Beatbuddy 2 (Is there a better option?)

[ChristIsKing]

There's few things I love more than playing / making music. Unfortunately with living in rural Wyoming it's hard to find people who want to make music with me.

One of my least favorite things about playing is that aside from playing at church I never have anyone to jam with, notably a drummer. I bought a digital Roland drum set and taught myself to drum because without drums bass just doesn't hit the same.

Now I've gotten to the point where I would like to be able to practice with drums in the background. I can go on YouTube of course and find backing tracks (and sometimes I do), but recently this Beatbuddy 2 came across my radar. It's expensive but it looks cool, like something I'd use a lot.

That got me wondering though, are there better / more convenient options? It's a lot of money to spend, but if I'm being honest, with as much as I'd use it it's not really that bad.

 

[Fishface]

There are apps you can use that would do the same (i.e.: provide a beat), whether on an iPad/iPhone/ Android, PC, etc.
MUCH less expensive than $500 beatbuddy

 

[ChristIsKing]

There are apps you can use that would do the same (i.e.: provide a beat), whether on an iPad/iPhone/ Android, PC, etc.
MUCH less expensive than $500 beatbuddy

Right, that's why I was asking about this. Looking for recommendations on what others use.

The Beatbuddy 2 is cool but for $500 I'm guessing there's other / better options.

 

[Fishface]

there's this
https://scottsbasslessons.com/groove-trainer/loops

 

[Fishface]

or the app for iOS
Groove Trainer iOS app

 

[Fishface]

and the Android app
Groove Trainer Android app

 

[Craig Orndorff]

From what I understand the BeatBuddy 2 is largely about an “improved” interface and more space. There’s already more than enough options to explore on the original unit. And they can be had for under $200 these days—and that’s on Reverb.

 

[73_Blazer]

Right, that's why I was asking about this. Looking for recommendations on what others use.

The Beatbuddy 2 is cool but for $500 I'm guessing there's other / better options.

Garage band on my iPad works good enough for me and it's free

 

[pb9717]

you can get an used original beat buddy and that'll give you plenty of different grooves to jam with. for around $200.

I have/use one and its perfectly adequate.

the ZOOM B3 as well as some other multi effects also offer built in drum machines.

But IME jamming with music minus one tracks is one of the most enjoyable ways to jam alone.

 

[antfarm]

I like their Funk and Reggae Drummer apps.

LUMBEAT - Drum Apps for iOS

Drum machine apps for musician, educators, students. Create rhythms, explore genres like Rock, Jazz, Afrolatin... with Live Pads, Song Mode.

lumbeat.com

 

[romzin]

I like my digitech S Drum.
You can give the basic kick-snare pattern either by strumming your bass/guitar or with the pads and it plays a full groove (you can adjust how busy and which type of hi-hat/cymbals).
It's super convenient to quickly get a beat without browsing through millions of presets.

 

[andare]

I bought a Teenage Engineering PO33 for my solo gigs (vocals + guitar/piano).
It's a simple sampler and sequencer. It takes all of 5 minutes to make several drum loops you can jam to. It's portable and a lot of fun. If you're clever with the sample trim points, you can simulate playing behind/ahead of the beat, and you can do way more than drum beats on it.

On stage I hook it up to the PA in stereo. At home I plug it into a guitar/bass amp or my IKEA speaker, in mono.

 

[glocke1]

Beat Buddy G1 user here.

It's great because it is in a pedal format and is a great option when you just want to sit down and jam without messing with computer based stuff.

I'd encourage you to grab a BB G1 off reverb or eBay and if it doesn't work for you sell it at not that great a loss.

Band in a Box is a computer based tool that you should consider as well. I havent used it for quite sometime but at one point I was making various tunes and tracks to jam with fairly often.

You could also look at " jamkazzam ", an online place where you can play music with others. Its not great but it works.

Don't get too discouraged about not having others to play with...It's fun, and makes you a better player but isn't the end-all/be-all when it comes to making music.

After 40 some years of playing bass, being in bands, some of which were quite good and successful, I've grown tired of that aspect of music and am re-discovering bass playing in terms of playing strictly for myself and am enjoying that far more than I ever thought I would.

 

[GrowlerBox]

I have a BeatBuddy (original) on a small jam board that I use when playing with a guitarist friend. Purchasing additional loops for specific styles and songs is pretty straightforward. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but switching sections and adding fills is all part of the fun.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

I use the S Drum as well. Like it better than my original Beat Buddy.

 

[basslayer]

I use the first BeatBuddy. For what you're describing, the mini Beat Buddy might be sufficient. If your not using midi to set tempos, the larger devices might but be worth the money.

 

[Craig Orndorff]

Always keep in mind with gear purchases that, yeah, it can DO that….but do I necessarily NEED that, and more importantly would I be paying more for what I don’t really need?

As in, yes, it could do a world beat at 11/8, it could do polyphonic polka (probably not a thing nor do I think the BeatBuddy can do polyrhythms but still), but…..when would I ever call upon that?

 

[Craig Orndorff]

you can get an used original beat buddy and that'll give you plenty of different grooves to jam with. for around $200.

I have/use one and its perfectly adequate.

the ZOOM B3 as well as some other multi effects also offer built in drum machines.

But IME jamming with music minus one tracks is one of the most enjoyable ways to jam alone.

That is one thing to consider—the older generation of multifx often contained some sort of beat generator, and I believe that the lower cost ones on Amazon still do—as do some headphone amps.

 

[Chris204T]

iRealPro app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and I think they have it for PC now too. Very cheap and sounds good. Turn the bass off and play along all day, any kind of music you prefer. 1000s of songs free to download on the forum.

 

[somatose]

The groover trainer app and iRealPro are both great.

But, you have a kit and learned how to play drums? Have you tried recording your own drum tracks and playing along with them, or making your own loops?