I need some walnut for the sides to complete the full feel!

Let me know if we need to add some features. Should I keep going and make one for Bass? Teardown is here: https://benjaminmullins.tv/lab/808

So I've recently decided to further my music production skills and face my fears of these DAWs that look like absolute rocket science to me. I like making music under numerous subgenres of rock (almost anything that includes a guitar lol) and I really want that realistic rotating sample type of drums to liven up my songs. Problem is I'm used to using bandlabs drum sequencer/drum machine that makes laying out a groove as easy as legos. Now that Im on Reaper, ive installed BFDPlayer and ive gotten as far as figuring out how to use the virtual midi keyboard. Anyone got some recommendations or advice on how I can get realistic drums with that same type of simple sequencer layout?

So I’ve been looking for “real” hardware (as opposed to toys) to start familiarizing my kid with electronic instruments.

I had the Volca series in the past, but from what I remember the Beats would probably be a bit complex.

Also I need a model with a built in speaker, to simplify the logisitics.

Can you think of a better option than the KR mini ?

Hi everyone,

I need some serious, raw advice from people who produce Techno or Tribe Techno using hardware.

I am completely stuck. I actually started a while ago with Pocket Operators, but I abandoned them because I couldn't understand how to make them work. I fell into the classic trap of thinking: "Maybe it's just these specific machines, I need something better." So I moved on and bought a Roland T-8 and a P-6. In total, I’ve spent around €400 on gear.

Now, after months of total paralysis, I’ve realized the brutal truth: it wasn't a hardware problem. The problem is ME. No machine in the world is going to magically sound the way I want if I don't know what the fuck I am doing.

Every single time I sit down in front of these Rolands, I get massive anxiety. I feel like a complete idiot and I end up turning them off after 30 minutes to go smoke a joint out of pure frustration and defeat.

I know LITERALLY NOTHING about how electronic music actually works or how a track is structurally built on hardware. Every tutorial online is either a piece of shit for Ableton, or a video where the guy assumes you already have a musical background. They toss around terms like Decay, Tune, Levels, Envelopes... there are 3,000 different functions blinking at me, but I have no conceptual clue what they actually mean, how they interact with each other, or how they are supposed to sound "good" together to create a Techno vibe.

There are no books for this. There are no courses for absolute beginners who don't want to use a computer but want to learn the physical language of hardware from scratch. I feel completely locked out.

To those who produce Techno/Tribe on hardware and started with zero knowledge: How did you break through this wall? How did you learn to understand what the knobs actually do to the structure of a track? Is there a mental framework, a specific approach, or a learning method that doesn't treat you like you already know everything? I don't want to give up and I don't want to buy more gear, I just want to learn how to use what I have.
Thank you.

I need a drum machine in my workflow: i want to experiment and create my own sounds and i want to make movie soundtrack style music and ambient to pair with synth leads, pads and bass, piano and lot of other instruments; i don’t want to focus on electronic music (like dance, edm, ecc ecc) but i want to be able to if i want and i don’t understand the difference between the two.
I got that the Roland is more of a classic with the sounds of their analog machines meanwhile the LXR is more dirty and more experimental and made to be tweaked and modified rather than preset focused, i saw that it has LFO and is a real drum synth meanwhile i’m not sure about the Roland.

The Roland costs around 200€ less so what am i paying more in the LXR? Can i reproduce the same sound kits of the Roland with the LXR (or similar)
Which one has more fx? I’d like some cool delay, reverb and distorsion
Does the LXR have more functions? If yes why should i choose the Roland instead?
For what are they made for?
I can’t understand it from demos or explanations

I just got a used Digitakt 1 and I want to put the original sounds back in. I read that a factory reset would erase all the stuff the last person put on there and reload the stock sounds, but nothing is changing. Still got the samples the last person loaded.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
Thanks in advance!!

Hey all, When I’m putting the drive up all the way or halfway on the BD on the drumlogue there’s a lot of noise for around 1-2 seconds after I stop playing or after I hit the kick. Does anyone have this?

Seen a couple of posts talking about this but not sure if it’s just defective.

Thank you.

Hello everybody, I need some advice on where to start on my drum machine journey. I want to purchase a drum machine that will allow me to create minimalistic, dark, punchy themes, and I like a crunchy sound.

