Drum machines have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. If you think about the first fully programmable drum machines such as the Roland legendary TR-808, that was only a little over 40 years ago. Roland’s first MIDI drum machine, the House and Techno queen that is the TR-909 was manufactured in 1982. It’s nice to reminisce about the 1980s when drum machines became popular, although there’s been some modern classics during this millennium including the Elektron MachineDrum from 2001 and Dave Smith Tempest from 2011. Today there are a plethora of new drum machines all with amazing new features. Yes, many manufacturers these days politely provide a nod to the classics such as the 808, 909 and LinnDrum through to the modern classic in their designs. Here is our mega drum machine guide for the current drum machines that are being manufactured. This project became so big, that we had to split it into two parts, so here is part 1:
Here is a snapshot of what I love about each drum machines reviewed in the video, along with the manufacturer’s features.
Soma Synths Pulsar 23
Love:
- Invites improvisational approach
- 4 discrete “modules” kick, bass, snare/clap, and hi-hat each with a unique filter
- Endless modulation and routing options via crocodile clips.
- Semi-modular design can integrate with the eurorack format.
Features:
- 4 drum channels: Bass drum, Bass\Percussion, Snare drum, Cymbals\Hi-Hat
- 4 envelope generators with the unique ability to generate a sustain for the drum channels, turning them into noise\drone synthesizers.
- 4 independent loop recorders with the option for individual clocking. They record triggering events, not audio. Has the possibility of quantization.
- A clock generator with an array of dividers is a very powerful tool for rhythm synthesis.
- Wide range LFO (0.1 – 5000Hz) with variable waveform.
- Shaos – a unique pseudo-random generator based on shift registers with 4 independent outputs, sample and hold and other cool features.
- FX processor with CV control incl. CV control of the entire DSP’s sample rate.
- Distortion.
- 2 CV-controlled gates.
- 2 CV-controlled VCAs.
- 2 controllable inverters.
- MIDI control and synchronization
- 4 assignable attenuators
- 2 dynamic CV sensors for CV generation
Behringer RD-8 MkII
Love:
- Authentic 1:1 clone of the TR-808, including individual outputs
- Immediate sequencer playability and performance features
- Dual mode filter and wave designer (dynamics)
- Buttons and knobs size is large enough to grab and perform with.
- Probability, random, note and step repeat, mutes and solo
Features:
- 16 Type Analog drum sounds
- Number of simultaneous voices 11 (12 including global accent)
- Built-in Effects bus Wave Designer and dual-mode Analog Filter can be assigned to individual drum sounds
- 11 individual outputs for external processing
- 64-step sequencer with poly-meter, step-repeat, note-repeat, real-time triggering, track-mute and track-solo
- Live recording, editing and playback of analog filter cutoff via automation
- Storage of up to 16 songs and 256 patterns,
- MIDI In/Out/Thru and USB for sync to external devices
Roland T-8
Love:
- Pocket-sized
- Classic Roland drum sounds and TB-303 bassline synth
- Easy to jam
- Effects and compressor
- Too much fun!
Features:
- User Patterns 64
- Step Sequencer Rhythm instrument parts x 6, Bass part x 1, 32 steps
- INST tones: BASS DRUM, SNARE DRUM, HAND CLAP, TOM, CLOSED HIHAT, OPEN HIHAT, BASS
- Effects: DELAY, REVERB, OVERDRIVE, SIDE CHAIN
- Display: 7 segments, 4 characters (LED)
- Connectors
- SYNC (IN, OUT) jacks: Mini-phone type
- MIX (IN, OUT) / PHONES jacks: Stereo mini phone type
- MIDI (IN, OUT) jacks: Stereo mini phone type
- USB port: USB Type-C® (Audio, MIDI)
- Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Obtained via a USB port (USB bus power)
- Expected battery life Approx. 4.5 hours
- Expected battery charging time Approx. 3 hours
Korg Volca Drum
Love:
- Digital synth goes deeper than simply percussion/drum sounds
- Per-step motion sequencing automation
- Dual layer oscillator per sound
- Randomize sound parameters
- Smells of the classic Korg ER-1
Features:
- Multi-touch trigger pads / Step keys
- 6 voice polyphony
- 6 parts (For each part, 2 oscillators, pitch modulator, and amp EG), waveguide resonator effect.
- Kits: 16 (Settings for 6 parts + Settings for waveguide resonator) Kit No.1 – No.10 are factory preset.
- Program: 16 (Sequence pattern, Motion sequence, Kit No.) Program No.1 – No. 10 are factory preset.
