Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode?

samuelms · Post by **samuelms** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:49 am

hi there,

I'm looking for a drum machine that can be used to control other drum modules/drum synths and drum soft-synths in ableton.

The Roland TR-707 ( http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/707.php ) looks easy to program, and the drum grid is a great inclusion. But it doesn't send MIDI note messages in pattern mode (according to the comments from other Vintage Synth Explorers), which is what I want.

So what other drum machines fit the bill? Preferably looking for something smaller that is easy to program (in pattern/step mode) and could be used in a live set up?

I've had a look around at some of the older ones, but can't see anything that looks to fit the bill (unless I'm missing something).

Such a shame the TR 707 doesn't send midi notes in pattern mode! It would be perfect. A real bummer.

aredj · Post by **aredj** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:29 pm

Electribes. Any of 'em

polyklinik · Post by **polyklinik** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:33 pm

Roland TR-505, 626, the cheapest option.

LesDeuxLoveOrchestra · Post by **LesDeuxLoveOrchestra** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:25 pm

check out the korg ddd-1.

Z · Post by Z » Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:42 pm

The Roland TR-909 has an external instrument mode that can trigger MIDI notes 36 through 52. I've got a few of videos on my YouTube Channel where I trigger Vermona DRM-1, MAM ADX-1 and a bass line on Jupiter 6 in my Boss SL-20 demo.

But as Polyklinik suggested, the TR-626 would be the cheapest option and you can also assign specific MIDI note numbers AND channels for each of the 626's drum sounds allowing it to be a mutlitimbral triggering device. I used to do that back in the late 80's with an Akai AX60 set in split mode triggering a bass line and repetitive treble part.

balma · Post by **balma** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:32 pm

quote="aredj"]Electribes. Any of 'em[/quote]

The problem begins when you try to send the note ending transmision....
Then, the resolution for each track is 16 per measure,.
Only mono tracks.... etc etc etc. ..

You know my choice

for these MIDI activities and controlling other gear from a central unit.

The EMU can transmit two sets of 16 MIDI controllers at the same time, on pattern mode. 16 MIDI channels can be compressed into one single track. A pattern has 16 midi channels per each track. So you can have 16 tracks with 16 MIDI channels each one.

nogginj · Post by **nogginj** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:00 pm

this is what the mpc was made for.

yamaha22 · Post by **yamaha22** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:13 pm

i love my little 505. it's not too much different from my old 707 i used to own, doesn't have all those outputs but i like it's size. it's build quality feels better than the 707 too.

balma · Post by **balma** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:35 pm

is that regarding the groovebox MC 505?
weird!

From all the synths I have owned, the one with the worst build quality was the MC 505.
Screen light is short term, minikeyboard is noisy, sliders suffer from innacuracy after certain time of usage, etc....

Today they can be get on $200

Post by **space6oy** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:40 pm

he was talking about the TR-505.

samuelms · Post by **samuelms** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:48 am

cheers guys. The TR 626 looks interesting.

What's the grid display on the screen like, straightforward? If it hasn't got LEDs to mark which steps are on/off and accented, it would need to have a pretty good display, i'd think. Can't find any images or videos showing the display (in step mode).

Is the TR 505 as good as the 626, as a midi controller?

thanks for the suggestions : )

StepLogik · Post by **StepLogik** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:13 am

i think the 707 is the only one that has a "full" grid showing all of the instrument step toggles at once... double-check me on that because i'm not 100% certain. even at that, the 707 LCD display is still a bit hard to see.

if you really want a sweet drum grid where you can see all of the steps and instruments (up to 16 tracks), I recommend the Genoqs Octopus.

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:45 am

samuelms wrote:hi there,

I'm looking for a drum machine that can be used to control other drum modules/drum synths and drum soft-synths in ableton.

This seems kind of backwards to me. If I were you and I was already using Live to do anything I'd get a Launchpad and use that. Completely configurable and with a much bigger, better, light up control surface to work on.

colmon · Post by **colmon** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:03 am

505 can do this, but as alluded to back thread you can only see one instrument at a time in the lcd grid. however after about a day of using it you should be able to visualize the grid w/out glancing at the lcd

but yeah, as stab frenzy points out, this is kinda backwards. you'll run into severe limitations w/ that kinda setup. you want a grid based midi controller for your laptop, not a drum machine. the only reason you should get a 707 in this scenario is if you had other vintage roland gear that you needed to feed a cv/gate trigger to, otherwise the way you're intending to use it would be a waste of a very good drum machine

Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode?

Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode?

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode

Re: Drum machine that can send MIDI messages in pattern mode