Drum machine or kit?

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rgshredder

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I searched but didn't find any advice. I've been playing guitar for awhile now and want to start recording. Would it be better to purchase a drum machine (DR880) or a starter drum kit. They are roughly the same price but obviously very different.
I can keep a beat, and it would be fun having a drum set, but the DR880 is pretty sweet and can be easily recorded via computer. The drum kit would have to have mics.

Anyone regret making a decision one way or the other?
Thanks in advance
 
I would go with machine. If nothing else, you have a very elaborate metronome.
 
Hey, don't rule out MIDI drums like Drumkit From Hell or BFD. You'll get way better sounds than a drum machine and better programability as well. That being said, nobody can really tell you which is best for you. If you are a good drummer and know how to record them and have all the necessary equipment to do so, than get a drum kit. If you want fast and easy sounds to work with, get a drum machine or some sampler software.
 
How bout something like the Yamaha DD55. I'm looking at getting one for myself for Christmas. It's a drum machine of sorts, but you can play it with sticks and pedals sorta like a real drum set.
 
Thanks all, I think I'm gonna try BFD and see where it takes me. It would be cool to have a drum set in general, if anything to take out some aggression, but my gee-tar will have to do.
 
metalhead28 said:
Hey, don't rule out MIDI drums like Drumkit From Hell or BFD. You'll get way better sounds than a drum machine and better programability as well. That being said, nobody can really tell you which is best for you. If you are a good drummer and know how to record them and have all the necessary equipment to do so, than get a drum kit. If you want fast and easy sounds to work with, get a drum machine or some sampler software.
Click to expand...
hey I just bought that from ebay. I can use my midi keyboard to do the drum tracks. I heard you can use an electric drum set to trigger the programs thru the midi. I saw this websit of someone who made an electric drum kit from a practice drum kit. he bought some parts from radio shack and converted it.
 
I'd suggest getting a kit if you have a place to play it, the desire to learn to play, and the equipment to record it (or the ability to acquire it over time.)

Why? Laying a drum track is MUCH less work with a kit once you know how to play- and WAY more fun than programming a drum track. Sounds better, too. Besides, playing drums is a useable skill that you can do things with other than just your own projects.

I've used MIDI drums and soft-synths for years- and I'm so F'ing tired of programming the d@mn things. Its just a huge hurdle to overcome at the beginning of trying to get a tune down and kills the creative process for me. Took me a few years to get there, but that's how it is now.

So I hunted the local ads for an old (but good!) used kit- and scored a Tama Camco set (5-pc w/ Sabian B8 hats, ride, and crash) for $260- not the greatest, but better than the carboard stuff sold for beginner kits today. Lots of kits up for sale now- people hoping to sell them to people for holiday gift giving.

Anyway, just another perspective. I have yet to lay a perfect drum track with my new drums, but I *LOVE* trying. :D

Take care,
Chris
 
Which you get depends on how much work you want to put into it.

Drum machines are easier to get a decent sound out of. Trap sets are much harder to work with but have so much more potential for greatness.
 
Go with a real kit all the way. You will hate programming, and having a real kit is SOOOOOO much more fun, even if it is a piece (ok 5 pieces ;) ) of junk.
 
Why not get a Keyboard? I have a yamaha psr-225. I have had it a while paid under $200.00 for it. there are several drum kits on it as well as individual (sp...it early ok) sounds you can get from each key.

The reason I mentioned a keyboard is because...
#1 you will have your drum tracks
#2 you also have a full keyboard full of sounds to add to you project
#3 both for the price of one...or less
 
I'd just like to say that I enjoy drum programming. Granted, the genres I'm interested are in are all electronic - I'm a techhead to start with. I'd like real drums, but I'd also like a sitar, and new bass, a hammered dulcimer, an Access Virus, etc., etc.

If you're willing to devote the time to learning how to play AND record the things (and I hear they're relatively difficult to record well), more power to you, but I for one find programming to be fun.
 
