Vermona
2005-08-25 by Mark Rivera
For the record, I consider my Vermona DRM1 mkii to be the best piece of kit I have ever invested in. Not only does it have punch, but it sounds 'alive/real/present' in a way that I've never heard any digital box capable of emulating. One drawback is that it doesn't have CC/SYX control over the knobs, but the quality of sound (dry or wet) is so good I wouldn't even consider that point when thinking of buying one. Your mileage may vary. (I plan to mod it to allow CC control of the knobs using 1024-step digital pots.) I had considered a 606, since they too, have a special sound, espcially the snare, (samples won't cut it) but decided on the Vermona since I could get one in absolutely new condition and there's many more parameteres available for editing. The MD does have a wide palette of sounds and that is definitely a plus. It's more than a sound module, in a way that no other drum machine has been. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Mark