Controllable analog drum machines?

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:44 am

Besides Roland TR XOXs, what are some analog drum machines/modules that are controllable via midi, cv/gate, or din sync? Price range of under $750 preferred.

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:52 am

supermel74 wrote:Besides Roland TR XOXs, what are some analog drum machines/modules that are controllable via midi, cv/gate, or din sync? Price range of under $750 preferred.

What do you mean by controllable? Din Sync just syncs as far as I know... if you mean sync, you could go with the Korg KPR-77, MFB-502, MFB-503, Jomox XBase09, Jomox XBase 999, etc.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:55 am

JSRockit wrote:
supermel74 wrote:Besides Roland TR XOXs, what are some analog drum machines/modules that are controllable via midi, cv/gate, or din sync? Price range of under $750 preferred.
What do you mean by controllable? Din Sync just syncs as far as I know... if you mean sync, you could go with the Korg KPR-77, MFB-502, MFB-503, Jomox XBase09, Jomox XBase 999, etc.

Yeah just something that can at least sync although more control would be better. I'll check more into all of these. Thanks.

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:02 am

Oops...999 is alot more than $750.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:02 am

The MFB-502 seems like what I'm looking for. How are they?

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:38 am

If you like the demo on the site...then you'll like the machine. They go for about $225-250 new...and used about $175-200 since they rarely show up.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:40 am

JSRockit wrote:If you like the demo on the site...then you'll like the machine. They go for about $225-250 new...and used about $175-200 since they rarely show up.

I think I'll be picking one up. Something doesn't seem right though. Why are they so cheap? I 've looked into it a bit and it seems like a steal for that price.

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:00 am

supermel74 wrote:
JSRockit wrote:If you like the demo on the site...then you'll like the machine. They go for about $225-250 new...and used about $175-200 since they rarely show up.
I think I'll be picking one up. Something doesn't seem right though. Why are they so cheap? I 've looked into it a bit and it seems like a steal for that price.

Have you ever seen or felt a MFB product? They are very plasticky and light...but sound good and work right. Basically, all the money is put into the guts of the machine and not the shell.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:08 am

JSRockit wrote:
supermel74 wrote:
JSRockit wrote:If you like the demo on the site...then you'll like the machine. They go for about $225-250 new...and used about $175-200 since they rarely show up.
I think I'll be picking one up. Something doesn't seem right though. Why are they so cheap? I 've looked into it a bit and it seems like a steal for that price.
Have you ever seen or felt a MFB product? They are very plasticky and light...but sound good and work right. Basically, all the money is put into the guts of the machine and not the shell.

That's ok, it's not like I'll be playing hockey with it. Thanks for the suggestion. Definately my next purchase

Z · Post by Z » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:50 am

Whilst in LA for the Star Wars con, I went to Analog Haven and checked out the MFB-502 and Vermona DRM1. The MFB sounded pretty good, but not interesting enough for me to drop $300 for one (they had a used one advertised for around $200, but it sold). PLus the 1/8" mini plugs made it seem cheap and cheesy. If I didn't already have a 808 & 606, I would have bought one. I was kind of let down by the Vermona. Although it is capable of some interesting sounds, it just didn't seem very punchy. I'm sure I had more time to spend with it, I could have a change of opinion.

Just my two cents...

Z

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:55 am

The Vermona actually looks interesting too. I think I'll save for one of these, but still get 502 in the meantime 8)

primative · Post by **primative** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:19 am

I have the DRM mk1, when it was built by Vermona but released by Touched by Sound. I can't recommend it enough

I got to demo it next to an X-base and a 909. Of course the 909 kick is unique, but the DRM won hands down in variety of sounds it's capable of, and the intensity of it's sound. There are a few things I don't like, small things that can be worked around. I like white noise based snares, the Vermona is some sort of other osc. that noise can be added to, but doesn't quite do it for me. Though the snare channel does have a dedicated filter and reverb, so interesting things can be done with it, I just usually don't use it as an actual snare. Hats are very electro sounding initially, nice if thats your thing, and of course you can counter this with the great modulation capabilites, compared to other drum machines anyway. But then, by doing so, you limit how much you can modulate from that point.

It's strength is the three main drum channels, basically simple mono synths designed for drum/bass sounds. This is why I got it, what it excels at. I'll answer any questions you might have, but you really have to hear it.

Bob-omb · Post by **Bob-omb** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:50 pm

Roland CR-78 (clock in) & Roland CR-8000 (DIN in/out)

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:09 pm

Does anybody have any experience with the Jomox MBase? It only does a kick and bass but supposedly it does it pretty well.

Tridact · Post by **Tridact** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:50 pm

I have the MFB-502. It's nice, but sound-wise is more like the preset Rhythm Ace type boxes of the '70s than an 808 or any of the '80s boxes. You won't be getting the long 808 kick decays, for instance.

It's price is based off what's already been mentioned - plastic build, 1/8 outs - but also it's extremely small, about the size of the palm of your hand. That also means the knobs and buttons are tiny, and not so easy to tweak on the fly.

I would recommend combining a drum machine with multiple outs to trigger an old analog drum brain, such as the Tama, Simmons, and Pearl ones. I use my TR-707 to trigger a Pearl DR1x, and I love it. A bigger scope of sounds - huge analog kicks, snappy snares etc. with basically TR-XoX interface for sequencing.

Controllable analog drum machines?

Controllable analog drum machines?

Re: Controllable analog drum machines?

Re: Controllable analog drum machines?