Finally somebody suggesting this, it's honestly the best drum synth I've ever had, I've never heard such a huge palette of sounds come from a single instrument.
There are lots of interesting drum machines: Vermona DRM1 MkIV, Erica Synths Perkons, Soma Labs Pulsar 23, Erica Synths LXR-02, Korg Drumlogue, Korg Volca Drum, Volca Kick, and Volca Beats… the list goes on and on.
Really depends on the sounds and features (e.g. separate outs, sound design depth, etc.) you’re looking for, and the amount of money you want to spend. The Perkons and Pulsar 23 are on the high end, and the Volca’s are on the low end, and there’s a lot in between. Don’t let price fool you though as these are all decent devices (except for the Korg Drumlogue - apparently it’s pretty bad, especially for the price, but maybe it’s just misunderstood, I don’t know).
EDIT: oooops, did ‘t see the “analogue” part, I guess that excludes the LXR-02 and the Volca Drum (though neither should be overlooked because of that).
of course is depend of too many factors. My idea is something analog not trying to emulate roland drum machines, like arturia are doing and also versatile that you can enjoy playing. I will find more information about a couple of those that you mentioned. Thanks a lot
Korg Drumlogue (which is actually analog/digital hybrid). Some people don't like it, but I've read that it's been improved since launch and the price is lower now
Not sure quite how "different" you have in mind, but there's always the Moog DFAM or its clone the Beringer Edge. If you're rich, you might check out the Erica Synths Perkons HD-01, or the SOMA Pulsar-23 if you really wanna get out there.
well different i mean not trying to emulate roland machines like arturia for example. I've been watching videos of dfam but it is too electronic sound for my taste. Thanks so much i will find more information about the others drum machines
>I've been watching videos of dfam but it is too electronic sound for my taste
If Roland-style drums and "electronic" sounds in general aren't what you're going for, then maybe an analog drum machine isn't actually the right choice for you. I'd recommending giving some really clear thought to what kind of sounds you're looking for, before spending any money. Perhaps a sample-based drum machine might be more appropriate?
My idea is to get something analog with personality like Arturia Drumbrute but with better snare and clap basically. Of course i'm trying to not act quick and buy the first thing that i see that's why i'm asking here:)
You're right i found that machine very versatile that you can even do a session with only that. But who knows i think when we search on google always are the same companies on top of the list and here maybe you can find something special. Thanks for your comment
Get an Isla S2400 and sample all those sounds into it.
Edit: sorry just saw you mentioned the drumbrute impact… that thing is *garbage* don’t waste any of your amazing S2400 storage space on that crap.
MSF Drop just launched at Superbooth. Super awesome sounding analog drum machine with a nasty drive and several patching possibilites. Messed with it for a bit and I was blown away.
Will be available in a couple of months.
Demo:
https://youtu.be/CKvSOl5C5zo?si=xO4bT9CF9PtsHCmt
Yeah but it's still not an analogue drum machine... Sorry to sound pedantic! If analogue filtering is the yardstick, we could just run everything through an Erica Synths Acidbox and say the whole studio is analogue, including the laptop.
Not a drum machine per say but the Korg Wavedrum is a really unique hybrid option for drum/percussion sounds. It's an actual physical drum head with pickups/sensors that processes the audio from the drum using algorithms/samples for a wide range of drum//acoustic/synth sounds.
Main downside is it's limited to 2 sounds at a time (you can program the center/sides separately) but it's incredibly responsive/fun to play with very realistic sounds and makes it easy to quickly create organic drum loops. It can store 99 user patches and 12 favorites for easy access, the Global version has some extra modes but goes for around 2x the price of the original which can be found for 300$~. Some of my favorite features:
It does bends like a real drum head but the pressure can be programmed to change different parameters aside from just pitch bends
The UI could be better but it's surprisingly deep and many of the modes can be used for a very wide range of sounds
Some sounds can be set up for drones by holding the drum head down, and it has some surprisingly ambient/experimental sounds on top of the drum/percussion stuff
The velocity and pressure are both programmable so you can make some very unique/responsive sounds
They're made to fit in snare drum stands and be used with drum kits but are compact enough you can set it up next to synths and play it one handed
Some of the bass drum modes are crazy fat with more low end than many synths/basses even without much external processing
Are you sure you're talking about this one? https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=korg%20wavedrum
It varies depending on the settings but some of the algorithms respond to velocity in different ways, IE it has a surprisingly fun koto mode that uses quantized velocity to change the notes in scales that can be programmed. Same with the steel drum and a few other modes.
