Dynacord ADD-one & ADD-drive

A rare chance to pick up this digital Dynacord combo. This lot comprises both the main ADD-one unit, plus the ADD-drive sampling unit that allows the user to upload their own sound banks, all mounted in a flight case.

In excellent working order and condition inside and out. Freshly serviced and fully tested by a world-class UK tech and digital specialist, including fitting of a new, ice blue, backlit LED display and Lotharek H&C Floppy Drive Simulator. The unit is with us and although we’ve not managed to plug it in yet it comes from a technician who is also one of the few in the world with experience of working with these on a regular basis for their owners and we have no doubt that it will be as described.

This definitely not a common or well known piece of gear. We recommend reading the original reviews from back in 1986 in Music Technology magazine and Sound On Sound to become an expert in what this expensive (at the time) unit can do. We’ve also included a pretty basic video found on youtube below but there is more content out there.

The complete ADD-one / ADD-drive system such as this example was famously used by Prince on his ‘Lovesexy’ and ‘Batman’ albums, and Jarre used it on his ‘Revolutions’ album. It has one knob per control interface and with the ADD-drive unit it has 12 bit sampling followed by a fully analogue CEM resonant filter and envelope. The sample rate and therefore the pitch is variable, like the Fairlight and E-mu EII via 8 separate DACs – variable pitch via sample clock rate. It has a variable sample rate of either 50khz or 25khz for lo fi grit. It has 8 part monophonic timbrality, has eight individual outs like the Fairlight CMI, and it can be controlled either via MIDI or CV via 8 trigger inputs. Oh, and it even has triggers on the front panel so you can play it live from there. In terms of sound creation possibilities and sound quality, this is probably only rivalled by the Simmons SDX. The onboard preset samples are not only percussion samples but also waveforms, sine waves etc .

The ADD-one was designed by Michael Doidic. who designed the Oberheim Expander among many other things.

Dynacord ADD-one Owners Manual

Commission sale on behalf of a client. If you have gear that you want us to look at selling on your behalf then please look at our Commission & Consignment page for more information and get in touch to discuss your requirements.