FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Free Online Drum Machine

Question:
I know this is off topic but I'm looking for some input/recommendations on a good pop/rock/metal drum machine for up to $500.00 to be used for 4 track recording/midi and live.

Answer:
I've got a zoom 123.. a lot less than five hundred bucks, too.. good drum kits.. many pre set patterns... easily programmed. I'm pretty happy. the zoom 234 is nice, bigger, I think it has a little more stuff. I'll say this.. pretty much what zoom says about the 123 is what you'll get. I've used mine with my tascam MKIII 424 .. and I'm satisfied. Twang! Well, this depends. You want something that sounds as close to a live drum as it can, or do you prefer somethig that has some gated sounds. Korg has to be the king of the gated sound, they are alittle weak when it comes to a natural sound. Alesis SR-16 I always liked. Again, todays stadards, not the best sounding unit out there for natural sounds, but it is (1/2 because the MT-8 was king of sequencers) ad these two where marketed together) for a time, the unit alot of units are compared to. The SR-16 is about as close as you get to not being great at any one thing, but pretty good at alot of sound styles. I think the best bet is for metal, korg. I have a DMR-1, old old unit. I might be wrong, because I'm not a metal man myself, but metal and huge gate kick seem to go hand and hand in my mind. As for the latest greatest models from korg, can't help you out with my experience on them. It is very little. But they still have that big gate in the sound. Natural sounds, I have a proteous 2000 from EMu that heck, sounds so good, I have no need for a drum unit, I let that tone module do it all. That was alittle more than 5 bills though. However, it is weak in the heavier punch. I would think that have a sample card out there for big gate drums, but the loaded sounds at purchase just pretty toned down for metal. Question back at you, do you need something that has a controler or pads with it, or do you have a controler you can hook up via midi with what you purchase? If you have a controler, personnally, I'd be looking for a sound card rather than a drum machie. Just in my studio, the EMU card is just fantastic. Soundblaster series from creative labs also has some very nice sampled sounds. It's a cheap route to take, and in return, you end up with not only the drum souds, but a huge selection of whatever you want to layer with. All dependant on if you have a controler presently