Sonicware CyDrums: tafony’s 4D Drum Bunker Test

tafony wastes no time slapping us with the CyDrums’ unapologetically digital personality. Forget analog nostalgia – this box is all about a sound palette Sonicware dares to call “4D.” The pads are velocity-sensitive, with aftertouch to boot, and the whole vibe screams modern mutant rather than vintage knock-off. The onboard sound engine is built around wavetables, pressure modulation, and velocity tricks – all designed to make your beats morph and mutate like a proper sci-fi villain.

What’s missing? LFOs, surprisingly, so if you’re coming from the Elektron school of modulation madness, you’ll be left poking envelopes and velocity curves for your movement. Still, the factory sounds hit hard, and the visuals on the screen make you feel like you’re piloting a spaceship, not just tapping out a kick drum. If you want static one-shots, look elsewhere; the CyDrums is about sounds that react, transform, and generally refuse to sit still.

But before you get too excited, let’s talk about the CyDrums’ project system – a labyrinth that could make even seasoned groovebox heads sweat. tafony describes the way projects, patterns, and kits interact as ‘a little bit weird,’ and honestly, that’s generous. Sometimes drum kits don’t recall, sometimes it’s just patterns; sometimes you’re staring at a blank screen, wondering if you’ve bricked the thing or just missed a diagram in the manual. Saving and loading projects feels like being trapped in a loading screen limbo. If you plan to recall a project live, bring a book – the wait is long enough to lose the crowd and your will to live.

tafony admits this could be user error, but the fact remains: the CyDrums’ memory and project structure is more complicated than it needs to be. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s not exactly plug-and-play either. If you’re hoping for Elektron-style fluidity, adjust your expectations. The slow loading times and head-scratching project quirks are part of the package.

Physically, the CyDrums is bigger than it looks in most videos – tafony even calls out the YouTube optical illusion. It’s got velocity pads, a D-pad, and four chunky encoders, plus the kind of I/O that should keep most modular and desktop heads happy: analog sync in and out, audio in, a built-in speaker, and even a mic input (though tafony reckons the latter’s a bit vestigial). The screen? Not as tiny as the haters would have you believe, but don’t expect iPad luxury.

Here’s the rub: despite the Game Boy-esque looks, this isn’t a handheld jam buddy. tafony points out it’s too big and awkward to grip like a tracker, and most controls centre around those four encoders – you’ll want it flat on a table, not in your palms. The D-pad and extra buttons feel underused, making navigation a bit of a two-brain-cell job at times. If you’re hoping for a compact, one-handed groovebox, think again – this is more desktop weapon than pocket rocket.

Let’s talk effects, because this is where the CyDrums throws a proper curveball: the onboard compressor. tafony calls it ‘absolutely slamming’ – and he’s not wrong. It can beef up your mix, smash your drums, and blow your speakers if you get cheeky. Think warehouse-ready, not polite mastering glue. The multi-effects section is deep enough to do comb filtering, stutter, and beat repeats, but it’s the compressor that steals the show for live mangling. Want your kicks to sound like they’re being run over by a lorry? CyDrums has you covered. It’s the kind of feature you wish every drum machine had, especially if you like your grooves dirty and your mixes rude.