| st people think of a synthesizer, they think of a | | | | Although drum machines were still produced after the |
| machine used to reproduce the sounds of a piano via | | | | Rhythmicon, they did not really take off until the very |
| different electric frequencies-a keyboard. I know this is | | | | end of the 1950s with the introduction of the Sideman. |
| what I associate with the term. Yet synthesizers can | | | | This was the first drum machine ever to be |
| be put to many different uses. Often, especially among | | | | commercially produced, and it was developed by the |
| the professionals of the music industry, a synthesizer is | | | | Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, a producer of organs and |
| used to imitate the sounds of a drum or other | | | | jukeboxes. The Sideman was intended as a |
| percussion instruments. In such instances, the | | | | percussive accompaniment for the company's organs. |
| synthesizer is known as a drum machine. | | | | All through the late 1960s, drum machines were |
| Drum machines can be extremely useful in certain | | | | designed to accompany an organist. However, |
| situations. For example, they are a common necessity | | | | beginning in the 1970s, the machines began to find |
| during professional recording sessions when a live | | | | approval in the eyes of a wider set of people. The first |
| drummer may not be available, or simply not wanted. | | | | major pop song to use a drum machine was Little |
| Most modern drum machines are sequencers, or | | | | Sister's cover version of "Somebody's Watching You," |
| hardware designed to create and manage | | | | which was released in 1970. After that, drum machines |
| computer-generated music. They have a sample | | | | steadily gained a following and today, they are used |
| playback or synthesizer component that specializes in | | | | throughout the music industry. |
| the reproduction of drum and other percussion | | | | Like keyboard synthesizers, the difference between |
| instrument sounds. The machine is simply programmed | | | | the early machines and those of the later years is |
| with the required drum scenario and launched at the | | | | while the former used analog sound synthesis, newer |
| desired time. | | | | models use digital sampling. This means that modern |
| Drum machines have actually been around since the | | | | drum machines have a distinctly different sound from |
| early 1930s. At that time, they were often referred to | | | | that of their ancestors. Again, like keyboards, this |
| as "rhythm machines." The first was called the | | | | evolution has inspired some artists to specifically use |
| Rhythmicon, and it was capable of producing 16 | | | | earlier drum machines in order utilize their characteristic |
| different rhythms, each associated with a particular | | | | sound. |
| pitch, either individually, en masse or in any other | | | | It should be noted that over the last decade or so, |
| combination. Despite considerable initial interest, this | | | | drum machines have experienced a decline in use. This |
| machine did not develop a popular following in the long | | | | is due to increasing availability of a number of items, |
| run and was eventually all but forgotten. The | | | | including: general purpose hardware samplers, |
| subsequent generation of drum machines only played | | | | software for sequencing and sampling and music |
| preprogrammed rhythms, often those associated with | | | | workstations with integrated sequencing and drum |
| Latin music like mambo and tango. | | | | sounds. |