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Drum Machines

Hey guys,

I've recently have been thinking about picking up a drum machine. I tried a quick search in the forums but didn't find a post about them.

So a few questions.

1. What is/are considered the best drum machines at the moment?
2. What are some of the pros and cons of the current best drum machines
3. If you have a drum machine, what are your thoughts of it?
4. Are there any new drum machines coming out soon?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Zlaught

Well, the Dave Smith Tempest looks like one of the better drum machines these days, but I don't own one, so I can't answer your questions. Elektron Machinedrum is pretty freakin cool, too, but I don't own one of those either.

Re: Drum Machines

quote:

Originally posted by Zlaught 1. What is/are considered the best drum machines at the moment?

Elektron Machinedrum I think is the best ever!

quote:

Originally posted by Zlaught 2. What are some of the pros and cons of the current best drum machines

Pros-
1.Fun to just program a beat and not have to turn on a computer.
2.YOu have all your drums sounds in one box no need for a sampler cd.
3.can give your music a groove that you can't get with software.

cons-
shit can brake or some one can steal your stuff!

quote:

Originally posted by Zlaught 3. If you have a drum machine, what are your thoughts of it?

I do have a drum machine a Roland D2 and I love it and its fun. It give me the grooves that was missing in my music!
I have all my tr-808 tr-909 sounds all in one box.
But I am going to buy a Elektron Machinedrum soon!

quote:

Originally posted by Zlaught 4. Are there any new drum machines coming out soon?

yes but they look like they suck!
Elektron Machinedrum is the way to go!

My top Drum Machines picks
1 Elektron Machinedrum
2 Akai MPC 2000xl
3 Roland TR-808 Roland TR-909
4 Roland MC-505 groovebox / D2
5 Roland MC-303 groovebox
6 Reason Redrum
7 ReBirth
8 Korg electribe
9 any thing roland

Although Native Instruments Maschine isn't really a true "drum machine" but a software/hardware integrated solution for sequencing drums, I'd say it's sheer usability, vast library, and functionality is pretty much top notch.

The problem is that it's not the most useful for gigging, as you need a laptop and a sound card, since it itself is just a controller for the maschine software. However, it can also act as a pure MIDI controller as well, which is quite handy IMO

quote:

Originally posted by J.L. Although Native Instruments Maschine isn't really a true "drum machine" but a software/hardware integrated solution for sequencing drums, I'd say it's sheer usability, vast library, and functionality is pretty much top notch.

I love my Maschine and I wouldn't trade it for any of the "real" drum machines, but one big con IMO is the lack of multi-layering for samples. Of course, the easy around this is to just load up a plugin that does support multi-samples (e.g., Battery 3). The fact that you can load virtually any plugin is one of Maschine's biggest advantages.

Got a TEMPEST and JOMOX Mbase 11
ITB I got METRUM, Drumazon, Nepheton and Groove Agent 1

In the past I had a machinedrum, XBASE-999, TR-909

I'm not interested in MACHINE type solutions as these are basically a VSTi sampler with dedicated controller, but bring nothing new to the table soundwise.

Biggest difference for me:
- for TEMPEST & JOMOX > Unprocessed analogue sounds. Sounds like NOTHING you have ITB, this is good if this fits your genre (80'ties and old skool techno, but "bad" for modern Beatport type trance, house and electro, as you will need a lot of old skool processing to get towards the modern sound.
besides that, you'll have analogue osc's so you can tweak your heart out.

Swing wise you can copy all groove quantization templates into the box, so that's no longer really an advantage.

I didn't like the Machinedrum, it only started to sound cool using sample packs i was already using ITB, I also found the sequencer very cumbersome.

So for me the decision criteria would be:
- soundsource rather than sample collection
- sounds you can't get ITB (dynamic sounds, kicks with real LFO's etc)
- fun sequencing (if you're into that, jam with the PC off)

BUT: If you like Plug&Play samplepacks, use loops often and prefer ITB workflow then you WILL be very dissapointed with what an outboard drumcomputer brings to the table. as it's a long road from how these units sound raw towards the modern processed sounds everybody is using nowawdays. (which is a good thing as it becomes hip again to work with minimalistic unprocessed / unlayered sounds again)

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie Biggest difference for me: - for TEMPEST & JOMOX > Unprocessed analogue sounds. Sounds like NOTHING you have I

until you record it to your computer which it then sounds exactly like the sampled versions of said producers you can buy at a fraction of the cost. Pretty bad allocation of funds. But that is your speciality.

The only reason one would get a drum machine is if you require drum sounds that are not static and evolve rather than just a one hit sample that never changes.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie So for me the decision criteria would be: - soundsource rather than sample collection - sounds you can't get ITB (dynamic sounds, kicks with real LFO's etc) - fun sequencing (if you're into that, jam with the PC off)

You really don't read, now do you?, ofcourse one could make sounds in VSTi synths as well, those these most of time are 1: not analogue and 2: don't have fast enough envelopes for percussive sounds

you say you can't get it in the box. unless your chain is 100% out of the box, your drum machine is identical to those sample cds. Escpecially those ones you mentioned which have sampled every single parameter.

Dynamic sounds ? all sounds are dynamic. You need to pick up a book or something. Your grasp of audio jargon is appalling.

An LFO evolves, every hit is different, samples only capture maybe 5 snapshots of a sound palette of thousands, and then i decide to tweak the pitch as well, or change the sine into a square, why are u arguing that every single combination of parameters is sampled?
let alone the small inconsistencies in analoque sounds by it's nature.

