EBM drums

[I.V.]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I need some advice in choosing a drum machine for ebm/industrial stuff, think hocico, x-fusion, suicide commando type stuff. I already have a jomox x-base 09 and im looking for something to go with it. Maybe one of the older electribes er-1 or esx or maybe wait and see how NI Maschine sounds when that comes out, im not sure. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Stab Frenzy]

Anything that plays samples. I'd go an MPC.

[Computer Controlled]

Well, i don't consider any of that stuff EBM, but whatever. The Maschine will sound like whatever you put into it. Do you have Battery? I'd just use that. Unless you want to stay strictly hardware. I really like the Yamaha RY30 a lot, or it's rack mount brother the RM50. If money is no object, i'd look into the Machinedrum. Or the Jomox 888/999.

[killedaway]

you really just need a sampler to go with that Jomox. try either of the two Electribes (ES-1 and ESX), one of the Roland SPs (404, 555, etc), or an MPC (500, 1000). you could go with a rompler drum machine, but you'll hit its limits pretty fast -- what you want is to load up samples of your favorite drums, and have the ability to layer, tune, and mangle those samples. if you must go non-sampling, i second the Machinedrum recommendation (of course, you could purchase the one with sampling built-in too).

[23]

It's a more tedious method, but I've found it to be worth while.
With just about any half way indepth synth, drum creation is always an option, and an option well worth exploring in my view. Potentially takes out a lot of the need for finding this or that and just allows you to craft whatever. It's a tedious option, but one of those things that once it's done it's done.
*to this end, I disagree with the ROMpler statement to a degree, as there are some ROMplers out there with some pretty in depth synth engines out there with drum machine like layouts. As with any synth with a decent enough arch, there's been a number of these I've found to be just fine for indepth and varied drum focused synthesis actions*

This is somewhat tied to the above option, but layering during the creation of drums (be it through multi-timbral actions or just sheer sample layering) I also think has it's high uses. Found sounds are always great, and I've found that often combining the found sound and synthesis worlds, be it through treating the found sound as just an OSC or layering it with some other synthesized source tends to work well; notably for industrial type sounds.
Create a snare, sample it, then layer that with sound of a pipe being hit.
Find the proper balance and the end result can be something well carries/combines both elements.
Depending on the sampler used, maintaining workable tune, decays, etc. controls for the individual elements can often be worked out.

On the former option, though I generally hate MPCs, this was an aspect to (many of) the MPCs that I think was notable and a cause for their popularity. (Granted, just about every synthesis geared sampler I can think of has been capable of the same type of action)

I have to agree with Computer Controlled, as a complete stand alone package, for electronic drumming (and even some basic non-percussive creations), I think the MachineDrum is the best device I've ever come across. It goes light on the sampling options, but it's synthesis options are decently varied and have a fair amount of depth and some interesting modulation options. All packaged with excellent sequencer options, control/modulation options, and like 6 or 8 individual outs. At least for non-acoustic drumming, there's not any single stand alone device I've come across that I feel tops it.
*of note, the only negatives on the MachineDrum I personally feel there is, as for noted, it's sampling abilities are light. And second, it's acoustic physical modeling abilities leave much to be desired in regard to acoustic emulative sounds....don't expect that aspect of it's engine to start pushing near the realm of V-Drums acoustics or anything*

[Computer Controlled]

I liken the sampler on the MD to a Yamaha SU10. But with better filters =o]

2mb on the first UW model, and 2.5mb on the mkII. You can fit a surprising amount of samples in such a small space if you're careful.

[killedaway]

to this end, I disagree with the ROMpler statement to a degree, as there are some ROMplers out there with some pretty in depth synth engines out there with drum machine like layouts. As with any synth with a decent enough arch, there's been a number of these I've found to be just fine for indepth and varied drum focused synthesis actions

my remarks weren't about rompler synths, but specifically rompler drum machines. just about any synth with fast pitch and filter envelopes can produce nice drums (a lot my own drum samples come from this). but standalone non-sampling drum machines? i've found them too limited to warrant being a first, or only, choice. the handful i might recommend for today's EBM would include the Boss DR202, Korg ER-1, Korg EMX, Boss DR660, but again, i'd still buy a sampler before any of those. the Machinedrum i mentioned earlier, and that's in a class of its own as it does have sampling capabilities; if money is no object, that goes to the top of my list.

oh, and I.V.... welcome to the forums!

[I.V.]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. Right now im leaning towards the NI maschine. Its like an mpc but with a friendlier interface with the software integration. I do like to sample drum sounds i create with synths, for example i can get killer kicks with my sh-9, plus it can load one shots from NI battery which i use alot as well, plus the sequencer looks pretty cool on maschine. But im still open to other suggestions, thanks a bunch