There’s been a tremendous renaissance in hardware drum machines recently. We round up some of the best.
Much like the samplers we covered recently, hardware drum machines have seen something of a resurgence in recent years, and there’s now a healthy selection of modern options for those looking to craft and sequence drum sounds outside of their DAW. Some are all‑analogue affairs that seek to recreate the ever‑popular sounds of classic Rolands; others take a more modern approach and aim to do something a little different — while a few offer the best of both worlds. This month, we shine the SOS spotlight on a selection of instruments that suit a wide variety of needs and budgets.
Acidlab Drumatix & Miami
Acidlab’s Drumatix recreates the sound of Roland’s TR‑606, but offers an increased voice count and a far more comprehensive set of controls than the original unit. As well as additional snare and bass drums, the Drumatix also adds clap and rimshot channels, and includes a set of tuning, decay and tone controls that make it possible to fine‑tune the sound of the drum hits. A pattern mode makes it possible to create sequences up to 16 steps long, and multiple stored sequences can be combined to build longer phrases using a track mode. A main mono output is joined by six individual voice outputs, along with trig out, MIDI in and DIN Sync connections.
If it’s TR‑808 sounds you’re after, then it’s worth taking a look at Acidlab’s Miami, which closely replicates the features and sounds of the sought‑after classic but with MIDI and DIN Sync connectivity.
Drumatix €590, Miami €690.
Drumatix €590, Miami €690. All prices include VAT.
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/acidlab-drumatix
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/acidlab-miami
Arturia DrumBrute Impact
Arturia’s compact DrumBrute Impact packs in 10 analogue drum sounds. Along with the expected selection of kicks, snares, toms and so on, you also get a two‑operator FM synth channel that can be used to craft an array of additional hits. The instrument is capable of storing four banks of 16 patterns, each of which can contain up to 64 steps, and it’s possible to chain up to 16 patterns together to create full songs. There’s a Swing parameter for introducing some timing variation, as well as a Random control that will automatically trigger additional hits — both controls can be applied globally or to individual tracks. As well as an assortment of per‑drum decay, pitch and tone controls, there’s a Color function that can apply some per‑track or per‑step saturation; if things are still left sounding too clean, the output section houses a global distortion effect. Four individual outputs provide access to the kick, snares, hi‑hats and FM drum channels, and are joined by main mix and headphone outputs, clock in and out connections, MIDI in and out on DIN sockets, and USB MIDI.
$349
€299
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/arturia-drumbrute-impact
www.arturia.com/products/hardware-synths/drumbrute-impact/overview
Alesis SR‑16
Although it was originally released back in 1990, the SR‑16 is still a part of Alesis’ current product line‑up. It comes loaded with 233 realistic drum sounds that are available both dry and processed using the company’s popular digital reverb processors, and benefit from a Dynamic Articulation feature that varies the sound of each based on playing velocity. It includes 50 patterns that have been played in by real drummers rather than programmed, and which offer A and B parts as well as a choice of two fills. In addition to its velocity‑sensitive pads, the SR‑16 can be triggered via MIDI, and offers a pair of footswitch connections for external control of playback and part/fill switching.
$159
£125
www.inmusicstore.com/alesis-sr16.html
Behringer Rhythm Designer Series
Another take on some Roland classics comes from Behringer, whose RD‑6, RD‑8 and RD‑9 offer recreations of the TR‑606, TR‑808 and TR‑909 respectively. The compact RD‑6 comes loaded with eight drum sounds and a 16‑step sequencer, offers hands‑on control over each voice’s level and boasts a built‑in global distortion. There’s plenty of connectivity on offer, with MIDI (USB and DIN) and sync I/O joined by a pair of trigger outputs, and a main mix output complemented by individual outputs for each voice.
Stepping things up a gear, the RD‑8 packs in 16 drum sounds, a 64‑step sequencer, a Wave Designer feature that can be used to shape each voice, and a 12dB/oct dual‑mode (low‑ and high‑pass) filter. Swing, Flam and Probability parameters help to add some variation to sequenced patterns, and a total of 93 knobs, switches and buttons provide a wealth of hands‑on control. As for connectivity, you get a main mix and individual voice outputs, three trigger outputs, sync I/O, MIDI in, out and thru on DIN sockets, and USB MIDI. Lastly, the RD‑9 offers the same sequencer, dual‑mode filter, Wave Designer and array of socketry, but with 11 drum sounds inspired by the TR‑909.