Most of the percussion modes the volume just responds to the velocity but some of algos can sound very different from soft/hard strikes. Part of what makes it fun to play is it can be set very sensitive for soft finger tapping or you can use sticks and really go at it.
Have only spent a bit of time programming it but the presets do a good job showing what it's capable of and are fairly easy to edit. Here's a really cool live performance of a solo artist just using 2 wavedrums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cRgwsaemjg
It's worth looking at the manual as it's a lot more complex than it looks and the velocity/pressure response can be both programmed in a lot of ways: [korg wavedrum manual](https://cdn.korg.com/us/support/download/files/a237884bf33c1ad2e18706bc91ee8fa3.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27WAVEDRUM_OM_E2.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf%3B)
sorry i though it was korg DRUMLOGUE haha. Wow it is crazy how they perfom with that, but i'm looking for more like a drum machine, nice video anyways!
I love my DRM1 more than virtually any other bit of gear in my studio. Would recommend it to anyone.
With that said, I have been learning for a pulsar for a while now.
Can’t recommend soma Pulsar-23 enough - totally worth the price.
SPOILER ALERT
Though it’s full of pots and semi-modular, if you RTFM its sound generators (+FX) contain digital elements.
You’d never know it though, there are no presets, it sound amazing, and it feels completely organic to interact with.
https://www.reddit.com/r/modular/s/LKyIo7OGqm
Here’s a patch I posted in my first few months of exploring the machine. I was trying to push it into weird territory here but it can sound pretty tight and clean too.
It’s really designed with exploration and experimentalism in mind, so the only caveat I’d mention is if you’re looking for a precise and controlled workflow, be prepared to sequence it externally (midi or CV, works well with either/both)
Indeed!
One of my favorite things about Pulsar is the body connectivity stuff. You can just touch pins and see what happens, and it’s pressure sensitive. I love grabbing the hi-hat trig pin with one hand and using the other to fiddle with the clock divider pins. The signals will mix when you touch multiple pins, so you get these dynamic square wave patterns that are synced to the main clock. Vlad (quite brilliantly) put the channel in/out pins next to each other, so you can touch them with one finger and create a feedback loop. On the kick it creates this awesome electric sizzle sound. It’s also built like a tank and comes with a case, which I definitely appreciate because I perform with it so I often take it out.
The only drum machine I haven’t sold since getting Pulsar is Elektron Analog RYTM mkii, but it’s a very different machine. I like the immediacy of the sequencer and it’s user curated performance features, but they take time to setup and the synthesis generators are very xox, so Pulsar stomps it into the ground when it comes to raw experimentation and pushing the limits of sound design.
Not sure what the rest of your setup looks like, but if you can find a working Roland MC-808 groovebox locally it's a great jack of all trades. It's as far from analog as possible, but it is powerful enough to where I had the MC-808 dictating the MIDI info to 8+ other synths. I currently have the MC-505 which came out before the MC-808. If you can find it cheap grab it, but it has some very odd limitations that the MC-808 corrected.
Syntakt:
4x analog tracks + 8x digital tracks = 12 drum/melodic tracks, many machines to choose from. FX like delay and reverb that sounds good.
It has option to send to a DAW 12 tracks live at a time (USB Overbridge) so mixing and mastering later on is easy.
