drum machine/sampler for $150 and under?

January 16, 2007 2:17 PM

I'm looking to buy a drum machine/sampler for general programming needs with an emphasis on hip-hop.

I've worked extensively with Reason's Redrum and want something which can function as a hardware equivalent (and maybe even more). If I had to get an Electribe, which model would best suit my purposes? I'm looking to spend no more than $150 so if there are some good alternatives to an E-tribe I would love to hear what you all might reccommend. Bottom line, if it's a machine that will best allow me to produce hip-hop (everything from old school to dirty south), idm, and "Beck/Flaming Lips/Go! Team"ish crossover genres, then i really couldn't ask for more.

posted by defmute to media & arts (4 comments total)

You probably won't find anything close to an electribe in your price range. The Roland MC-303 might do what you want if you like its sounds. Everything else is going to be a rubber-button drum synth with a painful programming interface.

Your $150 may be much better spent on a knob box or similar midi/usb controller for your PC and stick with Reason.
posted by b1tr0t at 3:10 PM on January 16, 2007

if you plan on making any sort of hiphop and the letters "MPC" are not in your solution, some would say you're heading in the wrong direction.

but if you're going to stick with the computer, get the akai mpd-24 controller and use it with redrum.
posted by Señor Pantalones at 3:32 PM on January 16, 2007

I haven't priced E-tribes in a while, but have you ever seen them for less than $200-$250?

If you want cheap, the Zoom MRT-3 is pretty fun. There's even more expensive versions, but I've only used the MRT-3.
posted by drezdn at 7:42 PM on January 16, 2007

To back what Senor Pantalones mentioned, use a controller and spend your money on these MPC sample sets. They're very high quality hip-hop sounds -- they have a free sounds section if you want to try them out.
posted by spiderskull at 2:21 AM on January 17, 2007