RD‑6 $129, RD‑8 $319, RD‑9 $329.
RD‑6 £99, RD‑8 £249, RD‑9 £269.
www.behringer.com/series.html?category=R-BEHRINGER-RHYTHMDESIGNERSERIES
Elektron Analog Rytm MKII
As its name suggests, Elektron’s Analog Rytm MKII features an all‑analogue signal path, but it also includes a digital sample layer that’s capable of capturing and editing both internal and external sounds. There are eight drum voices equipped with an analogue sound generator and sample playback engine, all of which benefit from a two‑pole multi‑mode filter, analogue overdrive, filter and amp envelopes, a pair of effects sends, an assignable LFO and a dedicated LFO fade envelope.
Elektron devices are renowned for their powerful sequencing capabilities, and the Analog Rytm is no exception: there are 12 drum tracks that can contain up to 64 steps and boast independent scale and length settings, as well as supporting both sample‑ and sound‑per‑step changes and parameter locking. There’s no shortage of effects, either, with send‑based delay and reverb processors joined by global stereo distortion and compression. As for connectivity, you get main and individual outputs, a stereo input, MIDI in, out and thru, DIN Sync out, CV/expression pedal inputs and both audio and MIDI over USB.
$1799
£1599
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/elektron-mkii-analog-four-analog-rytm-octatrack
www.elektron.se/en/analog-rytm-mkii-explorer
Erica Synths Perkons HD‑01
Erica Synths like to do things a bit differently, and say that the Perkons HD‑01 “tears down the borders between drum machine, synthesizer and drone instrument”. The instrument features four hybrid voices that pair a digital sound engine with an analogue multi‑mode (high‑, band‑ and low‑pass) filter and overdrive, with Tune and Decay controls allowing users to craft all manner of interesting sounds. A four‑track sequencer offers a choice of four time divisions and multiplications per track, as well as per‑step ratchets and probabilities and a range of shuffle and groove settings. There’s an onboard compressor and BBD‑style delay, along with an LFO with morphing waveforms that can be routed to up to eight destinations per voice. Every voice gets its own effects loop and audio output connections along with a trigger input, and the device is equipped with clock and MIDI I/O.
The company’s range also includes the LXR‑02, a more compact six‑voice machine that combines a powerful digital sound engine with a 64‑step sequencer.
Perkons HD‑01 $2059, LXR‑02 $599.
Perkons HD‑01 €1700, LXR‑02 €490.
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/erica-synths-perkons-hd-01
www.ericasynths.lv/shop/standalone-instruments-1/perkons-hd-01-black
www.ericasynths.lv/shop/standalone-instruments-1/drum-synthesizer-lxr-02
IK Multimedia UNO Drum
Another example that merges the analogue and digital worlds is IK Multimedia’s UNO Drum. This compact device features six channels that can be switched between an analogue drum voice or sample playback, and six dedicated to samples. The analogue engine takes care of kicks, snares, claps and hi‑hats, while a collection of factory samples offer a range of toms, rimshots, cowbells, rides and crashes. The instrument’s 64‑step sequencer allows users to automate up to eight parameters per step, and it’s possible to create longer grooves by chaining together up to 64 patterns. Five performance effects (Roll, Fill, Random, Swing and Humanize) make it easy to introduce variation to programmed patterns, and a global effects section houses a stutter effect, an analogue drive and a compressor. Audio and MIDI I/O are provided by four mini‑jacks, and the instrument can either be powered via USB or four AA batteries.
$269.99
€269.99
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ik-multimedia-uno-drum
www.ikmultimedia.com/products/unodrum
Korg Drumlogue
Featuring new analogue circuitry designed by the engineer behind Korg’s ARP 2600 M, MS‑20 Mini and ARP Odyssey, along with seven versatile digital voices, the Drumlogue is said to mark a paradigm shift in the world of drum machines. The analogue voices provide kick, snare and tom sounds, while their digital counterparts offer six sample‑based sound sources along with the Multi Engine from the company’s Minilogue XD, meaning the instrument is capable of playing fully-fledged synth voices as well as drum sounds.
