What is a drum machine and what is it used for? Drum machines Vintage drum machine
For creating and editing repeating musical percussion fragments (“drum loops”, drum-loops). It is a sound module with timbres of percussion instruments and ready-made one- or two-beat rhythmic patterns (patterns, templates) programmed (in internal memory) in various musical styles (jazz, rock and pop music). Sometimes equipped with pads so that you can play it like a regular instrument. Such a module can also include a sequencer, with which you can make a digital recording of the arrangement (that is, program an instrumental piece). The classic drum machines are the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. Most modern drum machines are either pattern sequencers (romplers) or synthesizer components that specialize in producing drum sounds. Although capabilities vary from model to model, many modern drum machines can also create unique sounds and allow the user to create unique drum patterns.
Story
Linn LM-1 (1980)
The first devices in which percussion instruments played themselves were music boxes; they were produced back in the 19th century.
Officially, the first drum machine is considered to be the Rhythmicon, created in 1930, thanks to the collaboration of the avant-garde American composer and theorist Henry Cowell and the Soviet inventor Lev Sergeevich Termen, who created the Theremin.
The first drum machine to use digital samples was the Linn LM-1, created by Roger Linn. Released in 1979, it cost $4,999 and was out of reach for the vast majority of musicians and studios. A total of 500 pieces were produced.
In 1980, Roland, which had been producing drum machines since 1967 (under the name Ace Tone), released the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which became a cult classic. It cost $1000 (versus $5000 for the LM-1), was easy to program intuitively, had analog synthesis and a recognizable sound. The low-frequency long Bass Drum has gained particular popularity.
In 1984, Roland released the TR-909. In 1986, Roger Lynn developed the Akai MPC60, a self-sampling drum machine with Akai, which launched the popular MPC line of samplers.
Influence
Drum machines have greatly influenced a huge number of styles of music. Their robotic rhythm is an integral part of all electronic dance styles, as well as hip-hop, rap and related styles. An unusual fact is known: in 1983, Marvin Gaye, a famous American singer, sang the US anthem at the NBA All-Star game to the accompaniment of an analog drum machine, which is very atypical even now.
Manufacturers
Links
- Drum machine - an article in a short encyclopedic dictionary of jazz, rock and pop music.
| This article lacks links to sources of information. |
Story [ | ]
Officially, the first drum machine is considered to be the Rhythmicon, a device that appeared in 1930 thanks to the collaboration of the avant-garde American composer and theorist Henry Cowell and the Soviet inventor Lev Sergeevich Theremin, who created the theremin.
The first drum machine to use digital samples was the Linn LM-1, created by Roger Lynn. Released in 1979, it cost $4,999 and was out of reach for the vast majority of musicians and studios. A total of 500 pieces were produced.
In 1980, Roland, which had been producing drum machines since 1967 (under the name Ace Tone), released the Roland TR-808 drum machine. The machine gained popularity - it cost $1,000 (versus $5,000 for the LM-1), was easy to program intuitively, had analog synthesis and a recognizable sound. The low-frequency long Bass Drum has gained particular popularity.
In 1984, Roland released the TR-909. In 1986, Roger Lynn developed the Akai MPC60, a self-sampling drum machine with Akai, which launched the popular MPC line of samplers.
Influence [ | ]
Drum machines have seriously influenced a huge number of styles of popular music. Today, their robotic rhythm is an integral part of all electronic dance styles, as well as hip-hop, rap and related styles.
Electronic drum rhythms, despite the prejudiced attitude of some fans and musicians, are widely used in rock music. Drum machines, thanks to The Sisters of Mercy, have become an important part of the signature sound of gothic rock, which is why many bands playing with live drummers bring rhythmic patterns closer to machine ones.
Virtual drum machines[ | ]
With the development of digital technology, along with hardware drum machines, software ones also appeared. A virtual drum machine can be part of a studio software package. For example, the virtual drum machine Redrum, which is a sampler that reproduces the sounds of real drum kits and electronic drums recorded in a studio environment, is part of the virtual studio Reason, produced by the Swedish company Propellerhead. There are specialized synthesizer programs that synthesize the sound of drums or cymbals based on samples and then use mathematical modeling. In such programs, you can set many parameters, such as: the sizes of drums or cymbals, the parameters of the virtual studio room, the types of virtual microphones used, their placement in the virtual space, etc. Programs of this kind include
Throughout the twentieth century, significant changes were observed in the acoustic space of musical art. With the development of industrial culture, society was immersed in a new acoustic atmosphere, filled with urban and industrial noise. The urbanized sound atmosphere significantly enriched the traditional classical-romantic style, becoming an integral feature of urban culture. One of the means of expressing modern rhythms is the drum machine.
