The 12-bit Engine
DMC60's audio engine recreates the sonic character of early sampling drum machines — the aliasing, quantization noise, and filter warmth that gave those instruments their voice.
Sample Rate Conversion
Every sample loaded into DMC60 is converted to the native 26.04 kHz sample rate using Lagrange interpolation. A ~13 kHz anti-alias filter is applied during conversion, but the resulting aliasing artifacts are intentional — they add the gritty texture that defines the sound.
12-Bit Quantization
The signal path uses 12-bit quantization (−2048 to +2047). This restores the bite of early hardware samplers where quiet sources break up and loud sources punch. The quantization is applied after sample rate conversion, matching the original hardware behavior.
SSM2044 Filter
Each voice runs through an SSM2044-style ladder filter — a 4-pole, 24 dB/octave lowpass with smooth resonance and self-oscillation capability. This is the same circuit family that gave a generation of drum machines their voice.
Voice Allocation
DMC60 provides 8-voice polyphony with intelligent voice stealing. When all voices are in use, the oldest active voice is stolen for the new note. Mute groups (choke groups) allow hi-hat behavior where triggering one sample silences others in the same group.
Per-Voice Processing
Each voice has its own processing chain applied in real-time:
Trigger Modes
Each pad can be set to one of two trigger modes:
- One-Shot — The sample plays to completion regardless of note release. Standard behavior for drums and percussion.
- Gate — The sample sustains while the key is held and triggers the release envelope on key-up. Useful for sustained sounds or expressive playing.