Grendel Drone Commander Analog Mono Synth

via this auction
"very unique modern analog monosynth, the Grendel Drone Commander by Eric Archer. Lacking voltage control of oscillators or gate, this synth is designed for one thing, and one thing alone: analog drones. And it does them very, very well.

With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

The sound samples on this page are recorded with one Drone Commander plugged straight into a Fender Princeton Chorus.

Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the control layout.

red panel, black text, black plastic knobs
natural panel, black text, natural aluminum knobs
gold panel, black text, gold “marshall” knobs
black panel, no text, black aluminum knobs

The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.

The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter.

Filter CV input (0-10V) and clock pulse output (+8V) are now standard features."

See http://ericarcher.net/devices/drone-commander/ for samples and more. Video previously posted here.

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Grendel Drone Commander Boutique Sequence Drone Synthesizer in Ammo Clip

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via this auction

"Grendel Drone Commander Boutique sequence/drone synthesizer handbuilt by Eric Archer.

With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects. Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection.

The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter. Filter CV input (0-10V) and clock pulse output (+8V) are now standard features."

Uploaded on Aug 20, 2009 EA78751·42 videos

Drone Commander - Dual Oscillator Analog Synthesizer

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via this auction

"Grendel Drone Commander, a hand-built Dual Oscillator Analog Synthesizer housed in an amazing Ammo Cartridge Box. This is an incredibly expressive synthesizer, and includes the Original Power Supply and Owners Manual. Please read the description below, and also check out the Youtube videos. Snatch up this one before I plug it into an analog delay and change my mind !

With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

Six of the Drone Commander's nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection.

The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter.

Filter CV input (0-10V) and clock pulse output (+8V) are now standard features."

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Grendel Drone Commander by Eric Archer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"For more information on the synth please see http://ericarcher.net/devices/drone-commander/

With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the control layout.

The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter.

Filter CV input (0-10V) and clock pulse output (+8V) are now standard features."

GRENDEL DRONE COMMANDER HAND BUILT ANALOG SYNTH

YouTube via EA78751
"http://ericarcher.net/devic...

Shown with red panel / silver text / natural aluminum knobs.
Filter CV In & Clock Out.
Enclosed in a steel ammunition can with detachable lid."

via this auction

"The Grendel Drone Commander is an incredibly portable and versatile Analog Droning Synth, built by Eric Archer.

'With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.
Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection.
The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.
The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter.'"

Sync Explorations - Grendel Drone Commander and Metasonix D1000

Published on Jun 18, 2017 Wein Glas

"Just a proof of concept, that it is (somehow) possible to sync two strange instruments: The Grendel Drone Commander analog drone synthesizer and the Metasonix D1000 Tube Drum machine.

However the result is more than strange: The D1000 syncs to the clock of the Drone Commander, but it sounds and behaves unexpectedly. Or maybe expecedly strange! But see and listen for yourself!

And for modular nerds: Further explorations showed that the Grendel Drone Commander Clock Out is a gate signal and not a trigger signal. So an envelope generator after the drone commander clock signal solves this problem!"

Orange Grendel Drone Commander, 2 Osc Analog Synth

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via this auction

Check out the military grade case these come in.

"With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection. See pictures to view the control layout. Comes with original instruction sheet.

The Drone Commander is housed in a dark green military ammunition case with engraved aluminum control panel. The case is welded steel with an easily removable, rubber gasketed lid. There is almost no plastic in the drone commander! It measures 10″(w) x 7″(h) x 3.5″(d), and weighs about 6 lbs.The unit is powered by a 9V battery accessible through a slide-out drawer in the side, as well as a 9VDC adapter.

Filter CV input (0-10V) and clock pulse output (+8V) are now standard features."

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New Grendel Drone Commander 2 prototype DC-2E

Published on Oct 19, 2015 EA78751

"Rare Waves LLC demonstrates a Grendel Drone Commander 2 prototype in Eurorack format.

Drone Commander 2 is a true analog synthesizer with discrete transistor technology. It has 12 knobs for lots of hands on control, and every knob is a push-pull switch that activates tone modification options.

It retains the original Drone Commander filter, and adds a second independently controlled filter for contrast. The second filter is a smooth and clean 4-pole lowpass filter (-24dB/oct VC-LPF). It has an attack-release envelope generator and serves as a lowpass gate, to control the volume and tone.

The LFO section has been completely revised.. its kind of hard to describe, listen instead (please pardon the noodling)

The optional Expander module can be connected to add voltage control. It has 18 patch points including CV/Gate input, Clock in/out, and external audio input. Connecting a MIDI controller and MIDI-CV converter to the Expander gives the Drone Commander 2 its full potential for melodic performance, sequencing, and synchronization.

The video soundtrack was recorded by line-in, with a bit of reverb and delay FX .. Yamaha SPX-1000 and Korg SDD-1200.

A stand-alone version may be in the works also. Thanks for watching!

More audio at soundcloud.com/rare-waves

Fall 2015"

11hz Robot - Faux Commander

11hz Robot - Faux Commander from 11hzRobot on Vimeo.

"Still trying to create a drone commander sound with the micron. This time I stuck to just 2 oscillators(square and triangle), a square lfo (with speed and depth control) modulating a lowpass filter frequency cutoff, a custom slope drawn in the tracking generator used a source for the sample and hold, which is modulating the the same filter's cutoff. The sample and hold does not have any depth control, but I can activate it or bypass it. The oscillators are also run through a bandpass filter. The bandpass does not have any lfo modulation. Both filter's cutoff can also controlled manually with two of the micron rotary knobs, the third knob is used for changing the frequency of one of the oscillators.

