 It must be hit with metal sticks, which are connected to the device to complete a circuit that triggers analog synthetic percussion sounds.The band first performed in public with this device in 1973, on the television program "Aspekte" (on the all-German channel Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), where it was played by Wolfgang Flür.They created drum machines for "Autobahn" and "Trans-Europe Express"

On the "Radio-Activity" tour in 1976 Kraftwerk tested out an experimental light-beam-activated drum cage allowing Flür to trigger electronic percussion through arm and hand movements.