A Hardware Drum Machine / Groove Box is a self-contained instrument for producing loop-based music. Drum machines is popular among music producers as countless hip-hop, electronica and pop tracks have been created using these. You can build pattern based sequences on the fly. You get a combination of sound sources, a synthesizer and a sequencer, all built in one instrument.
Introduction
You get grooveboxes that are complete music making studios – you can make beats, tweak sounds, create patterns, and more — you can even sequence entire songs! It has an intuitive layout and allows seamless DAW integration.
They include everything you need to create and perform songs – huge library of high-quality sounds, drum kits, multi-sampled instruments, patterns, projects, and sliced loops right out of the box, drum synths, drum plug-ins, and more.
Some models come with touchscreen, but so long as the controls are intuitive it should be fine using these sound modules.
These are compatible with all major DAWs as a VST or Audio Units plug-in with full multi-core support.
Native Instruments Maschine MK3
Native Instruments’ MASCHINE is a groove production system for creative beat-making with an acclaimed sound library — Smart combination of hardware and software, combines the flexibility of software with the tactile immediacy of hardware. It’s a complete system for fast, professional groove production.
- Comes with bigger pads now, more room for complex moves like flams and rolls. more sensitive to lighter touches, for more expressive playing.
- Full-color display. High-res screens let you get more precise with your mixing, see an overview of your arrangement, or zoom in on waveforms.
- Now features 96kHz / 24-bit studio-grade audio interface. Simply patch in a synth or add a dynamic mic for quick recording and sampling. Stereo line and MIDI ports. USB-powered (you can even use the included power supply unit).
- Pattern-based sequencer, sampler, suite of pro studio instruments and effects, vast sound library
- Easy song creation, remixing, and performance capabilities
- Over 8GB of production-ready drums, instruments, and loops
- Komplete 11 Select software bundle
Cons: Audio interface doesn’t have phantom power, No touchscreen
It has everything you would want from machine studio and this time it comes in a smaller footprint. Its an essential upgrade.
Best Hardware Drum Machines: Reviews, Prices, Buying Links
Take a look at these popular hardware Drum Machines.
Teenage Engineering PO-12 Rhythm
PO-12 is a compact, affordable drum machine. It offers 16 sounds, patterns can be recorded live, Punch-in effects, built-in speaker, No MIDI (because of its size).
Buy on Musiciansfriend
Akai MPC Studio Music Production Controller
AKai MPC drum machine gives you the best of everything – vintage feel as well as modern features, and is one of the most popular products available in the market. Its solid, yet compact, and USB powered. A large LCD screen helps with navigation, 128-track sequencing capabilities, 16 backlit drum pads, 4 touch-sensitive knobs, swing function and more. Renaissance software (Production software) comes bundled along.
Buy on zZounds
Roland TR-8 AIRA Rhythm Performer Drum Machine
Roland’s TR-8 is highly rated by music producers around the world (this is more of a modern version of their classic TR-808 and TR-909 machines). Build beats with 32-step sequencer, features 16-step sequencer, A and B pattern variations, 16 kits of 11 instrument types, LED display, various effects, rec/play modes, Midi in/out, USB and more.
Buy on zZounds
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine
If its a Korg, you can expect great analog sounds. This Korg’s drum machine does provide several classical analog sounding drums (warm and fat), has a sequencer, active step and step jump function, a MIDI IN for kicks, is battery-powered, is compact yet sturdy. This one is inexpensive and smaller in size.
Buy on zZounds
Dave Smith Instruments Tempest Drum Machine
Dave Smith Instruments is a big name when it comes to top-of-the-line analog music gear. This model is expensive (not for beginners at all) but you get a powerhouse analog drum machine with several advanced features such as recording in real time, tweaking FX without stopping playback and so on. Features 16 pressure and velocity-sensitive drum pads, six analog synthesis voices, advanced operating system built-in (lets you create and edit in real-time), Large display for easy navigation. Several effects. You can tweak analog effects or drum mix, and drumbeat switching.