- Sequencer: Number of parts 6
- Number of recording patterns 16
- Connectors: Audio Output, Headphones jack (3.5mm stereo mini jack), Sync in/out (3.5mm monaural mini jack), MIDI IN
- Battery Life: Approximately 10 hours (using 6x AA alkaline batteries) or KA-350 AC adapter (sold separately)
Korg Volca Beats
Love:
- Easy to program
- Quirky sounds – analog and digital
- Stutter effects
- Motion recording
Features:
- Analog synthesis (Kick, Snare, Hi Tom, Lo Tom, Closed Hi Hat/Open Hi Hat)
- PCM synthesis (Clap, Claves, Agogo, Crash)
- Sequencer: 10 parts, 16 steps, 8 Patterns
- Connectors: Audio Output Headphones (3.5mm stereo mini jack) Sync in/out (3.5mm monaural mini jack), MIDI In
- Power: Approximately 10 hours (using 6x AA alkaline batteries) or AC adapter “KA-350” (optional)
Behringer RD-9
Love:
- Authentic 1:1 clone of the TR-909, including individual outputs
- Extended swing function
- Immediate sequencer playability and performance features
- Dual mode filter and wave designer (dynamics)
- Buttons and knobs size is large enough to grab and perform with.
- Probability, random, note and step repeat, mutes and solo
Features:
- classic 909 drum machine with 11 sounds
- 11 individual outputs
- Built-in Effects bus Wave Designer and dual-mode Analog Filter can be assigned to individual drum sounds
- 64-step sequencer with poly-meter, step-repeat, note-repeat, real-time triggering, track-mute and track-solo
- Live recording, editing and playback of analog filter cutoff via automation
- Storage of up to 16 songs and 256 patterns,
- MIDI In/Out/Thru and USB for sync to external devices
Roland TR-6s
Love:
- A huge palette of sounds
- 3 different ways to create sounds
- Faders!
- Performable effects
Features:
- A six-track version of the TR-8S in a compact and affordable package
- Detailed circuit models of the Roland TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, TR-707, and more
- Large preset sample library with support for custom user samples
- Editable FM sound engine for futuristic tones
- Mix and match sounds for exotic hybrid drum kits
- Advanced sequencer with sub-steps, flam, step loop, motion recording, probability, sub-step probability, master probability, and more
- Runs on four AA batteries or USB bus power
- Also functions as a high-quality USB audio/MIDI interface
Elektron Syntakt
Love:
- Best of Elektron in one box
- Deep drum synthesis engines, including tonal synth ‘machines’
- Powerful sequencer with Trig Modifiers
- Analog FX Block
Features:
- 11 × selectable machine: 1 × Bass drum 2 × Snare drum 1 × Cymbal/hihat 1 × Percussion 1 × Clap 5 × Tonal synths
- 2 × assignable LFOs per track
- Switchable to MIDI machine
- Analog stereo overdrive
- Analog stereo multimode filter
- 2 × assignable LFOs Assignable to each track
- 2 × Assignable trig modifiers
- Keyboard mode with 36 different scales
- 4-note polyphony per step
- 8 × assignable CC controls
- 1 × assignable LFOs per track
- Sequencer: 64 steps per pattern and track, Individual pattern length per track, Parameter locks, Trig conditions & trig chance, Retrig and Micro timing
- Send effects: Delay and Reverb
- 128 × 64-pixel OLED screen
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port
- MIDI In/Out/Thru with DIN Sync out
Arturia DrumBrute Impact
Love:
- Hands-on fun
- Lots of knob-per-function sound manipulation
- Polyrhythms, randomness and beat looper
- FM Drum voice
Features
- 10 pure analog sounds
- 64 patterns with up to 64 steps each
- Separate accent per drum
- Optional Color sound-shaping
- Polyrhythm capabilities: each drum track can be a separate length
- Swing: global or per instrument
- Randomness: generate pattern variations
- Pattern Looper for beat repeat functions
- Roller for real-time instruments rolls
- Output Distortion with bypass
- Smart metronome with headphone override
- Multiple sync options: Internal / MIDI / Clock, including 1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, and DIN48
- USB MIDI interface
- Master output, & optional individual audio outputs for Kick, Snares, Hats and FM Sound
- 3.5mm headphone output
Behringer RD-6
Love:
- Fast beat making
- Distortion
- Captures all the best bits from the classic TR-606
Features:
- 8 analog drum voices – bass drum, snare drum, low and high toms, cymbal, clap, and open and closed hi-hats
- Distortion effect with tone control adds bite and punch
- Additional BR-110 clap
- 16-step sequencer, and switch seamlessly between up to 32 patterns on the fly
- Pattern chaining up to 250 bars
- Re-creation of the classic 606 analog drum machine
- Immediate hands-on control thanks to 11 controls and 26 switches
- 2 x trigger outputs for controlling modular synth or external devices
- MIDI in/out and USB
If you think that was mega, we’ve still got plenty more. We’ll be covering the Roland TR-8s, Korg Drumlogue, Erica Synths Perkons and more in part 2!
