Drum Machines

[robertzombie]

Well I would quite like to invest in a drum machine to add the musical phenomenon that is the mumbles

the thing is, i really don't know how they work/how to use one and i'm on a bit of a budget.

I don't mind buying a cheap one, but i would especially like to know how do you use one (are they difficult to use?) and what other things will i need to buy to go with it? an amp?
Also, can it be plugged into the PC so I can record the drum-patterns for the albums?

[aims]

You're best sticking with a VST drum machine if you've got something to run it in. Hardware drum machines are not cheap and there are several things your money could be better spent on for that sort of cost. The one I use is e-phonic's Drumatic.

[robertzombie]

what program do I need to add this addons to?

[aims]

Any VST-enabled one. I'd assume that whatever you're currently using to record supports VST plugins (just about everything does). Any program with MIDI and VST support should do it. If yours doesn't, then KVR Audio has a good list of them.

[robertzombie]

I'm slightly confused... We use Cool Edit Pro to record. Are you saying I can turn it into a drum machine program?

[Quiff Boy]

every dodgy goff band that ever was at some point used an alesis sr16

i gather rhombus still do

boss "dr rhythm" machines are also pretty popular

sisters-wise, if you want that vintage sisters sound you need something from this list:

http://www.thesistersofmercy.com/tech/doktors.htm

• Boss DR55 Doctor Rhythm
• Roland TR606 (had one of these - sound like s**t)
• Roland TR808 (industry standard for dance music - not cheap anymore!)
• Roland TR909 (also industry standard for dance music - and even less cheap than an 808)
• LinnDrum (think march violets' "snake dance"!)
• Oberheim DMX (never were cheap! another classic like the 808)
• Yamaha RX5 (had one of these too - they're cack)

if you have a decent spec pc and a decent sound card, the best bet is a virtual drum machine program, or a vst plugin as mentioned above. kvr is a good place to look them up... i have a few drum machine "hosts" that have sound banks for all the best drum machines

have a look on the web about "vst" plugins... they're virtual instruments that run inside your music sequencer. they act as if they were real machines connected to your pc, but their sound comes direct from your soundcard and is generated in real time, so you dont need to play the song on your machine to record it back into your pc...

not all music software can use vst instruments though. have a google to see if your software can. cubase and logic audio are the 2 "big" music apps and they both can.

also, a cheap way of doing it if you just want an 808 and a 909 would be to grab a copy of "rebirth" - its a piece of pc software which acts as a standalone 808 & 909 emulator (also has a couple of 303 squidgy bass synths thrown in for a bit of acid madness!)

good luck

[Ed Rhombus]

..

[Ed Rhombus]

every dodgy goff band that ever was at some point used an alesis sr16

i gather rhombus still do

Cheeky sod.

The SR-16 (Speak and Spell in black) was pensioned off about 18 months ago, hard to back up and we'd filled the memory (Boom-boom-tat x 100)

We upgraded to a Yamaha RM1-X Sequencer , which has loads of synths and a great football rattle.

[robertzombie]

So how do u actually work one?

[Ed Rhombus]

You either program and plot each drum from scratch or link preset pattens together.

Easy when you get the hang of it

[robertzombie]

See this is the thing, I don't wanna buy one and then not have a clue

Maybe if I go to a music shop that stocks em someone can show me how to use it.

[Ed Rhombus]

Buy a cheap one on Ebay and play around with it.

Make sure it's Midi and easy to back up.

[robertzombie]

Well there's an Alesis SR 16 SR-16 on Ebay so I think I will bid on that... hey, I've gotta spend my GCSE-passing-money on something!

[Ozpat]

Ask Doctor A.?

[nick the stripper]

I own an Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine; they're sturdy, have a nice sound, and are relatively cheap.

edit - don't drink and post, kids.

[Dark]

I have a drummer.

[ruffers]

also, a cheap way of doing it if you just want an 808 and a 909 would be to grab a copy of "rebirth" - its a piece of pc software which acts as a standalone 808 & 909 emulator (also has a couple of 303 squidgy bass synths thrown in for a bit of acid madness!)

good luck

Rebirth's great, I've spent many a happy hour squelching around with it. Best of all, it's now free..

http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/

[robertzombie]

Well it turned out that the "reserve price" for £55 so that's a no...

he also said that he hates the Alesis SR 16 SR-16 and it wouldn't be suited for my band

EDIT - However he did recommend a ZOOM RT-123 which I've found and it looks like a better deal. Anyone know anything about that machine? pros/cons? I've done some googling but thought I'd ask on here as well in case any of you own one.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

also, a cheap way of doing it if you just want an 808 and a 909 would be to grab a copy of "rebirth" - its a piece of pc software which acts as a standalone 808 & 909 emulator (also has a couple of 303 squidgy bass synths thrown in for a bit of acid madness!)

good luck

Rebirth's great, I've spent many a happy hour squelching around with it. Best of all, it's now free..

http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/

Rebirth is indeed very nice, but then again, just go for Propellerhead's REASON proggie! SAM (FGG) uses it too, and you can have a gazillion songs in just five minutes if you want (but I don't want that ).

Then again, Motz's suggestion is also very good. Drumatic is a very nice rhythm plugin.

As for VST-able stuff, there are some options. Steinberg products are very good, but rather expensive to buy (Cubase, Nuendo). You can use an illegal copy of course, but I'm not propagating piracy here...

Propellerhead has very good products, as said (all the RE- products are great: Rebirth, Reason, the whole ReWire concept in general).

The whole new deal is Ableton Live which is a very powerful piece of sampler software.

KVRAudio is a very nice site to check stuff out, tho it vcan be a bit overwhelming at first. Then again, they have a lot of free plugins, so you have more budget to spend on something else!

My advice: try to find a copy of Ableton Live or a small Cubase and find a drum plugin like Drumatic.

Then go further

Best of luck!

EDIT: personally, I think a drum machine ain't good for your purposes; try software plugins as said, you will become very bored with your drum machine after a while, and then you have to go and buy another one etc etc...

IZ.

[Dark]

I repeat, ChaZZerS.. he is a feckin' drumming MACHINE.

Plus he doesn't need batteries.

[spot778]

Great drum machine museum HERE

[Zuma]

I used to have an SR 16, it sounded great, but was a pig to program and store songs on.
Ended up with a bloke called Daniel instead and he was good, but took a lot of chips and lager to run

I'd go for the plug in if possible...

[aims]

I repeat, ChaZZerS.. he is a feckin' drumming MACHINE.

Plus he doesn't need batteries.

And how easy is it to pull him out, switch him on and just record?

Drumatic 1 - 0 People

[Dark]

If I ask nicely, he'll pull all the stops out, switch his brain on, and play (and hopefully record) a great drum track.

Yeah, don't go looking in Tierkreis EPs for drum machines anymore, people.

[allfear]

I bought an old Roland TR-505 th eother day, we had one at svhool, there ace!!!

I to own an SR-16 was the bain backbone for all living fear until I got the yamaha DB50XG Daughterbord for my turtle beach soundcard in 1997.

for future use, i havent a clue what im gonig to use, though 2 corrosion tracks on the last cd used fruity loops as a percussion source.