i'm looking for the ultimate drum machine/sequencer..

gription · Joined: Aug 21, 2009 Posts: 4 Location: NGC-1097

i love the old 909... ya can really get in there and fine tune everything... but i want a more modern version.

i'm leaning on the elektron machinedrum... seems top notch. i just got into it yesterday so i really don't know. looks like it's a drum machine and a sequencer all in one.. which is perfect. i assume you can import sounds via usb which would be ideal.

basically i'd love a hardware version of fruity loops... can ya point me towards something..?

soundwave106 · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject:

If you are wanting to import your own samples, the Machinedrum is a bit limited in memory. Where the Machinedrum shines is how you can mangle the sounds. Elektron's sequencing products are *great* as far as workflow goes, as well as unique features that give it a nice glitchy type sound. (I have a Monomachine, and have basically kept it for the sequencer, not being thrilled with the sound so much.)

A more traditional step-oriented sequencing product is the Korg Electribe ESX-1. But if you want Fruity Loops in a box, there's always the MV-8800. Smile

Shreddie · Joined: May 12, 2009 Posts: 96 Location: UK

gription · Joined: Aug 21, 2009 Posts: 4 Location: NGC-1097

mpc's have nothing to do with this

Shreddie · Joined: May 12, 2009 Posts: 96 Location: UK

XpanderXT · Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 137 Location: the flat universe

I agree on the MPC. The 5000 has a 64 track sequencer, drum sampling engine, keymapping style sampler, VA synth, disk recorder. USB to bring in wav files and store them on the hard drive. 4 MIDI outs for controlling external gear.

The Roland MV8800 is similar in concept. I think th esequencer is more of a linear sequencer and less of a pattern based sequencer like the MPC/Fruity loops.

Shreddie · Joined: May 12, 2009 Posts: 96 Location: UK

renevanderwouden · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:05 am Post subject:

coloring pad · Joined: Nov 13, 2009 Posts: 17 Location: newer jersey

Korg electribe esx ... 808 programability with samples...

love,
coloringpad

www.coloringpad.blogspot.com
æther generator
radiate sky
++0+

Antimon · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:12 am Post subject:

I've been following the LinnDrum II a bit. It's dragging out though, chances are it will be a couple of years before it's realised, if it comes out at all.

http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/products/linndrum2/index.shtml

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/linndrum2/

At the top of the second link:

jksuperstar · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

As a former MPC1000 owner, I know and understand the frustration fully: Everything about a sound is static at it's onset: no filter sweeps, no mangling of a loop over time. Sure, you can change the setting of a filter, even as a sequence is playing, but those settings don't change *as* the sample is playing. They are only set when the sample is triggered. That was a deal breaker for me. It left things sounding very static...and very much sounding like hip hop tracks did for the longest time (until people start using other tools!).

anigbrowl · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

The Yamaha RM1x is a nice X0X-type drum sequencer, a very flexible pattern sequencer, and a passable ROMpler, although it only has a low-pass filter and stereo out.

The RS7000 combines all of the above with some minor enhancements to the sequencer section and a much improved sound engine - basically a sampler/ROMpler with a Yamaha-standard AWM synth section and a bunch of knobs for controlling same. Particular goodies include a tempo-synable with user-definable waveforms and 18 different, and distinctive, filters (rather than 6 that are obvious from the front panel), and dual midi outs. There's also a rather kicking FX section. Also, with the expansion board you get 8 analog outs and a coax and optical i/o.

Its only shortcomings are that you can't layer samples per patch (although you can fake this easily enough by setting multiple sound engine channels to the same sequencer channel), audio/sequence storage via smartmedia cards/SCSI (pretty outdated now), a somewhat perverse approach to voice editing (voices are always associated with a sequencer pattern, which can get confusing) and the lack of a modulation matrix.

However the theory behind the device is to provide a good selection of relatively static sounds, and then make it easy to record your dynamic tweaks into the sequencer, at which it succeeds excellently. In combination with a more flexible synth it's pretty kick-ass.

You might also want to consider Emu's XL-7 or MP-7, which are the same machine loaded with techno or hip-hop soundsets. They offer a pad-based single-octave keyboard, but you can also do X0X-style programming on the buttons. Terrible ergonomics by comparison, and not helped by the cheapskate 2-line LCD, but the sound section is very programmable and 16 knobs make up for the menu-diving.

Keysandslots · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:34 pm Post subject:

How 'bout the Roland R8 MK II? Seems okay, lots of pads, lots of sounds, add on cards, anyone using one?

Randy

PH0T0N · Joined: Jan 23, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: southern california

to be honest I have an mpc2000xl..I like the mpc's alot for any type of production i mean they are very unrestricted. But I think now that I am moving over into dance/electro the machinedrum would be a much better choice. that's analogue drum synthesis here you know what I mean?

goldenMaster · Joined: Dec 26, 2009 Posts: 9 Location: seattle, wa

just to throw in an oddball idea... how about a novation launchpad, coupled with five12 numerology, running any of your favorite drum synth modules. There is a drum sequencer module in there that is really nice, and numerology now has full launchpad support. editing drums from the launchpad is awesome!