Comments on: Drum machines

Question: Drum machines

kdern — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:02:43 -0800

I need help finding a PC based drum machine.

I would like to find pc based drum machine software that I can use to accompany myself on piano or guitar. I only need it to do what old fashioned standalone drum machines do: play different rhythms styles on different sounding drum kits.

I would like it to have "fills" like regular drum machines have and it should sound like real drums, not like the instruments built into my computer. I do not want to program my own songs or do anything fancy other than play music. Audio will play on my computer speakers or through a stereo system. I would like to know about any good options, but ideally would like to spend under $50. I have looked at some via google but they're either $250 or lousy. Can anyone help?

One additional question - is there a way to hook up foot pedals to tell the software when to start/stop/play fills?

By: Rothko

Rothko — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:37:30 -0800

iDrum may be out soon.

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:34:01 -0800

Why a software drum machine? You might be able to pick up a Roland MC-303 for $50 if you look hard. Snobby electronic music people look down on them and prefer the "real" TR/TB machines, Korg's Electribes, or pure software solutions.

By: coach_mcguirk

coach_mcguirk — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 04:21:15 -0800

You're definitely better off hunting down a cheap used drum machine with built in patterns.

Two PC apps that will do what you need - but will also be quite expensive :

Groove Agent

BFD

Both offer a wealth of pre-programmed patterns, fills and grooves - and BFD is the closest you'll get to a real-sounding drumkit in software right now. A stunning piece of work, but possibly overkill for what you want to do.

By: yerfatma

yerfatma — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 04:49:37 -0800

Would Hammerhead fit the bill? It's probably way too simplistic for what you want, but I don't know enough to not mention it.

By: tiny purple fishes

tiny purple fishes — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 06:14:21 -0800

Bram Bos, Hammerhead's creator, has a newer app Tuareg, or Tu2, that has a drum loop gizmo that's similar to (it's also easy and fun) but much more flexible and powerful than Hammerhead. It's included in the freeware version.

By: electric_counterpoint

electric_counterpoint — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 06:48:01 -0800

Sounds like you want a groove box that's specifically marketed to guitar (or to a lesser extent, piano) players. With a "real" drum machine, you're going to find you'll have to do way more of what you'll consider "work" than you'd prefer, just to get something passable.

By: Espoo2

Espoo2 — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:59:33 -0800

Bah. Better off with a hardware box? Not necessarily.

Get something simple, like FL Studio (aka fruity loops). Simple step-sequencer input like the traditional drum machines, and you can load any wav you want into it, quickly and easily. Endless drumkits, in other words.

Lots of software will do this. Reason, for example, although the learning curve is a little higher for reason. Tuareg is a possibility as well.

Check out sharewaremusicmachine.com and see what looks good to you, or download the demos of Reason/FL studio/et al.