Oberheim DMX
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The DMX is a programmable digital drum machine manufactured by Oberheim. It was introduced in 1980 at a list price of US$2895 and remained in the company's product line until the mid-1980s.
The Oberheim DMX was the second digital drum machine ever to be sold as a commercial product, following the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer in 1980. Its popularity among musicians of the era contributed to the sound and evolution of 1980s new wave, synthpop and hip hop music.
Background
[[File:Oberheim-DX processor board.jpg|thumb|Oberheim DX processor board, showing the EPROM chips containing samples]] Immediately following the success of the Linn LM-1, other manufacturers began to develop and release drum machines intended to compete with the LM-1's ease of programmability and realistic sound quality. The DMX featured sampled sounds of real drums, as well as individual tuning controls for each drum voice and a swing function. In addition, it boasted several humanizing elements such as rolls, flams, and timing variations that were meant to mimic those of real drummers.
The DMX features 24 individual drum sounds derived from 11 original samples
