FK1: Keio Mini-Pops MP-7 (AKA Univox SR-95)

The Hardware

Univox SR-95

The Keio Mini-Pops MP-7 (AKA Univox SR-95) is an analogue drum machine from the 1970s. It was probably most famously used by Jean-Michel Jarre on his Oxygene album in 1976. The Univox branded version was, I believe, for the USA market.

The Rhythms

  • Waltz
  • Jazz Waltz
  • Samba
  • Meringue
  • Mambo
  • Cha-Cha
  • Rumba
  • Beguine
  • Tango
  • Habanera
  • Bossanova
  • Slow Rock
  • Rock 1
  • Rock 2
  • Rock 3
  • Rock 4
  • March 2/4
  • March 6/8
  • Swing
  • Latin Swing

Rhythms can be combined.

You will often see both branded versions described as being identical on the internet but this is not quite true as I discovered to my disappointment having purchased the Univox model. There are two main differences: The Rimshot sound is missing on the SR-95 — the Cowbell is instead substituted for it — and the Beguine rhythm is different. Not a big deal you might think but anyone trying to re-create Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygene rhythms are going to be disappointed with the SR-95 because he used a combination of rhythms that require both the Rimshot sound and the Beguine rhythm of the MP-7. Oh dear.

All is not lost however, because the circuit boards used in both machines are the same. A study of the schematic diagrams of both machines reveal which components are missing and which are routed differently. Despite knowing little about electronics, I thought it might be interesting to try and make these changes to the SR-95 and turn it into the superior Mini-Pops MP-7.

The Sounds

  • Bass/Kick
  • Snare 1
  • Snare 2
  • Rimshot
  • High-Hat
  • Cymbal 1
  • Cymbal 2
  • Cowbell
  • Conga
  • Large Bongo
  • Small Bongo
  • Claves
  • Quijada
  • Guiro
  • Tambourine

Quijada, Guiro and Tambourine play a pre-set pattern continuously and have individual volume sliders.

The main obstacle was a component called an inductor. It has a high value of 4H and are almost impossible to find. I was very lucky to find a nice chap on a forum who had a few and was kind enough to send me one (thanks Dan).

Soldering in the missing components was not a problem but de-coupling the Cowbell sound from the Rimshot trigger was more so. Remember, the Cowbell sound is substituted for the Rimshot sound. After a lot of messing about, the connection link was found, de-soldered and removed. Changing the Beguine pattern mainly involved re-routing diodes; the boards are identical so all the alternative connection points are there ready and waiting. And there we have it. A Univox SR-95 that sounds identical to a Keio Mini-Pops MP-7.

The Kontakt Library

Details of the Kontakt library and how to purchase it are here. Please ensure that it is compatible with your set-up before purchasing.

FK1: Keio Mini-Pops MP-7 Library in Kontakt 3.5