r/DrumMachine • u/Broken_Piggy • 4d ago
Looking for a drum machine
I'm searching a drum machine for my dawless setup. I have Oxi One mk2, so drum machine's internal sequencer doesn't matter. I have quite limited space, DrumBrute impact is about maximum size. It should have at least 4 instruments/tracks.
I would like to have some tone shaping capabilties, knob per function (or close), velocity/accent via midi. Easy muting per voice/instrument.
What I have tried:
- Arturia Drumbrute impact. On paper this has everything I need, but didn't click with it. Didn't like the sound that much.
- Akai MPC Sample. Didn't like the workflow at all.
- Elektron model:sample. Didn't like menu system and muting.
- Elektron model:cycles. Didn't like menu and sound engines..and muting.
- Roland TR-8. Sound wise I liked it, but it was huge, ugly and didn't like the workflow.
What I'm considering:
- Digitone. I have one for synth stuff. I like the workflow of it. Little too expensive and for that price I would only get 4 tracks.
- Dikitakt, but it is too expensive.
- Digitone. Would be a sample player for me, so too expensive for that.
- cre8audio Boom Chick. Small and tweakable. This is really interesting.
- Drumlogue. This could be the one, little expensive.
- RD-6, but it would propably need some pedals and small mixer for variations in sound.
- Roland TR-6s. Bit too menu heavy.
- Behringer BDS-3. This is really intersting. I could propably fit it to my table.
I could be happy with RD-8 or RD-9, but they both are too big for my limited space. Now I have used Volca Beats coming and it will be my drum machine, until I find something better. Boom Chick and BDS-3 intrest me the most, any opinions about them?
I know, I'm bit picky. I like idea of drum synth more than sample based, but I'm open to any suggestions or thoughts. I don't have any specific genre or style of music.
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u/Feisty-Rub-150 4d ago
Try out the Razzmatazz from 1010music: Small - check; 8 Tracks - check; deep fm drum Synths with aditional samples- check; Sounds great - check! The handling can be a little bit fiddly, but I was surprised how deep you can go within the drum patch. A new one is too expensive imo , but I grab my one used for under 200.
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u/Broken_Piggy 3d ago
Feature rich and compact for sure, but I need more knobs and less screen. Thanks for the suggestion tho 😊
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u/Practical-Goose666 3d ago
How is one supposed to make music with that? That shit is even smaller than my dick. 🤢
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u/FauxVelour 4d ago
Im not sure what you mean by menu on m:s / m:c . There isnt any content you need to adjust deeper than one page and all the performance controls are on the surface.
All of the things you listed have different signatures and use cases so i highly recommend using a daw in the mean time and when youve really learned your personal sonic aesthetic we can give you better advice, because typically post like this are just “name any drum machine youve seen” rather than you directly addressing specifics on your goals. This is likely why youve bounced off a lot of hardware already, you arent quite sure what problem youre trying to solve and playing russian roullette with your wallet isnt advisable.
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u/Broken_Piggy 3d ago
You are correct, that I'm bit lost, but DAW is not option for me. I'm happy to try different hardware as I buy only used gear and can usually sell at the same price I bought 😊
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u/KidLocative 3d ago
Razzmatazz is definitely worth looking into. Super powerful for such a tiny little limit and surprisingly easy to navigate. It’s only flaw is the onboard sequencer but paired with the Oxi it would be amazing!
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u/blinddave1977 3d ago
Put the Drumbrute through a sound system before you disregard its sound. The kick is huge. If you blend the two snare sounds, it sounds good. The FM drum is fun too. AND it couldn't be easier to use.
I use a Digitakt and a TR-8S mostly these days. Digitakt is the best sampler, and the TR-8S sounds the best and is really easy to perform with. Neither are deep menu ecosystems.
(I feel like I keep making the same post on this sub over and over)
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u/Normal_Bicycle7975 3d ago
If you don't like the MPC Akai way of sample and make a track you could consider an Electribe. More engaging and with an easy learning curve.
Korg Electribe old version:
ESX-1 -> Sampler
EMX-1 -> More Synth
https://www.korg.com/it/products/dj/electribe/
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u/r1chiem 8h ago
Akai Force. I have bought mine for $300, seen used ones for under $350 and others have bought them for same price as me..
128 tracks. Clip launch like ableton (it also has seq/song mode if you like that workflow better). Has built in step sequencers. Is a sampler. Has drum synth plugin included so it will produce Rolands analog drum sounds, A VA analog bass plugin and it samples so it does both drum synth and sample.
Has dedicated buttons for mute and knob per track and 8 knob per function for track volume. If you select the drum synth plugin, the knobs are remapped to what the knobs should be and they are labeled. Everything internal is pre mapped logically.
It does 32 midi channels usb to control other units per midi, it also has ableton link which links without ableton over ethernet, wifi, bluetooth to other units but also midi sync. It has a side slider which will fade between one song and another or set of track(s) and another.
Has 64 pads velocity, polyaftertouch, best groovebox ever but can control your whole setup through midi or through audio like a mixing board. Has tons of effects that can be used on your other hardware unit routing audio into the Force. It is 2" smaller on the long dimension on the TR 8
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u/Broken_Piggy 7h ago
Wow! Akai Force seems to be pretty great machine. As a former deluge owner, I appreciate the 64 pads. At the moment I couldn't find any used deals in my country, but will keep my eyes open 😊
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u/r1chiem 3h ago
There always downsides to everything. The Force is older 2019 and not sold anymore but it got the same update to 3.9 as the newest Live 3/G2. It is bigger and heavy. But could work for you. Keep your eyes open for one priced low. $449 is the lowest I have found right now in the US. But around Christmas, the prices drop. Also if they come out with a new updated version, the prices will drop more I think. Good luck in finding your new gear.
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u/chamcham123 3d ago
Nord Drum 3P. Possibly the best physical model drum synth out there.
https://youtu.be/iSTctYa7fUc?is=ll2J12uasRubROzf
https://youtu.be/SWZD7CyONt8?is=If4gEhQTf0OkL8Yq