The variety and quality of sounds that the Drone Commander can generate with just two oscillators and two lfos is amazing. These micron patches are just to hold me over till I actually get my hands on one.

Eric Archer's drone commander:
ericarcher.net/devices/drone-commander/"

Waves Grendel Drone Commander

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via this auction

"Best analog drone synth out there, period. The magic is in its filter. Can be powered with a 9v battery (included) but it'll ship with a wall adapter as well. Only 800 of these were made. Fully operational. As I'm posting this one it's the only drone commander available for sale anywhere on the internet. No Reserve. Free Shipping. Good Luck Bidding.

'With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.'"

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Insane Synths: GRENDEL DRONE COMMANDER (rare pulse drone synthesizer)

Published on Apr 20, 2017 daleturner

"GRENDEL DRONE COMMANDER: One of the coolest mono synths ever designed. In this video, you're hearing it totally 'dry,' with no effects (and, of course, in mono). Typically, I 'jam out' on this thing for quite a while, recording literally everything. Then I edit out all but the coolest bits and (if it will be used as a foundation for a track) "beatmap" them in Logic, so they're to a grid, then add effects (at the very least, timed delays). But, as you'll hear, with the few clips I included, the unit by itself is great for "precursor to event" tension-building sounds. It's one of my favorite gear pieces--and perhaps that's surprising, since I'm mainly a guitar dork!

This is one of about 750 that Eric Archer made (he has since created a modular version; check rare waves dot net). Indispensable for its beautiful, resonant sounds and very “playable” pulse drones. It has nine knobs--two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. The manual details all knob functions, but here are a few: LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects. YUMMY!

Song: 'Grendel Drone Commander Improvisations'
© Dale Turner 2017
http://www.intimateaudio.com"

GRENDEL DRONE COMMANDER

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via this auction

"with a total of 9 knobs, the drone commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two lfos, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. lfo1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and lfo2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to lfo1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. both lfos can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. a line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

six of the drone commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection."

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Rare Waves Grendel Drone Commander Synthesizer (BLACK)

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via this auction

"With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

Six of the drone commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection.

Features

OSC 1 Control
Mix Control
Osc 2 Control
LFO Control
Shape Control
Pulse Control
Filter Control
Volume Control"

Cone Drommander

Cone Drommander from 11hzRobot on Vimeo.

"This is my attempt at getting the Micron to sound like the Drone Commander. Apart from the sound of the filters, I couldn't get the variable shape LFO thing happening either. The Micron has saw and pulse shape LFOs, but I think the Drone Commander's shape knob allows you to morphs between the two LFO shapes. This can't be done on a micron. I have to get one of those things. They're beautiful music objects.
ericarcher.net/devices/drone-commander/"

11hz Robot - Form Change from 11hzRobot on Vimeo.

"This session features the Micron's distortion. I'm no distortion expert so I don't know if its any good."

Grendel Drone Commander Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. via this auction

"with a total of 9 knobs, the drone commander offers two manually-tuned oscillators and two lfos, plus an unusually colorful and nasty filter. lfo1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and lfo2 is a pulse waveform that auto-synchronizes to lfo1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. both lfos can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. a line-level output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.

six of the drone commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull switches to control signal routing and waveform selection. scroll to the bottom of this page to view the control layout."

Weinglas: Ferne Länder (Metasonix D1000)

video by Wein Glas

"Ferne Länder ("Distant Countries") is a track from my new tape release 'Die gute alte Zeit' available from Zero Point Research. https://0prmusic.bandcamp.com/​

Release Date: May 3rd, 2021!

All tracks of 'Die gute alte Zeit' ('Good old times') are based on the Metasonix D-1000 tube drum machine and the Grendel Drone Commander."

Additional tracks posted from the release:

Weinglas: Arbeit (Metasonix D1000, Grendel Drone Commander)

Weinglas: Geburt (Metasonix D1000, Grendel Drone Commander)

Grendel Drone Commander - Classic Pedal (official)

Published on Aug 18, 2017 EA78751

The Grendel Drone Commander in classic guitar pedal format.

"Coming soon from Rare Waves LLC USA ... the original circuit, the classic sound, plus gate control, and external audio In! Grendel Drone Commander Classic Pedal. rarewaves.net"

Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 demo

Published on Dec 30, 2015 Seth Elgart

"Five minute demo of the new Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 Eurorack module. All sounds exclusively made by the Drone Commander, no effects or any other modules were used with the exception of an envelope to trigger the DC-2e."

The Drone Corporal Pure Data Drone Patch

YouTube via "NoizeHack — April 04, 2010 —

"http://noizehack.com/drone-corporal Introducing the Drone Corporal based on Eric Archers Drone Commander. Here is the first release version of my Drone Corporal pure data patch. It can be controlled by midi data and also send out midi feedback. There is also a setup I made to use it with a novation nocturn. You can download the patch and the novation automap file at http://noizehack.com/drone-corporal"

Weinglas - The Dark Drone Commander

Published on Jun 24, 2013 Wein Glas·21 videos

"A Drone straight from the Darkness.

Responsible for these Sounds are: Grendel Drone Commander together with EHX Ravish Sitar and Buchla 200e with some Zerosum Inertia Tube ModuleModules and just a little bit of reverb.

For better audio quality please visit my soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/weinglas/the-da..."