Machinedrum Appreciation

poonti · 2015-03-16T05:23:05.000Z

I love my MD, but the AR is going nowhere - I just think of it as an analog synth/sampler with pads and the best performance setup ever! It can do drums, percussion, synths, chords, leads, bass - whatever you want. I think MD and AR are my two top Elektron boxes at this time, with A4 next.

And I do have an mfb522 - I can’t even compare that simpleton with the AR in terms of sound shaping possibilities, malleability, well you know the drill (just listen to all the AR entries in the recent competition to get an idea).

Tornfrayed · 2015-03-16T13:33:48.000Z

I too must confess a undying love for the MD. By far the easiest most complete piece of Electron gear I own; also have A4 and Octatrack with a RYTM otw in a month.

Orwell · 2015-03-17T11:11:27.000Z

MDUW is still a freaky machine, I love it and have sold and bought the red devil back like 7 times now

My MDUW wants to fly out the window and go hunting for the limp ar’s in the world - kind of like a red Alien hunter ready to fire digital red beams at all other drum machines on the planet

bryantalbot · 2015-03-22T12:27:44.000Z

I had a Tempest for a long time, thinking it was something I would really like. That didn’t work out.

I finally got the MD-UW instead, and I really wish I’d done it sooner. A monster drum machine that goes to seriously way-out places.

Tornfrayed · 2015-03-22T17:17:07.000Z

""bryantalbot"":

I had a Tempest for a long time, thinking it was something I would really like. That didn’t work out.

I finally got the MD-UW instead, and I really wish I’d done it sooner. A monster drum machine that goes to seriously way-out places.

What didn’t jive for you with the Tempest?

Ryan · 2017-09-17T22:27:19.161Z

I feel my heart flutter when I see the Machinedrum. Excited when I hear it’s sweet voice. There is energy I feel in my fingertips when I place my hands gently upon it.

I think Machinedrum is my soulmate. Which, you know, it might be preferable if my soul mate was an actual person(like a woman)- but, I suppose I should just be grateful that I have and am with my soulmate instead of getting pissy over who/what that soul mate is.

<3 I love Machinedrum <3

MDMnM · 2017-09-18T13:29:18.385Z

elektron should make a analog version of the MD. and with better encoders. because the encoders are the weakest point of the MD.

123alastairj · 2017-09-18T14:34:54.089Z

My MD was packed up with my MNM ready to be sold, but I took it out for one last jam and realised I couldn’t sell it. I’m actually going to sell my RYTM instead.

123alastairj · 2017-09-18T14:35:40.870Z

Women only let you down dude. The MD is a far better bet.

Ryan · 2017-09-18T15:01:46.945Z

123alastairj:

I’m actually going to sell my RYTM instead

That’s parallel to my line of thinking. I was kinda ignorant of boths machines potentials the first time I had it. When I purchased the MD the first time I just thought- I like Elektron, and I need a proper drum machine. Sold it for the RYTM because I wanted something more sincere sounding(and I thought I heard that in the RYTM- which it is to a degree). Got the Rytm- it’s alright.

Revisited the tracks I made with the MDUW- damn, I miss that crispy percussion. Got another one, at some point traded the AR off. Explored the MDUW parameters for sound design. Holy moley! This thing is DEEP! I should have experimented with the AR more. Got another AR, experiemented with the sound design- it just doesn’t feel as broad as the MDUW. Great for low end bassy aggressive stuff, takes a fine touch to get it calmer. I don’t make IN YOUR FACE percussion. MDUW wins.

123alastairj:

Women only let you down dude. The MD is a far better bet.

Yeah…love is chaos and hell is other people…

123alastairj · 2017-09-18T15:08:25.070Z

Totally. I’m making a bunch of sort Sandwell District/Chain Reaction-style techno at the moment and just find the RYTM synthesis really heard to sit in the mix, but the combination of MD+Heat really cuts through. ‘Crisp’ is exactly the word - those EFM hats for example can really strike through the fog, something I find almost impossible with the RYTM.

jshell · 2017-09-18T18:35:06.981Z

I miss mine lately. Not that it’s gone or anything. I’ve just deliberately had to keep Machinedrum and Monomachine on the shelf (under their PL-2 covers) so I could focus on Octatrack and now Analog 4 for a bit. I can’t wait to get the whole family together, but I had to put to the side because it was too easy to reach for it for drums and I needed to try and make some stuff on the OT.

I’m listening to a live set I made earlier this year that was primarily Machinedrum and Monomachine based. I just love hearing all the personality changes I can do with the MD over the course of a live set without ever interrupting the signal. From very analog-style slow beats backing some late-80’s inspired synth stuff to a heavily EFM based kit to some DNB/Breakcore kind of stuff (all synthesized) running at high speeds with a lot of interesting sounds and panning on the upper percussion to really heavily processed E12 based kits and resampling… At times with the drums being really in the foreground, at times blending in perfectly with the Monomachine, at times sitting quietly underneath everything. I know there’s no other machine I could get to make all of these sounds. Maybe when resampling comes to the Analog Rytm Mk2 it could get close to some of these Machinedrum tricks…

These silver boxes still amaze and delight.

torabi · 2017-09-21T11:15:35.266Z

A friend offered to sell me “a like new” machinedrum UW for ¥60,000 (roughly $600). Having a rytm, I don’t feel that I really need the MD now, but I don’t think I’ll ever see a deal as good as this again. Anybody care to push me over the edge?

Brandx · 2017-09-21T11:31:16.880Z

Am switching forth and back between MD and AR meaning that whenever I spend some weeks with AR I’m getting excited on MD and the other way around. The only reason for me to sell the AR is to get an AR MK2 at one point and the only reason to sell the MD would be if Elektron came up with something like an “all-in-one Elektron oldschool box (SID, MD and MnM)”.

previewlounge · 2017-09-21T11:35:25.105Z

jshell:

These silver boxes still amaze and delight.

@torabi i think jshell made the perfect illustration of how amazing the Machinedrum is.

the synthesis machines are incredible for designing energy movement, either in airwaves or vibes for a room.

torabi · 2017-09-21T11:58:15.753Z

jshell:

I’m listening to a live set I made earlier this year that was primarily Machinedrum and Monomachine based. I just love hearing all the personality changes I can do with the MD over the course of a live set without ever interrupting the signal.

I’d love to hear it!

tdmusic · 2017-09-21T13:36:13.999Z

Just do it! You won’t regret it

Birdzeye · 2017-09-21T13:37:32.108Z

Your posts on the MD really got me interested to check it out. I sourced one from Europe and it finally arrived today! I looking forward to learning how much it can do!

Ryan · 2017-09-21T13:46:50.432Z

Did you get the UW+ version?

Also, I’m happy you got it! It’s so awesome. The GND machines are a fun starting point, you’re given so little to start with you can really explore the parameters imaginatively.

Found sound samples sound AMAZING in it! I’ve got a kit I made for it you can have if you want.

Also, a while ago there was a cowbell challenge. Also a fun way to discover the power of the machine: only use the various cowbell engines in the MD to make a track.

Some other time much longer ago, there was a challenge to build a track only using 2 steps(using the various LFOs to randomize the output of voices)-- I’m a little scared of taking a crack at that one.

Very powerful machine, very beautiful machine. Very satisfying to build a track on by itself(its challenging to dial in the melodies- but that makes it all the more rewarding when you do)

Can’t wait to hear what you make with that machine! It’s definitely my favorite one!

finalform · 2017-09-21T14:38:02.072Z

Bite his/her hand off. Even if you don’t like it* and sell it on, you will make a profit.

*extremely unlikely