Drum Machine . . . should I upgrade?

[Nate the Great]

I currently have an Alesis SR-16 drum machine. I like its simplicity, but the sounds are a bit lacking. Is there another drum machine I should check out?

 

I play mostly metal, rock, experimental, and a little jazz. So I don't need any dance grooves or anything like that. I'm a guitarist, and I don't have much patients when it comes to electronics. Feel free to recommend drum machines with or without bass patterns. I've never used one with bass patterns, so I don't know how hard it would be to learn.

 

Thanks!

[Miket156]

Nate:

 

It sounds like you might be a prime candidate for a Boss DR-880. Follow the link below. It will bring you to a screen that shows the new products Roland/Boss introduced at Summer NAMM. Click on the DR-880 Icon that's in the center top row of pictures.

 

http://www.rolandus.com/index_snamm.asp

 

As luck would have it, the dude that demos the unit is a guitar player and said something like "Guitar players are the last to jump on the technology wagon". He demos how a guitar player can easily generate beats without having to step program it. It doesn't get any easier than that. The DR-880 started shipping and would be a good one to check out.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Mike T.

[Tzujan]

Hey Nate,

 

I just picked up an SR-16, and though I like the sounds, I cannot seem to get the unit to MiDi sync as a slave. Am I missing something?

I set the MiDi function to Drum in (on) and Clock In (on), and it still doesn't sync to the beat coming from the master. I checked the signal from the master by connecting to another drum machine, and it worked fine. Is there something in the menu that I am missing here, or is the unit malfunctioning?

Any ideas?

 

BTW, I run my SR-16 through a Behringer effects module, and get some great sounds. The sounds are also endlessly tweakable in the unit. Have you played with the settings at all?

 

I had a chance to check out the Boss DR880. It is a sweet unit, if you have the cash. Fully sequnceable and a great sound kit. Personnaly though, I have had better luck programming in fills and change-ups with the SR-16 and controlling them with pedals for real-time drum sounds.

 

Of course, having said that, one should bear in mind that my previous drum unit was a Yamaha RX5. Yes, that's right...an RX5. Go ahead and chuckle....I did, every time I heard the sounds....

So the Alesis was a fantastic improvement.

[pighood]

DR-880....sweetness.

[Nate the Great]

 

Originally posted by Tzujan Hey Nate, I just picked up an SR-16, and though I like the sounds, I cannot seem to get the unit to MiDi sync as a slave. Am I missing something? I set the MiDi function to Drum in (on) and Clock In (on), and it still doesn't sync to the beat coming from the master. I checked the signal from the master by connecting to another drum machine, and it worked fine. Is there something in the menu that I am missing here, or is the unit malfunctioning? Any ideas? BTW, I run my SR-16 through a Behringer effects module, and get some great sounds. The sounds are also endlessly tweakable in the unit. Have you played with the settings at all? I had a chance to check out the Boss DR880. It is a sweet unit, if you have the cash. Fully sequnceable and a great sound kit. Personnaly though, I have had better luck programming in fills and change-ups with the SR-16 and controlling them with pedals for real-time drum sounds. Of course, having said that, one should bear in mind that my previous drum unit was a Yamaha RX5. Yes, that's right...an RX5. Go ahead and chuckle....I did, every time I heard the sounds.... So the Alesis was a fantastic improvement.

 

 

I'm not very good with a drum machine, and I have no experience with MIDI syncing. I basically use a drum machine as a practice drummer. I used to play live with a real drummer, and I wanted to continue something like that now that I'm not playing live anymore.

 

In regards to the DR 880, I think it looks nice, but it is way out of my price range. It also has way more features than I would ever need. I wish somebody made something like the Alesis SR16 with bass sounds.

[Miket156]

Nate:

 

There's a review on this site now on the DR880. A guitar player bought it and doesn't like it for what he wants to do. The bass lines are pre-programmed for jams, but its not really a bass sequencer too, from what he says.

 

The 880 is a bit pricey for you just want it to practice with. It does have a lot of memory storage, as well as great sounds. I'd be curious if you actually could program the bass parts into sequences, maybe the reviewer missed something. It might be worth a call to BOSS to find out.

 

By the way, don't let the retail price of the 880 scare you, it can be had for a lot less than the MAP price. Still have to justify the cost though.

 

 

Mike T.

[GigMan]

I have an Alesis SR16 - use it for duo, solo gigs.

 

The thing has fantastic sounds, I don't know what you're talking about, Nate... Maybe it's the amp or sound system you're playing it through?

 

I liked mine so much (bought it used for $270 in the early-mid 90's) that I bought a new one last year (for $149.99!!) as a backup - planning to transfer all the custom patterns I've created into the back up one, just haven't had the time.

