A good drum machine?

Hey guys,

I'm a bit stuck with drum machines. I really need a decent drum machine that isn't too expensive.

I'd like to stick in the £400 range.

Could someone please recommend me some good machines, as I have no experience in them and don't know what is good.

Thanks,

Calum

please define "good". what exactly are you looking for in a drum machine?

I'm looking for a more electronic sounding machine, not realistic drum sounds (as I already have an electronic drum kit)

well you could get a few TR series drum machines for that budget (stuff like the 606, 505, 626, maybe a 707 or 727) or you could go for the korg grooveboxes - a lot of people swear by them, and they're pretty versatile. in fact i know some people find them killer in a live context too. dunno how much the korg grooveboxes go for though

  On 3/17/2010 at 5:53 PM, oscillik said:

well you could get a few TR series drum machines for that budget (stuff like the 606, 505, 626, maybe a 707 or 727) or you could go for the korg grooveboxes - a lot of people swear by them, and they're pretty versatile. in fact i know some people find them killer in a live context too. dunno how much the korg grooveboxes go for though

I was thinking of buying a cheap used KORG ER-1 on ebay...that's going for £135, what do ya think?

  On 3/17/2010 at 5:57 PM, CalumVaughan said:

  On 3/17/2010 at 5:53 PM, oscillik said:

well you could get a few TR series drum machines for that budget (stuff like the 606, 505, 626, maybe a 707 or 727) or you could go for the korg grooveboxes - a lot of people swear by them, and they're pretty versatile. in fact i know some people find them killer in a live context too. dunno how much the korg grooveboxes go for though

 

I was thinking of buying a cheap used KORG ER-1 on ebay...that's going for £135, what do ya think?

at that price, that seems pretty damn reasonable yeah. i'd go for it. you'll have enough to get one or two of the TR stuff too - can't have too many drum machines ;)

  On 3/17/2010 at 6:02 PM, oscillik said:

at that price, that seems pretty damn reasonable yeah. i'd go for it. you'll have enough to get one or two of the TR stuff too - can't have too many drum machines ;)

Or would a ES-1 be better? That's going for £0.99, but there is 4 more days and there is a reserve price.

  On 3/17/2010 at 6:16 PM, CalumVaughan said:

  On 3/17/2010 at 6:02 PM, oscillik said:

at that price, that seems pretty damn reasonable yeah. i'd go for it. you'll have enough to get one or two of the TR stuff too - can't have too many drum machines ;)

 

Or would a ES-1 be better? That's going for £0.99, but there is 4 more days and there is a reserve price.

the ES-1 is more of a sampler really, but you should be able to do pretty much similar things with it, with the added benefit of being able to smack your own samples in there. i'd read up on it though, just to make sure it'll do what you need. if there's no way to upload samples to it from your own computer, it might not be all that useful to you.

my only experience with drum machines is with the TR series and the Elektron Machinedrum, so i don't know too much about the specific capabilities of the ES-1

  On 3/17/2010 at 8:06 PM, soundwave said:

 

for £400?

i know i've been out of the hardware loop for a while, but i'd imagine that these machines still command a fairly high price...definitely over £400. maybe i'm wrong?

yep i'm wrong...just checked completed eBay listings, the raveolution seems to be going for under £200. nice :)

  On 3/17/2010 at 8:11 PM, oscillik said:

  On 3/17/2010 at 8:06 PM, soundwave said:

 

for £400?

i know i've been out of the hardware loop for a while, but i'd imagine that these machines still command a fairly high price...definitely over £400. maybe i'm wrong?

 

yep i'm wrong...just checked completed eBay listings, the raveolution seems to be going for under £200. nice :)

A Jomox 09 ltd edition black went for £320 last month and a fully expanded 309 should set you back £250ish.

Saying that you can have a lorra-lorra fun with an ER1 and Kaoss pad 2 for similar money.

Maschine is awesome if you have a good laptop.

EMX-1 or ESX-1 by korg are like $350 USD on ebay. EMX-1 is good.

Second hand Elektron Machinedrums (mk1, non-UW SPS-1 versions) have been going for around £500 recently... definitely definitely worth that extra £100.

I have one of these I'm selling

http://www.vintagesynth.com/yamaha/ry30.php

it's really good for customizing your sounds, there are preset samples but you can repitch them and edit the volume, pitch, and filter envelopes. I'd try to keep it if I couldn't do similar stuff with another drum machine and my computer.

get a 606, if you can manage din sync they are fucking awesome. and if you aren't afraid to open up the case a potentiometer mod is very simple, otherwise you can't modify the sounds.. I've heard the 808 s0 many goddam times that i actually prefer the sound of an 606 now, it just sounds more unique and less identifiable but equally as punchy

ya 606 is an underrated gem

if I would only get one drum machine I'd save up for the Machinedrum if it is indeed around 400 bucks/pounds/whatever. the 606 is great for some, but it's not that versitale. the kick for example is pretty poor. you could get an MPC 1000 for around 400 bucks too perhaps.

es-1 is really excellent. you can obliterate the fuck out of samples on it, too. i've just loaded mine with 70s/80s drum machine samples, as well as a few custom generated things, so i don't have to take my hr-16 out anywhere.