KVR Audio

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 1:12 am

I recently bought an vintage Boss Dr. Beat, and I like it a lot. Still, I thought it would be nice to have a little box that played rhythms. I was inspired after seeing . He's using a Casio PT-7, which is rare and not cheap. I used to have a Dr. Rhythm and I wish I had hung onto it.

What I like about his rhythm machine is that it has an onboard speaker. I thought there might be portable rhythm accompaniment units, that were meant to go with home organs. I like these because they sound nothing like real drums, but they're a little more 'humane' than the metronome. Does anyone have any recommendations/

FranklyFlawless · Post by **FranklyFlawless** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:46 am

Why not just get the BOSS DB-90?

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 2:36 pm

Thanks, that's actually a great recommendation and I'll have to keep it in mind. This device seems similar to Korg's KR Mini, which I was excited about until I realized it wasn't a KR-55 clone.

For me, the drawback of the KR Mini and also the DB-90 is the sound of the drums. I really want those 'pop-pop' home organ sounds, like on a Korg Minipops, which is how the drum machine in my link sounds. I thought maybe there was a latter-day rhythm box with that sound that didn't cost hundreds of dollars.

I used to have a home organ, but mice got into it and ruined it. I wish I had saved the rhythm unit and put it in a cabinet. Maybe I can find one on ebay. I already have a cabinet with a speaker that would be perfect for this application.

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 2:49 pm

Now we're getting somewhere: I see on ebay for 60 bucks.

FranklyFlawless · Post by **FranklyFlawless** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 4:38 pm

Okay, the Korg Volca Sample 2 has different sounds. Here is a video demonstrating it. What do you think?

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun Apr 23, 2023 8:03 pm

Korg KR Mini?

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:15 pm

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to get something like this:

Just a rhythm unit from a home organ. Now Hammond sold this unit called the Auto-Vari 64, as a standalone unit, and they also installed them inside their organs. If I buy this unit, does anyone know what I would need to plug this into a wall? My plan is to just wire it up as an independant drum machine.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Wed May 10, 2023 9:22 am

A Yamaha PSR E373 has a bunch of drumkits, and two can be layered, and then the separate rythym
section has I think 200 styled patterns, with intro and ending fills, so a lot of percussion at hand.
Around $260 if you get the stand, sustain pedal and headphones in a kit, or $200 barebones.
Cheers

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Wed May 10, 2023 10:14 am

Thanks for the replies. I ended up buying one of those Realistic brand beat boxes, like in the video above. I also bought a Synsonics Drums, which is awesome but it needs some soldering:

And then I bought two rhythm units from a home organ. I will start a new thread about this because it's asking a slightly different question. But the Synsonics and Realistic units are great for rhythm accompaniment.

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:20 am

OK, update: my Realistic beat box already stopped working. I have no idea why. One day, I took the batteries out, put them back in, and it won't even turn on. Even on AC power it won't light up. It was fine while it lasted, though.

I soldered up my Mattel Synsonics and it's awesome. I like it a lot and I think it's a great rhythm accompaniment tool. However, I have read in multiple places that it has tap tempo, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how this works. Does anyone know how to set tap tempo on a Mattel Synsonics?

Rhinelaender · Post by **Rhinelaender** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:42 am

Curveball - why not get a half decent drum machine. The Arturia Drumbrute impact is super easy to use, great sequencer, and after half an afternoon on this little monster you'll have all sort of rhythms pre programmed and you'll have the knowledge to change them on the fly.

If you're into synthesis - you might want to look at a Korg Electribe ER-1. Still super easy but better sound design.

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 12:28 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. The reason I like my Synsonics is that it functions as one step up from a metronome. You can create a basic drum pattern, it doesn't really sound like real drums, but it keeps the beat and it's more interesting to listen to than a click.

For me, once it starts functioning as a real instrument, I'm getting away from my intention which is for a stand-in rhythm.

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 1:18 pm

Save your pennies. Pick up a Roland DR-5

Actually if you have a phone and are using it for midi sequence drum patterns I'm sure there are plently of ios/android beat machines available.

publicradio · Post by **publicradio** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:03 pm

Nah, I'll pass on the Dr. Rhythm. However, I used to have one of the orginal Boss DR. Rhythms and I'm cursing myself for getting rid of it!

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 7:27 pm

Just find any old Casio portable keyboard from the 90s. They had many models with built-in speakers, a bunch of drum patterns and sounds, and they can be had for cheap. I’m seeing a few of them for $25-35 on my local Craigslist right now.

Recommendations on cheap rhythm units (basically a step up from a metronome)