A good cheap drum machine.

gary mitchell · #1 01-06-2011, 04:24 PM

Again this is new to me, but I would like to find a decent drum machine I can practice with. I would like to get one if I could with out all the effects. Do you guys know of one. My instructor said it would help and be fun. He uses is computer, he has a studio program on it. I just want something I can run true my amp are maybe a stereo. It doesn't have to be programable if it has good presets.

johnk_10 · #2 01-06-2011, 04:33 PM

i got my alesis DR-16 cheap and it's great.
here's one on ebay (no affiliation with seller).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alesis-SR-16-Dru...item45f7c98d46

RickenBoogie · #3 01-06-2011, 04:53 PM

Hard to find a new one without a bunch of other stuff included, but any of the Boss DR's are great.

MNAirHead · #4 01-06-2011, 04:56 PM

There are some online ones that you can record to an mp3 player..

Just about any Roland will do the trick.

GreenAlsatian · #5 01-06-2011, 05:15 PM

I've owned many drum machines, ranging from 80s Roland TRs to the DR-880 (which is a pleasure to use) and the Alesis SR-18 and found the best bang for buck to be the aforementioned Alesis SR-16, which has a 50 preset drum beats and space for 50 of your own (it's not hard to program your own, either).

Other worthy mentions for around the SR-16 budget are the Roland DR-550 (64 preset/64 user patterns), or the superior DR-660 (100 preset / 150 user patterns) which are both great drum machines for the money.

Personally, I preferred the drum samples in the Boss machines over the Alesis and the greater storage for my own patterns, but the Alesis is the simpler machine to use, especially if you want to get into programming your own patterns.

Sadly, it's getting hard to find good demos of drum machines on YouTube these days as many folk have taken to circuit bending them.

stantonl · #6 01-06-2011, 05:20 PM

Hydrogen is a great free drum machine app if you have a Mac or Linux, looks like they have an experimental version for Windows as well. Check it out: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/?p=main

Rick Brienzo · #7 01-06-2011, 05:35 PM

I have had quite a few drum machines and by far the most useful for practicing is the Boss Dr5. I don't think they make them any more so you will have to buy used. It's has all sorts of sounds besides drums so you can program some chord changes along with your beats. Kind of like a keyboard in a drum machine size box. It's got a headphone out and a guitar input with a volume control, perfect for practicing. It's a real sturdy unit, I kicked mine around for many years and it never failed me once.

lowend219 · #8 01-06-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stantonl

Hydrogen is a great free drum machine app if you have a Mac or Linux, looks like they have an experimental version for Windows as well. Check it out: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/?p=main

this looks fun...

naja · #9 01-06-2011, 08:31 PM

I use hydrogen as well. You can export the beat/song to ardour or another DAW software package if you want to play it through an MP3 player or PA.

I know the new Alesis model will auto-fill, and can be triggered via a pedal.

mowburger · #10 01-06-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Brienzo

I have had quite a few drum machines and by far the most useful for practicing is the Boss Dr5..

+1 bought mine a cpl years ago (used on ebay) and it's been great, love it for sure.

ColtBass96 · #11 01-06-2011, 09:09 PM

I'd say go with the zoom mrt3b. It has alot of features, is small, and can be had used for about $50

OldogNewTrick · #12 01-07-2011, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stantonl

Hydrogen is a great free drum machine app if you have a Mac or Linux, looks like they have an experimental version for Windows as well. Check it out: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/?p=main

I run Hydogen under Win XP and it works great. The sound quality is superb.
You can choose different drum kits from a library, amongst them sampled sounds from real drum kits and emulators of some classic drum machines.

Edit:
Has anyone a link to a source for Hydrogen drum tracks ?
I know it really easy to programme, if you know WHAT to programme... that' where I'm somewhat challenged...

MrWalker · #13 01-07-2011, 04:12 AM

When it comes to drum machines (you may have gotten what you need already... but I dare answer anyway)

I am using an Alesis SR-18 for my "jam" needs, and it's really flexible and you can program different sequences and change them using foot switches. It's probably one of the very few drum machines that is suitable for live work. I had a SR-16 earlier, and upgraded only cause my SR-16 died. The Boss DRs are also good, but I don't know if they are equally flexible.

When it comes to online stuff, you could always get Mixcraft, which comes loaded with lots of samples and loops as well as built-in synths... all at a very reasonable price. Don't know much about Hydrogen, sorry :-)

kevmoga · #14 01-07-2011, 06:03 AM

Can anyone tell me which drum machines or software programs have a "swing factor" feature, e.g. something that allows you to nudge perfectly accurate, but mechanical, 16th or 8th notes toward a shuffle feel? I've just purchased EZDrummer and from the very sparse documentation that comes with it, I don't think that's in the feature set - though I have yet to actually use it.

JonnyAngle · #15 01-07-2011, 06:16 AM

I have a Yamaha RX-11 and love it! I think I paid $8 for it. It also has a swing!

The only problem is you'll have to go back to 1984 to find another one.

Billy K · #16 01-07-2011, 06:23 AM

I also have the Alessi 18 and it is great.Preset beats galore and fully programable which I find a bit difficult to learn my teacher just put different beats in there for me in a min.The sound coming out of my speakers is impressive.Alessi SR18 *****

dwm74 · #17 01-07-2011, 08:40 AM

Interesting thread, and I'm considering the Alesis SR16, since it's pretty affordable.

But I have a (dumb) question...What do you play it through?

For example, can you hook it up to an amp? Or do you have to run it through your computer's speakers?

BlacksHole · #18 01-07-2011, 08:53 AM

I run mine through my bass amp with the vol set pretty low on the Alesis

Stick_Player · #19 01-07-2011, 08:54 AM

Obviously you have a computer...

There are bazillions of drum loops (free) on the internet - .mid, .wav and .aif.

If you have a player - like QuickTime - the loops will play back on that (.wav or .aif).

If you have a Mac, it already has GarageBand with tons o' drum loops -- augmented by anything you can find on the internet. Or, program your own.

There are similar options for Windows users as well.

ALL FOR FREE.

Twocan · #20 01-07-2011, 08:57 AM

I have a Alesis HR-16 that I got for $50 on CL and it does everything I hoped it would. I plug it into the 2nd input on my amp and play along. Recommended!