i sought out to create a simple drum machine because I like playing guitar with a looping synthesizer, but my synth doesn’t include drum tracks.
i was also drawn to the idea that the best creations come from following your own intuition, so I wanted to make something based mainly on my instincts.
i extensively researched drum machines and compiled the aesthetic and functional aspects I liked into a reference list.
an additional 21 pages of research and documentation for this project can be downloaded below:
In the first iteration, I used random images to express the abstract feelings I hoped the drum sounds would evoke, but this idea was hard to explain and didn’t connect with others. As a result, I began to question my guiding statement.
i refined the idea by using engraved composites of each drum sound’s waveform and the circuit’s wiring diagram, aiming to visually reveal the internal elements of the drum sounds.
reflecting on my experiences, I recalled making things as a kid: building arcade machines from cereal boxes and constructing projects from scrap wood with my dad.
i distilled these experiences into my next iteration. I engraved a cereal box graphic on clear acrylic and built the housing from plywood. every design choice reflected my own experiences.
i also adjusted the way it would function. i first tried soldering a board with an arduino nano, but I switched to programming it all in python on a headless raspberry pi that starts automatically when powered.
i knew the project was finished not when it functioned technically, but when it worked seamlessly for my specific use case.
© 2025 ross towbin
