A good drum module?

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rushfan33

rushfan33

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Here's what I have:

Alesis QS6.1 Keyboard
Sr-16 Drum Machine
Nano-Bass

I'm not a key player and I'm not that savvy on the sounds but doesn't the QS6.1 have ALL the sounds of the other two I mentioned? either way I'm not happy with Alesis drums. I need to get a good dedicated drum module that has the "most realistic" drum sounds for around $400 +/-. Is there such a beast? The brand doesn't matter, just the sounds. The style of music is basically "rock" (whatever that is). Nothing too out there. Just good acoustic sounding drums.
Thanks,
RF
 
My keys have a patch called Dm5 drums. Isn't that the exact same patches and sounds? Thanks for the link..... I'll ponder it.

RF
 
RF,

You sequence too? Cool. As far as modules with realistic drum sounds, there really aren't too many. It doesn't look like you have a sampler and you don't list any sequencing software so I'm thinking samples aren't a option for you. Samples would have been my suggestion.

Roland makes the MBD-1 Bass and Drum Module that is a sample playback module, you can find one used for $150 - 200. The samples are recordings of Abe Lincoln Jr., Marcus Miller, Bill Bruford, John Patitucci and a couple others I can't recall right now. These acoustic samples are made for producing rock, jazz, funk, as opposed to rap and techno. There are 15 drum kits that are pretty well put together, as well as individual sounds. They also have loops on there (I've never used them so I can't comment on them). The basses are great too. There are about 30 velocity switched patches on there that are real expressive.

I've had the unit for about 3 years now and am pretty happy with it. If you're interested I can upload some work I did with the unit to give you a feel for its sounds. Let me know.

Stray
 
Thanks Stray!! I'm not too heavily into sequencing (yet) but I do know that what I have just ain't cuttin it. I guess I just need some variation. I have the three mentioned units but I beleive the QS6.1 has all the patches of all three units anyway.

My set up right now is very basic.... I'm running Cakewalk 9 with the Delta 44 and a crappy behringer mixer. I gave up the "big" studio for a year or so so now I'm concentrating on building myself a home system. Mostly, I'll be writing songs with basic instrument line up of Bass and guitar with vocals. Not too much keyboards but I do need the drums. Being a drummer, I guess I'm a little picky in that area! :D The cymbals are what usually drive bonckers!
I'll check out the MBD-1. That would be awesome if could upload some samples from it.

Thanks Stray...........

Boose- I'll check out the TD-6 as well....thank you.

Thanks,
RF
 
The Alesis modules are all pretty decent (although they are no longer producing any at this time.

The DMPro is a pretty good module - even the D4 and the DM5 had some good sounds.

The Roland TD6, TD8 and TD10 are all very good with alot of controll over the sounds.

The MBD-1 is a very cool module (I thought I was the only one who ever bought one of those) with some decent drums sounds and some very decent bass guitar sounds (it is my primary bass module).
 
RF,

Just wanted to let you know I didn't forget and I will be uploading the examples I had mentioned. Currently, I'm just having a few PC problems I need to wade through. I should have those samples uploaded by the end of the week and I'll post back here when they're ready.

Stray
 
RF,

I have one track up that you can check out. I was trying to upload some more but, like I said, I'm having PC problems. The track is at my mp3 site and is called "Something Different". The track doesn't have any sort of fills, but does contain some of the MBD-1's cymbal sounds, which you mentioned as concern.

Let me know if this is good enough and if not I'll see if I can get some of the other samples up.

Stray

www.mp3.com/PerpetualProductio
 
Rushfan33,
FWIW, if you are looking for a drum machine to replace the Alesis SR16 (I've used it very heavily since it's been out) I would highly recommend the Roland DR-770.

I have had one for a while now, and been thru quite a few different boxes to get there. The quality is excellent, and where I think the REALLY excel is in recording. In fact MIDI out the drum/percussion tracks on my arranger/synth out to the DR770 and then back in to the mix at the board. Great sounds.

Not sure on current price, but head down to your local store and check it out. Do not listen to the 770 thru those crappy phones they leave hanging around, but get someone to run them thru a board/PA for you. Make up your own mind. :)

Regards,
Steve
 
I cn't believe it

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the Waldorf Attack module. I have the plug in version of this instrument and the sunds are great. For me, my only complaint is that becuase hte plug-in is VST and I have MAS it does not work without a VST "Wrapper". One could use the VST Wrapper or Plug-O but I do not know how Plug-O works. I do know that using the VSTWrapper is not so great becuase you lose control over audio routing and have limited instances of the instrument.

In any event, I assume the module has the same sounds as the plug-in and the sounds are great. Not only are the sounds great but you have a remarkable degree of control over the sounds.

I am considering the module becuase of he problems getting the plug-in to work and because I love the sounds so much.

You really should check out this module.
 
Stray,
It was kinda hard to really get an idea of the cymbals but over all it sounds like a nice machine. Nice piece of music there also. I love the low end I'm hearing out my speakers.

Thanks SOC9 and Jack and Mike! I'll check around for those as well! Subtractor, that is pretty cool! Thanks

RF
 
I have an Alesis QS-6, so I know what you mean about the drum samples. :)

I had this same decision to make recently. I ended up going with a sampler. I bought a used E-Mu EMAX II and a copy of Chicken Systems Translator. There are lots of drum kit disks out there for other formats that Translator can convert to EMAX II format. I'm using a CD-ROM of drum kits made for the Ensoniq samplers and I'm quite happy with the translation. But this only works if your setup is very PC-centric.

By "modules" I'm assuming you don't mean tabletop models, but rackmount units? The only other one out there that I think competes well is the Roland R-8M. Very programmable, and the ROM cards for it are still fairly easy to locate. I've heard poor reports about the Alsis DM4 and DM5. The DMPro I've heard good things about but it's much more expensive. If the price has dropped recently, then that might make you happy (or it might have more of the same kinds of drum samples that you don't like in your QS6.1).

If you're willing to look at tabletop modules, then your options drop wide open. The upper-end Boss drum machines (mainly the DR-770 and DR-202 I've heard good things about) might fit the bill. The Elektron MachineDrum just got a great review in <i>Keyboard</i> magazine, but it's a little pricey yet.

Let me know if any of this helps. Also let me know if there are any glaring factual errors in the above. :)

---
David Vesel -- electro recording artist
The current single is "Numb" from the album Calliope
On Ampcast / Situation Records
http://www.ampcast.com/davidvesel
davidvesel@pobox.com
 
Electronic Musician also just reviewed the Elektron MachineDrum and gave it a pretty good review. Sounds like quite the machine actually with lots of modern conveniences. It even slices and dices.
 
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