Drum Machines? Help!

[Reist]

Hey guys, I've been talking to my parents about christmas stuff, and we've decided to go pick up a drum machine sometime this weekend for my present. But at this point, I'm not sure which one would be a good choice. When I say drum machine, I mean something like this - http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend ... G&ZYXSEM=0 ... do any of you use something like this? If so, some advice on which one is best would be good. I'm going for a drum sound kind of like these tracks, if that helps -


[youtube]qxG7oI2khSM&feature=related[/youtube]


Don`t worry, I'm not becoming a rapper, but I want to expand my range of sounds.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Two thoughts here that baffle me. But you're a smart kid, so I have to assume you thought about this. I do understand why you want programmable drums even though your a drummer because I do the same and I know my reasons.

1. Why do you want a machine instead of a very intuitive program?

2. Being a drummer, why not an electric kit that you program by actually playing the exact beat that you want? This is my next big purchase after a new computer.

Ok, now back to your choices. It's been a while since I've used a drum machineosaurus, but at the time I tried several and ended with the Alesis machines. They just seemed to have the best drum samples and the easiest to understand programming.
My bud has the DR-880 and LOVES it. I've played around on it and it really could go on stage with a one man show. It's filled with samples and loops and the ability to program a complete song set that is triggered with a foot switch.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

@BLT: Portability, portability, portability. Unplug, move to a different room, plug back in, continue playing. That's my guess.
Hey, you edited your post while I was writing this!

Worthless advice: Backlit LCDs & foot pedal control (stop/start, jump to beginning of pattern/song, &c.) are good features in a noisy box.

Phil.Redmon used to be a drum machine virtuoso, if I remember rightly. You may want to approach him for the recommendizings.

[ken]

Honestly, you are soo much better off with Reason and a laptop. It like a million drum machines/synths/sampler AND and sequencer all wrapped up in one.

Okay, the one video that worked sounded like traditional Roland 707/808/909 drums to me, so look for something that has those sounds on it. Actually, the 707 is a pretty cool vintage box that you can still buy for a reasonable amount of money. The 808 and 909 are premium vintage these days. Boss units are good. I had a Boss Dr 550 mk2 back in the day and thought it was pretty good. I also had a TR707 for a while, which was fun and funky.

You might check out the older Boss Dr. Groove 202 box as it has the sounds you want and more. Or maybe one of the other groove boxes like the Roland MC-505 would be something you'd enjoy.

Just a plug for a piece of gear that may not be quite what you are looking for, but I had the Yamaha QY70 for a while and really enjoyed all the drums, synths, and patterns available. I used it on all my early songfight stuff. Also, it was super portable and always attracted attention. The current version is the QY100.

Ken

[Hoblit]

@BLT: Portability, portability, portability. Unplug, move to a different room, plug back in, continue playing. That's my guess.
Hey, you edited your post while I was writing this!

Worthless advice: Backlit LCDs & foot pedal control (stop/start, jump to beginning of pattern/song, &c.) are good features in a noisy box.

Phil.Redmon used to be a drum machine virtuoso, if I remember rightly. You may want to approach him for the recommendizings.

Drummer for my band(s) has an electric kit that can be THROWN from room to room. Takes up (but only a little) more room than a table top drum machine but it does everything it would PLUS you can play along with it. Not to mention update'ble memory where you can swap out synth pads. (and he has some pretty stupid crazy ones)

The only thing I can think of is 'stage' use. I'm not sure if his 'box' part of the set is removable and if you're playing numerous array of keyboards I'm not sure how feasible a small electric kit would fit into your set up.

[Reist]

1. Why do you want a machine instead of a very intuitive program?

I'm not sure if my computer has the power to handle one of those programs. Also, I'd like to be able to bring it places instead of just having it on my computer upstairs at my house.

2. Being a drummer, why not an electric kit that you program by actually playing the exact beat that you want? This is my next big purchase after a new computer.

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of electric drums. And if I want the sound of something programmed, I'd rather program it so it can be more exact than if I play it myself.

Not worthless advice: Backlit LCDs & foot pedal control (stop/start, jump to beginning of pattern/song, &c.) are good features in a noisy box.

I'll keep that in mind.

Honestly, you are soo much better off with Reason and a laptop. It like a million drum machines/synths/sampler AND and sequencer all wrapped up in one.

Alas, I have no laptop. It sounds good, but it'll cost a lot more, too - and since this is a Christmas gift, I probably shouldn't go for that until I can afford it myself.

Okay, the one video that worked

Ah, whoops. I fixed the links with different vids of the same songs - I think they all work now.

Just a plug for a piece of gear that may not be quite what you are looking for, but I had the Yamaha QY70 for a while and really enjoyed all the drums, synths, and patterns available. I used it on all my early songfight stuff. Also, it was super portable and always attracted attention. The current version is the QY100.

Do you happen to have a link to a song you used it for?

Drummer for my band(s) has an electric kit that can be THROWN from room to room. Takes up (but only a little) more room than a table top drum machine but it does everything it would PLUS you can play along with it. Not to mention update'ble memory where you can swap out synth pads. (and he has some pretty stupid crazy ones)

For something like that, are you able to loop multiple layers, or does it all need to be played at once? Or is that just the confused question of a child who doesn't quite understand what you're talking about?

Thanks for the quick feedback, by the way, guys.

[ken]

This doesn't really have the sound you are looking for, but it is the first that came to mind: http://www.songfight.org/music/indie_ro ... -Indie.mp3

[Lunkhead]

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of electric drums. And if I want the sound of something programmed, I'd rather program it so it can be more exact than if I play it myself.

Not that I'm arguing that you should get an electronic kit, but you can quantize the MIDI that you record playing on an electronic kit, if you want it to be exact.

[Reist]

http://www.songfight.org/music/indie_ro ... -Indie.mp3

Do all the sounds come from that little Yamaha thing you were talking about before? Because if so, that's kickass. As you said, not quite what I'm looking for, but really cool anyway.

Not that I'm arguing that you should get an electronic kit, but you can quantize the MIDI that you record playing on an electronic kit, if you want it to be exact.

Oh, I'm not worried about timing - I'm worried about not being able to play the patterns the way I envision them.

[ken]

Yeah, I remember there was two weeks before the deadline and I did that whole arrangement on the QY70. I added guitar and vocals on the computer. I took that thing on planes and to gigs and used it a lot until I got a laptop with Reason on it.

Ken

[signboy]

I totally understand your need, Reist. I own Reason AND a laptop, but my old EMX-1 still gets used at least once a week.
Advice from experience- get something that either has a metric shit ton of sounds, or supports adding samples via sd or whatever.

~~2 hrs later~~

wow. I got to snoodging around through all the drum machines I could find online, and I hate to admit it, but I need one.

it sounds like the ReDrum and Dr.Rex rolled into one. With an intuitive interface and sampling, although it uses compact flash for memory. Why would they do that? Can you even buy a CF card anymore?

oh, and Reist... I highly recommend you get some of these


but seriously... until you buy the machine of your dreams, check out izotope idrum. super simple, yet packed with features.