 

BTW -

The Alesis SR16 has been in production for about 10 yrs. I think - unbelievable, in today's changing technology market. That must mean that people are still buying the damn thing or Alesis would've stopped production long ago...

 

[kpgalligan]

I'm looking to pick up something to lay down basic ideas for songs with. I'm in a band, but want to work on ideas at home. I have a pretty basic understanding of drums.

 

Here's the equipment I have. I have a Boss BR864 recorder. It has a drum machine component built in, but in the little that I've used it it seems kind of painful to use. Anybody used that and have any comparison to a regular drum machine?

 

I have a couple high end windows pc's that I could plug something into if need be.

 

The DR-880 looks cool, but it looks like a whole lot of extra stuff I'd never use. I do like the idea of something that would come up with drum tracks a little easier. The rest I don't really care about (very high end drum sounds, as opposed to decent drum sounds, bass synth, etc).

 

The Alesis SR16 is in a better price range, but I have a feeling there's something out there that will be better for me and what I'm looking for.

 

Any thoughts on software packages? Any websites with good basic info on drum machines and programming?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Coquito]

Dr-880

[Miket156]

If you want to do just the basics on a drum machine, getting a model that's at the end of its life cycle might be a good option. The Alesis HR-16 is going for dirt cheap. Its a very capable machine and you can't beat it for the price. The entry level machines have basic drum patterns and fills, and a limited amount, if any, programming capability. That gets old fast.

 

The DR880 looks like the next machine I'm going to buy. I like the roland SRX samples and the large amount of storage space for patterns and songs on it. From the NAMM video demo, it appears you can create patterns a lot easier than doing everything with step programming. I don't use any software for recording, I can't help you there.

 

 

Mike T.

[GigMan]

 

Originally posted by Miket156 If you want to do just the basics on a drum machine, getting a model that's at the end of its life cycle might be a good option. The Alesis HR-16 is going for dirt cheap. Its a very capable machine and you can't beat it for the price. Mike T.

 

 

Mike -

Do you mean the Alesis "SR16" ?? 'Cause that is certainly dirt cheap (150 bucks), even brand new! However, the HR16 is out of production.

[Nate the Great]

 

Originally posted by GigMan Mike - Do you mean the Alesis "SR16" ?? 'Cause that is certainly dirt cheap (150 bucks), even brand new! However, the HR16 is out of production.

 

 

I know that the SR16 is being used for actual recordings. Just the sounds right out of the box. The black metal band Anaal Nathrakh uses it on every album they have.

 

Anyway . . . I think you need the SR16. I also had a Zoom recorder/drum machine/effects processor/coffee maker/etc., and I couldn't do anything with the drums. So I got the SR16 on the advice of the programmer/guitarist in Anaal Nathrakh. It is VERY easy to use.

[GigMan]

Originally posted by Nate the Great I know that the SR16 is being used for actual recordings. Just the sounds right out of the box. The black metal band Anaal Nathrakh uses it on every album they have. Anyway . . . I think you need the SR16. I also had a Zoom recorder/drum machine/effects processor/coffee maker/etc., and I couldn't do anything with the drums. So I got the SR16 on the advice of the programmer/guitarist in Anaal Nathrakh. It is VERY easy to use.

 

Umm... NatetheGreat - Dude, aren't you the one who posted this thread originally, saying you were no longer impressed w/the sounds of your SR16? Now you're recommending it to others as a must-have?

 

I don't get it...

[Nate the Great]

Originally posted by GigMan Umm... NatetheGreat - Dude, aren't you the one who posted this thread originally, saying you were no longer impressed w/the sounds of your SR16? Now you're recommending it to others as a must-have? I don't get it...

 

I was recommending it because of its ease of use. The sounds are fine, but I was only wondering if there was something better. I just think the bass drum and cymbals could use some better samples or something.

[GigMan]

Originally posted by Nate the Great I was recommending it because of its ease of use. The sounds are fine, but I was only wondering if there was something better. I just think the bass drum and cymbals could use some better samples or something.

 

Oh, gotcha.

 

I think for 150 bucks (price of a new SR16) you really can't do much better.

 

[tucktronix]

If the DR-880 is out of your price range, you should be able to find a used DR-770 for a decent price on eBay. I own one myself and the sounds are awesome. You also might check out any Zoom drum machines. Very easy to program, very ballsy drum sounds.

[Miket156]

Gigman, I was talking about the SR-16, a typo on my part. HEY, Audiomidi.com has "B" stock SR-16 on sale for $129.42. If someone just wants a drum machine to practice playing along with, you can't beat that with a stick. That drum machine is really decent.

 

 

Mike T.

[Darkstorm]

Best sounding and most flexible plus user friendly drum machine I've found is the Zoom Rythumtrak 234. Better sounding imo and more flexible then the more expensive Zoom Rythumtrak 324 too.

[Coquito]

Korg ER-1