Elektron Machinedrum, Personal Experiences?

[syntheticsolutions]

I am looking to buy an elektron machinedrum in the next month or so,
I am looking to spend up to £700 (second hand obviously)
I would get a standard machinedrum if it was at the right price but would love the UW!

Has anyone got some personal opinions and experiences with the machinedrum?
i know what it can do and what a powerful machine it is but want to hear some personal findings.
i have heard they have a cult like following and everyone who has one seems to swear by them.

[kuroichi]

Ive had both standard and UW but always end up selling them.

Its definitely a capable machine, and the UI is excellent. A lot of people swear by them, but usually they seem to recommend the UW version, which I would agree with simply because it expands the capabilities of the machine by a long shot.

Long story short, if you want an analog sounding machine don't bother. Yeah you can sample an analog machine with the UW but thats a waste of its capabilities to be honest.

[bouzoukijoe1]

Long story short, if you want an analog sounding machine don't bother. Yeah you can sample an analog machine with the UW but thats a waste of its capabilities to be honest.

really? I thought their synthesis was based on analog? what's the alternative if let's say you like the sound of a CR78 or 808 but want the capabilities of a Machinedrum?

[Sir Ruff]

Long story short, if you want an analog sounding machine don't bother. Yeah you can sample an analog machine with the UW but thats a waste of its capabilities to be honest.

really? I thought their synthesis was based on analog? what's the alternative if let's say you like the sound of a CR78 or 808 but want the capabilities of a Machinedrum?

You can easily get analog-style drum sounds with the in-built synthesis engines. They will not sound indentical to something like a 606/808 ( cymbals/claps in particular), but you can certainly get close enough to satisfy that need, and then go a lot further in terms of new sounds. However, I do agree that to not get the UW version misses out on the greatest aspect which is the ability to load/mangle your own samples.

[skizzle]

had a uw mk1 and sold it to buy a little phatty: go with the uw. machinedrum is the deepest drum machine(and only drum synthesizer)i've ever had the pleasure to play. there's tons of parameters to totally mangle your samples/program your patches. it can cover a variety of timbres and ruff summed it up nicely.

http://tarekith.com/assets/machinedrum_ ... tricks.htm

[Nannerfan]

Love the interface... don't like the sound. When you sample it .. it sounds better instantly. I used to sample mine into my s612 and s900. I think the UW ironically does the exact opposite of addressing that issue

[hyphen nation]

I love the usability of the electron kit(have both the machine drum and a mono machine). The mono is instant music. The machinedrum is instant rhythm...I love em both. Use them constantly...supremely deep machines...the sequencers/parameter lock behaviors are unsurpassed by anything else I've tried.knave heard great things about the spectralis as well, but havent used it...

I'm of this mind on the whole analog/digital/software debate...if it sounds good, and is eminently useable, use it...who cares how it is delivered...you can make some insane things w/ a machinedrum. Just peep YouTube...

[kuroichi]

It can definitely make analog styled sounds and has a range of 'machines' inside that are based on analog percussion allowing you to make traditional analog style drum sounds. It can also make some great sounds of it's own. But it doesn't sound analog. It has a very precise or clean sound for sake of a better word that can take some programming to get around. Which sometimes I can't be bothered doing as I just want to make a beat.

The sampler function gives the machine a lot of sound character. It can do some wild stuff even just sampling the internal sounds.

[syntheticsolutions]

Thanks for the replies and words of advice!

as far as the drum samples go, i know exactly how they sound and i love the digital drum samples it has,

the area i am not too sure on is the interface and build quality etc. as i obviously have never used one.

i currently have a korg MS-10 and a yamaha CS-5 but my plans for the near future are to first get the machinedrum then at some point after that, a moog little phatty and the monomachine. i know what all these machines are capable of when it comes to sound but i could use some advice on how easy the machinedrum is to programme and save banks/tracks etc.

many thanks again for the helpful words

[OortCloud808]

I was all about the machinedrum SPS-1UW with the extra MKII drive until i learned that you can only playback 2.5 megabytes worth of samples at a time..you can store a unlimited amount of samples.....but who in the f**k is going to be storing 100 gigabytes of oneshots ...they do that so you have to buy a octatrack also...which is so bad for us poor ppl who cant afford a machinedrum and a octatrack ......... i still want an octatrack but would buy other things for my 1500$

[garranimal]

I have an SPS-1 non-UW mkII and it is my only drum machine. I've had mc-303s, mc-505s, electribes, messed w/ other peoples' TR-machines (and the wonderful software clones made by D16 Group). To me the MD is one of the most thoroughly modern beat boxes that has, and transcends, much of the classic vintage mojo.

[madrasputin]

I have to agree with those that have given the Machinedrum a positive response. It's an amazing drum machine that does transcend a lot of the older drum machines unwavering dedication by most. However, I just sold my Machinedrum to get a Tempest from DSI and I have to say that the Tempest is a beast. Between that and my Metasonix D1000 my other drum machines have been collecting dust so to speak. But, back on topic the non-UW and UW+ models of the Machinedrum are both worth the price and the learning curve on them is amazingly easy and a snap to get used to. I highly recommend the Machinedrum to anyone that wants a lot of BOOM for the dollars they're shelling out for it. What makes it even better in my opinion is that it's got the layout of a simplified Electribe. So anyone with any drum machine experience will find the Machinedrum a welcome addition to their arsenal.

[skizzle]

as far as the build quality goes: the md does not feel cheap. it feels like its military issue; like it could have come out of a wooden crate with straw in it. the buttons feel nice and can take enthusiastic sequencing(smashing). the screen is well lit with nice contrast. the encoders used to tweak parameters/fx are a touch-tight-together in spatial relation and the scaling of modulation a little slow for my loving, but i'm really picking it apart. the interface is neat and simple, and its easy to get accustomed to where everything is. i feel like if you look around you can find one for £600, maybe on gearslutz or something... not to say its not worth £700.