issue07
EMUSIC-L Digest Volume 58, Issue 07
This issue's topics:
Drum machines (22 messages)
Non-Drum Rhythms (9 messages)
Non-drum stuff
Other tools (Was: Re: Drum machines)
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Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 12:58:26 CET
From: Jack Latanowicz
Subject: Drum machines
Hello.
I would like to ask drum users how to start collecting a MIDI drum kit.
First of all what is best choice of drum modules. I know some Korg S3
Yamaha RY30, Boss DR550mkII etc...
I would like to know some models which have pretty nice sounds, and
they would be editable. I know that there are some machines (Korg S3 ?)
I like Roland drums, because Roland is well known for drums and piano...
I also know that Roland has big pads with MIDI controller. How does
that system work I don't really know. Is it possible to connect it
to a synth like JV880 ? Or better support it with some Roland R8M...
I'm really lost in drum area. All i know that tapping rhythms on
a keyboard is terrible, not mentioning sound quality of synth's drums.
I'm also looking for a module which would have some basic effect processor
like reverb, echo...(again KorgS3 ?)
But I don't want KORG drums....they are too bad...looking at my expirience
with M1...
Is there a Roland machine with digital effect processor, with editable
sounds, with some MIDI options for dumps of banks (and not 20 year old
tape in/out plug...who in 90ies uses tapes for data storage ??????)
And most of all isn't expensive because comparing BossDR550 and KorgS3
for price to possibilities goes still to S3...
I'm totally lost in drum area...
Jack L.
BTW. Maybe Alesis ??????????
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Jack Latanowicz tel/fax Pl-(0-61) 798-202
Ul.Porzeczkowa 27 Jack@plpuam11.bitnet
61-306 Poznan
P O L A N D "exploring life is the sense of living..."
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Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 07:20:59 -0800
From: "R. Fahl"
Subject: Re: Drum machines
Personally, I like the Yamaha RY30. It's a combination drum synth/drum
machine. The sounds that are in it are good, but the cool thing is that
you can edit them. There are two waves per patch, two filters, with
resonance, a pitch envelope and other parameters that give you a lot of
control over the sound. The presets sounds only hint at the machine's
potential. Midi implementation is also very good. YOu can switch
between different patterns from an external keyboard, for example.
I should also mention the wheel controller that is on the machine. Makes
editing patterns on the fly a blast. You can control filter level,
pitch, pan, balance and decay with it.
I will say that I find the sound a little thin, compared to Roland's
stuff. I like Roland's machines a lot, too, but I went for this machine
because 1)it was $300 2)it has cool filters 3)it does sound good.
That's my $0.02 worth.
--
ms20
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Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 12:41:34 -0600
From: Ken Fansler
Subject: Re: Drum machines
> I got only two replies on my question. One on Alesis SR16
> and second on Yamaha RY30. I need more info on other stuff.
> I collected some money and I'm stuck in middle of drum
> world.
>
> Thanx for replies and looking forward for some more. :)
>
> Jack L.
Jack -
The best drum machine I've ever worked with is the Alesis D4. There may be
better machines out there, but I haven't seen them. It has 20 banks with 60
patches in each bank (I think...), and it has audio jacks for triggering
capabilities. For its relatively low price, I don't think you'll find more
realistic drum sounds. It also allows for extensive editing of each patch/bank.
That's the best I can give you. Good luck!
Ken Fansler
kwfansle@ilstu.edu
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Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 19:15:05 CET
From: Jack Latanowicz
Subject: Drum machines
Hello again !
Now come on guys...no one using an drum machine ????
Where are these 'prof dancers' etc ?? They tap with finger
or what ? :)
I got only two replies on my question. One on Alesis SR16
and second on Yamaha RY30. I need more info on other stuff.
I collected some money and I'm stuck in middle of drum
world.
Thanx for replies and looking forward for some more. :)
Jack L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Latanowicz tel/fax Pl-(0-61) 798-202
Ul.Porzeczkowa 27 Jack@plpuam11.bitnet
61-306 Poznan
P O L A N D "exploring life is the sense of living..."
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Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 16:12:36 EST
From: Brian Good
Subject: Re: Drum machines
>
> Hello again !
>
>
> Now come on guys...no one using an drum machine ????
> Where are these 'prof dancers' etc ?? They tap with finger
> or what ? :)
> I got only two replies on my question. One on Alesis SR16
> and second on Yamaha RY30. I need more info on other stuff.
> I collected some money and I'm stuck in middle of drum
> world.
>
> Thanx for replies and looking forward for some more. :)
I've been using an Emu Procussion for about six months. I'd been
using and HR-16 and, while the its sounds were reasonable, it really
had no ability to modify them, other than changing the pitch. The
Procussion is much more flexible (and of course much more expensive.
Sigh). One test I use when evaluating drum machines is to try to
reconstruct an authentic-sounding jazz snare; at high volume, it
should display obvious attacks on each stroke, even in a roll. At
low volume, however, the roll should sound almost continuous, and you
should hear little or nothing in the way of individual attacks. The
Procussion is the first thing I've used that would do this convincingly
(by a combination of cross-fading, playing with envelopes and
using velocity to control the sample start delay). Other modern
machines undoubtedly can do this, but I'm satisfied with the Procussion.
It *does* have a couple quirks. First, while each drum kit contains
24 "stacks", i.e. patches (which may be layered), only 8 of the stacks
in each kit are user-programmable--you have to use factory stacks for
the other 16. This is not quite as annoying as it sounds--there are
a *lot* of factory stacks, and many of them sound quite good. Still...
Second, it's a rack unit--it has no pads or keys of any kind. It also
has no trigger inputs, so you can only play it via MIDI. I believe
Mike Metlay wrote a review of the Procussion a couple years ago. It
ought to be archived somewhere, if you're seriously interested.
brian good
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 15:20:11 CET
From: Jack Latanowicz
Subject: Re: Drum machines
On Tue, 16 Nov 1993 12:41:34 -0600 Ken Fansler said:
>Jack -
>
>The best drum machine I've ever worked with is the Alesis D4. There may be
>better machines out there, but I haven't seen them. It has 20 banks with 60
>patches in each bank (I think...), and it has audio jacks for triggering
>capabilities. For its relatively low price, I don't think you'll find more
>realistic drum sounds. It also allows for extensive editing of each patch/bank.
>
>That's the best I can give you. Good luck!
>
>Ken Fansler
>kwfansle@ilstu.edu
Hello !
First of all I would like to thank You and everyone who replied.
I must get closer look on Alesis SR-16 and D-4. I might consider
also EMU procussion.
I just didn't hear any comments on Roland R5/R8/R8M . Also
on other stuff. I know that there are a lot of machines.
I need editable drums to make for instance sound like Timpani
or strange FX drums. I wish thay could be PCM based with typical
envelopes like in synths. Best option could consider some PCM
card slot for new samples...
I will look forward for some more replies. Thanx again to those
who thrown their 0.02$ :-)
Jack L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Latanowicz tel/fax Pl-(0-61) 798-202
Ul.Porzeczkowa 27 Jack@plpuam11.bitnet
61-306 Poznan
P O L A N D "exploring life is the sense of living..."
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 09:48:28 PST
From: metlay
Subject: Re: Drum machines
Young Goodman Brian scratcheth:
>I've been using an Emu Procussion for about six months. [...]
>[...] I believe
>Mike Metlay wrote a review of the Procussion a couple years ago. It
>ought to be archived somewhere, if you're seriously interested.