Software or hardware drum machines

playmakerpr · #1 09-05-2006, 05:25 PM

Hi to all, I want to buy any software or hardware that has a drum machine integrated. I want to practice my bass skills with diffrent rhythms and I am a little lost in here. I will appreciate any advice. I was looking into the Propellerhead Reason 3 software but I read that you cannot record your instrument to later hear how you did. I also read about the line 6 toneport but this is extrictly a recording studio with a metrometer. This may help me if the metrometer gives me diffrent rhythms. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Miguel

KarateKid25 · #2 09-05-2006, 07:10 PM

hmmm... They aren't integrated into a specific software bundle but, I use freebie programs like hammerhead for making up drum beats. There is a better one I use that is much more programmable, but im at work at the moment and can't remember what its called...
After I have made a beat that im happy with, I import it accross into Cubase SX. Once the drums are in Cubase as a track, you can play along and record your bass over the top.
For drum machines, just search in Google for freeware drum software or something along those lines. There are plenty of decent free apps you can get.

I hope that was along the lines of the information your after. If you don't get too many responses perhaps try asking the same question in the recording forum. The question seems like it could be at home in either.

**bassybill** · #3 09-06-2006, 01:20 AM

Alternatively a cheap drum machine could be a useful gadget - I got a Boss DR-670 off ebay for a good price. It sounds fine and is it's probably easier to use then something like Cubase just for a basic practice track.

ingo62 · #4 09-06-2006, 01:46 AM

Hi,

I like the Steinberg "Groove Agent" very much.
Great sound and easy to handle.

Greetz
Ingo

keb · #5 09-06-2006, 06:32 AM

Toontrack's EZDrummer is an excellent bit of drum software. You can, of course, create your own drum patterns for it, but it comes with about 5 million MIDI patterns out of the box that you can jam along to if you like. It's a VST plugin, so you'll need a host application for it (like Sonar or Cubase, both of which will cover your recording needs as well.)

Vandelay · #6 09-06-2006, 06:46 AM

I owned an Alesis HR-16 drum machine for years and loved it. Easy to use and fun to program. I believe you can get a used one on eBay for about $50.

Software-wise, I'm familiar with music-making software like Sony Acid Music and GarageBand for the Mac. They come with quite a few pre-programmed drum patterns, but I'm not sure whether you can program your own pattern.

You might also look at a bass multi-effects processor, like the Zoom, the Pandora or the Digitech BP series. Those all come with a bunch of preset drum patterns that you can use to practice with.

superbassman2000 · #7 09-06-2006, 07:37 AM

i had reason, and it was really really cool, but if you want ease of use, i'd go with hardware--for some reason, it just seems like hardware drum machines are easier to program, plus you can find a good, yet inexpensive hardware drum machine, but reason costs a lot of money if you don't steal it.

tplyons · #8 09-06-2006, 09:37 AM

Highly recommend an Alesis SR-16. Incredibly easy to program, sounds great, and a steal at $99.

Don W · #9 09-06-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

i had reason, and it was really really cool, but if you want ease of use, i'd go with hardware--for some reason, it just seems like hardware drum machines are easier to program, plus you can find a good, yet inexpensive hardware drum machine, but reason costs a lot of money if you don't steal it.

Big +1 to that.

I have an old Zoom drum machine that I tried to replace with something software based. I tried a bunch of different programs including garageband but I ultimatley determined that hardware machines are just easier to use and easier to program.