Drum machine newbie

thevirus5085 · #1 09-21-2003

hey, i am sorry if this has been posted to much and is getting old for you all, but you all seem to be my only sorce of finding a drum machine i will be happy with.
I am looking for a drum machine to use that will give me that indy sound. I personally like the one the postal service(the band) uses in the song great heights. If anyone can help me out with this please do so. If u dont know what im talking about but know of a good drum machine for a good price (under 200 dollars) please post.
thanks for you help in advance.

alien · #2 09-21-2003

Find yourself a Boss Dr-550 ot a 550 Mk II

that should fit your needs.

Krakit · #3 09-22-2003

I'd like to tack on a rider to this poster's question.

Anyone know of a good book, video or CBT for getting the most use out of drum machines?

Not something dependant on the type of drum machine that you own, but just drum machine programming in general.

Techniques that help you fool the listener into thinking that you have a real drummer.

Techniques that don't fool the listener, but sound so good that the listener doesn't care that you used a drum machine.

A chicken or the egg comparrison (in terms of composing). Do you develop patterns first and write over that, or compose your piece and fit in the drum patterns underneath.

The best techniques for cheating on your drum machine to get odd time patterns from machines only capable of playing 4/4 3/4 2/4 and 6/8.

Techiniques on blending real drums (cymbals) with your drum machine.

Synchronizing drum machines with recording studios (either through MIDI stripping, SMTP or other clocking method).

How to apply outboard effects to drum machines to get more out of them.

Techniques for getting your drum machine to sit in the mix like real drums.

Etc, etc, etc.

So, is there anything like that you would reccommend?

Carl

LAZI · #4 09-22-2003

Hey man i've been trying to sell a top nothch drum machine for the longest time. It's a DR.660 going for real cheap.... Nobodies followed through yet and it a damn shome... I don't know if it's the internet crap or what but i'm legit.

If you are interested then click PM under this message and we can wrk something out.

If not with me then this cat has a 660 also (you'd rather buy from me

) . It's a very good machine and is amongst the top of the line units you'll be able to buy. If you price a DR.770 which just a slightly updated 66o you'll see that it's one of the more expensive drum machines.

Peace....

CARL- Just curious what drum machine you are using?

One thing that I know helps drums sound more realistic is setting up good velocity variations.

Krakit · #5 09-22-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by LAZI
Hey man i've been trying to sell a top nothch drum machine for the longest time. It's a DR.660 going for real cheap.... Nobodies followed through yet and it a damn shome... I don't know if it's the internet crap or what but i'm legit.

If you are interested then click PM under this message and we can wrk something out.

If not with me then this cat has a 660 also (you'd rather buy from me ) . It's a very good machine and is amongst the top of the line units you'll be able to buy. If you price a DR.770 which just a slightly updated 66o you'll see that it's one of the more expensive drum machines.

Peace....

CARL- Just curious what drum machine you are using?

One thing that I know helps drums sound more realistic is setting up good velocity variations.

I'm using an RT 323, and I am very happy with it.

I just know that there are many tricks and tips that would make for a great book or video, but have never seen anything.

Believe it or not, I have never used my drum machine for recording (yet). I've been very happy using it as a sort of metronome or AI jam partner.

I have been thinking about applying it to recordings though. I know a few tricks, but I'm sure that I don't know all of them.

For instance, I'm aware of rushing the hi hat, varying the volume (over all) of individual drums (especially the kick and snare), putting in turn arounds. Not getting carried away with flams, flourishes or other "show boating" type stuff that real drummers get away with and machines just don't.

However, I'm sure that for every rule, there is a rule breaker. For instance, I believe that there must be something you could program into a drum machine that makes it pretty obvious that it is in fact a MACHINE, yet sounds so good, it is automatically forgiven. I have yet to find such a magic formula. Basically, when you are SURE I am using a drum machine, it distracts and diminishes the performance.

Plus I LOVE instructional videos! Even when I think I'm an expert in something (which I don't think I am in terms of drum machines), I like watching instructional videos. I'm sure I'm not the only one that things they are fun!

Carl

Chrisjob · #6 09-22-2003

You'll probably get a better response to both your inquiries in the Drums/Percussion forum

TexRoadkill · #7 09-23-2003

I picked up on the cheap Zoom drum machines and it does the job. The samples are pretty realistic. I'm not sure what you mean by an 'indie rock drum machine sound' though.

Krakit- When it comes to programming a drum machine I would just look for books about percussion/drum writing. The principles are the same. A good beat is a good beat.

When it comes to recording them to sound good you just use the same principles you would with any instrument. Try to record seperate parts to seperate tracks - kick, snare, toms etc so that you can properly mix and process them. For an OH mic type of sound you can run the drum mix through some speakers and record that with a mic in the room.

A trick to making any rhythm bed sound more full is to take the drums and bass and run them through a compressor with fast attack and release so it is really pumping with the beat. Mix that back in with the raw tracks and you have instant beef.

Real percussion mixed in with synth drums also helps sell the whole drum sound as being more realistic.

thevirus5085 · #8 09-23-2003

hey thanks for the comments.

i was thinking about just getting a cheap zoom... i think thats what i will do.

and I cant really explain what i mean my indy rock drum machine. it doesnt sound exactly liek a real drumset.. but it still sounds really good.... i can't explain it but thanks for helping out.

Chrisjob · #9 09-24-2003

I found a copy of the Postal Service song, and a few of their others, and a cheap zoom isn't going to do what you'd like for it to.

The drums in the tune are meant to sound electronic- like in dance music. A cheap drum machine is meant to sound real, but sounds electronic. This is a bad thing.

Are you willing to use your computer for a drum machine/sampler?
It'll open alot more possibilities for you

-Chris

Chrisjob · #10 09-24-2003

http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/b...age.php?id=412

Check out the Radio video for an idea on their gear

trogdor · #11 09-24-2003

Hey...I do stuff sort of like postal service (i.e. indie, electro-inspired) sometimes. Definately get a drum box with FX that let you modify your sounds. A distortion helps a bit getting that more scratchy lo-fi electro sound. Otherwise, looking into a sampler would be a good idea because you can create and tweak your own sounds. Especially a software sampler that you could combine with a sequencer to program your beats.

Gotta go to class but i'll write more later...

thevirus5085 · #12 09-25-2003

hey thanks this is all helping out a lot. good thing i didn't buy a drum machine yet....

Joe Recorder · #13 09-25-2003

Boss DR3 is under 200.00 and you can do some shaping of it's sound's. I don't know if it sound's like postal service though.
Joe

thevirus5085 · #14 09-27-2003

haha yah it doesnt matter to much if it sounds like the postal service... that was just kind of an example.... i dont know, well anyway, i decided i am not gonna buy a drum machine. i am gonan buy some better mics instead.

jake-owa · #15 09-27-2003

Good idea, while you're at it look into some acoustic percussion instruments.

thevirus5085 · #16 09-28-2003

well accually I already have a drum kit(pacific made by DW). I just wanted the drum machine to fool around with and get the sound a wanted.

jake-owa · #17 09-28-2003

You could always look into samlping drum loops and adding effects. That can get you a pretty wild lo-fi type sound.

trogdor · #18 09-29-2003

I agree...

if your a decent drummer, all you have to do is record a bar or two, then loop adding FX...

If you're NOT a decent drummer (me), sample each drum individually and let yer trusty sequencer keep the time that you can't :-)

guitarjesus · #19 10-02-2003

I have the Zoom Rt323 as well. I like it, it sounds very nice. But I think I will buy a bass, because it is easier then programmming the bass parts.

But for rock the drums sound great.