Amdek RMK-100

[Agent47]

I dug this out of the bottom of my 'old gear' cupboard at the weekend:

http://filters.muziq.be/model/amdek/rmk100?PHPSESSID=b8268aec119b117603a627d0b2db3665

The Amdek RMK-100. It was given to me by the boss of the first studio I ever worked in. Circa 1972 I think. No MIDI or VC. The output is very very weak - even going in on mic level it's barely audible. I think I need to get it repaired! Otherwise it's in mint condition - not a scratch or mark on it - good as new. Boxed and includes manual.

The way you program it is tedious. Basically the button on the left is a note, the one on the right is a rest. So it's programmed in an 8-note step mode - to do a basic kick drum you'd enter L-R-L-R-L-R-L-R. To erase a part, you'd just enter R to clear it. Holds 8 different 'programs' (rhythms) in its internal memory.

How's it sound? Really old and analog - I'm not experienced with analog kit so I have no point of reference really. The kick drum has no bass depth, the snare is just noise. But the best bit is the open hat - a really nice, totally synthetic sound. I might put a sample up for you lot to hear...

Just thought you might be interested. My girlfriend certainly isn't...

 

[altitude909]

mdek was a division of Roland in Canada, that later became RolandDG. They focus on computer related items, like printers, etc. This is basically a repackaging of the DR-55 with a few modifications. There is a 1/4 " User jack on the back, but it isn't connected to anything inside. On the circuit board there is a small section that looks like Perf-board. I assume this was for those early computer / musician / gear hackers. I purchased this to use with my Kenton Pro-KADI, and it works great. Right on the circuit board are flying leads that are labeled for each instrument. I just tack soldered my own wires and ran them thru the hole of the "User" jack, and hooked them up. Now I have MIDI control over the sounds, and can skip the clumsy programming.I may turn the pots for Accent Volume and Tempo into controls for Snare Noise and Kick Decay in the future. I have also hooked up the Pro-KADI to a Boss DR-110, Oberheim DMX, Sonor Mini Mammut, and Roland SPD-6. For the cost of one MIDI retrofit you can MIDI all your pre-MIDI drum boxes, just not at the same time.

DR-55 Clone. Pretty cool