The development of sound recording technologies and electric musical instruments had a significant impact on the formation of a new sound atmosphere. Now the composer has the opportunity to have total control over sound reality, searching for new, unusual sounds through synthesis, combination and transformation of sound objects.
What it is
A drum machine is an electronically programmable musical device that allows you to emulate percussion instruments. Thanks to step-by-step programming, you can create and edit drum loops in any sequence, with a variety of tonal sounds, etc. In the built-in sequencer, you can arrange the necessary sound segments for a specific song or melody, that is, the machine can replace it at the sound recording stage or creating a composition with a live drummer.
Drum machines can be a separate device or emulated on a computer. This is not to say that a virtual drum machine is better than a physical one. To assemble a high-quality virtual system, you will have to purchase a MIDI interface, a software sequencer, a sound source and other elements for the computer itself.
Many models are equipped with “pads” - special keys that allow you to physically accompany musicians. Both acoustic drums and “robotic” unusual sounds are often integrated into the machine’s memory.
The history of the drum machine
The development of electric musical instruments has significantly influenced musical culture. Electronic musical instruments, popular among rock music artists of the 70s (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Rick Wakeman, ELO, Pink Floyd), contributed to the renewal of the timbre palette and the integration of two worlds - synthetic and natural sounds.
The appearance of the German bands Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk on the rock scene actually marked the beginning of non-academic electronic music, where most traditional instruments were replaced by synthesizers. However, the most widespread use of sound synthesis technologies is observed in the field of electronic dance music. It was a stimulus for engineering creativity and experiments with the technology of extracting and transmitting sounds. As a result of these processes, the first drum machine, the Linn LM-1, was born with digital samples. It was developed by Roger Lynn. The LM-1 went on sale in 1979, but due to its inflated cost ($4999), the model did not become popular.
The legendary Roland TR-808 drum machine
In 1980, Roland released the legendary TR-808 drum machine. Unlike the Linn LM-1, which used samples of “live” drum instruments, the TR-808 was a synthesizer in the classical sense of the term with a distinctly “electronic” sound. The TR-808 was originally marketed as a rhythm box for making demo recordings - an inexpensive alternative to acoustic drums. This utilitarian, “casual” focus played a significant role in popularizing the TR-808 (as well as the TR-909) in the music industry.
Immediately after its release, the TR-808 gained some popularity. The first group to use a drum machine was Yellow Magic Orchestra (Japan) with the compositions “1000 Knives”, “Music Plans”. The TR-808 can also be heard in the compositions “Sexual Healing” by M. Gay, “Wherever I Lay My Hat” by P. Young, “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambat, “Confusion” by New Order and in the work of other popular bands of the 80s.
Linn Electronics
Gradually, the popularity of the TR-808 faded. Rival Linn Electronics released more advanced drum machines (in particular, the LinnDrum model). They were characterized by a "imitation" approach to sound design in both the realm of timbre and rhythm. The use of “live” samples and the function of “humanizing” rhythm have become the hallmark of Linn Electronics products. The sound of these devices can be heard in a considerable number of pop compositions of the 80s: ABBA, M. Jackson, Prince, J.-M. Jarre, P. Gabriel, D. Gruzin and others.
Unexpected popularity
Compared to Linn Electronics products, the TR-808 sounded too unnatural, which led to it losing popularity and being discontinued in 1984. The TR-808 became available in thrift stores at a discounted price. Chronologically, this coincided with the emergence of electronic music styles such as house, electro and techno. The availability of the TR-808 and its distinct tonal characteristics led to significant popularization of these styles. The characteristic, recognizable sound of the TR-808 has become iconic for electronic music, a determinant factor in its timbre originality. The emergence of the house style is associated with this device.
The TR-808 has been used by almost every musician and producer in their compositions, many of which have become classics. Over the 16 years of its existence, the TR-808 was used more often than other models. Over the years, its sound went out of fashion, then returned - and so on in a circle.
Sound quality
The TR-808 includes the following tools:
- Bass Drum;
- Toms;
- Snare Drum;
- Congas;
- Claves;
- Rimshot;
- Handclap;
- Maracas;
- Cymbal;
- Open Hi-Hat;
- Cowbell;
- Closed Hi-Hat.
