Best drum machine or playalong rhythm section?

FunkyFrosty · #1 04-23-2011, 04:36 PM

Whats the best device nowadays - looking for something to plug into the aux in on my amp for practices.

Need to be able to either program or have many presets for practicing multiple genres......advice please.....

Frosty.

stratovani · #2 04-23-2011, 09:28 PM

I like the drum machine that's built into my Casio keyboard. It's got 99 different rhythms, and you can preset the tempo. The rhythms are a bit simplistic, but they're good enough for practicing. Less boring than a metronome, too!

EricssonB · #3 04-23-2011, 09:35 PM

I've been using FL Studio for years. It's manually programmed, so the uptake can take a bit of time, but it's easy to drop in patterns after you set up a few.

Heck, I write all of my music on it, since it generates all sorts of instruments at ≥mediocre quality.

Example: Eric S Leyva, Soundcloud.

Brandon7s · #4 04-23-2011, 10:09 PM

I use Addictive Drums, hosted in Ableton Live (any DAW can host it though, it's a VSTi). Fantastic for jamming by myself or practicing.

kr0n · #5 04-24-2011, 01:15 AM

EZdrummer VSTi with PC/Mac, probably can hook it up through MIDI device to aux input.

tylerwylie · #6 04-24-2011, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon7s

I use Addictive Drums, hosted in Ableton Live (any DAW can host it though, it's a VSTi). Fantastic for jamming by myself or practicing.

Just loaded up the demo in Garageband -- not bad!

**bassybill** · #7 04-24-2011, 05:06 AM

Not a "drum machine" as such, but as we're talking software...

Jamstix.

Rayzoon - Virtual Drum Software - Jamstix Virtual Drummer

/thread

Zetabass · #8 04-24-2011, 10:07 AM

I recently got the ireal, or irealbook app on my phone and the ability to build a chart or download charts and then have a pretty good track playback to practice over is awesome. That will do jazz, Latin and rock now with several feels for each.

FunkyFrosty · #9 04-24-2011, 10:21 AM

Excellent advice so far from everyone - thanks - it seems as though software is the way to go, I've got some checking out to do.......

AgIdoc · #10 04-26-2011, 10:49 AM

I just bought an alesis SR-16 on ebay for a song, and also bought 2 "keyboard sustain pedal" footswitches. 1 is start/stop and the other is "fill"/change patterns. I'm just now getting good at it and the alesis is really cool & does a lot. it sounds realistic to me, and I'm doing w/o all the "drum-ah" (drama) for now. you know-can't find a drummer who doesn't speed up, can't find one who can set up their kit in less than 1 hr on a small stage, etc. i'm not saying all drummers are a pain, but it is nice to not have to deal with some of that stuff.

anyway back to the alesis. the entire thing with the footswitches was under $100 and its really cool. I have some software based stuff, but its not very feasible IMO for live play. this is plug-in-&-go.

carlthegroover · #11 05-02-2011, 01:14 AM

Pretty much since I started learning bass a few months ago I have substituted the metronome for a free software program called Tux Guitar. I've made a few of my own drum rhythms there (very simple but to keep it more interesting and more "band-like") and throw some basic guitar chords here and there.

Not a "device" to connect to an amp, per se, but still useful if you have a laptop.

Slackerprince · #12 05-04-2011, 01:19 PM

I use a Zoom RT-223. Lots of different patterns. Funk, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Pop, etc.
It also has bass sounds in it, if I ever want to jam on my *guitar*.

S

Fendbassfan · #13 05-04-2011, 01:27 PM

I love to jam along with my Yamaha Workstation Keyboard. I have a ton of drum and percussion rythyms I worked out and saved on USB.

tdub0199 · #14 05-04-2011, 01:34 PM

I use a ZOOM B2 for this purpose, easy to use.....

HertzWhenIPlay · #15 05-04-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgIdoc

I just bought an alesis SR-16 on ebay for a song, and also bought 2 "keyboard sustain pedal" footswitches. 1 is start/stop and the other is "fill"/change patterns. I'm just now getting good at it and the alesis is really cool & does a lot. it sounds realistic to me, and I'm doing w/o all the "drum-ah" (drama) for now. you know-can't find a drummer who doesn't speed up, can't find one who can set up their kit in less than 1 hr on a small stage, etc. i'm not saying all drummers are a pain, but it is nice to not have to deal with some of that stuff.

anyway back to the alesis. the entire thing with the footswitches was under $100 and its really cool. I have some software based stuff, but its not very feasible IMO for live play. this is plug-in-&-go.

+1

Mr. BassmanPT · #16 05-04-2011, 02:25 PM

boss dr 880.

i have one and it is AMAZING