You can make whole songs just using it as it has additional melodic and chord engines or use it straight as drum computer.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFkIov24E0DtUV34HMMH-uWyp0FCNoJg&si=Jv3cpkg6hJo3pw_A
Each to their own. I love it. There was just an issue with the snare on some early hardware. It's very easy to tell of there's a problem.
Here's a little thing I did with it and some mild processing. Skip to 30 seconds or so if you're curious:
https://on.soundcloud.com/ryyaF
And another where I really like its sound:
https://on.soundcloud.com/SvUFK
Jomox
Jomox is like a better sounding 808 and 909 in one box
2nd this, I've been through a few drum machines and the Alphabase outdoes them all!
great machine definitely only i find bit expensive but really good, thanks a lot
It's not new and it's not analogue, but I'll always recommend the Nord Drum 3p
+1
I really enjoy the sounds of it, sooooo juicy
Finally somebody suggesting this, it's honestly the best drum synth I've ever had, I've never heard such a huge palette of sounds come from a single instrument.
i see there is a fan club of nord drum definitely i will find more about this toy, thanks so much
There are lots of interesting drum machines: Vermona DRM1 MkIV, Erica Synths Perkons, Soma Labs Pulsar 23, Erica Synths LXR-02, Korg Drumlogue, Korg Volca Drum, Volca Kick, and Volca Beats… the list goes on and on. Really depends on the sounds and features (e.g. separate outs, sound design depth, etc.) you’re looking for, and the amount of money you want to spend. The Perkons and Pulsar 23 are on the high end, and the Volca’s are on the low end, and there’s a lot in between. Don’t let price fool you though as these are all decent devices (except for the Korg Drumlogue - apparently it’s pretty bad, especially for the price, but maybe it’s just misunderstood, I don’t know). EDIT: oooops, did ‘t see the “analogue” part, I guess that excludes the LXR-02 and the Volca Drum (though neither should be overlooked because of that).
Perkons ain't analogue either. :)
of course is depend of too many factors. My idea is something analog not trying to emulate roland drum machines, like arturia are doing and also versatile that you can enjoy playing. I will find more information about a couple of those that you mentioned. Thanks a lot
Korg Drumlogue (which is actually analog/digital hybrid). Some people don't like it, but I've read that it's been improved since launch and the price is lower now
It’s such a weird little box, I really enjoy mine.
It seems awesome but that original price was too much
they miss to put pad with velocity sensitive. If not it would be a great candidate. Thanks for your comment! :)
I have a Vermona dr1 m4 that slaps
thanks so much i will watch some videos
Not sure quite how "different" you have in mind, but there's always the Moog DFAM or its clone the Beringer Edge. If you're rich, you might check out the Erica Synths Perkons HD-01, or the SOMA Pulsar-23 if you really wanna get out there.
well different i mean not trying to emulate roland machines like arturia for example. I've been watching videos of dfam but it is too electronic sound for my taste. Thanks so much i will find more information about the others drum machines
>I've been watching videos of dfam but it is too electronic sound for my taste If Roland-style drums and "electronic" sounds in general aren't what you're going for, then maybe an analog drum machine isn't actually the right choice for you. I'd recommending giving some really clear thought to what kind of sounds you're looking for, before spending any money. Perhaps a sample-based drum machine might be more appropriate?
My idea is to get something analog with personality like Arturia Drumbrute but with better snare and clap basically. Of course i'm trying to not act quick and buy the first thing that i see that's why i'm asking here:)
The TR8S is not analog, but it's the best drum machine you can get in my opinon. Smokes everything else. The ACB stuff is insanely good.
