Eurorack Drum Machine

[Seafire Mk2]

Was thinking of building a custom drum machine. There are a lot of complete and/or high end modules about, but they are very expensive.

As a brain, the Behringer RS-9 is a good deal at just over £100, and there are quite a few modules for around the same price each (such as Tip Top etc)

Obviously the cheaper ones are more limited feature/control wise

I'm more than happy using samples in my host for drum duties, which is why I have held off getting something like a 808/909 clone, but thought this might be a fun thing to tweak at a 'reasonable' cost

4 modules would be enough for basic stuff (kick, snare, hats) more than that might push me into 'f**k it, buy a 909 clone' ( currently £220)

Thoughts? Anyone done something similar?

[sinkmusic]

You might look at a couple of analog drumsynths clones (think Coron DS8 alike), along with a Squarp RAMPLE Turbo.
For instance :
https://www.ericasynths.lv/edu-diy-kick-drum-2714/
https://www.ericasynths.lv/edu-diy-fm-drum-3458/
It doesn't really fit in the 808/909 paradigm, but it's a lot of fun.

If you have nothing against B*hringer, they have a clone of the Pearl Syncussion dual drumsynth, which is a nice two voices drumsynth. With a sampler (Squarp Rample, again), it can be a nice little setup.
https://www.thomann.fr/behringer_syncussion_sy_1.htm

[Constructed Identity]

This just came out:

It has recording/sampling of its own output to layer drums...

I wouldn't get a case just for drums because there are specific things that you can combine to go above a normal drum machine. For example, you could add a looper and sequence along with loops modified in real time. Or you could get a particular effect that does a very specific thing to a drum sound...

[pekbro]

I can recommend the Assimil8or from Rossum. Not cheap sadly.

[Seafire Mk2]

You might look at a couple of analog drumsynths clones (think Coron DS8 alike), along with a Squarp RAMPLE Turbo.
For instance :
https://www.ericasynths.lv/edu-diy-kick-drum-2714/
https://www.ericasynths.lv/edu-diy-fm-drum-3458/
It doesn't really fit in the 808/909 paradigm, but it's a lot of fun.

If you have nothing against B*hringer, they have a clone of the Pearl Syncussion dual drumsynth, which is a nice two voices drumsynth. With a sampler (Squarp Rample, again), it can be a nice little setup.
https://www.thomann.fr/behringer_syncussion_sy_1.htm

I don't do DIY unfortunately.
The syncussion is good but a bit big. With the RS9 seq it would take up too much space really.

[Seafire Mk2]

This just came out:

It has recording/sampling of its own output to layer drums...

I wouldn't get a case just for drums because there are specific things that you can combine to go above a normal drum machine. For example, you could add a looper and sequence along with loops modified in real time. Or you could get a particular effect that does a very specific thing to a drum sound...

I can still do that via the host or even connecting to other cases. As I said, for samples I prefer to use my host. I'm looking for pretty basic (cheap) modules to get a simple machine that can still be tweaked

Stuff like this, or similar



Seen lots like this for under 100 on ebay etc

[imrae]

A bunch of dedicated drum voices without any modulation or esoteric stuff? That's
really skipping out the fun parts of modular...

In the same space you could have a more flexible synth voice that produces any of those sounds or a lot more, and sample it into DAW (or sampler module).

Failing that, a smaller number of more interesting/versatile drum voices will bring more value. Plaits, BIA, Plonk, ... Erica do one voice of Perkons as a module, that looks fun to mix & match.

[Constructed Identity]

I have an erica synths Pico Drum 2 module that was cheep (got it used). It has several modes and is tweakable. I usually send it's output into a compressor or a VCA.

[synthcat]

They're a lot of fun, but drums in eurorack get to be crazy expensive compared to their standalone counterparts so it's more something you do for the love it rather than saving money.

The best bet is probably picking up a euro module that at least has the sequencing + voices portion taken care of like you mention.

Picking up the voices themselves is inexpensive enough, but then there's still need for sequencing, modulation, effects, mixing, compression, EQ, etc.

[epiphaneia]

I use a Behringer RS-9 paired with an Erica Synths LXR Drum and an Erica Synths Perkons Voice for drum/perc purposes in my small modular system. A lot of fun, huge sound range, expandable in all directions (which is 90% of the fun with modular stuff).

[pekbro]

I have the old bitbox and sequencer from 1010, pretty nice HW drum sampler setup actually, Should be pretty cheap used these days.

[Shabdahbriah]

Same ^^^ 1010Music BitBox (old model but w/black panel) + two Qu-Bit's Wave