Drum machine vs samples

[Trancer]

Hello,

I made a new home studio configuration.

I sold a lot of equipment to get back to basics.

Everything for its use and therefore easier to learn, much less scattered and above all a more effective concept.

On the other hand, where I still hesitate is concerning the rhythmic part.

I had a lot of machines and here I ask myself the following question.

For my musical style (trance, trance uplifting, melodic techno), is it not more practical to simply use sample banks instead of hardware machines (tr8s, syntakt, rd 9, etc ...)?

What do you think?

[legendCNCD]

They're mostly the same and in the mix nobody notices.

[Vortifex]

Basically no-one is making trance with drum machines in 2025. It's far more convenient to use samples in a DAW. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you want. The 909 is the classic trance drum machine, after all.

[sin night]

I'm more into house/techno and I love (hardware) drum machines... but they are also a huge pain, because they usually need a lot of processing (and that takes time!). And then sometimes there are inconsistencies between various hits (especially with analog drum machines), so you may end up recording a single hit and use it in a sampler anyway...
Also, making kick drums out of multiple samples is a classic when it comes to "dance music" (and I think it can be done with other drum sounds as well)...

I think there are good arguments for drum samples...


Anyway, at the end of the day I think what actually matters is the final result (and enjoying the process of making music)... it's up to you to choose between drum machines and samples.



Maybe this is a bit off topic, maybe not... but I'll say this story nonetheless: last month I bought an analog kick generator with the goal of making my own sounds and sample them through various effects. So far, I spent time trying to reduce the background noise (long story short, an important part was caused by a TC7660S which was running at its standard speed, so I managed to up it by connecting pin 1 to pin 8 as stated on the data sheet)... and I tried also adding some additional bypass capacitors as well... maybe my approach is a bit extreme, but I think you already guessed my point: I spent hours of my free time working as a technician instead of just making music.
Now I'm more or less satisfied with the results (I'm not fully satisfied, it's still noisier than what I'd like), so this weekend I'll probably record the preset sounds (finally!).
I don't complain too much because I'm also a bit of a nerd and I enjoy some working on electronics from time to time; but in those hours I could have made a few tracks instead.


I have no definitive answer on what's the best choice between drum machines and samples (probably there is no "best" choice), but I'll just say: keep an eye on what are you actual goals and choose your tools accordingly.


Just my two cents, of course.

[pdxindy]

Anyway, at the end of the day I think what actually matters is the final result (and enjoying the process of making music)... it's up to you to choose between drum machines and samples.

My Rytm does both

[Constructed Identity]

Basically no-one is making trance with drum machines in 2025. It's far more convenient to use samples in a DAW. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you want. The 909 is the classic trance drum machine, after all.

But I say don't be like everyone else. Get a Behringer Edge and a Spectravox.
You'll thank me later

[cryophonik]

If you’re making modern trance, you probably want long extended fills and builds with lots of automation, sidechaining/ducking, and effects, which can be a PITA with many hardware drum machines, especially if they don’t have a song mode or even decent pattern chaining (e.g., TR-8S). This is why most trance producers use samples in the DAW.

[mjolnir]

some drum machines are samplers, so like, the difference might be minimal.
it all depends upon how you use them. nobody is going to stop you from programming on the hardware and then importing into a computer DAW for further use.

[kritikon]

I'm now mostly hw in terms of synths, but I definitely wouldn't and don't bother with drum machines. I was sorely tempted by the RD9 when it came out, but ultimately was only nostalgia. Now pleased I didn't waste my money on a silly impulse buy. I can't think of any drum machine that isn't a PITA to use compared to sw/samples in a DAW. I understand those that want only hw, but for me...drums, FX and sequencing remain sw/DAW and doing that in hw is obsession rather than preference. If I really was forced to use a drum machine it would be RD9 for character, but really it's quite limited. Things like the recent Behringer Linn drum thingy just don't get any juices flowing at all, even if it was $5. I got fairly in-depth with a Roland R8 back in the day and could coax a bit of experimental stuff out of it. It was really quite intricate and flexible, but what I mainly remember is...I fkn hated actually doing it. It took me days to do what I can do in the DAW far more quickly. Nowadays I'd rather insert a watermelon into my anus thankyou.

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your answers and opinions.

After reflection, thank you again for your feedback, I will use samples.

This will be more adapted to my way of doing things.

I plan to subscribe to Splice.

Any feedback on this platform?

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

What do you think?

That the right time to ask such a wuestion would've been before you sold everything

[Lotuz2019]

Things like the recent Behringer Linn drum thingy just don't get any juices flowing at all, even if it was $5.

It does for me, but I'd rather spend € 399 on a new PC and VProm.

[Trancer]

Thank you for your answers.

In fact, I had way too much equipment and I got a bit lost in a totally scattered workflow and therefore no productivity.

I had analog rhythms mk2, tr8s, syntakt.

For me, syntakt was the one where getting started was relatively simpler.

But too many manipulations (menus etc ...).

The samples seem to be more intuitive, quick to execute.

You just have to work on them in your daw, simpler and more visual too, so it improves my workflow and develops a more fluid creativity.

I tried vst too.

Drumazon 2 is excellent, just like vsdsx 2.3 is also excellent (another register).

But using samples really seems to be the best solution for my use.

[cryophonik]

I plan to subscribe to Splice.

Any feedback on this platform?

I got a free 6-month subscription to Splice with something I purchased last year and I've used it a bit. The app is pretty intuitive and easy to use, and there is no shortage of samples available, although I can't say that I've explored it too deeply. I'll probably stick with the subscription after my free trial period ends, mostly because it's just so convenient.

[sin night]

I'm not a fan of subscription services, so obviously I won't suggest them. For some people they may be a good solution, though.

Anyway, I have a lot of samples (not as many as those really into samples - I'm way more into drum machines - but I have my fair amount...). My word of advice is to try to impose yourself some limitations on how many samples, because the big problem is managing them, you may end up spending a lot of time going through tons of samples looking for the perfect one (that's something I don't like about working with samples).


Also, how are you going to use those samples? dropping them directly into an audio track in the daw and working with cut and paste, loading them in a drum sampler like Maschine or Triaz (or a drum rack if you're an Ableton Live user, or something equivalent in other daws), using the tools provided by a subscription service? What's your workflow going to be like?


Speaking of sound, if I had to make trance (especially "modern" trance), I'd probably use samples as well.