The sound of most instruments was far from their natural counterparts, which was unusual for that time. While critics considered the TR-808's tones unnatural (compared to, for example, Linn Electronics instruments), its futuristic sound seemed extremely relevant in the context of electronic music. In fact, the appearance of the TR-808 and subsequently the TR-909 (1983-85) became the basis for the approval of a new type of timbre - “synthetic drums”. They are still extremely popular today in many styles of music, such as pop and rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic dance music and many other genres.
Modern tendencies
A large number of modern software and hardware electronic drum synthesizers and sample libraries are built on the timbres of the virtual “drum kit” model proposed in the 80s by Roland in its products.
An interesting trend in modern studio practice is the convergence of the spheres of natural and synthetic timbres of percussion instruments. In many styles (rock, metal), a fairly common technique is triggering - replacing natural instruments (mainly the snare drum and bass drum) with pre-recorded samples to achieve a more uniform and dense sound, which, thanks to repeated repetition of the same sample, eventually approaches the mechanical beat of drum machines.
Experiments with sound
The capabilities of drum machines allow you to create unusual, fresh-sounding compositions. A typical technique is to combine the tones of acoustic drums with a drum machine to give traditional tones uncharacteristic tonal qualities. For example, the so-called acute attack. At the same time, the effect of “reviving” synthetic timbres is used, giving the sound more naturalness. Thus, in the composition “Take On Me” by the group A-Ha we can observe a combination of the sounds of a LinnDrum drum machine with a “live” hi-hat and cymbals.
These simple music computers have become symbols of the revolutionary changes in modern music. Originally designed to replace acoustic percussion instruments, drum machines have become the driving force behind the development of most musical genres.
Setting up a home studio is quite a troublesome and expensive task. The dimensions of the premises of an ordinary apartment or house are such that it is not possible to accommodate a full one in accordance with all the rules. And here a drum machine can come to the aid of a musician. This device can replace an entry-level drum set. However, you need to be able to choose such things. In addition, there are software analogues of the device. To use them you only need a computer. But first things first. First you need to understand what kind of machine this is.
What it is?
So, a drum machine is a device (or program) for organizing a drum part when recording music, arrangements and backing tracks. Devices can be of different designs. In appearance, all drum machines are very different from each other. These “tools” became widespread in the late 80s and early 90s of the last century. That is, just when numerous fly-by-night groups playing “electronic music” came en masse onto the stage. It is worth noting that it is not possible to achieve real-sounding drums on this machine. There will always be some mistakes. Therefore, self-respecting rock performers and teams have never used this unit.
The drum machine is widely used by rappers, pop artists and professional DJs. That is, representatives of precisely those genres where realistic drums are absolutely not needed. However, rock bands may use these devices purely to maintain rhythm. The drummer starts the machine and matches the rhythm. This helps you play smoothly and without overlays. There are also special pedal machines. They are made in the form of a kick pedal (bass drum) and are used for training skills. In this regard, it is impossible to deny the usefulness of a drum machine for a rock band drummer. However, we will analyze the main and most popular models. We will also focus on computer programs.
Korg Volca Beats
This is the simplest drum machine. You can play it very easily. This car is analog with a PCM engine. But management is carried out by digital technologies. This is the cheapest drum machine out there. Accordingly, its capabilities are also very limited. However, it is quite suitable for creating arrangements in rap and electro styles. It can also be taken to concert performances due to its compact size. The device comes with only one mini-jack output (stereo format), one MIDI input and one synchronization connector. It is clear that recording professionals will not buy such a limited machine. It is designed for beginners and those who do not play music professionally.
Roland AIRA TR-8
This is a more serious tool. A drum machine of this level is used by professional musicians. And the quality of devices from Roland is widely known all over the world. The machine has impressive dimensions and is intended exclusively for studio use. In addition, it is also built-in. But it provides the musician with an impressive range of effects and samples. There are 16 patterns in total in the machine. But they can be connected and looped. As a result, you will get 32 patterns. A very good result. The device is equipped with all the necessary interfaces and has an excellent design. Working with Roland is a pleasure. However, the price of this device is noticeably different from the cost of our previous exhibit. But you have to pay for quality and rich functionality.
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 UW mk2
This drum machine comes from Sweden. This alone implies high quality performance. This is almost the only device that can boast of the realistic sound of acoustic drums. This mind-blowing effect is achieved due to the fact that “Electron” has several synthesizers. And each is responsible for a separate process. TRX provides realistic Roland sounds, EFM uses FM synthesis, and E-MU provides realistic modeling. There is also a special synthesizer that models extraneous noise when creating the sound of analog drums. It is due to this that high realism of sound is achieved. The “trick” of “Electron” is that you can change the number and style of patterns in real time. This device also has compact dimensions, which makes it indispensable during live performances.