A 64‑step sequencer makes quick work of creating complex patterns and polyrhythms, and includes probability, alternate trigger pattern, micro offset and groove pattern settings that can all be applied on a per‑step basis. As for effects, you get send‑based delay and reverb processors and a master effects section that can be bypassed on a per‑part basis. Four individual outputs complement the main stereo out, and there’s also MIDI I/O (via DIN and USB), sync I/O and a USB host port for hooking up an external controller. If you’re after something smaller, the Volca Drum and Volca Beats both squeeze an array of drum and percussion sounds and a 16‑step sequencer into a compact, portable package.
Drumlogue $399.99, Volca Drum/Beats $159.99.
Drumlogue £289, Volca Drum/Beats £139
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/korg-drumlogue
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/korg-volca-beats-bass-keys
Roland TR Series
Seeing as so many drum machines draw their inspiration from Roland’s legendary early instruments, it’s no surprise that the company’s current line‑up includes a few of their own modern alternatives. The TR‑06 and TR‑08 use Roland’s ACB (Analog Circuit Behaviour) technology to faithfully recreate the sound of the TR‑606 and TR‑808, while introducing some useful modern functionality. While the much‑loved drum hits remain the same, the onboard sequencers offer some advanced functions including sub‑steps, step‑loop and per‑step probability, while their analogue connectivity is complemented by audio and MIDI over USB.
If you’re looking for an all‑in‑one solution, the larger, 11‑track TR‑8S packs in ACB‑powered recreations of a whole host of iconic instruments including the TR‑808, TR‑606, TR‑909, TR‑707 and TR‑727, as well as several modified versions and the CR‑78 CompuRhythm, a predecessor of the TR‑808. If that’s still not enough, the instrument includes a selection of FM sounds and is capable of blending in both factory and user‑imported samples. Designed specifically for hands‑on performances, the TR‑8S boasts per‑track control over levels, tuning and decay, and offers a fully fledged effects section and a powerful sequencer. Stereo analogue inputs and outputs are joined by multi‑channel audio and MIDI via USB, and there are eight analogue outputs that can either carry individual voices or function as trigger outputs. Roland also offer the TR‑6S, a more compact and affordable six‑track version of the TR‑8S.
TR‑06 $399.99, TR‑08 $411.99, TR‑8S $749.99, TR‑6S $411.99.
TR‑06 £301, TR‑08 £352, TR‑8S £620, TR‑6S £344.
www.roland.com/global/products
System80 880
System80’s take on the TR‑808 actually comes in the form of the 880 60HP Eurorack module, but can be purchased with an optional desktop mounting kit with built‑in power supply, so it’s not exclusive to the modular crowd. Six fixed single voices and five switchable dual voices bring the total count to 16, and the on‑board sequencer provides up to 32 steps and can store 12 banks of 16 patterns. The drum voices can be triggered externally via MIDI, and synchronisation with other gear is possible via MIDI Clock, DIN Sync or clock pulse, and there’s also a pair of assignable trigger outputs. As for audio connectivity, the instrument boasts 11 individual voice outputs along with a master mix out.
$995
£1050 including VAT.
Vermona DRM1 MkIV
The latest version of Vermona’s DRM1 introduces a range of enhancements that include a redesigned power supply and improved noise performance, as well as a more detailed set of per‑instrument channel controls. There’s also the option to order a unit fitted with analogue trigger inputs that respond to dynamic levels and can convert incoming gate signals to MIDI messages. Its core functionality remains the same as earlier versions, though, with eight dedicated drum channels offering a wide variety of kick, snare, tom, hi‑hat and clap sounds, as well as being capable of producing a whole host of metallic‑sounding percussion, and even some more extreme ‘zaps’ and laser sounds! Eight horizontal rows provide a dedicated set of parameters for each voice — including the likes of decay, pitch, attack, noise level, resonance and so on — along with an output/insert connection and the optional trigger input (if specified).
DRM1 MkIV $819, DRM1 MkIV Trigger $919.
DRM1 MkIV £709, DRM1 MkIV Trigger £795.
www.vermona.com/en/products/drums-percussion/product/drm1-mkiv-2
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