Drum machine with option to edit in a computer?

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BetterMeThanYou

BetterMeThanYou

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Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a standalone drum machine that's good for programming rock songs. Only I'd like one which can be connected to a computer so that a larger user interface can be used (computer screen) for editing.

Really, all I want is something like the Alesis SR-18 or (what I currently have) a Boss Dr. Rhythm.

But these drum machines are tedious to edit songs on. There's no way to easily rearrange songs or even do some simpler things like overwrite the last third of the song. It'd be great to have the ability to -- for example -- move a bridge to after the second chorus and see what that's like instead of having it after the third chorus. And do it with a mouse on a screen, drag-and-drop style.

I would like it very much if a drum machine existed which I could connect to a computer and directly edit its song bank using a friendly software editor. It'd be nice to see measures on a screen, and not be like let's edit "measure 24".

Does anyone know of any drum machine with a companion software?

I still want to be able to then disconnect the machine, and it has the saved song stored in its bank, and I can take just the drum machine itself with me on the go.

Thanks for your help!

P.S. Not talking about MIDI! I want to be able to specify all the specific drum machine things like the specific pattern, the specific kit, the specific effects settings, etc. And save it into the machine with its specific label and so forth.
 
The fundamental difficulty with this premise is that the minutiae you want to edit (kit arrangement, pattern sequences, etc) aren't generally MIDI controllable. So if such a device were to exist, it would require a proprietary computer-based editor that the manufacturer handles or an API that 3rd-parties can make their own interface for. (Check out the X-air series to see the problems with the latter approach)

There might be some drum machines that allow full MIDI file imports, or it looks like most modern drum machines support recording incoming MIDI, which might be your solution. (I found this video: )
 
I also am looking for a drum machine with a USB interface.

I am currently using the Alesis SR 18 to create "user patterns" and then string them into a song.
It is doable with the SR 18 but very tedious.

Maybe the next generation of the Alesis Drum machine will come with a USB port with software that runs on a MAC
🤞
 
Yeah, I've got an SR18. I have never really gotten into the programming. However, I did find out that you can send midi to the SR18 and record it. I use MT PowerDrumKit, and figured out you could send the midi track out to the Alesis. The mapping is a little different. There are more "notes" in MTPDK than the Alesis. but if you limit the notes, you could send the midi to the SR and then play with the voices.

FWIW, MTPDK is a GREAT setup. It's an "honorware" system. If you like it and use it, send the author a few buck via PayPal. It's well worth $15 or 20, has a nice midi editor and a TON of patterns that you can paste together. The drum sounds are limited but with being able to send to the SR, it opens up the possibilities.
 
Thanks for the info.
Hopefully the Alesis SR 18 will get an upgrade with USB interface and MAC software.
Editing and naming patterns and songs through the software would be a game changer.
 
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