Drum machine

[Trancer]

I've modified part of my home studio and am looking for a simple, effective, and without breath.

For composing trance and uplifting trance.

I was thinking about the Arturia Drumbrute Impact.

What do you think?

Would it be suitable for my use and meet my requirements above?

Thank you in advance for your answers and wise advice.

[seafire]

I wasn't very impressed with the Impact, tho it is better than the Drumbrute. The Behringer RD9, tho quite limited in sound types compared to a sample based instrument sounds good for the price to me.

For more money, one of the Elektron machines might suit.

Bargain basement, SR16 or DR660

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your reply and feedback.

Oh, really, didn't like the lack of punch, the sounds?

Regarding the RD 9, have you had a chance to test it?

Some people complain about an audible hiss when using it.

Regarding Elektron, they're exceptional machines, but I really don't like the handling.

I had the Syntakt, Analog Rythm mk2.

[sin night]

I’m not really into trance and I’m not up-to-date about the sound, but the Drumbrute Impact is not something I’d associate to the sound of trance… maybe I’m wrong, but I would not suggest it for this genre.

It’s a very easy/hands-on instrument, that’s for sure… if you like it, maybe you could get a Beatstep Pro to sequence something else?

[emiko399]

If you’re after that crisp, no-air, super-layered drum sound that defines uplifting trance, the Drumbrute Impact might feel a bit too aggressive and mid-heavy.

It’s a cool box for distorted analog grit, but not ideal for the kind of precise envelope shaping trance usually needs. You might want to look at something like Roland’s TR series or dive into samples through a solid drum VST

[Trancer]

Thank you so much for your replies and opinions.

Thank you for the Drumbrute Impact. I thought it might have been a good choice, as it's all analog and everything is configurable and editable.

I even thought at one point about getting a BeatStep Pro and a Vermona DRM1 MK4.

I'd really like to find a drum machine that's easy to use.

Regarding samples, I'd like to do without them.

Having a drum machine for my rhythm part and being independent, not having to use my PC.

Regarding a Roland version, I had the TR8S, an excellent machine, but the menus and submenus were a pain.

For inspiration, creation, and creativity, not ideal at all.

Beyond that, the TR8S is a truly great machine.

[Uncle E]

The Spark and SparkLE are extremely intuitive and easy to use, as are the Keystep and Keystep Pro. I assume that the Arturia drum machines are equally as good in that regard.

Like you, I found the TR8S to be unintuitive and overly menu divey.

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your reply.

The Spark and Spark le duo were really great.

However, unless I'm mistaken, they're not standalone.

I'd really like a standalone machine for my rhythm part.

Furthermore, unfortunately, the Spark le isn't available for sale new.

It's really surprising that Arturia is resting on its laurels regarding the creation of a new standalone Spark and controller.

It would be a huge hit.

A lot of people are asking, but Arturia doesn't seem interested in this concept, which is a real shame.

[Uncle E]

Correct, Spark and SparkLE are not standalone. I only mentioned them to demonstrate that Arturia is good at making intuitive, well thought out hardware. You're right, standalone versions would be awesome.

[masterhiggins]

Correct, Spark and SparkLE are not standalone. I only mentioned them to demonstrate that Arturia is good at making intuitive, well thought out hardware. You're right, standalone versions would be awesome.

Couldn't agree more. Their hardware is brilliant. Their software is frustrating. I was heavily invested time-wise with Spark CDM. Jamming on it and tweaking knobs was incredible. The controller just needed a few changes and it would've been perfect. Then they discontinued it. If they released a standalone origin-like Spark I'd buy it immediately.

[Trancer]

I guess this kind of machine is off-topic, but what do you think of Circuit Tracks and Circuit Rythms?

Circuit Rythms is a sampler, so it's less interesting for my use.

Plus, it's 48 kHz, so it would require converting 44.1 kHz samples to 48 kHz, which isn't very practical.

[Dust_NL]

Does it have to be HW? Otherwise, the 808-clone Nepheton from the excellent company D16 is on sale Today on 808-day.

[seafire]

Does it have to be HW? Otherwise, the 808-clone Nepheton from the excellent company D16 is on sale Today on 808-day.

Having a drum machine for my rhythm part and being independent, not having to use my PC.

[Dust_NL]

Does it have to be HW? Otherwise, the 808-clone Nepheton from the excellent company D16 is on sale Today on 808-day.

Having a drum machine for my rhythm part and being independent, not having to use my PC.

My bad. Looked over it.

But…

Independent from a pc IMHO doesn’t mean using a dedicated drummachine. For example: I have a Push 2 controller next to my synth. When playing live, I control my VST 909 (Drumazon) with the Push, as of it was a HW drummachine.

[Trancer]

Thank you so much for your replies and opinions.

I'll never do live performances.

Here, the Push + 909 (drumazon) is a bit like the Spark 2 and the Spark Le.

A controller that controls/operates a VST.

I'm looking for a standalone drum machine.

Even though it's not exactly the solution I initially thought it would be, I was wondering if the Novation Circuit Tracks could be used as a drum machine?

There's also a Rythm version.