Knobula cultivates new ground in drum voice design with Drum Farm performance-focused Eurorack module
Advanced modular synthesiser developer Knobula is poised to cultivate new ground with its upcoming Drum Farm Eurorack module — merging synthesis, sampling, and real-time effects into a single, hands-on instrument built for fast, intuitive sound design, empowering users to relentlessly sculpt, process, sample, and re-sample sounds grown from its wide range of virtual analogue and physically modelled drum and effects algorithms — readily representing the latest addition to its growing lineup of control-centric instruments embodying a no-screen, no-preset philosophy.
As an appropriate appellation, Drum Farm was inspired by Knobula Technical Director Jason Mayo’s background in computer animation, where vast ‘render farms’ generated thousands of realistic images with minimal human input; as a performance-focused Eurorack drum module occupying 24HP of rack space, it is organised into three core sections: a Drum Synth with 16 virtual analogue and physically modelled drum algorithms, an Effects engine offering 16 different realtime processes, and a digital Sampler with up to three playback voices — capturing the combined output of everything a creative user could conceivably do with it. By bringing all the essential building blocks together, Drum Farm allows for the creation of original sounds quickly and intuitively — whether shaping punchy kicks, layered snares, tuned percussion loops, cymbals, CV/Gate-controlled samples, or physically modelled drum membranes.
Moreover, Drum Farm’s onboard sampler can run automatically in the background, sampling into one of 16 sequential audio buffers. Ultimately, users can capture the drum synthesiser on its own or record hybrid combinations of synthesis, effects, and samples, which can themselves be resampled into richly layered percussion structures or loops. Additionally, an EXT (external) input opens the gate to the world of field recording or sampling directly from elsewhere in a Eurorack system and a row of CV and trigger inputs allows further influence to any assignable control, including the ability to switch samples, drum algorithms, or effect types on the fly.
Duly designed for fast, intuitive sound creation, Drum Farm positively encourages an immediate, iterative workflow — simply select a drum model, sculpt it, process it live through the effects, sample the result, blend it with another model, and repeat. As a result, complex and evolving sounds quickly emerge.
Embodying Knobula’s philosophy of promoting experimentation and tactile control reminiscent of classic real-world instruments, Drum Farm features no screens and no sub-menus. Instead, it is a performance-focused module that rewards hands-on exploration, invites happy accidents, and provides a fertile environment for sounds to flourish and grow.
It is possible to create fully hands-free generative patches, self-building sample libraries, or access to round-robin multi-samples since all controls are CV- or trigger-assignable via five CV/Gate inputs. Sensibly, sounds can be saved to a microSD card alongside a complete snapshot of the module itself, whereby buffers, knob positions, samples, and settings are stored together as a session — with up to 32 sessions per card — allowing users to return to their work, exactly where they left off. It is fair to say, therefore, that Drum Farm is always ready for both studio experimentation and live recall.
Thanks to Knobula cultivating new ground with Drum Synth, the relentless creation of drum parts in Eurorack has never been more immediate or rewarding. Attendees at London Synth & Pedal Expo 2026 may recognise the farm-themed product tease, with ‘alien cow abduction’ subsequently forming the core of Drum Farm’s promotional campaign video.
Shipping scheduled for June 2026, Drum Farm will be available to purchase — priced at £449.00 GBP (including VAT), with a choice of two faceplate colourways on offer — directly through the Knobula shop, as well as via Knobula’s growing global network of resellers.
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated Drum Farm webpage
About Knobula (www.knobula.com)
Knobula is the brainchild of Jason Mayo, a renowned record producer, remix engineer, and synthesiser enthusiast. Embarking upon a journey into the wonderful world of synthesisers at the tender age of 13 when he built a polyphonic Powertran Transcendent DPX kit — designed by Tim Orr of EMS (Electronic Music Studios) fame, this passion led to producing and remixing in London, where he founded FAB, whose 1990-released ‘Thunderbirds Are Go!’ single peaked at number five in the UK Singles Chart, as well as collaborations with tech house and breakbeat luminaries like Mr C (The Shamen), Layo & Bushwacka, Adam Freeland, and Neneh Cherry. Fast forward to juggling family life with nursing an ageing collection of classic synths, the portable form factor of the ever-expanding Eurorack modular system format and associated free-form knob-twiddling technique was deemed as being by far the most engaging way of making electronic music by the talented individual in question. Quickly realising that this lacked polyphony, he set about designing his own polyphonic synthesiser for Eurorack. Excitingly, the resulting Poly Cinematic module soon became something of a Eurorack staple, subsequently accompanied by an assortment of Knobula products that continue to push the boundaries of modular synthesis, each embodying a no-screen, no-preset philosophy, promoting experimentation and a tactile interaction reminiscent only of IRL (In Real Life) instruments.
© 2026 Knobula
