ALM Busy Circuits Haswell's Taiko (Discontinued)
A brutalist digital drum voice in a black panel, limited to 100 units and loaded with hand-drawn waveforms that sound like shattered glass and short circuits.
Overview
You don’t stumble into the ALM Busy Circuits Haswell's Taiko expecting warmth. This isn’t the kind of module that eases you in with soft kicks and polite snares. It’s a confrontation in 12 HP — a limited-run Eurorack drum synthesiser born from a collaboration between ALM/Busy Circuits and noise artist Russell Haswell, and it carries his fingerprints in both name and nature. Officially known as "HASWELL’S TAIKO" and designated ALM013, this module is a re-imagined, darker evolution of ALM’s earlier Dinky’s Taiko, stripped of any pretense at musicality and pushed into the realm of industrial texture and digital violence.
Only 100 individually numbered units were ever made, each one a collector’s artifact the moment it left the workshop. It’s discontinued, yes, but more than that — it’s *rare*. And that scarcity isn’t just about numbers; it’s about intent. This was never meant to be a workhorse drum module for the average rack. It’s a statement piece, a limited edition version of Dinky's Taiko with expanded features and a sonic palette that leans into the abrasive. The custom ‘inverted’ matt black panel with white graphics gives it a stark, almost forensic appearance — like a piece of lab equipment designed to generate chaos.
Made in the UK and built with reverse polarity protection, it’s skiff-friendly and physically compact at 32 mm deep, so it won’t dominate your case space. But sonically? It dominates everything it touches. Owners report an extremely wide palette of sounds, from metallic thuds to glitchy explosions, all shaped by a 12-bit digital drum sound source that feels deliberately raw, not polished. It’s not trying to emulate acoustic drums. It’s trying to invent new ones — ones that might live in a decommissioned server farm or a collapsing radio tower.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | ALM/Busy Circuits |
| Model | Circuits Haswell's Taiko (ALM013) |
| Production Status | Discontinued |
| Edition | Limited to 100 individually numbered units |
| Dimensions | 12 HP, 32 mm deep |
| Current Draw | 0 mA (-12V) |
| Sound Source | 12 Bit digital drum sound source |
| Wavetable Bank | Alternate wavetable sound bank of 30 unique and unusual waveforms hand-drawn by Russell Haswell |
| Inputs | Trigger input as well as accent and choke trigger inputs |
| Construction | Reverse polarity protection. Skiff friendly. Designed and Made in the UK. |
| Panel | Custom ‘inverted’ matt black panel & knobs with white graphics. |
| Original Price | $284 MSRP |
Key Features
Digital Noise Meets Hand-Drawn Chaos
At its core, the Haswell's Taiko is built around a digital drum noise oscillator — not analog hiss, not sampled transients, but synthesized digital noise with controllable frequency and release time. That noise source is paired with a variable wavetable oscillator, which itself features start and end frequency settings and a variable rate. The two sources feed into a mix and tone control, forming a complete drum voice in three distinct parts. The result is a module that can generate everything from subby booms to high-frequency stutters, but with a character that’s distinctly digital — brittle, precise, and unforgiving.
What sets it apart from its sibling, Dinky’s Taiko, is the alternate wavetable bank: 30 unique waveforms hand-drawn by Russell Haswell. These aren’t algorithmically generated or mathematically derived. They’re *drawn*, which means they carry the irregularities, spikes, and asymmetries of human gesture. That’s why the sounds feel so unpredictable — like glitches with intention. The module’s signal path — a digital noise generator combined with a variable wavetable oscillator, routed through an EQ and mix output — is designed to exploit these imperfections, turning them into sonic weapons.
Voltage Control Without Compromise
Nearly every parameter on the Haswell's Taiko — except the tone control — is both directly adjustable and voltage controllable. That means you can modulate the noise frequency, release time, wavetable start/end points, and rate with external CV sources, opening up vast terrain for rhythmic evolution and chaotic sequencing. It’s not just a trigger-in, sound-out drum module; it’s a dynamic voice that responds to modulation like a full synthesizer. The inclusion of accent and choke trigger inputs further deepens its integration into complex rhythmic systems, allowing it to interact with other drum modules in a performance context.
Aesthetic and Build: Minimal, Brutal, Functional
The ‘inverted’ matt black panel with white graphics isn’t just a cosmetic choice — it’s part of the module’s identity. It looks severe, almost hostile, which matches the sound. The knobs are the same inverted style, creating a uniform, monolithic face that stands out even in a dark rack. Despite its aggressive appearance, it’s built pragmatically: reverse polarity protection means you won’t fry it by accident, and the 32 mm depth makes it suitable for travel or skiff-based systems. It’s a rare balance — a module that feels like art but functions like gear.
Historical Context
The Haswell's Taiko exists because ALM/Busy Circuits decided to collaborate with Russell Haswell, a UK-based noise and electronic artist known for his extreme sonic interventions and conceptual rigor. This wasn’t a marketing partnership; it was a creative re-imagining of their existing Dinky’s Taiko drum module, pushed into darker, harsher territory. The result is a limited edition version with expanded features and a completely unique wavetable bank, transforming it from a niche drum voice into a collector’s object.
It sits within the “Circuits” series of ALM Busy modules — a line that includes other artist collaborations and experimental designs — and is listed in the VTA Brand Index alongside those peers. While no production years are confirmed, the module was submitted to ModularGrid on January 29th, 2016, suggesting it was likely produced and distributed around that time, before being discontinued. Its brief existence and limited run make it a snapshot of a specific moment in Eurorack’s evolution — when boutique manufacturers began treating modules not just as tools, but as collaborative art objects.
Collectibility & Value
With only 100 units ever made and the module now discontinued, the Haswell's Taiko is inherently collectible. It was never meant to be common, and its association with Russell Haswell adds a layer of cultural weight that resonates in experimental music circles. The original MSRP was $284, but current market prices tell a different story: listings on Reverb have appeared at $646.46, and eBay auctions have reached $699. That’s more than double the original price — a clear signal of demand outpacing supply.
There are no documented common failures or maintenance issues, likely due to its simple digital design and robust construction. The 0 mA draw on the -12V rail (as listed on ModularGrid) suggests efficient power use, though full power specifications remain unconfirmed. With no weight, frequency response, or detailed technical specs available, buyers rely on reputation and rarity. Its Ø 5.00 user rating on ModularGrid (based on four votes) hints at strong owner satisfaction, though the small sample size means it should be taken as a signal, not a verdict.
If you’re hunting for one, expect to pay a premium — and verify the unit number. Given its limited run, provenance matters. This isn’t a module you replace easily. It’s a one-of-a-hundred artifact that sounds like nothing else in the Eurorack ecosystem.
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