Best drum machine to buy?Need Help [Archive] - The Unofficial Access Virus & Virus TI Forum

Hollowcell

14.02.2005, 07:02 AM

I'd say the best drum machines are the ones that have pads to trigger the sounds - growing out of a drum machine happens quite quickly, so having one that can trigger other instruments via midi is a must.

As far as the Machinedrum goes, I almost consider that thing a synth more than a drum-box. Where's Uden to explain more about the Machinedrum when you need him? :D

Drammy

14.02.2005, 06:54 PM

I've got a Machinedrum and don't even use it! I'd recommend looking into alternatives if you want it to sync perfectly to an external MIDI clock!

The sounds it generates are simply incredible. But without decent syncing capabilities it is useless to me. The samples can be forward or backward from the beat by up to 100 samples and is not at all consistent.

Drammy

chinard

14.02.2005, 07:23 PM

I'm more of a fan of the roland MC series just because thats what i've been working with for so long.
Been using my mc-505 for years and still have no need to replace or update it. These days you can pick them up used for next to nothing.

Its got all the basics you need for standard kits or 808/909 kits plus nice individual channel out options. Shitty effects, but thats what VST is for :roll:
Sequencer on it is pretty nice too especialy with rythym part mute options.
Nice thing is if you dont like the internal sounds, just strap it up to a sampler with the kits you want.

Of course i have alot of friends that also swear by the electribe-r. Never tried it myself.

Smag

14.02.2005, 09:20 PM

If you're after filthy dance kicks then go here:

www.jomox.com

I've just got an Mbase which only does kicks, but they are the best kicks I've ever heard (909, 808 style) with warmth and punch (real analog) and they just spill out of the box so easily. I use this with Battery playing percussion over the top and it's a setup I recommend It might be an idea to get them off Ebay if you're skint as Jomox stuff is relatively expensive.
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saba

14.02.2005, 09:24 PM

The machinedrum is arguably the finest electronic drum machine ever made.

It's a bit quirky and eccentric in it sounds, depending how far you push it, so if you want something more commercial sounding, the electribe ER's are supposidely okay.
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Hollowcell

15.02.2005, 12:59 AM

I'm more of a fan of the roland MC series just because thats what i've been working with for so long.
Been using my mc-505 for years and still have no need to replace or update it. These days you can pick them up used for next to nothing..

I have a JX305 (same sounds as the 505), which I would sell in a heart beat if someone would make it worth my while. I hate the beats on it - so static and boring, little punch and no bottom end. The only thing usable would be some of the higher end precussion.

It's got the names of 909/808 with some of the kits, but it definitely doesn't have the sound (specially with the kik drums).

AcideDigital

16.02.2005, 01:49 PM

nordlead

16.02.2005, 03:09 PM

Drammy - I have a Machinedrum and use it live without any trouble. I use it as master, and it controls my Rm1x (that controls my other synths). What kind of trouble are you having syncing it? are you using it as master or slave? I read it had sync problems when being in slave mode.

Hollowcell

16.02.2005, 11:51 PM

Well, what I really want is an analogue Drum machine that I can trigger while playing live. A drum Machine I can modify in real-time. I've heard the sounds on the the MachineDrum and they sounded a little too soft. But maybe those sounds can be modified. I don't know. I am looking for a Drum Machine that is has a wide palette of sounds.

Some bigs asks there for an Analogue drum box. The choices are dramaticly reduced if you are after Analogue only. Maybe vintage, or something from the Jomox range would suit.

AcideDigital

17.02.2005, 10:29 AM

It doesn't have to be analogue. Especially because I'm into making techno. Mostly house and trance, ambient and Breakbeat.
Had a MC505 and the sounds were very limited, I couldn't modify anything. It had a very easy to use sequencer. I also had a Korg ER1, also very easy to use but sounds were not what I was looking for. Jomox is a very good 909/808 clone but limited as well.

Now don't know much about Elektron DrumMachine....Can it make a*s-kicking beats????? Can it make soft and delicate souds as well???

Thanx

saba

17.02.2005, 11:31 AM

I've heard the sounds on the the MachineDrum and they sounded a little too soft.

If my recording source was higher quality (onboard at the moment -- woe!) I'd record you some of the monstrous kicks it can do. Downright kidney spasming joint trembling subbass sine waves of doom. Or something.
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Panopticon

17.02.2005, 12:01 PM

Yeah, the machinedrum can get mean sounding in a hurry. It's pretty pricey, though; but an excellent piece of kit. I'm also really liking some of the software offerings, like Linplug's RMIV. It's half synth, half sampler, and dead easy to use. For real sounding drums, look no further than Drumkit from Hell Superior.

