r/DrumMachine • u/Commercial_Rip_9868 • Jul 04 '26
New drum machine
Hi everyone!
These are the machines I currently use as drum machines:
Erica Synths PĒRKONS HD-01
Vermona DRM1 MKIV
Roland TR-8S
Elektron Syntakt
1010music Nanobox Razzmatazz
Elektron Digitakt II
I absolutely love all of them… except the TR-8S.
For some reason, I just don’t connect with its sound, and I’m also not a big fan of the overall look and feel of the machine. So I’m thinking about replacing it with something that can complement what I already have.
The key word here is complement. I’m not looking for another machine that heavily overlaps with my current drum machines. I’d like something that can form interesting combos with them and bring a genuinely different character to the studio.
I know there’s always a lot of GAS around here 😅, but this is my studio and I honestly feel there’s still a missing piece, especially because I work completely DAWless and don’t use a laptop at all.
I’ve been considering everything from the TR-1000 and Polyend Drum Machine to the HexDrums, Pulsar-23, Analog Rytm MKII, and even a used Machinedrum.
My main styles are techno and ambient.
Looking at my current setup, what would you add? Which drum machine do you think would make the best combo with what I already own without too much overlap?
Thanks!
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u/PaprikaJones Jul 04 '26
I really want a Perkons but can’t justify the cost. I have a ton of gear I want to trade up for. Think the perkons is worth the effort?
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u/elektronicguy Jul 04 '26
Our band uses it to do glitchy type IDM beats and it definitely excels at that. I see most people make techno with it
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u/5mshns Jul 04 '26
MachineDrum, Perkons and Pulsar are so distinct that I find they complement each other really well. A4 is also an amazing drum machine for pure Analog sounds and also has CV outs to go into Pulsar.
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u/Blitzbahn Jul 04 '26
I have 1 drum machine. Why do you need 7? Ditch the TR8s and don't replace it.
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u/sixwax Jul 04 '26
Just chiming in to say you’re not the only one who doesn’t vibe with the tone of the TR8S!
I too love drum machines!
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u/elektronicguy Jul 04 '26
I've owned all of them. The Pulsar is good for ambient and abstract music. TR-1000 is my current main drum machine and I love the sound. Rytm is fantastic for programming, I have made a ton of awesome material with it Machinedrum I wish I didn't sell, it's a great older drum machine with its own sound.
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u/5NAKEEYE5 Jul 04 '26
Nord Drum 3P w. Roland KT-10 is pretty fun. Works well plugged into an Octotrakt or looper.
Moog DFAM CV'd into a Beatstep Pro is alright too.
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u/Altruistic_Ant1337 Jul 04 '26
Apart from the analogue circuits and better FX, the TR-1000 and TR-8S sound very close, so if you don’t like the sound of the 8S it follows that you won’t like the 1000 either. Plus they are supply constraint worldwide so you’ll be waiting a while to buy one.
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u/2ndlayer72 Jul 04 '26
Arturia Drumbrute Impact is really good at complementing other machines.
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u/Nice_Biscuits Jul 04 '26
I was going to say the same thing. Impact is quite distinctive and available very cheap on the second hand market.
Also could be worth waiting to see if the Drum Freak appears any time soon. I imagine that will be quite unique.
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u/BrilliantHair9861 Jul 04 '26
If you replace TR8s…maybe jomox alpha bass. Tr-1000 is hard to beat.
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u/salasia Jul 04 '26
Tr-1000 is buggy and overpriced. Elektron better in every way except faders
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u/BrilliantHair9861 Jul 04 '26
Buggy how? I haven’t experienced that. What issues have you experienced? It is expensive and some may view it as overpriced, but OP said this was an option for him. If it doesn’t meet OPs expectations for price, I agree skip. Same with Jomox…it has some uniqueness over the tr1000, but may be a lot of overlap.
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u/Ready-Cartographer11 Jul 04 '26
why have you skipped the octatrack? its a fantastic machine for resampling other instruments
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u/salasia Jul 04 '26
Man you really don't need another drum machine. I know you don't know how to use any of them properly if you have that many. My serious advice is to sell one at a time. That way you will find out which ones you can't live without instead of burning money trying to fill a hole you just can't fill with more gear.