technical stuff...

There are loads of ways this instrument can be used to great effect... Especially now with the latest advancements in sampling technology. I’ll be adding all of the tricks and techniques that I've learnt over the years here as well as technical information about this instrument.

To start with, the link below provides a copy of the original Rhythm Stick Manuals (no need to buy them on eBay!) - Many thanks to E. Doctor Smith for helping me out with them!

THE ORIGINAL DYNACORD MANUALS are avilable for download here .

POWER SUPPLY PROBLEMS

I’m getting an increasing number of people getting in contact who have a Dynacord Rhythm Stick but don’t have a power supply, they seem to have been easily lost. There's some good news.

Thanks to Stefan in Germany you can now breathe life back into your old Dynacord Rhythm Stick with a very cool new 19" rack power supply.

Stefan’s designed a new power supply in a 19” rack-mountable version with strong and reliable XLR connectors and a new very flexible cable to the Rhythm Stick. There is a very small modification that needs to be made to the Rhythm Stick in order to work with the new power supply, but it’s not complicated :)

So, if you need a power supply, or are looking to replace the original with something more reliable and professional for stage use, please get in touch!

CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS 

If you’d like to connect your original Rhythm Stick to a piece of MIDI kit and don’t know how, here is the essential information you need.

Thanks to Martin in Germany below are the pin-outs for the original Dynacord power supply so you might be able to fix a broken unit or at least interface the Rhythm Stick to newer technology.

You’ll see that there are outputs provided at the D-sub connector for both MIDI data and the analogue individual channels. If you’re a real perfectionist and have the capability, try to use the analogue outputs at some point, the subtle difference in reduced latency (compared to MIDI) is very liberating and I find that I can play with more feel and an increased dynamic range.

You’ll see from the pin-outs that you will need to provide 3 DC power rails which is a bit of a pain; that’s old technology for you! It’s not a big deal to provide a way to distribute one power source into the various power rails needed, get in touch if you need a hand.

Original Dynacord Power Supply Pinouts:

PIN Assignment:

01 Trigger 1 (Analog output)
02 Trigger 2 (Analog output)
03 Trigger 3 (Analog output)
04 Trigger 4 (Analog output)
05 Trigger 5 (Analog output)
06 Trigger 6 (Analog output)
07 Trigger 7 (Analog output)
08 Trigger 8 (Analog output)
09 Midi out
10 +5 Volt
11 +24 Volt
12 -15 Volt
13 +15 Volt
14 Ground Digital
15 Ground/Shielding Analog
MIDI Out:
PIN Assignment
4 +5 Volt
5 Midi out