Buy on zZounds
Novation Circuit Groove Box Drum Machine and Sequencer
Novation Circuit Groove Box / Music Production Workstation – Combines two synths, drum machine, sequencer and on-board speaker.
- This is a modeled synth, drum machine, & standalone music production workstation that comes with a step sequencer and pattern recorder.
- You can play chords, change settings, add effects, do mixing, and much more
- Its can easily be integrated with other gear – USB for the computer, MIDI for external devices.
More features:
- 2-part Nova, analog-modeled synthesizer, 4-part drum machine, 6 voice polyphony per synth
- 4×8 grid of RGB velocity-sensitive pads, 28 RGB backlit function buttons, 8 continuous macro encoder knobs, dedicated filter and volume pots
- Combine up to 128 steps of synth and drum patterns; save up to 32 sessions, each comprised of up to 8 patterns per track
- Audio quantize and record automation; add effects including 16 delays, 8 reverbs, filters, and sidechain
- Battery powered; built in speaker; 1/4 inch outputs, MIDI I/O, and USB
Elektron Analog Rytm drum machine
Swedish musical instrument company Elektron recently announced Analog Rytm MKII, the successor to the Analog Rytm drum machine.
The instrument combines analog drum synthesis with a digital sample engine and a sequencer, to offer musicians vast beat sound design possibilities.
Sampling is quick and easy, lets you create your own custom sounds & beats. Dedicated buttons, quick access to performance controls eases playability. It also offers Overbridge and two expression/CV inputs for external control.
Key features of the Elektron Analog Rytm MKII:
- 8-voice analog drum machine and sampler
- Sampling capability
- Back-lit buttons, More dedicated buttons enable quicker workflow
- Large pads, quick performance controls for better playability
- Hi-res encoders
- Big OLED screen that provides optimal feedback in dimly lit environments
- Expression/CV inputs for external control of Analog Rytm MKII parameters
- Balanced sampling inputs
- Overbridge with higher bandwidth
- Cast aluminum enclosure for better looks
Overall, a complete analog drum machine and sampler, with great looks, thanks to the cast aluminium enclosure. It marks a major leap when it comes to beat making instruments.
Alesis SR-18 Drum Machine
A top-selling drum machine (its also been in the market for a long time), this is more of a vintage product. 12 dedicated pads, includes stock sounds of drum sets, electronic drums and one-shot hits, quality effects needs, midi in/out. Powered by AC or batteries. A simple, old-school, inexpensive drum machine.
Buy on zZounds
Arturia DrumBrute Analog Drum Machine/Synthesizer
Arturia’s popular Brute line of synths now includes an analogue drum machine and sequencer, named DrumBrute.
In addition to the 17 analog drum instruments, it comes with a 64-step drum sequencer with song mode; polyrhythmic capabilities; step-repeat glitch effects; sequence looping and more.
It also allows you to output different sections of your mix separately, and connect your existing studio & performance gear with USB, MIDI, and Clock I/O.
While most drum machines feature synchronized loops, the Drumbrute allows individual loops per drum sound, which makes creation of complicated cross-rhythms a piece of cake. Its very easy to introduce randomness into each pattern, allowing you to create even more complex results.
Watch: Arturia introduces DrumBrute, Analog Drum Synthesizer
Like Arturia’s other “Brute” products, the DrumBrute offers real analog sound at a more affordable pricing (compared to the offerings from competitors like Moog and Dave Smith Instruments.) This drum machine is basically designed for performers and offers in-depth sound editing features.
Great deals on Hardware Groove Boxes here on zZounds…
More Classic Drum Machines
The XOXX Composer: Cool Drum Machine
The XOXX Composer is a beat sequencer that uses magnets stuck to wheels to sequence cyclical rhythms. Designed by Axel Bluhme (a designer who built it while studying at the Royal College of Art in London), XOXX Composer features eight rotating discs, so eight sound samples can be sequenced at one time. Each disc is quantized into 16 steps. Below each disc there is a physical interface for pitch tuning and volume output.
And because its MIDI compatible, you can use the XOXX Composer with a wide variety of electronic music gear and software.
