DMX is the cult drum machine, which determined the sound of RAP and Hip-Hop music.
In 1980, Linn Electronics inc released the world's first serial drum machine - Linn LM-1 Drum Computer. It immediately became wildly popular, but not as much affordable (at the time the machine cost about $5000).
In 1981, Tom Oberheim presented his version of a drum machine which had a twice lower price tag than that featured by Linn’s instrument and was not inferior in functionality. The price/quality ratio predetermined the success of DMX.
The operating process of the drum machine was controlled by the Zealot Z80 processor, located on the main board, where voice cards were inserted.
DMX uses eight-bit samples of live drums, stored in EPROM on eight voice cards. Samples are compressed by the special algorithm which allows to obtain the resulting resolution of 12 bits. Thus, DMX provides 24 individual drum sounds composed of 11 samples. 8 voices is the maximum polyphony (one voice per voice card). Each voice has an individual output which opens the possibility of further processing of each sound by external devices.
The sequencer allows you to program 2000 events, 100 sequences and 50 songs. Two sequencer modes are available: in real time, metronome or step mode. Copying, deleting and overdub are available among the editing capabilities.
The built-in metronome allows you to set the tempo from 25 to 250 beats per minute with the sync ability via the "EXT CLOCK" input.
Eurythmics, The Police, The Cure, Madonna, Run-D.M.C., Phil Collins, Dead or Alive, Chemical Brothers, ZZ Top, DMX used to like it a lot.