Cheap, fairly realistic drum machine?

romanianreaper

romanianreaper

Well-known member
I'm planning on doing some demos and maybe some actual songs on a cheap Tascam, etc recorder. What is the most realistic drum machine, out of the cheap ones out there that I could use?

I was thinking about the Alesis ones. I currently don't have a computer so need something that is actual plug in equipment, not software. I'd like to have hard rock, metal drum sets if possible.
 
Cordoba said:
The DR 880 also has amp modeling, so if your amp goes down you can run one out for drums and another for the amp model. You can also program basslines with it.

Did countless recordings and gigs with the thing. Of course I don't have any clips or vids to back up my claims.

:aww:
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Lol, i believe, i believe 😂

A very well packed unit, like you said, the amo modeling can come in really handy.
 
I went through quite a few, including some classics like the Roland R8MKII, Roland R-70, but the two that get the most play-time are the Boss DR-880 and the Zoom RT-323.
The Zoom will not have the same editability where you can change timbre or decay of a hit; only pitch, but it's easier to play and set-up. And you can also program pretty decent sounding bass tracks with it.

Before that I had the Boss DR670 and traded that ($0 exchanged) against the R8MKII at the time. One of the better deals I've done, if I say so myself. 😉 :geek:.

The big 2 drawbacks of the R8MKII nowadays (next to the price )
-hard plastic pads
-small, non-backlit screen.

But the sounds make up for it, and I use a Korg PadKontrol to 'finger drum' via MIDI on it. The Korg has really nice pads.
Also got most of the expansion cards for the R8MKII; especially 'Dry' sounds pretty realistic for a 30 year old piece of gear.

Both the Zoom and DR880 also have nice, rubber pads, but the DR880's are quite small for finger-drumming.
Don't get an Alesis SR16, IMO. Dated sounds and weird sequencing stuff.
 
rushcentrale said:
Cheap computer, free recording software and plugins are the way to go imo. You'll be really limited with what you can do with a Tascam and a drum machine.
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I can use the Tascam with Reaper once I get a computer and then can use EZDrummer again. Just thought it would be good to have a simple box to keep the beat for demos.
 
rushcentrale said:
You'll be really limited with what you can do with a Tascam and a drum machine.
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For some peeps 'though the limitations can be just-the-ticket.

IOW, the difference between getting something done and endless troubleshooting and tweaking.

I know I'm one of those peeps. By far the most-productive periods for me were when I was track-and-tone-constrained on hardware back in the '80s and '90s.

Option paralysis is a thing.
 
Monkey Man said:
For some peeps 'though the limitations can be just-the-ticket.

IOW, the difference between getting something done and endless troubleshooting and tweaking.

I know I'm one of those peeps. By far the most-productive periods for me were when I was track-and-tone-constrained on hardware back in the '80s and '90s.

Option paralysis is a thing.
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I totally get this. Option paralysis definitely is a thing.

When you're starting out playing guitar it can build character and creativity to learn on a rusty, high-action acoustic with a couple of strings missing. Or if you're an experienced player with a ton of gear and try limiting yourself to one amp and one guitar and learning them inside out can spark new creativity.

But I'm thinking in this day and age, why make things harder on yourself? Learning basic recording on modern DAWs are as easy or easier than working with Alesis drum machines and Tascam 4 tracks...and I'm old enough to have done it for a while both ways. Obviously DAWs can get way more complicated and deep, but if you want to use the DAW strictly as a software version of a tape recorder, it's really super easy.

If you can learn DAW recording, which will probably only take a couple hours of Youtubing, you can then focus on creating and kind of forget the tech (if you just wanna do the basics and use the DAW as a modern day Tascam).

If you just wanna make quickie demos, use whatever you have around you and do it asap. My iphone vice notes are filled with those quick ideas. But if you want to write songs and you keep having to press stop and rewind and restart your drum machine pattern from the top instead of looping an 8 bar chorus for ideas, you're unnecessarily doing it the hard way.
 
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