“XOXX wants to simplify the language of rhythm by exposing how hidden digital functions like; sampling, looping and sequencing relate to mechanical functions and physical interaction,” says Bluhme.
Its not known yet how much the XOXX Composer will cost. However, Bluhme has a email signup form on his site, for those who would like to know when the XOXX Composer will be available.
Yocto 2, the drum machine that looks like the Roland TR-808
Yocto 2 is an updated version of their drum machine that looks very much like the iconic Roland TR-808.
YOCTO is a Drum Computer clone of Roland TR-808, an almost exact reproduction of the analog part of the TR – 808, coupled with a MIDI sequencer. Various functions have been added to the clone, such as the ability to mute every sound, to chain patterns as you want, copy, paste, clear patterns.
Going by the video, the Yocto 2 seems to be a desirable product with several nice features.
You get 12 analog instruments, cloned of the Roland TR-808 and Boss PC-2 Percussion Synthesizer, 128 Rhythm patterns (from 1 to 16 steps), 16 tracks of 999 measures, 1 external instrument track by pattern that can store 99 notes like SH101 sequencer style.
A Midi keyboard mode – allow you to play external Midi device, Multi out for each instruments
Individual accent for BD, SD, LT, MT, HT, RS, HC and CH
A total accent track, Master out (L/R Mono) 6Vp-p 1Kohm
tempo 30 – 250 Bpm. 7 shuffle levels. 4 scales (1/8t, 1/16, 1/16t and 1/32)
4 sequencer directions (forward, backward, ping-pong and random)
Easy copy and paste pattern function
Shift left or right the entire pattern or individual instrument
In/Out/Thru Midi, DinSync 24ppqn Out, Trig Out 2ms +5V
The Yocto 2 will be available as a DIY kit – including PCBs, potentiometers, rare parts and switches. Additional costs include the common parts from Mouser and a case.
Yocto 2: DIY Kit
Two PCBs (the MainBoard and the IO board), All potentiometers
All transistors (original 2SC828R, 2SC945P, 2SA733P and 2SK30A
Two BA6110 (One for the Handclap VCA and the other for the Boss PC-2 VCA)
One AN6912, One HD14584BP
The µC preprogrammed (an Atmega1284P), Six 1N34A germanium Diodes
All other parts are available on the Yocto v2.0 Mouser BOM.
Website: e-licktronic
Roland TR-808 Drum Machine
Roland TR-808 is the iconic drum machine created by Ikutaro Kakehashi in 1980. If you’re into hip-hop and pop music, you’ve probably already heard the “808” at some point.
The Roland TR-808 is one of the most famous drum machines around, and had a major influence on various genres including electronic music. The drum machine revolutionized music and blurred lines between genres.
The TR-808 was one of the earliest programmable drum machines in the industry, and it went on to change the sound of popular music. What made the 808 different at that time was that its sounds did not resemble real percussion, and sounded more like “futuristic” version of common sounds: bass, drums, snare, cymbals, and more.
Musicians loved the machine particularly for its powerful bass drum sound.
Before the 808 was invented, music producers would dig for drum samples and meticulously loop them to create original drum patterns. However, with the arrival of drum machines, samples and live drummers became obsolete (sort of).
With its candy-colored keys, compact size and clunky artificial drum sounds, the Roland 808 synthesized drum machine was once described as looking “more like a Fisher-Price toy than a serious instrument”. Yet it was precisely these qualities of portability and simplicity — which meant it could be programmed by untrained musicians — that were crucial to its popularity.
In recent years, Kanye West dedicated an entire album to the sound, with every song using an 808, the most popular being “Love Lockdown.” The 808 sound in the beginning of the track sounds similar to a heartbeat. There’s even a full-length documentary called 808, tracking the importance of the machine.
Outside of hip-hop, the 808 sound could also be heard elsewhere, particularly in pop music. It also became heavily used in present-day EDM, with several artists using the 808 sound in singles and collaborations.
Even today, the 808 is the critical element designed for huge speakers and club systems, and even producers today create records keeping this in mind. With the 808, the possibilities are endless, and we have Ikutaro Kakehashi to thank for that.