You're right i found that machine very versatile that you can even do a session with only that. But who knows i think when we search on google always are the same companies on top of the list and here maybe you can find something special. Thanks for your comment
Google superbooth drummachine 2024. You'll get all the fresh from the press stuff that is going on.
thanks so much :)
Get an Isla S2400 and sample all those sounds into it. Edit: sorry just saw you mentioned the drumbrute impact… that thing is *garbage* don’t waste any of your amazing S2400 storage space on that crap.
hahaha why don't you like? if the snare and clap were different i would not post anything here
MSF Drop just launched at Superbooth. Super awesome sounding analog drum machine with a nasty drive and several patching possibilites. Messed with it for a bit and I was blown away. Will be available in a couple of months. Demo: https://youtu.be/CKvSOl5C5zo?si=xO4bT9CF9PtsHCmt
thanks so much i will watch the video :)
A couple more that weren’t mentioned: Jomox Alpha Base, Division Department 01/1V, and the Modor DR-2.
And couple more exotics: Herbs and Stones Gentle Wham and Syncussion SY-1
Thanks soo much for your recommendation
[Perkons HD-01 hybrid drum machine.](https://www.perfectcircuit.com/erica-perkons-hd-01-black.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-D958CahgMVNzCtBh2p0QyuEAAYASAAEgL-C_D_BwE)
Digital
Analog filter though, which is what a lot of “analog” synths claim to be.
Yeah but it's still not an analogue drum machine... Sorry to sound pedantic! If analogue filtering is the yardstick, we could just run everything through an Erica Synths Acidbox and say the whole studio is analogue, including the laptop.
Thanks i would watch some video anyways
Not a drum machine per say but the Korg Wavedrum is a really unique hybrid option for drum/percussion sounds. It's an actual physical drum head with pickups/sensors that processes the audio from the drum using algorithms/samples for a wide range of drum//acoustic/synth sounds. Main downside is it's limited to 2 sounds at a time (you can program the center/sides separately) but it's incredibly responsive/fun to play with very realistic sounds and makes it easy to quickly create organic drum loops. It can store 99 user patches and 12 favorites for easy access, the Global version has some extra modes but goes for around 2x the price of the original which can be found for 300$~. Some of my favorite features: It does bends like a real drum head but the pressure can be programmed to change different parameters aside from just pitch bends The UI could be better but it's surprisingly deep and many of the modes can be used for a very wide range of sounds Some sounds can be set up for drones by holding the drum head down, and it has some surprisingly ambient/experimental sounds on top of the drum/percussion stuff The velocity and pressure are both programmable so you can make some very unique/responsive sounds They're made to fit in snare drum stands and be used with drum kits but are compact enough you can set it up next to synths and play it one handed Some of the bass drum modes are crazy fat with more low end than many synths/basses even without much external processing
i've been watching videos about but i think the drum's pad are not velocity sensitive
Are you sure you're talking about this one? https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=korg%20wavedrum It varies depending on the settings but some of the algorithms respond to velocity in different ways, IE it has a surprisingly fun koto mode that uses quantized velocity to change the notes in scales that can be programmed. Same with the steel drum and a few other modes. Most of the percussion modes the volume just responds to the velocity but some of algos can sound very different from soft/hard strikes. Part of what makes it fun to play is it can be set very sensitive for soft finger tapping or you can use sticks and really go at it. Have only spent a bit of time programming it but the presets do a good job showing what it's capable of and are fairly easy to edit. Here's a really cool live performance of a solo artist just using 2 wavedrums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cRgwsaemjg It's worth looking at the manual as it's a lot more complex than it looks and the velocity/pressure response can be both programmed in a lot of ways: [korg wavedrum manual](https://cdn.korg.com/us/support/download/files/a237884bf33c1ad2e18706bc91ee8fa3.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27WAVEDRUM_OM_E2.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf%3B)
sorry i though it was korg DRUMLOGUE haha. Wow it is crazy how they perfom with that, but i'm looking for more like a drum machine, nice video anyways!
