MPC Electronics "The Kit", including Synkit, The Tymp and The Clap, October 1983

 

The Kit, including the Synkit, The Tymp and the Clap, from page 29 in the October 1983 issue of Keyboard Magazine. 

Its been hard for me to blog these last couple of years due to medical issues that I won't get into at the moment. But lately, as I flip through magazines aimlessly, certain ads have jumped out at me. Hence the resurgence in blogging as of late. 

And this ad is a great example of one that jumped out of the pages and right into my eyeballs. Funny enough, I'd never heard of these little units, and didn't think I'd find much on the Interwebz about them. 

Boy, was I wrong. 

One quick Google search and up pops a goldmine of info. Three links in particular, stood out. 

But first - we got to address the design of the ad itself.  Obvious... it's cleverly designed to target keyboardists, using a clean black-and-white aesthetic and bold, engaging typography. The headline—"A compact electronic drum kit for keyboardists who may already have their hands full"—immediately addresses the ad’s intended audience with a witty, relatable hook. 

The image features a keyboard above a well-arranged display of The Kit’s touch-sensitive pads and companion devices, highlighting the compact size and modularity. The layout draws attention downward from the eye-catching headline to the product, and finally to the detailed body text, which explains the functionality, flexibility, and benefits of the system. Emphasis on user-friendliness, performance versatility, and integration into existing setups makes the ad both informative and persuasive, reinforcing The Kit as a practical and innovative tool for modern musicians.

Now back to the Googles... because a quick search brings up a few interesting links. 

First, we've got an article on the Kit written by Rick Palmer for Music UK, December 1982, thankfully kept online by Muzines! Wonderful! It also includes links to ads related to the review. 

What we learn is that “The Kit” is a compact, battery-powered electronic drum kit designed for finger drumming, featuring pads for snare, toms, bass drum, and hi-hats, with customizable sensitivity and decay. The top panel houses volume controls for each sound, tone control for the cymbal, and tempo/rhythm selectors for six pre-programmed hi-hat patterns. Additional controls include rocker switches for beat patterns, time signature, and start/stop, as well as LED beat indication. It offers individual ¼" outputs for each sound, a pre-mixed output, two 3.5mm trigger outs, and inputs for external footswitches and a power supply. 

In addition, we learn that while the unit feels awkward at first, users can quickly adapt and discover its versatility, especially with high-quality snare and tom sounds. It offers outstanding value, appealing to drummers and non-drummers alike. 

Add-on units expand the system’s capabilities: 

“The Clap” delivers a decent handclap sound with controls for noise mix and decay, though it lacks trigger integration with the main Kit. 

“Synkit” produces versatile synth-drum sounds with pitch sweep capabilities, ideal when triggered from the main Kit’s toms, although its decay control is finicky. 

“Tymp” offers low-pitched, noise-heavy sounds more suited to effects than traditional percussion, but suffers from inconsistent sensitivity and lacks adjustment options. 

The best news... that's not the only article on the kit you can find online - there is also another link to an article from Muzines from the January 1984 issue of Electronics & Music Maker. It includes similar info, but also introduces us to the Bass Drum Pedal/Hi-Hat on/off accessory that can be connected. Also included is pricing info - always a treat to see! 

One weird Amazon link that popped up was to "The Kit Operating Instructions", providing us not just with a colour image of the main unit, but a summary of the history of the company. Summarized from the page: 

MPC Electronics Ltd was founded in 1982 in Cambridge by Mike Coxhead to produce and market "The Kit," a compact electronic drum trigger device invented by Clive Button, designed to be played with fingers instead of sticks. 

After refining the design, the improved Mark 2 version gained acclaim at trade shows and sold widely in the UK, Europe, and North America. The company released complementary accessories such as bass drum pedals and sound modules like The Clap and Synkit. 

In 1983, Button introduced a more advanced version—the Music Percussion Computer—with eight pads, onboard memory, and compatibility with home computers, influencing future products by Roland and others. MPC later developed full-size drum pads and synth modules, but despite several innovations, the company folded in 1986 after Button moved on to work for other firms. Many units of The Kit remain functional today, and a comprehensive manual and history booklet documents MPC’s contributions during its brief but impactful existence.

Here's a picture of the unit in colour... gotta say, I wasn't expecting the red or the gold. 

Want to learn more about it's designer Clive Button? Check out his website. It provides even more history!