But hey, for the sake of debate you may "win" not in the mood

for 15$ you can buy like 100 variations of each drum. Or you can spend alot of money and convince yourself you are going to need those extra settings in between for a static drum sound.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I'm not interested in MACHINE type solutions as these are basically a VSTi sampler with dedicated controller, but bring nothing new to the table soundwise.

U should really try it out before u make that statement. For one thing, it has mpc/sp1200 emulation on all pads, which sounds amazing and you can use on any sound, and besides using vsts, alot of the effects built in sound amazing imo. Its for sure not just a vst sampler. You can build full tracks in it, and I don't know, its pretty unique to me. Even the swing on it, it has one knob and has a percentage, but, to me it sounds different than any swing I have tried in other daws and it sounds good. All I'm sayin is should at least try it before you knock it.

I've tried machine:
- nice sample library, but nothing new
- nice dedicated controller, but nothing an AKAI MPD can't do
- nice own sequencer, but you can also use drumazon to do TR type beatmaking and sync it with the DAW

It's nice that its all integrated, but it's nothing new, also it's not a drumcomputer as such (and does nothing without a DAW)
so i would classify this more as a dedicated controller than a drumcomputer

Well, if "something new" is your only criteria, why are you looking at drum machines? Drum machines haven't been broken any substantial new ground in decades - they're all just repackaging old ideas that have been around since the TR X0X's and before.

IOW, you could make this same argument about most drum machines on the market these days:

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I've tried machine: - nice sample library, but nothing new - nice dedicated controller, but nothing an AKAI MPD can't do - nice own sequencer, but you can also use drumazon to do TR type beatmaking and sync it with the DAW

argh.. every time I see this thread I keep thinking this:

http://www.korg.com/ESX1

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie (and does nothing without a DAW)

But it does, it has standalone mode, does not require a daw and practically is a daw in its own right. Fire it up, turn off monitor and bam there u go. Doesn't matter what I say its not gonna change ur thoughts about it. But yea, I would like to try Elektron Machinedrum, the sounds I've heard from it sounded cool and it would be nice to lay in bed and fall asleep to making beats. it does have a headphone jack doesn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by Lucidity But it does, it has standalone mode, does not require a daw and practically is a daw in its own right.

I think Raphie meant that it won't operate sans computer (DAW), rather than host (DAW).

correct, if you pull the USB plug it's dead
But I can imagine machine having great workflow and bet it gets creativity going. So don't want to diss it, it's just not for me.

I've purchased the Tempest as i wanted an analogue drum machine again and i like to play around with it's sequencer. Then i purchased a JOMOX Mbase-11 as well as i used to have a XBASE-999 and sold it, but i loved it's kick. The Tempest sounds very undaw, raw, unprocessed, boring maybe even. But it has immediately "that" atmosphere, without the polished ITB sample banks sounds. I mean ITB i've got Drumazon, Nepheton, GA1 and an AKAI MPD-18, could not really justify buying Machine as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie correct, if you pull the USB plug it's dead

Well, not exactly. Just to clarify (in case anybody else reading this is considering Maschine), the hardware is only a controller, so it won't work without without USB power, but you can use the hardware to control other MIDI-capable synths via the MIDI connections without using the Maschine software. Also, the software will still work without the controller plugged in. But, your main point is true: the Maschine hardware does not function as a standalone drum machine.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie 80'ties

Sorry this post is worded so sporadic.

Ok so im in turmoil over what to get now.

Originally I planned on getting a Tempest, although its obviously very nice, I don't feel like the price is justified.

the Jomox is very very nice, but i dont want to drop that amount of cash to just get very nice deep kicks. (eventually id like to get one, but do not have the budget and would like more than just a nice kick)

After watching a ton of youtube videos I've been thinking about getting a electribe esx1, I like how you can make a ton of sounds with it besides percussion. The problem is I get the feeling that its cheap for a reason...(although this is what i currently plan on getting unless you guys think otherwise)

Everyone here seems to be in favor of the machinedrum, but i dont understand what this has over the electribe esx1. since they are both samplers, cant you get the same kicks etc..?

Something Im not sure i am completely understanding is what Looneyforclooney was saying, were you saying that even though the tempest/jomox are analogue, that once you record it into your daw it will sound the same as a sample of the same thing? IE: a kick

lastly instead of starting a new thread, out of curiosity are there any "toys" you guys like? IE: korg kp3

If anything i said is blatantly wrong please let me know as these are just my assumptions

As an Electribe owner, I can say go for it, as I love mine, and it;s only a ancient ES-1.

So much fun and so easy to get grooves and sounds going on it.

I can use it as stand alone drum machine with sounds just the tribe itself, or just as a controller with my NI Battery template.

The ESX is great fun - the only thing is, that some (not all) of the sounds are a little dated, but at least you can sample whatever you want in to it. The FX are good (apart from the "tubes" which are really just a gimmick) but the big thing is the fun factor.

Honestly, in less than 2 minutes from power on I can have a decent loop going and record it in to logic. It can also be used a a decent stand alone FX unit.

Check out Denktribes video on youtube:

had ESX and EMX and it was incredible fun but very limited. miss them but think im going to buy a machinedrum....

ELEKTRON!

Me playing on my Roland D2 engine groovebox! (mc-505 and JV1080 sound engine)

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