Roland TR-8 AIRA Rhythm Performer Drum Machine
Get the sound of the TR-808 and TR-909 in one drum machine!
Article on TheVerge. Read full story here.
Drum Machine: Buying Guide
If you were to ask a group of musicians to compose a tune, not everybody would approach it in the same manner. Every musician has his own method…and one of the popular methods is to begin with a catchy rhythmic loop.
This is where the drum machine (also known as a groove-box) can be a handy instrument!
A Groove box can help you to quickly come up with some catchy pattern based loops. You could do the same on a computer as well, but is you want the feel of a real instrument, a standalone drum machine scores. Besides, you don’t need to know how to play the Keyboards/Piano to use this Instrument!
These are portable equipment that lets you easily capture a drum beat (without having to lug around all that equipment). Drum machines are capable of producing a wide range of sounds, you can build your own beats and even add filters, and some models also come with built-in sampler.
These are great songwriting tools as well; just play a rhythm and you can sing, rap or jam along. Drum machine beats nowadays cover genres like modern EDM and industrial rock, besides including retro.
Drum machine can be used in a recording studio or in a live setting – be it a DJ or singer performing live or the music producer working in the studio. These let you seamlessly switch between performing and creator modes.
And despite the popularity of VST software, MIDI keyboards and Digital Audio Workstations, there are still some solid drum machines available in the market.
How does it work?
Groove-boxes are self-contained instruments used for producing loop-based electronic music!
To create a music loop, you start with choosing instruments such as drums; you choose beats such as 8 beat or 16 beat (or whatever you like).
You then create a pattern based on the selected beat, and then set the pattern to repeat itself. This way you get a musical loop!
The term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but now the term has entered general use. Now its referred to an all-in-one-box that has sequencer with drums, and synths, and some nice bass. Checkout the video to see/hear what it sounds like.
Hardware Drum Machines: Advantages & Characteristics
The main advantage of using a drum machine is that you don’t need to know to play the keyboards/Piano!
If you are a singer, or a guitarist, or any other instrumentalist, using this instrument you can easily and quickly create great sounding accompaniments for practice… or for your performances.
Any musician or artist who needs a versatile song-writing tool for sequencing and music production can use a groove-box.
In general, Drum Machines & Groove Boxes have the following characteristics.
- All in One: Combination of sound sources, a synthesizer/sampler, and a sequencer.
- Control Surface: Combination of knobs, sliders and buttons.
- Display Elements: Has LED and/or LCD.
- Pattern-Based: You can rapidly construct and control a pattern-based sequence.
- Multi-timbral: Can simultaneously play multiple instrumental or percussion voices.
Buying a Drum Machine – Things to Look For
Here are some factors to consider when looking for a Drum Machine:
- Features: Depending on your style of music, you will need a machine with th eright set of features – User preset patterns, wide range of sounds, availability of multiple effects, etc.
- Inputs/Outputs: MIDI USB ports are common. You can have many other input and outputs – sampling abilitites (record the instrument that is plugged in), footswitch outputs to control your drum machine (while playing another instrument), you can even connect headphones (lets you practice/play without needing external speakers).
- Design: Do you need one that runs on battery power (great for portability). Does the display has backlighting. Do you want lightweight & compact model.
- Portability: Compared to other equipment, these are anyways more compact. But still, go for light-weight models, makes it easy to move it around (home to studio or venue).
- Sound Palette: What sort of sounds you’re looking for, and how much of it? Some come with few sounds, others have tons of sounds, while others let you upload your own or use MIDI to use the various sounds.
- Digital compatibility: Most recent models can easily be integrated within a computer based recording setup, and can also interact with other digital equipment. However, some vintage models may not, so make sure the product has the features you are looking for.
- Budget – Always listed first in our guides for music production equipment, how much money you’re able to spend will really deter you in a certain drum machine direction. Some go for a grand or more, while others are relatively affordable in the middle price point that will still provide you with those beloved drum machine qualities.
- Overall Sound: Usually, this depends on the price as well; the expensive ones do sound better. For live performances, it makes sense to invest in better ones.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Leave a Reply