The Mini Pops were a number of early analog drum machines from the Japanese musical equipment company Korg during the late 1960s and the 1970s.[1][2] The machines were based around a number of preset rhythm patterns,[3] such as waltz, samba, rhumba, bossa nova, tango, slow rock, swing, and rock 1 and 2.[4]

Models

Minipops 3

Released 1967, and features four drum sounds.[5][6]

Minipops 5

Released in 1966.

Minipops 7

The Mini-Pops 7 released in 1966, featured 15 drums sounds and 20 patterns.[7] It was the most used of all. French musician Jean-Michel Jarre used it throughout his breakthrough album, Oxygene. Some rhythms were achieved by overlaying two of the presets in a manner not intended by the machine's original design.[3]

Aphex Twin used it on his album Syro, and in homage named a single "minipops 67 [120.2]".[8] Echo and the Bunnymen also used the Mini-Pops 7 drum machine at the beginning of their career.[9] Équinoxe Part V, VI and VII featured the Rock 1 pattern.

A variant of this instrument was sold in the US under the Univox brand, as the Univox SR-95. This featured slightly different "Beguine" and "Slow Rock" rhythms, and was missing the rimshot of the Mini-Pops 7.

Minipops 20 S

Released 1967. The S denoted stereo

Minipops 35

Released 1976. Features 6 drum sounds and 9 patterns.[10]

Minipops 120

Released 1976. Features 6 drum sounds and 16 patterns.[11] This was also sold in the United States under the Univox brand.

Minipops Junior

Released 1972. Features 10 preset rhythms.[12] also has a footswitch to stop and start the rhythms.

A Minipops Junior was used by Echo and the Bunnymen on their debut single, "The Pictures on My Wall."[13]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "Korg Mini pops 3 vintage analog drum machine '69". MATRIXSYNTH. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Korg Mini Pops 120". ESTECHO. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Korg Mini Pops". Hollow Sun. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Korg MiniPops 35 (MP-35)". Vintage Synth Explorer. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Korg Mini Pops 3". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  6. ^ Moogulator, Mic Irmer. "Korg Minipops 3 Drummachine/Module simple sequencer". www.sequencer.de. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Korg Mini Pops 7 (1966)". Aerozone JMJ (in French). Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. ^ Wilson, Scott (14 April 2017). "7 pieces of gear that helped define Aphex Twin's pioneering sound". Fact Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  9. ^ Leas, Ryan (November 2021). "Read About Echo And The Bunnymen's First Gig In An Excerpt From Will Sergeant's New Memoir". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Korg Mini Pops 35". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Korg Mini Pops 120". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Korg Mini Pops Junior". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  13. ^ Lewin, Jon (December 1985). "Echo-Plex". One Two Testing. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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