Anyone owned Vermona products?

[nrvana8775]

I'm looking at the drm/perfourmer. Both are in my price range, and I like the hands on aspect of it.

I've seen mixed things about build quality though.

Drums: I'm not after an 808/909 sound, or really looking for any particular sound. I want to make my own sounds, and don't really need chest-thumping bass, but I want some punch.

Synth: I loved the sounds on the perfourmer. I can really only see myself using each channel in mono, so that I can have four different tones.

I would use ableton as a sequencer and to control the midi parameters.

Any thoughts?

[duggabax]

Perfourmer user here

As far as build quality goes, I'll go ahead and say that the perfourmer is one of the most well-built synths you can buy. It's heavy, the face-plate is thick, firm metal, and the knobs have a very smooth, firm action. It seems exceedingly well-made.

The basic tone of one synth channel is really good but not "the best". I still prefer the straight-up tone of my long-gone MC-202, but you just can't beat the fact that the Perfourmer is this extremely flexible synth/filter midi-toolbox. It goes a long way towards extending the functionality of your setup. Right now I feel like all my synth needs are fulfilled between it and my Juno 60.

Like you can do all kinds of wacky things with the channels FMing each other's filters, routing channels into other ones so that a synth is FMing its own filter, filtering external audio (especially chords from the Juno...so nice), running filters in series, the list goes on.

[ltjohnrambo]

I have the DRM1 MKII (I think its the II), and I've used the Perfourmer.

I remember really liking the sound of the Perfourmer, but it was tedious to match the same settings on all four voices if you wanted to use it as a polysynth.

The DRM1 is one of my favorite drum machines I've ever used. The bassdrum sound has a lot more harmonics than something like an 808, even with the distortion turned all the way down. I used to sample a long kick into my S950 and use that to play basslines. The combination of the DRM and the S950 gave a really nice tone.

The snare on the DRM is really snappy and punchy. The controls let you fine tune the sound quite a bit, which makes it really good for layering with other snare sounds (even sampled snares). You can add attack to another sound kind of the way you might use an SPL Transient Designer.

The clap sound is really good too, very tunable like the snare and also good for layering.

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by ltjohnrambo

I have the DRM1 MKII (I think its the II), and I've used the Perfourmer.

I remember really liking the sound of the Perfourmer, but it was tedious to match the same settings on all four voices if you wanted to use it as a polysynth.

The DRM1 is one of my favorite drum machines I've ever used. The bassdrum sound has a lot more harmonics than something like an 808, even with the distortion turned all the way down. I used to sample a long kick into my S950 and use that to play basslines. The combination of the DRM and the S950 gave a really nice tone.

The snare on the DRM is really snappy and punchy. The controls let you fine tune the sound quite a bit, which makes it really good for layering with other snare sounds (even sampled snares). You can add attack to another sound kind of the way you might use an SPL Transient Designer.

The clap sound is really good too, very tunable like the snare and also good for layering.

There is a mk2 for a fair price, but I've read about issues with the bass drum vs. mk3. Is yours solid?

As per the perfourmer...can you not use midi cc to control each knob on said channel? If so, couldn't you just duplicate that for each one?

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by ltjohnrambo

I have the DRM1 MKII (I think its the II), and I've used the Perfourmer.

I remember really liking the sound of the Perfourmer, but it was tedious to match the same settings on all four voices if you wanted to use it as a polysynth.

The DRM1 is one of my favorite drum machines I've ever used. The bassdrum sound has a lot more harmonics than something like an 808, even with the distortion turned all the way down. I used to sample a long kick into my S950 and use that to play basslines. The combination of the DRM and the S950 gave a really nice tone.

The snare on the DRM is really snappy and punchy. The controls let you fine tune the sound quite a bit, which makes it really good for layering with other snare sounds (even sampled snares). You can add attack to another sound kind of the way you might use an SPL Transient Designer.

The clap sound is really good too, very tunable like the snare and also good for layering.

Originally Posted by duggabax

Perfourmer user here

As far as build quality goes, I'll go ahead and say that the perfourmer is one of the most well-built synths you can buy. It's heavy, the face-plate is thick, firm metal, and the knobs have a very smooth, firm action. It seems exceedingly well-made.

The basic tone of one synth channel is really good but not "the best". I still prefer the straight-up tone of my long-gone MC-202, but you just can't beat the fact that the Perfourmer is this extremely flexible synth/filter midi-toolbox. It goes a long way towards extending the functionality of your setup. Right now I feel like all my synth needs are fulfilled between it and my Juno 60.

