: http://youtu.be/wKpy4HZ9zNo

Drambo Sampler and Flex Sampler (instructional): http://youtu.be/g-mLGpiB6QQ Overview of features in the Sampler and Flex Sampler modules. note: Outdated. Flexi sampler is new version of Flex; includes new features and fixed bugs.

Drambo Start_stop effects on sampler: http://youtu.be/XqEIlcpVOgw

Drambo Switchers and trigger button: http://youtu.be/XYYkrdimIH0

Drambo Tracks (instructional): http://youtu.be/oD5f0KgzxFY Overview of audio routing between tracks. NOTE: outdated, new system of audio routing between tracks has been introduced.

Drambo a quick Impaktor like patch: http://youtu.be/eV3KjrFXNew

Drambo creating a basic subtractive synth: http://youtu.be/20mAdG8enQ0

Drambo fun with sampler in scratch mode #2: http://youtu.be/aLHugCDRqs0

Drambo resonant ants: http://youtu.be/jJJBVs6HU5E

Drambo (modular groovebox) acid rack: http://youtu.be/yPflVQbJBtA

Drambo (untitled): http://youtu.be/jhHMZGNyYYM

One sound in Drambo: http://youtu.be/2xJ6VX12g7I

Playing with Drambo on iPhone XS: http://youtu.be/R1E5lkGS1Yk

Drambo Beta - Some Basics (instructional): http://youtu.be/G_qqSWi3P6s Overview of core features included in standalone app. Outdated.

Drambo Beta Master Track Transpose: http://youtu.be/Mk7Flb2nRrQ

Drambo Signal and Routing Modules (instructional): https://youtu.be/KVvS6iytg50 Overview of how signal moves in Drambo, how to connect modules, and how to set up modulation.

A short clip using classic synthesis and physical modeling: https://vimeo.com/392512154

Shiro - another example - https://youtu.be/4UEWgmKc9a4

BCRichard - another example - https://youtu.be/wAqKJclKCDc

Shiro - P-Lockery - https://youtu.be/OwWfTAwHEc0

RS2000 - sequenced sequencer - https://vimeo.com/400779765

Shiro - 2020/93/28 - https://youtu.be/vXwtdF9G3-g

@giku_beepstreet published this module list

1. XY pad
2. Reverb
3. Reset time
4. MIDI to CV
5. Scale
6. CV glide
7. Frequency shifter
8. Transient detector
9. Half rectify
10. Maximum
11. AN kick
12. MIDI monitor
13. Recorder
14. Mixer
15. Flexi sampler
16. Poly to mono
17. X-Fader
18. Decimator
19. Env AD mod
20. Audio input
21. S&H
22. Exp
23. Shift time
24. Retrigger
25. L/R to stereo
26. MIDI output
27. Integrator
28. MIDI CC
29. Pulse divider
30. Noise
31. Env AD
32. LFO
33. Add
34. Quantize
35. Phaser
36. Bend time
37. Freq to CV
38. Pitch (oct,semi,fine)
39. MIDI delay
40. MIDI humanizer
41. Pan
42. Env Flex
43. AND
44. Gyroscope
45. Reverse time
46. Multiply
47. MIDI to Poly
48. Shaper
49. Shot sampler
50. Filter
51. Compressor
52. Peaking EQ
53. Pitch
54. Amp env ADSR
55. Cosinus
56. Delay rack
57. Gate+velocity sequencer
58. Offset
59. Graphic shaper
60. Layers
61. OR
62. Voice selector
63. Pitch shifter
64. Scale time
65. Clip
66. Full rectify
67. Gate inverter
68. Sampler
69. MIDI CC generator
70. Amp
71. Number
72. Clock generator
73. Env ADSR
74. Slew limiter
75. CV quantizer
76. Procesor rack
77. Impulse
78. Instrument rack
79. Oscillator
80. Oscillator: Supersaw
81. Graphic env
82. CV to freq
83. Envelope follower
84. LFO (stereo)
85. MIDI key pressure modulator
86. Oscillator (semi)
87. Bit redux
88. Negate
89. Amp env AD
90. Sqrt
91. Stereo to mono
92. Delay FX
93. Adder
94. XOR
95. Minimum
96. Subtract
97. CV sequencer
98. Amp env AHD
99. Counter
100. Audio out
101. Sinus
102. AMP env AD mod
103. Function
104. Stochastic gate gen
105. Comb filter
106. Section
107. 1/x
108. Random
109. Log
110. Divide
111. Pitch (overtone)
112. Knob
113. Oscilloscope
114. Stereo width
115. Delay
116. Layer mixer
117. Modal resonator
118. Trigger button
119. FM operator
120. Mono to stereo
121. Chorus
122. Stereo to L/R
123. Text box
124. Voice number

• Holding Mute and tapping on track will solo it, mute will remain blinking while such solo is enabled
• Dragging unit slightly to the side reveals (+) button to add unit in between, when you release the finger while seeing the (+) button, the Add unit popover will show up and the unit will be added in the respective place.

Modular reading resources

tbd