Korg Monotribe

Arturia SparkLE

Alesis SR-16

Nord Drum 1

Alesis SR-18

Boss DR-770

(Battery 3 and 4, BFD, etc)

the last two hardware ones are coming next week! I'm really excited. I've really come to love drum machines, apparently.

I own only one drum machine but this one does it all for me, I have no need for any other:
Yamaha RM50 (with persistent sample RAM expansion)

zoom sampletrak and boss sp-505

R8...Love it

Syncussion
TR-909
TR-707
TR-626
Nord Drum I
MFB-522
DR-5

Thinking about getting a Tempest

Mfb Tanzbar - HOUSE

Octatrack - Kinda drum machine, great for percussion.

yamaha's entry level ry-10. Dad bought it for me when it came out in the early nineties, when it was already too late to get a real cheap 808 or 909. Recently got it back after having lent it out for years. Still a lot of fun, lots of harsh 16 bit sounds. But very poor midi (only in).

OK... drum machines and drum modules

TR-606
MB-808
9090 rack
TR-626 with circuit bending patchbay
R-8M rack
Pearl Drum-X
Korg KR-55
Korg ER-1
Korg ESX-1
Korg Wavedrum
Tama Techstar TS306
BOSS DR-110 Dr. Rhythm
Alesis DM5
Jomox MBase 01
Yamaha RX5
LELL UDS - soviet analog 2-chan drum module synth
elektron Machinedrum SPS-1UW+
elektron Octatrack

Samplers yeah... but you know
Akai MPC 2500 - maxed
Ensoniq ASR-X Pro with EXP-03 Urban Dance Project expansion card

There's drumKAT Turbo 2000 here as well...

Alesis D4
AdrenaLinn v1
Boss DR-550
Korg ER-1
Roland TD-6
Roland TR-707

The more the merrier seems to be the philosophy of many who posted here so far.

What I'm wondering: are you simply collectors or do you actually use them all to make music?
(this question is directed at those who listed more than 3 or 4 drum machines)

If I have never used it in something successful, something musical, I don't want it around, so yeah I use them all. There are new ones coming though that will need to be proved.

Two and a half years later and its funny how some of my forever machines have gone.

Sold the LM-2, MR10, Tama TS-305. Accidentally dropped my Soundmaster Stix one night while syncing modular with it.

Still have everything else listed plus CR-78, TR-8, Jomox Mbrane, Gotharmann Little Deformer w/AnaX plus eventually got the 707 and DRM32 fixed now theyre back in service.

I use them all, but of course not in the same song. Not even all in the same album, either. I often choose one or two of them (plus one or two synths) and make several tunes with those, then choose some others.

My most used drum machine, however, is the Korg ER-1.

Simmons SDSV
Simmons SDS7
OBDMX
OBDX Stretch
Linndrum
TR808
TR909
TR707
TR727
Drumulator

Yamaha Tenori-on (never use it for it's sounds, just to sequence other things)
Yamaha DX200 (never use it as a drum machine, just as a DX7II with knobs... it's for sale in the classifieds if you want to buy it!)
JoMoX M.Brane_11 (just got it)

I feel like I'm forever orbiting getting a drum machine... or should I say drum synth? I've long ago decided that drum machines were not for me. I always find their sequencers too limited and awkward to use beyond simple stuff. I like the Tenori-on because, well other than the fact that it's a f'n cool grid of blinking white LEDs, it's got interesting sequencing modes and features that are great for getting inspiration. I do find drum synths interesting though, which is why I dipped my toe in the water and picked up a M.Brane_11 when I found one at a decent deal.

I guess you might call Maschine my drum machine, but even that bugs me. Why can't I drag a drum loop up on to slots in the song sequencer and drag it's endpoints to control the length? So, maybe it's more accurate to say that Ableton Live is my drum machine of choice. I've been giving it some thought and I think it's time to ditch my Novation Remote 25SL in favor of a Push. (Don't worry, I've also got a Remote 61 for keys. heh)

So, I was almost set to follow through on my idea of supplementing the M.Brane_11 (man that's a bitch to type) with a Nord Drum 2 and a Korg Wavedrum Global, but I'm getting cold feet. Even with the removal of my Rocket, DX200 and Minibrute (all for sale kids at rock bottom prices!), space will still be an issue. Then I start thinking, "love the one you're with, jerkface!"

