Arturia DrumBrute Impact Analog Drum Machine

Building upon the success of the original DrumBrute, the Arturia DrumBrute Impact is a smaller, more streamlined, professional-grade, fully analog drum machine designed by musicians for musicians and aimed at modern indie-rock bands, dance music producers and DJs, hip-hop artists, and electronic artists. The unit features 10 pure-analog drum sounds—Kick, Snare 1, Snare 2, Tom Hi, Tom Low, Cowbell, Cymbal, Closed Hat, Open Hat, and FM Sound—which build on the history of classic drum machines and offer an expanded feature set including high-performance controls and a modern step sequencer.

The DrumBrute Impact offers a wide range of dedicated knobs, which allows for hands-on control over parameters including pitch, decay, tone, impact, and more—allowing for many new and adventurous sounds as well as live performance manipulation. In addition to the single 1/4" main output, there are four 3.5mm group outputs for the Kick, Snares, Hi-Hats, and the FM Sound. Additionally, all the sounds (except for the Cowbell) can be affected by the Color sound shaper, which adds another layer of performable sound parameters.

The sequencer offers 64 patterns, each with 64 steps, and each drum track can be a separate length, which allows for the creation of advanced polyrhythms that move and breathe over time. Additionally, the machine offers step repeat for creating looping glitch effects, while the pattern effects offer swing and randomness, globally or on a per-track basis. The onboard drum-optimized distortion circuit adds grit and drive to your drums and features a complete bypass when not in use. There are four sync options (Internal, USB, MIDI, and Clock) and four different clock formats allowing the machine to sync up with a wide variety of analog and vintage gear. The Arturia DrumBrute Impact includes a power supply.

At a Glance

• 10 pure analog sounds
  
  
  • Kick, Snare 1, Snare 2, Tom Hi, Tom Low, Cowbell, Cymbal, Closed Hat, Open Hat, and FM Sound
    
    
• 64 patterns with up to 64 steps each
  
  
• Separate accent per drum
  
  
• Optional Color sound-shaping on all instruments (except Cowbell)
  
  
• Song mode for chaining patterns
  
  
• Polyrhythm capabilities: each drum track can be a separate length
  
  
• Swing: global or per instrument
  
  
• Randomness: generate pattern variations
  
  
• Pattern Looper for beat repeat functions
  
  
• Roller for real time instruments rolls
  
  
• Output Distortion with bypass
  
  
• Smart metronome with headphone override
  
  
• Multiple sync options: Internal / MIDI / Clock, including 1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, and DIN48
  
  
• USB MIDI interface
  
  
• Master output, and optional individual audio outputs for Kick, Snares, Hats and FM Sound
  
  
• 3.5mm headphone output
  
  

Drum Sounds with a Distinct Flavor

DrumBrute Impact is equipped with 10 distinct drum sounds, each assigned to its own independent sequencer track. The device offers hands-on analog controls, enabling real-time adjustments and modifications to the sounds, which allows for customized, precise performances. You can extend the decay to allow the sounds to resonate, increase the pitch and tone for sharp, lively segments, or decrease them for a deep, resonant effect. The decision is entirely yours.

In addition to individual volume controls, every drum sound, except for the cowbell, includes a range of unique parameters that can alter its tone, pitch, shape, or synthesizer characteristics.

The Color of Sound

Color can be engaged for each instrument to introduce a fresh and stimulating tonal variation. This could involve enhancing the drive of the Kick, modifying the tone of the Cymbal, or fully utilizing the pitch envelope of the FM Drum. Activating Color will transform the sonic quality of your drums in intriguing and occasionally surprising ways.

Each instrument channel features a distinct implementation of Color, allowing for automation and recording of changes through the step sequencer. This enables you to modulate and experiment with your sound as you advance through your sequences. Explore various examples demonstrating how Color can be applied to create both subtle and pronounced alterations to a drum pattern.

Multifunctional Drum Pads

DrumBrute Impact features 8 responsive, hard-wearing finger-drumming pads that can be used to perform drum sounds and input steps on the fly.

• There are multiple ways the pads can be used. For example, you can simply perform the drum sounds, free of any sequence, by just playing the pads. You can also do this while a sequence is playing, letting you improvise on top of a solid rhythm. If you like what you hear, you can hit the Record button, and whatever you play will be recorded into the current sequence, on the correct channels for the drums you were playing. This performance can be either recorded naturally or quantized.
  
  
• By holding Shift, you can also use the pads to quickly select a drum channel in the sequence without triggering the sound. The pads are also used to control the Mute and Solo selections, letting you get creative while performing live.
  
  
• DrumBrute Impact’s pads also light up when their sound is triggered by the sequence, giving you instant visual feedback on what sounds are playing and when. Yet another way this small but mighty drum machine draws you in and helps you become a better, more confident musician.
  
  

Intuitive Step Sequencer

First seen in our award-winning BeatStep Pro, and refined with the original DrumBrute, the 64-step sequencer found in DrumBrute Impact takes things to a whole new level. Packed with features that make editing and performing simple and fun, this powerful sequencer is fresh, exciting, and will take your rhythms to another level.

Swing

The swing feature can add a groovy feel to everything at once, or for individual instruments by selecting the “Current Track” button on the drum sound you want to apply it to.

Randomness

For when you want something, but aren’t sure and don’t really mind what, the Randomness knob lets you dial in random hits. Like Swing, this can be applied globally or just for individual instruments.

Unquantized Recording

Should you wish to go unquantized, DrumBrute Impact lets you preserve the natural feel of your pad performances.

Polyrhythm

Lose yourself in an endless, evolving sequence by using DrumBrute Impact’s polyrhythm feature. This lets you assign different pattern lengths for each instrument, creating an effect of perpetual motion.

Step Repeat

This cool feature lets you subdivide a step in 2, 3 or 4 sub-steps, allowing to breathe life into your fills without changing overall resolution for your patterns.

Accents

Drawing inspiration from classic vintage drum machines, we also added an accent feature which gives certain hits additional emphasis, giving your pattern a more dynamic feel.

Roller

The roller allows you to accelerate the creation of your pattern by repeating a sound at a given interval (1/4, 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32) to fill certain step of your pattern.

Customize Your Experience

In addition to allowing you to back up, store, and retrieve all patterns, banks, and songs, connecting the DrumBrute Impact via USB and utilizing the MIDI Control Center (MCC) enables you to perform several advanced functions. For instance, you can switch banks while the DrumBrute Impact is in playback mode without needing to select a specific pattern; the MCC facilitates this capability. Furthermore, if you wish to activate ¼ triplets on the metronome, the MCC provides that option as well.

Additionally, if you prefer the Play button to resume your sequence from its last position instead of starting over, the MCC can accommodate this preference. These customizable features allow you to tailor your instrument to your liking, enhancing your creative potential and enabling you to produce music that you may have previously thought was unattainable.