Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

So as the title says my korg em-1 just blew up, literally...i smelled burning and im in the market for a new drum machine. i was wondering if you guys could give me suggestions. im looking around the $500 US and under range, + or - a few bucks. my band is like shoegaze, early electronica kinda thing (my bloody valentine, slowdive, really noisey kraftwerk) aside from using the drums i would also send midi out to control other synths instead of using the synth that was on the em1. but this is not a required funtion. i was looking at the korg emx, akai xr20, alesis sr16 and the mfb 502 and 503. what other drum machines, either vinatge or modern would you recomend? thanks in advance

I would avoid the XR20, MFB-502, and SR16 and add the TR-606, Roland R-8, and the Korg ESX-1 to your possible candidates.

any reason why you don't like those boxes ?

+1 & +1 for TR-606 & R8

THe Akai & Alesis machines are going to have more of your generic, realistic sounds rather than electronic. Of course the 606 is all analog. The R8 has some eletronic sounds built in, but you can add the "Electronic" PCM card for the 808 sounds and "Dance" card for 909 & CR-78.

An Alesis HR-16:B might work too. I bought one new WAY back in the day. It has some electronic sounds and some "industrial". You can pick one up for $100 or less.

the r8 seems like a good choice I would love to get the 606 but as a main drum machine i would need more memory. 32 patterns or wh ever just isn't enough.

We're having a band field trip tomarrow to do some test runs so well see what works best . Thanks for the input

Well I ended up not getting any of the previously mentioned drum machines. We went to a local pawn shop, after being disappointed by the two major retailers, and stumbled across a boss dr202. It was cheap and actually a pretty neat lttle box. I like it better than the em1 for sure.

If you liked the EM-1 the EMX should be more or the same with a touch of better.

ColorForm2113 wrote:and stumbled across a boss dr202. It was cheap and actually a pretty neat lttle box. I like it better than the em1 for sure.

Congrats... that machine is fun to use, but its sound quality is a bit weak. I used it about 10 years ago. However, if it works for you, then it is right.

yeah the sound quality is ok, but once it get run through a distorted reel to reel and some fx it will sound better