In 1998 Lego introduced the MINDSTORMS product line. The NXT is a brick-shaped computer that can take in sensory input, control motors and most importantly in this case, play back sounds. The NXT-606 drum machine is based on this unit and I must say it sounds pretty good. You can even get a set yourself and build your own.
You can get more information and the free software here.
Features:
- Monophonic sample based drum machine
- 24 percussion and Fx sounds
- Sampling rate: 8Khz
- memory: 96 measures
- control: 2 rotation sensor +NXT buttons
- hacked loud speaker to mono output: jack 6,35mm
- Editor: NXT-G
- Real time operation
Main page:
- Mode: edit/loop4/loop8/…/loop96
- Play: play/stop
- Save and copy
- Measure: 1 to 96
- Tempo: 20 to 200
- Swing: 0 to 9
- Humanisation: not achieved
Edit page:
- Graphic pattern editor
- Selected step: 1 to 16
- Sound: 1 to 24
- Velocity: 0/25/50/100%
[via Synthtopia]