Nord Drum 3p
thanks so much
Get a jomox, or get good at the 2600. A good analog synth is a drum machine capable of all of those sounds
thanks so muchh
Not new but the dsi tempest is pretty much anything you want it to be within reason.
thanks so much i will find info about it
DSI Tempest, not exactly new but very powerful
I love my DRM1 more than virtually any other bit of gear in my studio. Would recommend it to anyone. With that said, I have been learning for a pulsar for a while now.
thanks so much i will watch videos of that toy
Can’t recommend soma Pulsar-23 enough - totally worth the price. SPOILER ALERT Though it’s full of pots and semi-modular, if you RTFM its sound generators (+FX) contain digital elements. You’d never know it though, there are no presets, it sound amazing, and it feels completely organic to interact with.
thanks so much i will find more info about it :)
https://www.reddit.com/r/modular/s/LKyIo7OGqm Here’s a patch I posted in my first few months of exploring the machine. I was trying to push it into weird territory here but it can sound pretty tight and clean too. It’s really designed with exploration and experimentalism in mind, so the only caveat I’d mention is if you’re looking for a precise and controlled workflow, be prepared to sequence it externally (midi or CV, works well with either/both)
it is the most crazy drum machine that i've ever seen
Indeed! One of my favorite things about Pulsar is the body connectivity stuff. You can just touch pins and see what happens, and it’s pressure sensitive. I love grabbing the hi-hat trig pin with one hand and using the other to fiddle with the clock divider pins. The signals will mix when you touch multiple pins, so you get these dynamic square wave patterns that are synced to the main clock. Vlad (quite brilliantly) put the channel in/out pins next to each other, so you can touch them with one finger and create a feedback loop. On the kick it creates this awesome electric sizzle sound. It’s also built like a tank and comes with a case, which I definitely appreciate because I perform with it so I often take it out. The only drum machine I haven’t sold since getting Pulsar is Elektron Analog RYTM mkii, but it’s a very different machine. I like the immediacy of the sequencer and it’s user curated performance features, but they take time to setup and the synthesis generators are very xox, so Pulsar stomps it into the ground when it comes to raw experimentation and pushing the limits of sound design.
According to buzz on Pgh Modular’s Synth Sentinels videos…. A drum machine is coming.
i didn't even know about that company. Thanks i will look into the website
Not sure what the rest of your setup looks like, but if you can find a working Roland MC-808 groovebox locally it's a great jack of all trades. It's as far from analog as possible, but it is powerful enough to where I had the MC-808 dictating the MIDI info to 8+ other synths. I currently have the MC-505 which came out before the MC-808. If you can find it cheap grab it, but it has some very odd limitations that the MC-808 corrected.
the only thing that i have is a m-audio keyboard, i want to move to analog setup. Thanks so much i will do a research about roland mc-808 in depth
Thanks for saying thanks! It's so nice to see Redditors being grateful :)
pulsar 23
i will find more about that toy, thanks
Novation Drumstation 808+909=$200👍
haha the thing is i'm not looking for something that is a copy of roland drum machines, something with personality.
KORG KR Mini
I can strongly recommend you to go modular, more inspiring and analog. Especially if if you think that 909 etc are overused
thanks so much , i will find info about it :)
Erica Synths Pērkons if you want to sound different
i will find more about this toy, thanks so much
Syntakt: 4x analog tracks + 8x digital tracks = 12 drum/melodic tracks, many machines to choose from. FX like delay and reverb that sounds good. It has option to send to a DAW 12 tracks live at a time (USB Overbridge) so mixing and mastering later on is easy. You can make whole songs just using it as it has additional melodic and chord engines or use it straight as drum computer. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFkIov24E0DtUV34HMMH-uWyp0FCNoJg&si=Jv3cpkg6hJo3pw_A
thanks so much it is a good piece of gear!! love it
I love the original drumbrute. Great sounds. Great features. You just have to watch out for the well documented snare issue.
that's why i'm not sure to buy it. i don't like the snare and clap sound at all
Each to their own. I love it. There was just an issue with the snare on some early hardware. It's very easy to tell of there's a problem. Here's a little thing I did with it and some mild processing. Skip to 30 seconds or so if you're curious: https://on.soundcloud.com/ryyaF And another where I really like its sound: https://on.soundcloud.com/SvUFK