Like you can do all kinds of wacky things with the channels FMing each other's filters, routing channels into other ones so that a synth is FMing its own filter, filtering external audio (especially chords from the Juno...so nice), running filters in series, the list goes on.

I'll probably be running it as four separate mono synths with different tones/timbres. I'd prefer clean/slightly warm, since I'm going to process it with a bunch of analog effects.

[ltjohnrambo]

To be honest I didn't try using MIDI cc to control the parameters, but I feel like that would have been tedious too

I do know what you mean about the bassdrum sound. The MKII doesn't retrigger the wave of the bassdrum (or toms) when its play. So sometimes you'll hear a click on the attack and sometimes you won't-- it depends on phase of the VCO when the drum is triggered. I heard they fixed that issue on the MKIII and I scoped out the bassdrum module on my MKII but it seems like you can't mod the MKII to act like the MKIII (if I'm wrong please let me know).

The bassdrum issue can be annoying sometimes but I was usually just sampling the DRM anyways, so I would just trigger the bass until I got it to sound the way I wanted.

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by ltjohnrambo

To be honest I didn't try using MIDI cc to control the parameters, but I feel like that would have been tedious too

I do know what you mean about the bassdrum sound. The MKII doesn't retrigger the wave of the bassdrum (or toms) when its play. So sometimes you'll hear a click on the attack and sometimes you won't-- it depends on phase of the VCO when the drum is triggered. I heard they fixed that issue on the MKIII and I scoped out the bassdrum module on my MKII but it seems like you can't mod the MKII to act like the MKIII (if I'm wrong please let me know).

The bassdrum issue can be annoying sometimes but I was usually just sampling the DRM anyways, so I would just trigger the bass until I got it to sound the way I wanted.

Hmmm, I'll definitely consider that.

[ltjohnrambo]

Originally Posted by nrvana8775

I'll probably be running it as four separate mono synths with different tones/timbres. I'd prefer clean/slightly warm, since I'm going to process it with a bunch of analog effects.

The sound is pretty clean (not as clean as say a Voyager). The oscillators have a more vintage sound, which may be from less high end around 10k range. The resonance on the filters are really smooth and liquidy, not squelchy. It has been a couple years since I've played around with one though.

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by ltjohnrambo

The sound is pretty clean (not as clean as say a Voyager). The oscillators have a more vintage sound, which may be from less high end around 10k range. The resonance on the filters are really smooth and liquidy, not squelchy. It has been a couple years since I've played around with one though.

Sounds good to me! Clean/tight/punchy or any other combo I can think of.

[duggabax]

Originally Posted by nrvana8775

I'll probably be running it as four separate mono synths with different tones/timbres. I'd prefer clean/slightly warm, since I'm going to process it with a bunch of analog effects.

I think the perfourmer is actually optimum for processing. the tone has a real "blank-canvas" quality to it that would take effects really well. I don't have that many effects but it responds nicely to delay and extreme eq fwiw.

PS you can use CC's only to control filter cutoff and pitch bend. I haven't figured out how though, can anyone help?

[enossified]

You guys are on crack, the Perfourmer does not have direct MIDI control of anything except pitch bend (fixed +/-3 semitones) and mod wheel to filter cutoff. No velocity, no aftertouch, etc. I'm trying to remember if it even responds to the sustain pedal (CC 64).

What you might be thinking of is the "hidden" feature to send CCs on the base channel to reprogram the MIDI interface...for each of the four parts you can control the MIDI channel and whether the pitch and mod wheels are on or off.

The new Perfourmer mkII just shown at Messe adds the ability to tempo synch the LFOs (cool) as well as some badly needed features missing from the original: sine waves (for FM) and VCO hard sync.

I've owned two Perfourmers, very nice sounding synth but it's gotten quite expensive...the mkII is slated to be 1400 EU ...mine only cost $700 each.

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by enossified

You guys are on crack, the Perfourmer does not have direct MIDI control of anything except pitch bend (fixed +/-3 semitones) and mod wheel to filter cutoff. No velocity, no aftertouch, etc. I'm trying to remember if it even responds to the sustain pedal (CC 64).

What you might be thinking of is the "hidden" feature to send CCs on the base channel to reprogram the MIDI interface...for each of the four parts you can control the MIDI channel and whether the pitch and mod wheels are on or off.

The new Perfourmer mkII just shown at Messe adds the ability to tempo synch the LFOs (cool) as well as some badly needed features missing from the original: sine waves (for FM) and VCO hard sync.

