Drum Machines or No need anymore?

**Centurion** · December 20th, 2007, 07:26 PM

In case anybody still uses these, whats out there that is current. I sort of like using these instead of straight sequencing. Some feaures in the drum machines are more natural for creating beats when compared to dropping dots in a midi window. Just talking out loud. Anyone have a preference to either?

**Dusty Chalk** · December 20th, 2007, 09:03 PM

Do you mean finger-tapping, or something one would actually hit with sticks, or are you just talking sound?

If sticks, nothing beats that physical modeling thing that Roland came out with, the V-Drums. If you're thinking finger-tapping, and if you're going sample-based, I'd think the Akai MPC1000 would be the thing to beat.

I'm not a drummer, though I've played drums (mostly for entering data). But I've found I'm most natural finger-tapping on my Alesis HR-16b.

**Centurion** · December 20th, 2007, 09:56 PM

Actually I was thinking more of setting time signatures to something besides 4/4. Triplet mode for example or 7/8 etc. seems more intuitive within the DM interface when this is running against other midi tracks. It is also quicker to play around with the beats IMO, to change up grooves on the fly as the loop runs the measure than it is with a sw sequencer for example, at least with the DM slaved to SMPTE on the main controller you do not have to mute out other channels that are interfering with the creative hearing or whatever. Kind of hard to explain since most of it comes down to the personal preference and how one works.

**Synthpopalooza** · December 21st, 2007, 06:46 AM

I haven't used drum machines in awhile. I generally tend to use synthesized drums created with any of my three synths, including a Yamaha DX-100 kick drum which has pretty much become part of my signature sound, and I just sequence the sounds like anything else.

I am also fond of using custom hi hat sounds, programmed with an ADSR so that a quick release creates the closed hi-hat, and holding the note makes it an open hi hat.

Lately I have started using samples of vintage drum machines, and also drum sounds created using soft synthesis. I just think it helps my sound stay fresh.

I have also been playing around a bit with a software drum machine called the Hammerhead Rhythm Station.

**Centurion** · December 28th, 2007, 11:34 PM

That's the cool part about samples, the sounds. The drum machine is typically tied to the sound banks that it supports, but with samples anything is possible. At times I have used the drum machine to send trigger outputs the sampler so that I can still use the drum machine interface on the sampler sound platform.

**robotrock** · January 10th, 2008, 01:58 AM

Hardware vs. software isn't a debate that will be resolved anytime soon. I like both and own several examples of both, but almost exclusively use software for production these days. For those who like the drum machine style interface, there are several software options like ReBirth (free now!) or the new Kik Axxe ($49) and for those who (like myself) covet the cool sounds of drum machines past, visit here:

http://www.samples.kb6.de/downloads.php

Complete sample sets from nearly every drum machine worth mentioning!

**Synthpopalooza** · January 10th, 2008, 06:45 AM

Oh, if it's vintage Drum machine samples you want, you can also go here:

http://machines.hyperreal.org/winky/0022.html?Winky

Roland, Boss, Linndrum, you name it ... plus the most complete TR-808 sample set in existence. Next best thing to owning the real thing.

**ERIC31** · April 2nd, 2008, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Synthpopalooza

Oh, if it's vintage Drum machine samples you want, you can also go here:

http://machines.hyperreal.org/winky/0022.html?Winky

Roland, Boss, Linndrum, you name it ... plus the most complete TR-808 sample set in existence. Next best thing to owning the real thing.

Ahhhhh Linndrum!!! Since I'm firmly stuck in the 80's soundwise that place is the spot!! I don't want to sound "modern"!

**Red and Shiny** · April 8th, 2008, 02:48 PM

How about a real drummer or are those too hard to find. Plus I think electronic music is hard to play by a real drummer, no?

**Synthpopalooza** · April 11th, 2008, 06:57 AM

Oh, I forgot to mention, there is a really cool software synth which exculsively creates drum hit sounds:

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2041.html

It's called Saros. Really nice, I have made some sounds with the thing already. Plus I used to know the guy xoxos who made this, from way back in the old mp3.com days. Get it.