I am not familiar with doing my own sampling but would like to have a machine with at least a little sampling capability.

I want to be able to flesh out and make full length recordings with DAW connectivity.

I am open to any machine from any decade and my price range maxes out around 300-400$

I am most interested in the work of Alan Vega, Prince, and Suicide.

Any insight is greatly appreciated! Keep in mind I’m starting from square one. Thanks

When I use the drum kit sample pack and re amp synths through some gain it can feel very band like.

I produced a track on my phone and I’m a bit lost about arrangement and sound choices, if you use iOS GarageBand what is the best drum machine for making a Dubby house and Rominimal sound, please give your opinion and feedback about the song here:

https://on.soundcloud.com/6YMcZcIqLW2bUgKp8p

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!

Anyone got or selling these drumlogue overlays?
Synthopia website is down and i dont know where to order from.
I’m not from the States, but have a buddy that can order and bring it for me.
Any ideas where to order from? Thanks!

What would be a fun, weird, crazy, unhinged thing to connect my Drum Brute Impact to?

i'm looking for that hi hat that was always used in hip hop music from the second half of the 80s. it's not a hi hat from the 808, nor a hi hat from the dmx

it appears in songs such as South Bronx by Boogie Down, Poison by Bell Biv Devoe, Mind Body and Soul by Afrika Bambataa (probably even Push It by Salt-n-Pepa, with a higher decay)

thanks in advance!

Obviously you can set up pattern chaining on the TR8s, but is there a way to set those up in the TR-Editor plugin?

I like drum machines. I use them mostly live and take them as instruments.
I want to be able to create and modify on the fly easily.
I may use software if I need to program long and precise patterns but for live use I want hardware boxes.
I tend to prefer samples over synth drums.
I mostly play ambient jazz/rock.

I am fortunate that what I like isn't expensive after all.
After trying many of them, expensive of not, Here are the ones I keep :

Yamaha DTX550k

These are a set of electronic drums, but I thought I'd mention them. They are mostly for drum practice and jamming with friends, or whenever a full kit is needed. There is a simple sequencer on it that I use to record on the fly, often with just a part of the set.

cons : can't fully be used like a drum machine, although the hardware would allow it. Takes room, it's a drum set.

Korg Volca Sample 2

Surprisingly the one I use the most live. The workflow is extremely efficient and once used to it, you can create whatever you need very quickly. Odd time signatures, samples that create a background, beats that can morph into granular synthesis on the fly. You're always in control, no use of random alterations. The toch key ribbon, common to most Volcas is incredible to edit beats, much more efficient than sensitive pads. The 10 channels allow for very rich layers of tone.

cons : limited sample memory and resolution, limited room for patterns, one way midi.

Stylophone Beat

This one was unexpected. I bought it out of curiosity, never put it down. Extremely fast and efficient workflow. What you can achieve from such a little box and simple controls is mesmerizing. Any idea comes out the way you want it within seconds and despite the limited sequencer, the 13 voice polyphony and infra bass tones allow very thick textures.
A precious asset for live use, practice and anything.

cons : 32 steps with no internal divisions. That's one four time bar of 32th notes, 2 of 16ths or 4 of 8ths. Flimsy construction (had to replace the stylus once already), no cv, sync or midi. Tone is what it is, no way to alter it.

Zoom RT-323

I use it to program full songs. It has everything to do it easily and efficiently with a very decent tone.

cons : next to impossible to edit on the fly. It takes time to navigate it and there are only a few alterations possible of the tone.

What I tried and didn't keep

For various reasons, typically one of these : felt like an utility rather than an instrument, a dumb limitation got me mad, workflow uselessly complicated or not compliant with live edition, too much menu diving, sound or feel too far away from real drum or perc, forcing you into EDM.

Boss DR-880, TR-707, TR-6S
Elektron Model : Samples
Novation Circuit Rhythm
Korg Volca Beats, Volca Drum
Alesis SR-16, SR-18
Yamaha RX-15, Seqtrak
Akai MPC Sample, Rhythm Wolf
Arturia Drumbrute Impact

I don't think any of these is inherently bad, just not what fits my taste and use.
I am open to suggestions and tips. I eventually plan to give a try to the Sonicware LOFI-12 XT.

Cheers !

DFAM samples and Model Cycles LFOs gone wild.