At this point in my process I usually buy a sample collection and forget about buying a drum synth for a while until I see a thread like this.

Alesis D4:
Rack Module mostly used for "real" drum sounds.
AdrenaLinn v1:
I hate the drum machine part and rarely use it. But have in jamming (no production or recording)
Boss DR-550:
My first drum machine. Never use it any more (internal battery is dead so need to recreate beats internally every time or just use as a midi controlled module).
Korg ER-1:
This is my staple drum machine on my desktop. Combined with the Proteus (or D4) drums it gives a lot of options/flexibility.
Roland TD-6:
Got the drum kit hooked up to it. Used for jamming and just banging on the drum all day.
Roland TR-707:
This is used a lot (daily). I have a minimal setup in my dining room currently:
707, Volca Bass, JP-8000 and Kaossillator.

Pearl syncussion
Metasonix d-1000

I love drum machines, here's my current collection:

Yamaha RX21
Yamaha RX11
Yamaha RX5
Yamaha RY9
Akai Rhythm Wolf
Akai Tom Cat
Roland TR-626
Alesis SR16
Korg S3

I wish I had more!

Currently I only own one drum machine and that`s the tried and true classic Boss DR-550 MK2 (or MK ii as I have seen it called often).

I used to sample various drum sounds from a host of sources alongside a percussionist friend and then we'd sequence these samples and loops instead of programming drum machines; it gave the synthetic percussion a more "organic" and "real" feel even when mixed within a host of electronics.

I'd like to update my list if I may:

Yamaha RX11, RY30, DD6 (circuit bent), DD10, ED10 (analogue drum synth).

Mattel Synsonics

Alesis HR16

Kawai XD5

I love them all

I had you down as a RX5 man?

Acidlab Miami with trim pots adjusted
Jomox XB 09 Tok Tok
TR 606
MV8000
EMU MP7 with XL7 Rom

I really only ever use the Jomox and Miami for drums though. Watching TR-8 Aira very closely as I would pick up a Tr-08 and add the 606 expansion to gig with and leave my precious machines at home.

Roland TR8
Novation Circuit

Softdrums: FXPansion GEIST, Reaktor Nuskool, FXpansion Tremor

ah the age old thread resurfaces.


a question to RM50(RY30) owners,,, how are its synthesis/mangling capabilities really?... is it only dependant on samples, or is it possible to get lots of fresh stuff simply by tweaking its parameters and using existing samples as fodder?

One very proud owner of the Roland MC-303 here

When only the best will do:

TR-909
MPC-60
Elektron Analog RYTM
MPC 2500 (more of a sampler actually)
Elektron Octatrack (more of a sampler actually)

I should sell the oldies - they sound great but they are so limited and I never use them.
Tanzmaus sounds good.
I'd like something that I'd characterize as a percussion machine - the MPC-2500 does that currently.
Sold a TR-727 --- kooky UI and no sound shaping? Not when I can turn it into $500.

HW
Analog RTYM
Novation Circuit
Korg Wavedrum

SW
Strike 2
BFD 3
Spark 2
SampleTank 3 - Billy Cobham
other bits and pieces, here and there.......lol

I wouldn't say it's strong as mangler not for extreme stuff. But the sound quality is very good and you can use to synthesis engine to make th e sounds very dynamic and subtly shifting. If your are familiar with the sy85 or Sy77 romper side it is very similar.

It's better for refining yr sounds than making totally off the wall stuff. There is quite a bit you can do by carefully selecting the sounds and use velocity to control the Pitch and filters. but it's all geared towards being more lively than off the wall.

But.... All the parameters can be addressed singly from a sequencerbif you want to work it.

For drum synth though I'd look rx5, nord drum2, Korg er1, machinedrum. Or even the Ry30 as its built in sequencer makes modulation easier.

It is a sweet module though Imo.

Alesis DM5
SCI Drumtraks
Akai Tom Cat

DSI Tempest on the way. Which will hopefully cure my drum machine gas for a while abd keep me busy.

Right now, it's down to:

TR8
TR-606
R70
Machinedrum MkII (no UW)
MPC4000

Plus Emax and modular percussion as required.

I'm still getting used to the slightly muffled sound of the MD - it's new to me - and I'm considering pairing it with a BBE to open it up.