As I continue to search for a drum machine that I click with (I just can’t find the right balance between flexibility and ease of use and sound) I have considered picking up one of the reissued classics (808, 909, 606). However, the thing that is making me hesitant is the idea that it will be hard to make something that is new and interesting with these old machines. Is it still possible to come up with something novel using the classics? What producers are using the classic sounds in new and interesting ways?
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Bruh, do you even Elektron?
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I’m sure someone will come along with a few examples to prove me wrong, but nowadays I generally see innovative artists using these classic sounds as foundations for sonic explorations in other areas of their tracks. Like everyone knows the 606, 808, and 909, but have you heard them combined with X, Y, Z before, etc? Actually, it reminds me of something Squarepusher said or hinted at in interviews. I’m paraphrasing, but the gist was that he didn’t see himself as a drum ‘n bass artist and only really used the Amen break to give his audience something instantly recognisable to latch onto while he explored sounds elsewhere in his tracks. Hope that makes sense haha.
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Expensive but nice solution would be Rytm. Load it up with classic xox samples. Or use the premade machines. Super quick machine. But can be as flexible as you want it to be.
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I have a Rytm mk2 and tbh I am using it less and less. I recently tried a boutique Tr09 and I found it really cool, very hands on, small and good sounding.
I am thinking to get one second hand.
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Original 303 / 808 / 909 sound amazingly good with FX per sound. Sure can go really far away from “boring” “typish” sounds of them by using spectral processing, resonators, delays and distortions… And with some post editing (like apply new grooves to recordings in Ableton, warp and splice it etc… ) it could sound anything, of course new and fresh but with that super nice analog signature…
Also if you like you can do live sampling and processing with Octatrack for example or eurorack, and it will be another sonic reality…
However, if one didn’t get his cheap Rolands during 90s/00s and now compare prices and think if its worth it… the best solution at the moment are DYN SYNC replicas and NAVA / YOKTO (especially the one with Extra 9 mod ). They really give THAT experience and 99% of the sound with few modern features.
On the other side - modern TR8s and all boutique is nice of course, but for me it doesn’t get me there… something about sound is not that 3D, soft and alive, too plastic and boring…
As well as analog Tempest, Elektron etc… Nice machines, love them all, but there’s still something about originals which makes me want using them more and keep them.
my 2cents
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For clarity, I’ve had a rytm (wasn’t a fan of the analog sounds and always ended up fiddling rather than making music) a digitakt (ended up scrawling through samples again) and a MD (not a massive fan of the sound or workflow). I currently have an octatrack (which is great but drum programming is a bit cumbersome and requires an idea of what samples to use) and a model samples (quick and easy but limited and has the aforementioned samples issue). I’m looking for a something with synthesis, a flexible sequencer and limited menus. Probably doesn’t exist…
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tr6s? Not sure about menu diving, but the sequencer seems really cool.
just in case …
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just judging from demos, but mfb tanzbär seems to provide this bit extra flavor, analogue magic that the original rolands seem to give as well
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A lot (but not all) of those classic sounds are benchmarks for me, I am yet to hear better examples of some of them, and I and many others have tried for years. It isn’t to say they can’t be improved, through fx and eq they can be used infinitely IMHO, I think they have long surpassed being just drum machine sounds and are a core part of electronic music vocabulary.
Edit: Also samples thereof.
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Spectraliis not a classic like Roland but sounds great!
I decided to go with samples. More flexible if I want to mix them with other sounds.
And some well processed and recorded samples like samples from mars etc just sound amazing as well
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I would take a serious look at the newest Nord Drum and a good sequencer if you want something unique.
To make a classic machine different you need FX (probably). Or as some suggest to something unique around those classic sounds.
This is very true.
Good drum sounds are about how you process the sound and what FX you use.
Obviously it helps if the base drum sounds are pleasant, but if you want to make interesting sounds, it’s about much
more than what drum machine you’re using.
My current drum setup is Model:Cycles, through the Anaolg Heat and into my Octatrack, where I can either put it on a thru track and add extra FX/compression or sample it and mash the sounds up however I like (or both at once, because Octatrack is clever).
In this use case, I’ve spent £280 on my drum machine, but about £1700 on the kit I need to process my drum machine.
I could be mad though.
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I get you in the Rytm, I don’t like the analog engine very much at all. The Machinedrum is a forever machine though. The most versatile machine is the Octatrack, load it with classic kits, process and resample ad nauseam.
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The Rytm is worth it just for the kick drum, it’s the new and improved 909
plus other styles as well + The Bass tom is the 808!
i am a drummer, and here’s my 2 cents.
i sacrificed one voice of DSI Tetra and one mixer channel for dedicated analog kick — there are several reasons to do that (and the most important one is MC-707 limitation — it can’t play any sound for a while when loading another project).
but all other drum/percussion sounds i use are either samples or FM.
this is just much more practical.
much easier to process, and if i need any classic drum machine sounds — i have them all.
there are 3 main problems with classic machines.
- they were heavily overused everywhere for decades.
- most of them are actually one- or two-trick ponies — doing something particular very nice, but doing the rest average/weak.
- they are pretty limited and don’t have many nice modern features.
so yes, if you don’t like sample-based drum solutions — better get Analog Rytm or TR8s/TR6s.
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It’s mainly the filter, I know most drum machines don’t have one per channel but the resonance sounds really tinny to me. Should be made smoother.