Personally, I program my drums. Its convenient, inexpensive (compared to REAL drums), fast, and you have WAY more drum sounds to choose from. You wont have to worry about tracking the drums correctly or maintaining them. As long as you have great samples to work with, you can make fantastic drum tracks. Plus, depending on your setup location, playing drums at certain times might be a nuisance.
 
I stand corrected. I guess I just really like recording drums, and I was trying to swing him towards my side. :p
 
another thing. do you live with someone else or in an apartment? do you have a sound proof room? One this is that you can not put on headphones when you track a real drum set. If no one minds around you then go a head and get the real thing. I know at times its not always the best time to bang away at the drums when ever you want to. but with an electronic version you can.
 
Another depends on where you look (listen) at it from thing. While samples, loops and drum tracks are precise and always on time, a real drummer is a lot more fun to play with. Recording drums dose require more work but depending on the sound you want and your environment seems to be preferred by most musicians, synth players and technogeeks excluded.
 
drum machine,its ready when ever you are,it doesnt get tired,i have an old dr. rhythm.it doesnt sound the greatest but it does the job! it wont take up alot of space either.
 
reshp1 said:
How bout something like the Yamaha DD55. I'm looking at getting one for myself for Christmas. It's a drum machine of sorts, but you can play it with sticks and pedals sorta like a real drum set.
Click to expand...

There is also an offshoot to this idea using a drum machine and a single drum like a snare. Start by setting up the machine to play kick and hi-hat and add your own snare. It's fun to actually bang on the drum and you can learn something about mic technique, compression, etc. without buying an entire kit. You can always add pieces to your kit (cymbals, kick drum, etc) later on and if you purchase each piece over time you might end up with a really good set of drums.
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
I'd suggest getting a kit if you have a place to play it, the desire to learn to play, and the equipment to record it (or the ability to acquire it over time.)

Why? Laying a drum track is MUCH less work with a kit once you know how to play- and WAY more fun than programming a drum track. Sounds better, too. Besides, playing drums is a useable skill that you can do things with other than just your own projects.

I've used MIDI drums and soft-synths for years- and I'm so F'ing tired of programming the d@mn things. Its just a huge hurdle to overcome at the beginning of trying to get a tune down and kills the creative process for me. Took me a few years to get there, but that's how it is now.

So I hunted the local ads for an old (but good!) used kit- and scored a Tama Camco set (5-pc w/ Sabian B8 hats, ride, and crash) for $260- not the greatest, but better than the carboard stuff sold for beginner kits today. Lots of kits up for sale now- people hoping to sell them to people for holiday gift giving.

Anyway, just another perspective. I have yet to lay a perfect drum track with my new drums, but I *LOVE* trying. :D

Take care,
Chris
Click to expand...


I agree!

Though using a "canned drum" machine makes rhythm tracks easier to record, drum machines are notorious "hisssssssssss" producers especially at hi-gain levels! Additionally you are confined to the unit's limited parameters on resonance,decay & attack. On the other hand, if properly adj'd & run thru gates, drum machines most often can produce quality & realistic perfs'!
Obviously per'ming and tracking an actual kit is the answer! The main probs that arise using an actual kit is your perf ('specially if your rhythm-making abilities are limited), adequate mic'ing techniques/tracking and acoustics. If you feel that you have the ability to produce a DECENT perf, by all means go with the kit, otherwise go the "canned drum" route.
 
MISTERQCUE said:
Obviously per'ming and tracking an actual kit is the answer! The main probs that arise using an actual kit is your perf ('specially if your rhythm-making abilities are limited), adequate mic'ing techniques/tracking and acoustics. If you feel that you have the ability to produce a DECENT perf, by all means go with the kit, otherwise go the "canned drum" route.
Click to expand...

Or--and this might be heresy--record with no drums at all! Musically, that's almost more of a challenge than learning to play drums. There are whole genres out there (like classical, bluegrass, folk, old country blues, some jazz) where drums are absent or play a minimal role. I would really like to see more of this minimalism in popular music. Some of the unplugged stuff hinted at the possibilities but most artists (and many listeners) viewed this approach as a novelty.
 
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