Smag

17.02.2005, 09:07 PM

For real sounding drums, look no further than Drumkit from Hell Superior.

Yes, Drumkit from Hell is going to be my next buy, so I'll have that running with samples on Battery and kicks provided by Jomox Mbase - should be nice.

Panopticon

17.02.2005, 09:54 PM

Yes, Drumkit from Hell is going to be my next buy, so I'll have that running with samples on Battery and kicks provided by Jomox Mbase - should be nice.

I'm sure you'll love dfhS. I've had it for about five months, and everyone who's been here to listen to the album's progress always asks about how we recorded the drums. I just smile and don't tell...

Merlot

17.02.2005, 10:35 PM

STYLUS RMX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drammy

18.02.2005, 09:50 AM

Nordlead,

Thanks for the response. I am syncing to Cubase SL 2.0 on a PC. I cannot set the MD as slave as Cubase won't sync to an external source via MIDI clock.

This is a real problem for me and since I bought RMX I am thinking of selling my hardly used MD, unless you have any ideas...

udenjoe

18.02.2005, 03:20 PM

I was going to say you probably use Cubase since that's the one everyone complains about with the MD. It's capable of alot of different sounds. In the case of buying on the free market you always have choices.

Not in any order:

Software with a controller.(Best of all worlds)

Electribe(a bit limited, I heard)

Machinedrum(large "inorganic" palette, not going to sound like an 808 or 909 but close)

MPC 2000xl (limited by your samples)

(You could try to buy a Machinedrum from Drammy.)
The machinedrum is a bit difficult to make it sound like real drums. I mean organic/natural. It can be big tough and rough, and also soft. Most demos don't do it justice. Go check out the Yahoo Elektron Group or the elektron-users.com. The Yahoo Group should have in the Files section a Machinedrum contest. The elektron-users.com site will host the new contest. That should finish around the end of the month of Feb. Get this; this month's contest will feature the noise machine!

It's just a matter of trying them out. I can't stress this more find them used. It's just plain cheaper.

nordlead

18.02.2005, 04:08 PM

Drammy - I actually had the same problem with Cubase, but the problem was not the MD, it was Cubase. The midi clock in Cubase is BAD, at least in my computer (its a good computer and decent soundcard - audiophile). Sometimes, when hearing stuff sequenced in my Cubase, I can feel things going slightly out of tempo, or the song itself, like if someone just pushed the record a little.

I had the same problem trying to sync the virus arp with Cubase: after a while the virus was completely out of time. With all that, the fact that you cant have cubase as a slave (dont know why) doesnt help at all.

You could always record your MD loops in Cubase and sequence them as audio, or find another soft sequencer (try before buy). Other than that, my only solution, after lots of frustration, was start using hardware sequencers, which can have the same problems, but luckily so far so good. The MD still has some bugs, but the midi clock is rock solid.

AcideDigital

19.02.2005, 06:09 PM

Thanx alot you guys. I think I'll be getting a MachineDrum. The only problem is that it's expensive. But i've heard the sounds and can only conclude that it is worth it.

Drammy

19.02.2005, 08:01 PM

Nordlead,

I hear what you are saying but the MD is the only piece of kit that is not in sync. My setup is pretty good and I find the timing spot on with my RME soundcard.

Unfortunately I cannot record individual loops because in a 1 bar loop with a kick playing 4 4 I find that the first kick may be 100 samples after the beat, the second perhaps 40 samples before the beat and so on. There is no consistency at all so it is not as if I can simply move the sounds onto the beat as they are not in time with each other.

I love Cubase, have used it for over 15 years and am having to think about switching to another seqencer. I can't go hardware sequencer as It will render the the thousands of pounds worth of VST's useless. My UAD-1's and Powercore are to valuable alone. So either the MD goes or I switch sequencer!

Very upsetting...

Drammy

nordlead

20.02.2005, 05:05 AM

Damn Drammy, that sure sounds bad. Have you tried a different MD? From a friend or something. It could be that concrete MD... Have you emailed Elektron about it?

In any case, if you have so much invested in Cubase, I'd say sell the MD. You could always try to sequence it from Cubase, but you would be losing the parameter locks ability. If you sell it you could always look for some new gear or get yourself a copy of Stylus RMX.

Good luck, and dont worry, in the worst case you can sell and get most of your money back; people like to buy Elektron stuff.

udenjoe

20.02.2005, 04:01 PM

I really think Elektron should mention something about it with respect to Cubase. I also think Cubase should allow for external clock.

I'm sorry to hear this because the MD is so fun.

Analog Warriors

01.05.2005, 09:09 PM