best [easiest] drum machine for programming rhythms?

IconBasser · #1 05-17-2009, 12:18 AM

after reading up on some previous drum machine threads, the gist I'm getting is that programming your own beats n' stuff is pretty aggravating.

being picky when it comes to song making, I'd pretty much be doing nothing but creating my own drum beats [when my drummer isn't around].

which machine do you all recommend that is the easiest to use to program original rhythms?

seamonkey · #2 05-17-2009, 11:54 PM

For a software solution: Jamstix
It's on sale
http://rayzoon.com/index.html
Put in a core beats, basically specifying what each hand does. Plenty are included to get you started. Toss in your song structure. From there it will listen to your music and play along. You can turn that intensity knob to tell the drummer to lay-back or bring it on.

canshaker · #3 05-17-2009, 11:59 PM

reason, guru, boom (within protools)

NOVAX · #4 05-18-2009, 01:21 AM

Alesis SR-18 or SR-16.

low-endz · #5 05-18-2009, 10:21 AM

ZOOM RT-123. Ed Friedland uses it with full close up and breif run thru in his SlapBass video.

bassteban · #6 05-18-2009, 10:27 AM

There's a freeware called Hammerhead that's a virtual Roland TB-303(IIRC). Bonehead cave-man in a coma simple to use, but a bit limited as far as creativity. That first response up there looks very nice- I'm going to check it out.

Floridabwoy · #7 05-18-2009, 10:35 AM

Korg ES-1

blmeier7 · #8 05-20-2009, 10:18 PM

I picked up a Zoom MRT-3b and it has been perfect for what I need and it is very easy to program. I tried the Boss DR-5 several years ago and it was pretty confusing, and I didn't spend enough time with it to learn everything. The Alesis SR-16 was what I was looking at before I bought the Zoom. I also tried multiple software based drum machines but never found anything I liked.

Ephminus · #9 05-22-2009, 12:23 PM

Look for an old Yamaha RY-10 on ebay.

It's extremely easy to use.....may sound a little outdated but it get's the job done.

Simple and effective.

You can probably find it for next to nothing.

Even though I don't use mine that much anymore I will never part with it.

Kipaste · #10 05-25-2009, 04:46 PM

I recently bought the akai xr 20. The other option was Alesis SR 18. Both are decent, but I found the interface on the akai to be a lot better and alongside with the pads. Unfortunately (or luckily for me) it's all about "urban music" which means it has mostly really fat drumsounds fit for the hiphop thing. There are a few more traditional set too though. But it also works as a midi controller (the sr 18 does this too), so in a home studio enviroment it can be used to trigger samples. But what I really love is the fact that it has a built in preamp and it can be powered with batteries. This means that I can just take my bass, the drumbox and earphoners to spend a perfect day in the park.

Ephminus · #11 05-25-2009, 04:54 PM

I just started into the world of midi....frustrating much?

MNAirHead · #12 05-26-2009, 06:39 PM

do you want software or standalone midi box

IconBasser · #13 05-26-2009, 06:55 PM

midi box.

MNAirHead · #14 05-26-2009, 08:42 PM

For programming the issue nomrally is smaller ones are more complex to get going.. I've owned several Rolands.. they're OK to program.. they're a bit easier than the Yamahas and Alesis.

My easiest to program was the Sequential Tom.. it was one of the bigger ones.

I now normally MIDI into the stand alone machine.. I'm not a fan of tap buttons etc.