Cool Drum Machines???

[PeterBregman]

I want another drum machine, but I can't find one that seems to fit the bill.

I have a Volca Beats (did the snare mod), and honestly, it's pretty great. I can sequence or play live, the sounds are pretty good, I can trigger it with MIDI, etc. Good stuff. The only down sides are the single mono output, the fact that it's kinda noisy, and the fact that the sounds aren't that flexible. I also have an Organelle, which I love, and it can do lot's of drummy things, but it doesn't feel the same as a dedicated drum machine - also, no direct outs.

I'm looking for something that can do these things:

-Nice sounding with flexible sounds (bonus points for analog, but I'm not a snob)
-Dedicated outs with at least four channels (kick, snare, hat, whatever)
-MIDI would be super nice, not a must, but super nice
-Some kind of on-board sequencer would also be real nice
-Pads/buttons to play live would also also be nice
-Not horribly expensive

I know something like the Drumbrute would technically fit the bill, but it's huge and I don't really like the sounds. I'm way more of a CR-78 guy than a 808/909 guy.

Oh, and no modular. I know modular is cool and all, but I'm not ready to go there.

Maybe what I'm looking for doesn't exist. Maybe it will be announced at NAMM? Who knows.

[J.Rawls]

Not sure if this violates "not horribly expensive," but sounds to me like you're describing the Elektron Analog Rytm or Machinedrum

[$harkToootth]

This is the biggest perpetrator of 'flexible sounds'. It's basically been tried for war crimes because of it. They're not 'cheap' anymore either. That back panel though. I'm sure an intuitive studio master like you would know what to do.


You could wait for MR. D.

[PeterBregman]

Not sure if this violates "not horribly expensive," but sounds to me like you're describing the Elektron Analog Rytm or Machinedrum

I was worried someone would say this. It's probably the right answer, but not one I wanted to hear (because of price). Maybe I should give the Digitakt another look.

[PeterBregman]

This is the biggest perpetrator of 'flexible sounds'. It's basically been tried for war crimes because of it. They're not 'cheap' anymore either. That back panel though. I'm sure an intuitive studio master like you would know what to do.


You could wait for MR. D.

707's not a bad idea. I need to do more research.

Mr D seems real cool. I guess we'll see if it materializes.

[actual]

The Acidlab Drumatix looks and sounds quite good, though I haven't tried one. All analog, editable sound individual outs, sequencer, midi, etc. It's obviously based on a TR-606. 660eur over here, might be more expensive in the US. Acidlab also do 808's and 909's.
I also really love the 707 and use samples of it a lot, but the only parameter you can edit per sample is the volume.

[youtube][/youtube]

[echorec]

I know something like the Drumbrute would technically fit the bill, but it's huge and I don't really like the sounds. I'm way more of a CR-78 guy than a 808/909 guy.

[...]

Maybe what I'm looking for doesn't exist. Maybe it will be announced at NAMM? Who knows.

Have you seen the Cyclone Analogic stuff? They make a CR-78 tribute with several outputs. It's not a perfect clone, but it has MIDI and it's quite portable.

https://www.perfectcircuitaudio.com/cyc ... t-bot.html

I've been hoping for a '78 Boutique this year, since it will be the 40th anniversary. I have a CR-68, but haven't done the MIDI upgrade yet.

[$harkToootth]

707's not a bad idea. I need to do more research.

The multiple outs is awesome. Things get weird if you have lots of pedals to choose from.
This guy uses his in a more conventional way...but he makes great music (I don't think he treated the source sounds that much?)
(I have posted this before...sorry)
[youtube][/youtube]

MSTRKRFT did some cool things with the 707. I was reading an interview where they said it was deliberately chosen for how recognizable and not flexible it was

In the spirit of full transparency...I only own one because I bought it when I was drunk a couple years ago. Whoopsie!!!

[JonnyAngle]

Axoloti.

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Bartimaeus]

Korg Electric ER1 (mki) is an amazing little box! It was my first drum machine, and while I've upgraded since I still miss the thing. There was something really fun about programming it, and the sounds were great. It may be digital, but it's mostly analog-modeling and each knob has enough range to come up with some crazy cool sounds in addition to traditional synthetic drums.

Only hangup for you would be the lack of dedicated outputs per sound, but I still thing it's a worthwhile option. You'll just have to record each sound individually if you want to process them separately, but that isn't always a bad thing since it can motivate you to add some extra "live" automation to each track while you record.

[Olin]

Have you thought about using something like an MPC1000? It can sequence things just like a drum machine and you can load your own sounds onto it to get whatever sound you want.
They can be had pretty cheap these days and might float your boat.

[comesect2.0]

Any one ever use a Metasonix assblaster......?

[D.o.S.]

Any one ever use a Metasonix assblaster......?

I believe jwar has

[MechaGodzilla]

Come on guys

Any one ever use a Metasonix assblaster......?

Urmom used one on me

[$harkToootth]

They're like $1500 - $2000 though. Not that I could repair a 707 but I think the maintenance behind the Metasonix stuff is not the most intuitive. Super niche circuitry around unconventional applications of tubes.

I've thought about getting a Trogotronic Tube distortion and running my drum machines through it to see if it could come close to emulating that sort of sound.