Nord Drum features a remarkable small brain containing a virtual reproduction of an analog drum synthesizer.

The synth is using analogue waveforms or the harmonically complex waveforms together with different colours of noise that has been edited with filters to generate its "classic retro-futuristic" percussion sounds. So there are no samples involved.

Each Nord Drum comes with four high-sensitivity inputs and midi, so you can play it with a wide range of electronic drum pads, acoustic drum triggers and sequencers, and easily integrate it into your existing drum kit. Or use it as the starting point for something completely new of course... Here's a quick introduction video of the virtual analog drum synthesizer:

The innovative instrument was created in collaboration with drummer Hasse Bruniusson and bassist Veke Berg. Both drum/music technology enthusiasts are known from the Flower Kings, and their side project Swedish Family. In collabroation with Clavia, the duo has made sure you can now recreate the retro-futuristic percussion sounds from classics like Syndrum, Simmons and Synar.

Designed with the performing musician in mind, Clavia claims the Nord Drum has an extreme dynamic range. Super-fast triggering adds to the feeling of playing a real instrument.

Nord Drum will ship in March 2012 with a recommended retail price of about $630 (€470 or £399) including VAT.

About Clavia:
Clavia was founded in 1983 by Hans Nordelius together with Mikael Carlsson in Stockholm, Sweden. In a basement in a suburb of Stockholm he created the Digital Percussion Plate 1, which was released later the same year. For the first time ever drummers could play sampled sounds with great feel and dynamics. The sounds were stored on removable eprom cartridges in 8-bit format. The world's first dedicated digital drum for the commercial market was an instant success and creating

The next year the brand name ddrum was introduced. Hans and Mikael teamed up with Bengt Lilja (current ceo of 2Box) to create the world's first digital pad construction featuring real drum heads and hoops. Most other pads on the market had a plastic or rubber surface, so these improvements were considered very innovative. The ddrum versions 1 to 4, now discontinued, all became very successful and many people still regard them as being the best triggering digital drum system around.