drum machine madness!

[decomposing]

ok I'm baaaack for more.

think I'm kind of set on either the volca beats or the alesis sr-16 as an entry into drum programming hardware
both are about the same price
both have pros and cons
I like the footswitch option on the alesis to switch through the pattern,
and think I want to upgrade eventually to an akai that you can sample and has a footswitch. but that's a different story...
but I also like the analog feel of the volca and has a cool sequencer.
either with that stepbeat thing would be cool too.

and want to eventually run in through a kaos pad kp3
hopefully with that microbrute or something similarly synthy
and a mixer with my main board

so what would you do to start out making beats for experimental music?
thanks fuzzheads!

[Deltaphoenix]

If you have a mixer, then makes use of the Aux/send & Returns by putting effects in loops on these.
The SR-16 has multiple outs, run those into individual channels on the mixer. Then you could end send the main outs through a fuzz, control the volume of the clean main and fuzzed mains individually and EQ them to sit well with each other. You could run the AUX L/R output on the SR-16 into something else, IDK pitch shifting delay or something and add some fun weirdness on the top.

This is a Volca Beats through an Infanem second voice deluxe




Also, for a cheapie drum machine I love the Zoom SB-246. It is marketed as a drum with hiphop/rap sounds but it is so rad.

[decomposing]

If you have a mixer, then makes use of the Aux/send & Returns by putting effects in loops on these.
The SR-16 has multiple outs, run those into individual channels on the mixer. Then you could end send the main outs through a fuzz, control the volume of the clean main and fuzzed mains individually and EQ them to sit well with each other. You could run the AUX L/R output on the SR-16 into something else, IDK pitch shifting delay or something and add some fun weirdness on the top.

This is a Volca Beats through an Infanem second voice deluxe




Also, for a cheapie drum machine I love the Zoom SB-246. It is marketed as a drum with hiphop/rap sounds but it is so rad.

dude thanks for the ideas. was thinking of something along those lines.
and saw a zoom on the list, I think they have a footswitch too.
I read that the volca series has a capacitor missing from the snare that's why it's fuzzy.
do you like yours? sounds very industrial with that pedal for sure.
there's also a few electribes on the list too, one that samples is kind of cool.

[decomposing]

what about the zoom rt-223? is this ok>?
the electribes on the list are the er-1 and the es-1 mk2 that can sample.
the volca is basically an mini-electribe right?
kind of sounds like I need the alesis and a korg.
maybe just the zoom to start out with because it's the cheapest...

[Deltaphoenix]

I think the real difference between the 2 zooms is the internal sounds.

I wouldn't say that the Volca is a mini electribe. Electribes are more groove machines so they have synth sounds too and can sequence melody and rhythm.

[decomposing]

ok
so new to these things
the volca seems cool but think I'll want more from it, might be nice as a secondary noise maker
there's an electribe es1 mk2 on the list loaded up with a bunch of old school sounds, like 909 etc
there's also an akai on here that looks cool but tied to the sounds embedded on, has a lot of features that the alesis does
choices choices
think I need to go to the dreaded guitar store to try these out

[decomposing]

and just saw this researching NIN drum machines:

" I don't really agree with this. I think Trent is just making his own kicks with Sine Waves. Yes some of them sound like 909s but they don't sound like they are actually 909s. The only place I hear a blatant 909 is on All Time Low during the chorus. "

which leads to me maybe liking the Electribe Er1. I think you have to create all your own sounds from a sine wave on that one. might be a good starting point into all of this mess?
or do you think that I should get one pre-loaded with sounds to just program the beats first.
on a budget but want to be able to create sounds tailored to what I'm doing, so I'm willing to cough a bit more to get what's right.
money is stupid.

[Deltaphoenix]

You do design your own sounds in the ER-1 but they have more choices besides just sine waves.
I am sure that there are preset sound on there too.

Ultimately, I think a sample based machine has more possibilities, you could load nice drums and synth sounds and mangle them a bit internally and externally.

In the end, there is a lot of possibilities for either of those machines. Their sequencers are nice and they aren't too hard to learn.

[decomposing]

thanks dude
I emailed both the dudes and see what happens
too much research, I need to get my hands on 'em

[Uncle Grandfather]

i've used my sr-16 since the mid 90's. its easy to learn to program, has over 200 something sounds plus the pads are pressure sensitive to get interesting alterations on the sounds, and like mentioned has alot of outputs/midi/stereo etc. Real classic.

[decomposing]

think I settled on getting the sr-16 first for value, plus I can hookup the beatstep is I want yeah?