Erica Synths KONSTRUKT-8 EDU DIY Drum System is a complete DIY kit for building a fully analog Eurorack drum machine — a modular system developed in collaboration between Erica Synths and designer and educator Moritz Klein. Eight modules, assembled by hand, form a complete percussion instrument and sound design tool — while each module simultaneously functions as a course in analog circuit design. This is not just a soldering kit. It is a structured learning path that ends with a working, patchable, fully modular drum machine.
Four Fully Analog Voices and the Logic of Modularity
The system's core is four percussion voices: a Kick Drum built on a resonant bridged-T network for deep, punchy low end; a Snare Drum combining filtered transistor noise with a tuned resonator for a crisp snap; a Hi-Hat running six dissonant square-wave oscillators through mixing, filtering and overdriving for metallic character; and an FM Drum pairing two interacting oscillators into a voice capable of kicks, toms, bells, ring-mod cymbals, and more. Every module can be explored on a breadboard before final assembly, letting you trace each circuit design decision at the component level before committing to the build.
The four-channel drum sequencer uses shift registers to store patterns as a circular sequence of binary data — rhythms are tapped in live and loop automatically. A four-channel Output Mixer 2 with per-channel FX sends and a master insert closes the signal chain, with a built-in drive circuit for on-board distortion without external patching.
BBD, Compressor, and a System That Grows With You
Two effects modules round out the system: an analog bucket-brigade delay with flanger and delay modes, and a diode-based compressor with sidechain input. Both work as mixer master inserts or as per-channel send effects. Erica Synths rates the build complexity as intermediate, with a full learning path — breadboard exploration, circuit theory, module assembly — estimated at 6–8 weekends. All finished modules are standard Eurorack-compatible and can be moved into a larger system whenever KONSTRUKT-8's eight slots prove limiting.
KEY FEATURES
- 8 Eurorack DIY modules: 4 drum voices + sequencer + mixer + BBD + compressor
- Kick Drum: bridged-T resonant network, deep punchy analog bass
- Snare Drum: filtered transistor noise layered over tuned resonator, crisp snap
- Hi-Hat: 6 dissonant square-wave oscillators, mixed, filtered and overdriven
- FM Drum: 2 interacting oscillators — kick, tom, bell, cymbal, ring mod modes
- 4-channel drum sequencer: tap-in pattern entry, auto-looping, shift register architecture
- Output Mixer 2: 4 channels, per-channel FX sends, master insert, built-in drive
- BBD delay: analog bucket-brigade, flanger and delay modes
- Diode compressor: sidechain input
- Every module breadboard-explorable before assembly — full educational path included
- 8 detailed downloadable build guides
- Difficulty: intermediate; estimated build time: 6–8 weekends
- Format: Eurorack — all modules compatible with larger systems
- Designed by Erica Synths × Moritz Klein (mki × es.EDU series)
- Available as module set only, or as System with enclosure, PSU and patch cables
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Format: Eurorack (±12V standard)
- Number of modules: 8
- Drum voices: 4 (Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, FM Drum)
- Sequencer: 4-channel, tap-in, shift register architecture, auto-looping
- Effects: BBD delay/flanger, diode compressor with sidechain
- Mixer: 4 channels, per-channel FX sends, master insert, drive
- System version includes: Eurorack enclosure with integrated 1A power supply (±12V), power distribution bus board, 15 braided patch cables (5× 20cm, 5× 30cm, 5× 60cm)
- Included in both versions: EDU DIY Kick Drum, Snare Drum, Hi-Hat, FM Drum, Drum Sequencer, Output Mixer 2, BBD, Compressor kits + 8 downloadable build guides
- Recommended breadboard tool: LABOR (Erica Synths)
- Warranty: 2 years (manufacturing defects)