I've owned two Perfourmers, very nice sounding synth but it's gotten quite expensive...the mkII is slated to be 1400 EU ...mine only cost $700 each.

That sucks. So, I can't send velocity-scaled sequences to the perfourmer? I was hoping to write everything in ableton and use the perfourmer as an external instrument.

Really, I just want four base tones to work with.

[ltjohnrambo]

If you just want 4 monosynths, you're probably better off getting one synth and tracking it 4 times. You'll save money and get a better sound in the end. I can't imagine needing to tweak 4 parts at the same time, unless you're going to be playing live.

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by ltjohnrambo

If you just want 4 monosynths, you're probably better off getting one synth and tracking it 4 times. You'll save money and get a better sound in the end. I can't imagine needing to tweak 4 parts at the same time, unless you're going to be playing live.

I will be playing live. I was going to make it more of a 'set it and forget' it thing. One bass sound, a lead, a pad, and something else. I wouldn't bother to change settings once I found my sounds.

I can play the perfourmer with a midi keyboard, right? How would I turn on/off each synth if I wanted to move to a different sound? It doesn't do program changes, right?

[AJ Reynolds]

Originally Posted by nrvana8775

That sucks. So, I can't send velocity-scaled sequences to the perfourmer? I was hoping to write everything in ableton and use the perfourmer as an external instrument.

Really, I just want four base tones to work with.

what about DSI Tetra?

i got the DRM1 mk3 and would never sell it. not to keen on the hats but everything else is solid.

i was interested in the performer 2 but after seeing that price i'm not so sure. i'll have to look at the specs. the mono lancat with modular dock also interests me.

[nrvana8775]

I like the perfourmer becauseit provides similar functionality to the tetra, but sounds way better to my ears. Is there anything else that has a clear/precise sound but is also warm and punchy?

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by AJ Reynolds

what about DSI Tetra?

i got the DRM1 mk3 and would never sell it. not to keen on the hats but everything else is solid.

i was interested in the performer 2 but after seeing that price i'm not so sure. i'll have to look at the specs. the mono lancat with modular dock also interests me.

I had the tetra, but I did not like the tone. Plus, the edior sucked and it would not sync to ableton.

[Factorysounds]

Where generally original Vermona DRM will be avaiable? I check eBay and Craiglis- there are not any original first edition Vermona from 80s, only new ones. And what is average price for original Vermona DRM?

[ltjohnrambo]

Originally Posted by nrvana8775

I will be playing live. I was going to make it more of a 'set it and forget' it thing. One bass sound, a lead, a pad, and something else. I wouldn't bother to change settings once I found my sounds.

I can play the perfourmer with a midi keyboard, right? How would I turn on/off each synth if I wanted to move to a different sound? It doesn't do program changes, right?

In that case I wouldn't recommend getting the Perfourmer. It's not going to let you send program changes, or change patches very quickly. If you're performing live you really want something as reliable as possible, and the last thing you want is to be scrambling to setup a patch in front of a crowd.

There aren't that many really good sounding analog synths that are reliable and flexible enough to use in a show (especially one with the criteria that you're looking for).

[Teknobeam]

I picked up a Vermona filter a couple of years ago, at the same time i was looking at the perfourmer from a distance. the filter dissapointed me on every level..Thin, cheap pots (don't twist too hard kind of feel). Just lousy sounding. I looked further into the perfourmer, and while it has some cool attributes, it's pretty hum drum in terms of the possibilities for sound design. I think it;s kind of useless in that regard so why even bother. It;s not a modular but almost pretending to be one. Grab a mono Poly instead, or some of those dark energy's and chain em together. Before you do anything....go listen to one.

[wonderer]

Maybe Perfourmer now is a four Lancets in one box and is a reason for such price

[nrvana8775]

Originally Posted by wonderer

Maybe Perfourmer now is a four Lancets in one box and is a reason for such price

There are mk1 perfourmers going for less than.a grand. Makes more fiscal sense to get four synths for the price of less than two lancets.

[AJ Reynolds]

Originally Posted by wonderer

Maybe Perfourmer now is a four Lancets in one box and is a reason for such price

it's not. the new Perfourmer has 1 VCO per voice.

[cl516]

http://soundcloud.com/calvincardioid/vermona-perfourmer-multi-track-demo

[ltjohnrambo]

Wow nice demo! I like your choice of chords. It would've been even sicker with some DRM MKII drums on top

[Teknobeam]

Originally Posted by cl516

http://soundcloud.com/calvincardioid/vermona-perfourmer-multi-track-demo

Really nice music. The sounds were rich