Best software drum machine?

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esun127

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I have a rackmount computer in my roto-rack and I thought I'd make good use of it by using it as a drum machine when I'm not recording (or when I am recording). What's the best drum machine/sequencer software-wise that doesn't cost a bundle? Is fruity-loops good? Thanks.
 
Fruity Loops is very easy to use, and will get the job done... but if it is the best, I'll let someone else answer.
 
I've used Fruity Loops. Since it's a really just a very pretty looking MIDI sequencer, its drums are only as good as its samples. Keeping that in mind, it does have the ability to record velocity data, wich is essential to get real(ish) sounding drums. I've tried a bunch of software drums, and Fruity Loops is easy to program compared to most of them (they're all tedious compared to picking up a pair of drum sticks IMO). If you get yourself some good drum samples, and resisit the earge to make every beat a techno masterpiece, you might be surprised at what you can get out of it.
 
Native Instruments BATTERY. Take a look at this one my friend :)
 
esun,

IF you get Fruity Loops then you will want to think about two issues that were a problem for me.

1. Only buy it online as a down load if possible!!

I had read several really good recomendations here that mentioned "free upgrades for life"..I went to GC and picked one up but the free upgrades only come with the electronically down loaded version unless you want to throw another $30.00 at them.

Also if you buy a boxed unit you still have to download the "full version" any way. All you get in the boxed version is the "Demo Version" and an access code with instructions to register it and how to download the program wich took me about 6 hours of messing with downloads that would not open etc ...major pain.

2. I would also recomend buying some kind of MIDI controller. While FL is easy to play with once you get it running I found using a mouse to click drum beats with a rolling click track very difficult to write with for creating drum patterns on the fly.

More specifically as a guitar and bass player who writes songs and then writes the drum parts to fit what I have working I need to "play" the kit (or at least the bass drum, snare and hi hat) LIVE to find patterns that will work and you can't do that with a mouse...

I am looking at the MIDI Man Oxegen 8 but $130 for a 25 key keyboard is a little steep for me - especially when FL only cost me $99. I do like to play around with keyboards but with only 25 keys and using two hands you would be very limited.

My previous expereince was with the DR-5 wich I still use until I can spring for some kind of MIDI controller. I found the DR-5 much more user friendly.

Just my 2 cents
 
i use fruity loops but it definatly colours everything and give all of the beats a certain sound.
 
Thanks for the replies. I will be using my yamaha p80 electric piano as a midi controller when i'm not playing piano. I guess I'll try the fruity loops demo.

How is the Midiman UNO 1x1 USB midi interface? I'm only using simple drum patterns for practice. For actual recording we'll find a real drummer.
 
Off topic.
I'm looking into a keyboard to start learning to play on. The p80, or the new p90 have been on my list of keyboard to check out.

What do you think? Is the action a bit heavy? Obviously you like it or you wouldn't have bought it, but still..
 
fruity loops is amazing in what can be done through synth and the many-many VST allowed...

the more i play it the deeper i go like in the rabbit hole :) no kidding, there are just so many config it can use, there's no limit to how hard you can twist a sample, beath takeing at times IMHO...

sorry for the blurb but the program is one in it's own, no question...

you can use any wav sample in it and then do unbelievable/limitless hacks to it...

i make rock-metal audio so i must be telling the truth cause all FL comes with is dance-techno-yaya-haha...samples but it makes really hard fast (clear) samples that compair to any samples on the market IMHO...

it's all in the right click :)
 
ambi said:
Off topic.
I'm looking into a keyboard to start learning to play on. The p80, or the new p90 have been on my list of keyboard to check out.

What do you think? Is the action a bit heavy? Obviously you like it or you wouldn't have bought it, but still..
Click to expand...

The action is very heavy if you play it when it's not plugged in or the volume is low. When you turn the volume up, you don't have to push the keys as hard and your brain fools you into thinking the action is lighter. I've been playing piano since I was 4 years old, and I like the feel of the p80 much more than any synth (motif, triton, etc), and it beats similaly priced korgs, rolands, etc in terms of feel. There is a Kawai that is as good/better but it's way bigger and twice as expensive.
 
I've heard kurtzwel or whatever and that other brand general music are really good.
Have you played them?
 
Floops is a pretty good piece of software. Too bad it can't do tempo and time signature changes though.
 
Linchpin said:
Floops is a pretty good piece of software. Too bad it can't do tempo and time signature changes though.
Click to expand...

You can change the tempo with automation...

And the new FL Studio can change time signature- the patterns can be altered to be any length in the new playlist :D
 
FL is the BOMB, so much joy it has brought unto me, heh, no question....(god like) :) my eyes well up at times its sooo good...

i mean you can do limitless samples with it, it does alot for what it is indeed, add a few synth and start config and my eyes glaze over, damn thing gets me high at times, that's what audio is all about isn't it? :) either its a good feeling or bad... er, at times sad, and FL makes it "all good"...always IMHO...

excuse my rant, but it just rules...
 
Chrisjob said:
You can change the tempo with automation...

And the new FL Studio can change time signature- the patterns can be altered to be any length in the new playlist :D
Click to expand...

The only tempo changing ability I found was a crappy, inaccurate "draw your own curve" junk feature. To my knowledge, there's no way to plant flag in your playlist, changing the tempo from say 250 to 150 bpm, and back again a few measures later for example.
 
Native Instruments BATTERY. Take a look at this one my friend
Click to expand...
Battery is only a drum sampler. Alone, it will not enable you to program a beat. You still need a program to use as a sequencer to drive it. I've used it with FruityLoops, and it works great; it's really convenient to be easily able to set up a whole bunch of samples on a "pad" and velocity-switch them.

While FL is easy to play with once you get it running I found using a mouse to click drum beats with a rolling click track very difficult to write with for creating drum patterns on the fly.
Click to expand...
You can set up the typing keyboard to be used as a MIDI controller.

i use fruity loops but it definatly colours everything and give all of the beats a certain sound.
Click to expand...
I don't think this is right. The summing bus is actually pretty good, as far as software stereo summing busses go. And beats sound like the programmer makes them sound.
 
You can set up the typing keyboard to be used as a MIDI controller.
Click to expand...

I never found anything about that in the manual or on the tutorial.....

How would I do this or better yet can you give me a link to the directions on this. I have not touched it in six month b/c I can't afford a controller.
 
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