U-he Drum Machine

[crystalmsc]

What I'd love even more than an u-he drum machine, would be a cut down drum module for sinlge drum sounds. I'm think Zebra but super streamlined with drum specific controls (oscillator with fm, comb filter, whatever). This module could then be loaded in the multitude of drum hosting programs such as Maschine, akai MPC renaissance, Ableton Live drum racks etc. in many isntances to form an amazing drum synth.

I think this is an untapped market personally. And even for people who don't have this kind of drum device, even track grouping on most daws would allow a similar setup to create a custom drum machine split over several tracks.

That would be interesting. Even though I can achieve that by using Ableton Drum Rack with more flexibilities, but a drum mode in Zebra like the Waldorf Attack would be cool. But what I'm interested the most is the performance aspect of the drum machine, coupled with the power of U-he synths. Specially since I like most of the GUIs, can't wait to see the design aspect of the DM.

[Echoes in the Attic]

What I'd love even more than an u-he drum machine, would be a cut down drum module for sinlge drum sounds. I'm think Zebra but super streamlined with drum specific controls (oscillator with fm, comb filter, whatever). This module could then be loaded in the multitude of drum hosting programs such as Maschine, akai MPC renaissance, Ableton Live drum racks etc. in many isntances to form an amazing drum synth.

I think this is an untapped market personally. And even for people who don't have this kind of drum device, even track grouping on most daws would allow a similar setup to create a custom drum machine split over several tracks.

That would be interesting. Even though I can achieve that by using Ableton Drum Rack with more flexibilities.

Yes it can already be done using full Zebras in an Ableton Drum Rack. However Zebra is pretty overkill for a single drum module, hence why I think a stripped down synth module specific for a single drum sound would be great for Drum Racks (or Maschine etc.)

[Gonga]

You can also control Tremor (and other synths) with Spark

I'm interested to know more about this. Anyone using the Spark Controller with other Drum Machine, like Tremor?

Tremendous Beats is absolutely amazing. Simon is an outstanding programmer.

Spark is really pretty revolutionary in that:

it's a hybrid hardware/software instrument - this is unique
it's a hybrid sequencer buttons/MPC pad drum machine - this is unique afaik
it's got tons of knobs and a touch pad for effects (more than other drumboxes)
it's an amazing midi controller with separate controller midi software
it ships with a lot of classic drumbox emulations (probably the best library)
it has analog emulation, drum modeling, and samples!
it can import samples (wav, aiff) and REX files too
it can export rendered wavs or midi files



You can control any midi percussion with it, and your DAW will record the tweaks in real time if you set it up. Now that I have it working in SONAR and I'm editing the piano roll, etc, then tweaking the sounds in real time, I'm thoroughly convinced this thing is the future. You can work with it hands-on to create wonderful, human beats and sounds, then you have exactly the same interface as a vst to edit things in the DAW. It doesn't get any better than this! (except the sequencer can't do odd meters or polyrhythms, though they say they're looking into it)

I agree a single-purpose, snappy-envelope drum machine would make a lot of sense. Three suggestions: it must do odd and mixed meters (see Tremor), the individual instrument channels (frequencies) must be playable with the keyboard (unlike Tremor) and it needs an optional, dedicated controller (like Spark). BTW Tremor's cloud oscillators are great for drums too.

p.s. I'd like to see something different than Spark - how about a dedicated U-He controller that looks like the Roland Handsonic - a real percussionaist's hand controller! This is better than just rows for fingers - or worse, 16 small buttons arranged so that your fingers are fighting with one another. And it could have a synth controller attached to the top (with sequencer buttons like the Spark). It would be just a controller (the hand pads are expensive - better to have synth in software anyway for editing in the DAW imo). The Handsonic is strictly a hardware device - no software synth unfortunately. And I think an oval shape - elongated left to right - is preferable to the round shape of the Handsonic (see 2nd image ).

[crystalmsc]

Tremendous Beats is absolutely amazing. Simon is an outstanding programmer.

This link has demos:
http://www.patchpool.de/tremor.html

Thank you. It sounds cool!

[Bronto Scorpio]

I discovered Howards HS Hung Drum preset from the Zebra factory library a few hours ago (I'm working on my own version of a hang drum-ish sound at the moment). I'd love to play it with something like the Handsonic

Cheers
Dennis

[crystalmsc]

Spark is really pretty revolutionary in that

Yes, it's interesting, just not what I'm looking for. Actually while waiting for the true drum synthesizer with a built in step sequencer and a dedicated controller..I just got the Stylus RMX Expanded, and I should say that it's amazing. Specially at how fast you can edit deeply and makes your own drum kit. Also how it's manipulate the loops and sliced it all in the background, with a very musical playability. It's an old program, but still imho revolutionary in many parts. Specially since Eric mentioned (ergh..a long time ago) that something really cool is under work. It's V1.9.6e (5-19-11), as close as it gets to V2. If they integrate the Omnishpere engine with the new version and add a step sequencer with a tight support for generic controller like the Korg padKontrol for instance, and more "Modular" samples and loops. I'd be happy for a while.

You can control any midi percussion with it, and your DAW will record the tweaks in real time if you set it up. Now that I have it working in SONAR and I'm editing the piano roll, etc, then tweaking the sounds in real time, I'm thoroughly convinced this thing is the future. You can work with it hands-on to create wonderful, human beats and sounds, then you have exactly the same interface as a vst to edit things in the DAW. It doesn't get any better than this! (except the sequencer can't do odd meters or polyrhythms, though they say they're looking into it)

The Spark controller is almost perfect, but I more prefer on something like the CNTRL:R


But the knobs are a bit too close and the pad could be a little bigger. I'd rather have the sixteen step buttons placed like that, with no knobs around it. But if there are no other alternative until next year, may be I'll get it, along with the XPC dual Joystick controller, to control Ableton Live and the drum applications.

