Electro Harmonix Super Space Drum analogue drum synthesizer

General

You can hardly imagine it now, but before the digital revolution, electronic drum kits were actually electronic rather than digital. That means that there was no computer synthesizing sounds; instead, sound was created by internal switches, transistors and filters. This resulted in that typical sound some of us remember from the late '70s and early '80s. Of course, the adventurous Electro Harmonix company also took a stab at creating electronic drum synthesizers, and two of the resulting models have become classics in their own right. This particular product is a reissue of the Super Space Drum from those days. It's designed to emulate low-frequency drum sounds like bass drums and toms.

Modern-day ease-of-use

Electro Harmonix was not led by false sentiment in designing this reissued pedal. As such, the new version is a lot more robust that the old one. With controls for frequency (start/stop), time, sensitivity and volume, you'll have plenty of possibilities for creating a great drum sound. As if that weren't enough, you can also add a modulation effect. As a standalone unit, the Super Space Drum can be triggered using the built-in kick pad. However, the pedal will truly shine if you combine it with electronic (analogue) drum pads, sequencers or loopers. It's also a great partner to the EHX Crash Pad, a drum synthesizer for cymbal sounds and crashes.

Numerous options

The included video by Electro Harmonix will give you a good overview of what the Super Space Drum can do. As a standalone unit, you can use it by manually triggering it at the right time, but add a rhythm generator to the mix and your options multiply exponentially. If you add a Crash Pad as well, you've got a basic drum setup at your disposal. Combined with other synthesizers, you can even recreate an entire drum kit. Of course, the sound is what matters most, and the Super Space Drum sure delivers with its unmistakable analogue drum synth sound that's clearly electronic, yet warm and full of character. Before you know it, you're transported back to the '80s.