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synth.

I'd like to get a physical drum machine (rather than software) to go with my pocket piano.
I'd like to be able to create and save my own beat loops, but also modify stock standard loops.
It would be nice to be able to play saved loops in patterns. can they do fills too?


Any suggestions for a good but low cost option?

volca beats is okay. akai xr20. alesis sr series. roland r5/r8. boss dr series. electribe er1. pocket operator rhythm.

Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D. wrote:volca beats is okay. akai xr20. alesis sr series. roland r5/r8. boss dr series. electribe er1. pocket operator rhythm.

any personal favorite?

Do any of them sound more natural? like acoustic drums?
Just browsing, most sound like techno drums.

alesis sr is prob the one w/ the most natural sounding drums. by most i mean number of sounds. lots of good rock kits and stuff.

most of the rompler types of drum machines will give u a sound set w/ a good mixture of acoustic vs. electronic.

GAS KING wrote:I'd like to get a physical drum machine (rather than software) to go with my pocket piano.
I'd like to be able to create and save my own beat loops, but also modify stock standard loops.
It would be nice to be able to play saved loops in patterns. can they do fills too?


Any suggestions for a good but low cost option?

I've got a Boss DR-670 in the BST. The volume knob is frustratingly non-responsive, but it does all of these things! When modifying standard loops, you'd just have to save your modifications to one of the 200 user preset banks. Also there is room for 200 user patterns. Each loop can also have its own fill. AND you can add some bass if you're feeling it. It has MIDI so if you're using a Pocket Piano MIDI you can sync 'em up (it has both in and out/thru & you can even have the built-in bass play arpeggios from the arp synth, at least on the Organelle's arp). Both electronic sounding kits and some decent rock kits. You can also create your own kits from their samples. No adding sounds, but that's par for a late 90's/early 00's dedicated drum machine.
Cons: Like I mentioned, no volume control, but it sends at a decent level (and if you run a mixer after you can just use the onboard volume there). No built-in speaker. Velocity sensitivity wasn't my thing, but maybe you'll like it so maybe this isn't actually a con?

Word, the orange and black Boss Dr is legit and the Akai Xr is pretty good and easy to use...

Vintage electribes are highly regarded and can be found 150-300 depending on model.

I'm here to plug the volca sample because it's super fun, super tweakable, and easy to use; and I think it does everything that you're looking for?

Only downside is that to load your samples onto it you have to use an app on your phone. It doesn't record its own samples.

Alesis HR-16 (lots of DIY mods available for these.)

TR-707 can sometimes be had for a decent price.

TR-505 poor man's 707 imo. fairly limited but good sounds.

Korg ER-1 excellent minimal machine.

If you want to go the analog route with a good amount of control, the Drumbrute is pretty great. I haven't had mine for long, but I've really enjoyed it so far.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The drumbrute looks pretty cool, but substantially more than I'm looking to spend at first.

The Akai XR20 seems to be the one I keep going back to.
Ease of use is important, since I have no clue what I'm doing. lol

My favorite digital machines are the 80's Yamaha's. RX-17, RX-120 (if you just want preset patterns to manipulate...it has a lot) RX-5 etc. Suprisingly natural sounding. I bend all mine though.

Volca Beats is super cool and really easy to get creative with, be prepared to stack a snare sample in with it for recording though. Or work the stutter knobs to thicken the snare individually and stack a quiet clap.

sonidero wrote:Word, the orange and black Boss Dr is legit and the Akai Xr is pretty good and easy to use...

Is that the DR-202?

GAS KING wrote:Thanks for the suggestions.

The drumbrute looks pretty cool, but substantially more than I'm looking to spend at first.

The Akai XR20 seems to be the one I keep going back to.
Ease of use is important, since I have no clue what I'm doing. lol

The horseshoe crab is a modern fossil, changing slightly over 100s of millions of years. It looks out of place in the modern world. And so does the SR16. It has been in production since 1991! The only change since then is the bit rate - originally 16-bit but now 24-bit. It sounds great and has a good menu-based user interface. You can probably find a used one on your local Craigslist or you can buy one brand new. Here is a classic tutorial - enjoy the VHSness:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYdYTR_FAqM[/youtube]

BTW, the guy above giving the tutorial is Craig Anderton who designed the Tubelike Fuzz circuit which is the basis for the Red Llama and EHX Hot Tubes.


Regards ...

Psyre wrote:Volca Beats is super cool and really easy to get creative with, be prepared to stack a snare sample in with it for recording though. Or work the stutter knobs to thicken the snare individually and stack a quiet clap.

I'm not sure what this means? it's just a crappy weak snare sound?

I was interested in the volca beats because they're only $90.
Then I saw what the Akai XR20 could do and the interface seems nice imo.....
You'd need the volca beat, bass, and key to do what the XR20 does. Unless I'm misunderstanding it. I'm really new to this world or synths and machines.....it's all very overwhelming.

Similar with the more vintage ones.....don't look as intuitive to me. again, I have no clue what I'm doing or looking at. lol