What could be better than an FM Drum machine; combining mutant drum sequencing with the FM synthesis chip of the Sega Genesis (or Megadrive)? The Poly Rotas is an updated version of the Opera Rotas which was released last year; this time offering polyphonic playback for the machine, thanks to a firmware upgrade!
Inside the Opera Rotas FM Drum Machine you’ll find an OPL2 FM chip, which offers crystal-clear replication of the sounds you may remember coming out of your 16-Bit gaming console during the 1990s. This new upgrade offers 9-voice polyphonic playback for that machine, which was origianally released as a monophonic device – giving rise to deeper melodic elements, chords, and layered sounds! It offers multiple play modes and a nice selection of pots to control synth parameters – played by MIDI keyboard or sequenced by your favourite music software. A full rundown of the Opera Rotas is available to view in their user manual.
In order to use this firmware upgrade, you’ll need to own version 0.9 and upwards of the original Opera Rotas – enabling you to choose between both of the released firmwares. The Poly Rotas is sold by Spherical Sound Society who offer a myriad of audio gadgets and musical devices. See the Poly Rotas in action here:
