Drum Machines in my collection that I love and use regularly, in order of importance:
Nord Drum 3P Indigo ( a 3P that I painted blue)
Elektron Model: Cycles (not technically a drum machine, but damn that kick is meaty)
Korg Volca Drum (I love drum synths and this one is just the right amount of weird)
PO-32 (I honestly hate putting this one so low, as it’s so powerful)
Elektron Model: Samples (surprisingly good at drum duties)
Korg Volca Beats (I also like the weird snare and the stutter effect feature, just gets lost in the shuffle often)
PO-12 - Nice crunchy little guy
Yamaha RY30 - If I need some old school vibes
PO-24 Office - You never know when you’ll need fax machine samples right? It’s actually a pretty cool drum machine that should get more love in my setup, but I just rarely need those particular sounds in a song.
If I need the classic sounds, I’ll pull out the Roland MV-1 Verselab and deal with the menu diving.
Because of my large collection, drums are the last thing I need to improve on, but I can’t help it, I LOVE DRUM MACHINES! There are quite a few on my wishlist despite my stockpile. Many of the devices on my wishlist have been discussed in this thread, but there are a few I’m surprised didn’t get a mention…
Most Wanted (In order of current GAS urges):
LXR-02 - Really surprised there’s not more love for this incredible device here? What gives? The morph function alone is enough to keep my interest piqued.
Perkons - Good God.
Analog Rytm - I would be happy with only Elektron boxes TBH.
DR-1 - Love the look, but the price tag has kept Gas to a minimum.
Pulsar-23 - Though I really want one, all the demos I have heard suggest that it has a very distinct sound and tone and is therefore, not very versatile.
Gotherman’s Spaze Drum - Very interested in this brand. Wondering if they are basically techno machines, or if they could fit my areas of interest as well. Gotta love 6 LFO’s.
Twisted Electrons Deton8 - Not expensive or flashy, but looks like a great fit for me, and right up my alley, if I can ever find one.
DSI Tempest - This should probably be higher, but the price tag keeps it off my radar for the most part, though I will always want one until the itch can be scratched.
Korg Drumlogue - Though nothing has really impressed me thus far, the fact that it’s open source opens the door for all kinds of improvements as time goes on. Looking forward to seeing what all it can do.
So… why is there so little love for LXR-02 here? Really thought I would see it on this thread but I believe this is the first mention of it.
The LXR-02 comes over, in the demos I’ve heard anyway, as very aggressive and harsh which might not be to everybody’s taste although I’m sure it’s capable of softer sounds, hard and industrial seems to be its main character.
I’m currently gassing for a Jomox Alpha Base. I have an AR2 and it’s the best drum machine I’ve ever had. Before that I’d had a Korg KPR77 back in the 80’s which had the worst kick drum ever and an Alesis SR16 in the 90’s then a BOSS DR660 so the AR2 is a massive jump up from those specimens.
The Perkons looks like a ton of fun but I’m not sure I’d use it much in my own recordings, it has its own sound which is so massive it almost doesn’t need anything else but the price is unjustifiable for my current financial situation.
I have bought and sold almost all drum machines. I love to play with them…for a week or two…then realize since I dont make music for a living, the drum machine is really expensive for such a specific thing…I can do drums on my MPC or Machine Mk3…or other all in ones.
But, I really like the Modor DR-1 and the Pulsar…those are fun and so nice.
I don’t know if it’s ok to mention software but Bram Bos made some drum synths that emulate real transistors and such. It’s geeky, sounds amazing and very affordable compared to hardware. I’m not affiliated, just a fan
All his software including his 303 clone and synths emulate real electronic circuitry. The best part is that you can control pretty much every single parameter and control in the apps via midi. Easy to sequence and control from the comfort of your Elektron box.
Here you can find some samples of different patches I’m currently working on. The idea is putting together enought of them for a live performance of about an hour.
Probably once it is ready, I’ll use another synth with midi capabilities and make the most of it, meaning controling it live, sequencing, etc…
This synth is instant superfun.
Groovebox, drum synth with sequencer, synthesizer, just dream about it and build it
PO12 - Fast, fun, crunchy as hell, and shamelessly noisy. The kicks thump too.
Model:Cycles - The kick of course, but also the sweet spot of flexibility, inspiring limitation, unique sound, and fast workflow that make it a very special and unmatched machine, certainly in the price range.
Digitakt - Almost gets me in tears how fast and fun it is. I’m new to it and my sample library still sucks, and it can be awkward to manage such decoupled tracks, but this kind of workflow speed is a superpower.
PO32 - Also quick and fun and sounds great. The punch in effects are so unique. The morph knob is such a cool idea.
Volca Beats - Just enough drum machine to be cool. Really fast, albeit limited, sequencer, unique sound, and that stutter thing is way more fun that it should be. Also those toms get me emotional sometimes. Usually needs effects, but almost any will do.
Octatrack - Has mostly been dethroned by the DT for my drum purposes, but the crossfader, slices, and sample retriggering give it a leg up, the effects are always great fun, and it’s got my favorite overall filter.
A4 will probably be on this list once I have a good patch library. I love it, but I haven’t found the drum machine flow with it yet. It does make great drums for sure, I just think of a drum machine as something a little different performance-wise.
I feel similarly about the MnM, but the BBOX is super fun with the arp.
TT606 I am keeping around basically just for the hi hats.
I love my MC, it’s limits and surrounding them, all these nice knobs and buttons to play around with. Currently trying to build one-track drum loops with lfo modulation, FILL and such. Best to play with ever, so direct and accessible.
Did anyone evaluate the DSI Tetr4 as drumMachine yet?
It is a synth, ok, but if A4 is considered I believe the Tetr4 should also be a contender
As a synth is amazing, and as any synth with fast envelopes it should be perfect for such matter.
It works in many ways as a modular as it allows some crazy routing and sequencing.
Blofeld could also be a nice drumSynth/machine but is lacking a sequencer as such,
and something to trigger it xD…
not mine but it does explain what I meant
This video sometimes sound a bit like a Vermona drm, an ADX1, or something analog along this line I guess, at least to my ears… maybe just the full analog path it uses. I can definetlly heard some beautyful tones on this video actually.
