Cheapy Simple Decent Drum Machines

[crochambeau]

Alesis SR-16 is a fine drum machine. I spent many years with one, and in a fit of nostalgia a couple of years back traded one back into the stable. It pairs decently with fuzz and other gross electronics.

[Blood_mountain]

l$80 (Canadian) today. That’s roughly $6 US.

Haha, our dollar sucks.

It sure does, but you know what doesn't suck? Buying an $80 Alesis SR16 on Kijiji with the original box, two foot pedals, adapter and midi cable! The guy was a real gem too, he hooked up a little Peavey bandit to show me it worked and a little polite small talk and off I went.

This thing rules for home jammin' and slammin'. My only beef would be I wish the tempo function was a little more intuitive (a little knob would be helpful) but aside from that I'm sold....

Every now and then some really amazing stuff turns up on Kijiji.

[aedes]

Ok, bumpity.

Maybe doesn't have to be cheapy, but what's a good option these days for a hardware drum machine, where you can program the drums per song?
I know the SR 16 was a good option back in the day with the start/stop foot switches and stuff.

What's good now for live use? I don't want to use a laptop...

I have a drumbrute impact but it's not really what I'm looking for.

Mostly want
* acoustic drum sounds
* store the the beats by song
* easy access to the song you want without tons of menu diving
* easy start/stop

Am i looking at a beat buddy here?

Thanky good peoples.

[dubkitty]

it can be a bit of a bear to deal with due to its primitive nature, but i have a Alesis HR-16 that i think has better sounds than the SR-16 which added extraneous reverb and other effects to a lot of the samples. if you can find one where the touch pads aren't fucked it's good for an 80s device and the sounds are reasonable. you can also use a MIDI drum pad for programming and to play the samples live. you can get EPROM chips that let it emulate a number of other popular drum machines of the day, but i like the native samples best. i really should get mine out sometime soon.

[Warpsmasher]

The Mooer Groove Loop is about as simple (and limited) as it gets if you're just sticking to drum machine mode and not introducing other drum loops. The Drummer X2 seems probably much better. I also have a Digitech Trio +, which is more extensive than I'll ever need, and pretty impressive overall. Run 'em through various dirts and stutter fx for instant breakcore.

[aedes]

it can be a bit of a bear to deal with due to its primitive nature, but i have a Alesis HR-16 that i think has better sounds than the SR-16 which added extraneous reverb and other effects to a lot of the samples. if you can find one where the touch pads aren't fucked it's good for an 80s device and the sounds are reasonable. you can also use a MIDI drum pad for programming and to play the samples live. you can get EPROM chips that let it emulate a number of other popular drum machines of the day, but i like the native samples best. i really should get mine out sometime soon.

Thanks--I watched a few vids and probably not the sound I want-- pretty cool though. Definitely 80s vibe.

[dubkitty]

the biggest thing you need to do with the HR16 is tune the samples. getting the pitch sorted helps everything and sounds more realistic. the guy in Arrested Development swore by his and it's noticeable on some of their tracks. said "why should i buy a newer one when this does what i need?"

[aedes]

Good point...will have to wait for prices to come down on that one to try it. There must have been a Bad Gear video or something.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

PO rhythm gotta be up there
that deeeeeeep af kick
some nice other sounds on there too

oh also roland tr6s gotta be too
all the classic roland sounds
plus u can load all your own samples
plus theres an fm synth to create your own sounds
kinda funky interface but also simple and easy to get your beats pumpin'
not as cheapy but def still on the cheaper side (~$250 used)

[aedes]

The Mooer Groove Loop is about as simple (and limited) as it gets if you're just sticking to drum machine mode and not introducing other drum loops. The Drummer X2 seems probably much better. I also have a Digitech Trio +, which is more extensive than I'll ever need, and pretty impressive overall. Run 'em through various dirts and stutter fx for instant breakcore.

Nice thanks I definitely like the Drummer X2 better than the groove loop (youtube vids), and I've messed with a friend's trio. Might have to try the x2 . hmmm.

That Korg K11 announced at Namm seems promising too.

[aedes]

PO rhythm gotta be up there
that deeeeeeep af kick
some nice other sounds on there too

oh also roland tr6s gotta be too
all the classic roland sounds
plus u can load all your own samples
plus theres an fm synth to create your own sounds
kinda funky interface but also simple and easy to get your beats pumpin'
not as cheapy but def still on the cheaper side (~$250 used)

PO-- this one? https://teenage.engineering/store/po-12/

Is that roland one more like a machine that you'll interact with in real time? Mostly looking for a set and forget thing. I think.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

PO yea thats the one
but i just reread your original post about acoustic sounds and other stuff
and the PO is definatley electronic drum sound
so maybe i was off a bit on your specific thing

but generally speaking cheapy simple decent drum machines its up there

ROLAND i think u can do both honestly. the step sequencer is really fast to program or tap in whatever your preference
there is some real time control and im pretty sure u can record your automation and stuff.
but not a ton of real time control so alot of it is more set and forget type shit
like i said the rest of the interface is a lil clunky at times but if u can work around it its really a lovely and deep machine

same goes for the MC101 but its a lil more expensive generally
and its more groovebox // beat machine orientated wehreas the TR6s is more straight drum machine orientated
(altho u can do one on the other and vice versa with a lil effort and ingenuity)

dont sleep on the electribes either
ES1, ER1, even the newer 2 series
not sure if hte EMX or ESX would be considered cheapy as they still fetch a decent used price
but they are gems in their own right too

[coupleonapkins]

the biggest thing you need to do with the HR16 is tune the samples. getting the pitch sorted helps everything and sounds more realistic. the guy in Arrested Development swore by his and it's noticeable on some of their tracks. said "why should i buy a newer one when this does what i need?"

Because rubbing pencil lead on those contact pads to get them to work again is a PITA PIKKLE PEPPER. As I've loved that machine for a thymme (and the sequencers, as well), you gotta just walk avvay at somme point & walk homme in yr chewed up loafers

The SR-16 is the mainstay for what it's still capable of doing, even today, that Alesis still sells the thang new! There's a recent thread on drum machinnin' on the PRF, but it's a little more in depth than what's being asked for (however, using the Kurt Ballou kits seems absolutely brilliant, but, again, way past the request over 'ear).

It's kinda funny, in that the higher prixed machines kind of eschew the reality of the kit for near-grooveboxin' (Elektron overboardin'), or are just as 'pensive squeakwencers (make u Squarp! Pyramid).

Korg KR 55 looks neat, and mebbe normal enuff fer yer kneads?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6MLWT25HZM

Personally, any machixne near the $500 mark should have thee ability to sound like a robot vomiting up a catalytic converter, but I also understand that most ppl like the sounds of "real" drums (baboom, tish).

That PO sherman mentioned does sound priddy clutch, but, again



Every electribe I've touched has bean a beautiful eggsperience, btw

However, like the Alesis, they are coming up inn yeers, Mike McGear, & it's only a matter of...

[dubkitty]

if the pads get fucked i'll just buy a MIDI multi-pad or something. i've used one before to program a Bo Diddley beat so we could jam on Quicksilver Messenger Service songs, and i'm telling ya it could pass for real drums through a small PA. it would actually make programming much easier because i could play a snare roll or cymbal triplet and then go in and tweak each note individually for placement off the beat and volume. to reiterate, you've gotta tune each voice for best results.

[dubkitty]

that whole thread was people talking about using DAWs because they're too lazy to scroll on a piece of hardware. i understand because it's a huge pain in the ass, but sometimes you have to do stuff you don't want to do to get a result.