Three suggestions: it must do odd and mixed meters (see Tremor), the individual instrument channels (frequencies) must be playable with the keyboard (unlike Tremor) and it needs an optional, dedicated controller (like Spark)

Nice points!

I'd like to see something different than Spark - how about a dedicated U-He controller that looks like the Roland Handsonic - a real percussionaist's hand controller!

Not sure if I'm going to buy that, but I'd love to see innovative stuff!

[crystalmsc]

I discovered Howards HS Hung Drum preset from the Zebra factory library a few hours ago (I'm working on my own version of a hang drum-ish sound at the moment). I'd love to play it with something like the Handsonic

as a Wavedrum fan, if they add such a playability, it would be even greater.

[V0RT3X]

I made a demo of just some random tweaking in tremor, if anyone wants to see how it works.




I should point out that the CPU usage might be a bit higher since I was also screen recording.

[Bronto Scorpio]

I made a demo of just some random tweaking in tremor, if anyone wants to see how it works.




I should point out that the CPU usage might be a bit higher since I was also screen recording.

Damn! Tremor sounds really great! It's definitely on my "Once I get a new PC I have to get this" list

I quickly recorded a demo of a tweaked version of a preset I once made for a Zebra patch challange:

Angry Kit Demo

This is just one instance of Zebra!
Note that I made this preset before the additional 2 mod mappers were available, a lot more sophisticated stuff is possible now

Cheers
Dennis

[crystalmsc]

I quickly recorded a demo of a tweaked version of a preset I once made for a Zebra patch challange:

Angry Kit Demo

This is just one instance of Zebra!
Note that I made this preset before the additional 2 mod mappers were available, a lot more sophisticated stuff is possible now

exactly my type of material..something like the Waldorf Attack with more complexity.

[Bronto Scorpio]

I quickly recorded a demo of a tweaked version of a preset I once made for a Zebra patch challange:

Angry Kit Demo

This is just one instance of Zebra!
Note that I made this preset before the additional 2 mod mappers were available, a lot more sophisticated stuff is possible now

exactly my type of material..something like the Waldorf Attack with more complexity.

I'm glad you like it

Cheers
Dennis

[Gonga]

I love jamming along with Stylus RMX chaos designer

I agree with Dennis, Zebra is unbeatable for playable single patches, and a hand controller like the Handsonic (or Mandala) would be fun to try with Zebra (the Korg isn't a controller). The Handsonic can function as a controller, but it doesn't have a matching PC synth, just hardware sounds. This is where Spark is unique. But again, Spark has the same limitations as Tremor - you can't play single patches on the keyboard or vary their pitch easily with a hand drum controller - this is an area waiting for somebody to innovate. And of course Spark isn't a percussionist's instrument - it's not a hand drum controller at all. The market still doesn't have a real flexible hand drum controller matched with a great analog softsynth as far as I know. The Mandala comes with the Virtual Brain software, but I think that's entirely sampler stuff, and Mandala is just a drum with no other controls. Zendrum is just a controller like Handsonic (but weirder ), and again, no other controls.

Tremor is amazing, but you can't play individual engine sounds on the keyboard the way you can play a normal synth patch like Zebra, so you really can't vary pitch except with the pattern editor (no fun). This is Tremor's one weakness imo, besides its stock patches and the lack of a dedicated controller. Spark is a great controller for Tremor though imo. (or microtonic, etc.).

For anyone interested in hand drum controllers, the Handsonic, Mandala and Zendrum are the only ones on the market afaik, with the Handsonic being the only one with assignable knobs and ribbon controllers.

http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... ductId=199

http://synesthesiacorp.com/

http://www.zendrum.com/

[crystalmsc]

I love jamming along with Stylus RMX chaos designer

I really love it and rather view the Stylus RMX as the extension of Omnisphere. Specially since the two are able for being groove locked together. The sound menu and groove elements are like almost half of the admission price. With many bits and pieces that I missed from Omnisphere, with the same quality. The S-770 used to be my dream sampler for drum, fx and percussion samples since I like the JV/JD series. Great to find so many samples with such a flexible engine and fx to mangle those materials. Again, if they add a true synthesis engine and an innovative step sequencer, it would be even greater. Some of the loops are also cutting edge, mainly the Metamorphosis and RMX library, that it almost feel like I'm listening to the Rhythm section of Omnisphere..but with more groove oriented feature. I has many loops that I expected to be there. Now I appreciate the Omnisphere more as itself. I just got this amazing guitar library with S.A.G.E feature: http://impactsoundworks.com/products/in ... ions-vol-1
I see the Stylus more of a super versatile loop sampler, complimenting the Omnisphere really well.

I agree with Dennis, Zebra is unbeatable for playable single patches and a hand controller like the Handsonic (or Mandala) would be fun to try with Zebra

Between the Ableton Drum Rack, Waldorf Attack, Stylus RMX and Wavedrum, something like that will round it up. I'm mostly using hands for doing live percussion and drumming, but the Mandala is an interesting concept with the right price, will look more into it.

[lazerkind]

I quickly recorded a demo of a tweaked version of a preset I once made for a Zebra patch challange:

Angry Kit Demo

This is just one instance of Zebra!

Very nice,
Is that available in the one shot kits ZPC download in the patch-Lib?
//L

[crystalmsc]

Zebra is unbeatable for playable single patches, and a hand controller like the Handsonic (or Mandala) would be fun to try with Zebra

btw, has anyone tried something like that?

The more I learn about the Mandala, it's getting more interesting.