Virtual drum machines
This option is perfect for beginning musicians. A drum machine for a computer allows you not to buy expensive equipment and then think about how to connect it. Simply download a separate program or plugin for a sound editor - and the user already has a full-fledged virtual drum machine with many effects, samples and settings in his hands. A striking example of a virtual machine is the Acoustica Beatcraft product. This virtual instrument allows you to add an unlimited number of patterns and assign your own sample to each. At the same time, the program provides high-quality and realistic sound of almost all drums. Only the “rock” style is a little lame. But this is true everywhere. No drum machine can replace a real drum kit.
However, for beginner musicians, a virtual drum machine is most suitable. Playing on a keyboard, of course, is not as convenient as playing on specially designed buttons. But you can get settled in. In addition, the keyboard can be completely customized to suit you. This is another advantage to using a virtual drum machine.
Finally
So, we figured out what a drum machine is and why it is needed. If you are already excited about the idea of buying yourself such an instrument and starting creating masterpieces, then take your time. For a beginner, a virtual drum machine is best. On the keyboard you can learn how to press patterns correctly and at the right time. And then it will be much faster to deal with a professional tool. But do not forget that good devices of a decent level cost a lot. So you need to ask yourself a question first. Is it necessary at all? After all, you can easily get by using software. However, it's up to you to decide.
More recently, the very existence of the drum machine has been called into question. They said, why do we need a separate drum machine when any classic beatbox is emulated in software and controlled by MIDI controllers?
But there are a large number of models of different specifications and prices, and each makes it possible to create rhythms without any additional equipment.
Korg Volca Beats
A successor to the classic TR-808 with an analog and PCM sound engine, but with digital control, and notes can be recorded into the built-in sequencer. The instrument has 6 analog and 4 PCM sounds. The kick drum can be snappy or low, the hats are well cut, the snare can have a woody tone that can be enhanced by using PCM-clapped lining or increasing the "snap" value.
As with the entire Volca family, connectivity is limited. There is only one stereo mini-jack output (although there is also a built-in speaker), a MIDI-IN port and a Sync In/Out port. Ultimately, Volca Beats is nothing more than a tool for entertainment. If you're looking for high-quality analog drum sounds on a budget, this is the one for you.
Roland AIRA TR-8
A digital drum machine that uses Roland's ACB modeling engine, which restores the behavior of an analog circuit. Currently only the TR-808 and TR-909 sounds are available (no samples), but there's a chance that Roland will add more classic drum sounds in the future.
There are step and real-time recording modes, and you can also create builds from sounds 808 and 909. There are 16 user-recordable patterns that have two parts (A and B) of 16 steps each. Both parts can be connected together to create a 32-step pattern.
ACB technology perfectly reproduces the sound of the original TR-808/909. This is the most authentic emulation that exists in the digital world. The sounds are not static and change with every step.
The AIRA TR-8 is great for live performance and integrates with your DAW. Audio output is provided via the USB port. It is believed that there is enormous potential in the creation of classical instruments here.
Dave Smith Instruments and Roger Linn Tempest
Created by two renowned electronic instrument designers and designed for live performance, Tempest is a digital-to-analogue synthesizer based on the refined sound of the Evolver/Tetra/Prophet 08 chips.
Imagine an MPC3000 or 60 sequencer combined with a DSI Mopho/Evolver with real-time effects and you will understand. Recording rhythms is simple: press record while the sequencer is playing and the rhythm will be recorded. You can layer sounds on top of each other or erase them (as is done in MPC). You can also assign each sound yourself to each step in event mode.
This is a serious car. It may seem expensive, but no other drum machine on the market is as powerful in terms of practical synthesis.
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 UW mk2
The latest version of the drum machine from the Swedish manufacturer, which has a reputation as a serious manufacturer of drum machines.
There are 4 main types of percussion synthesizers: the TRX produces Roland-style sounds, the EFM is based on FM synthesis, the E12 is based on samples from the E-MU SP-12/1200 12-bit sampler, and the PI synthesizer, which works with physical modeling sounds. There is also a GND synthesizer that produces noise, and an INP machine for adding effects to the input of the device, as well as machines for controlling/programming external MIDI devices and internal parameters.
Percussive synths sound sharp and realistic. The sound shaping options are extensive. You can program the sound in real time or step by step.
As a result, we can say that the Machinedrum SPS-1 UW mk2 has an original sound. You will quickly fall in love with this tool.
Alesis SR18
The successor to the popular SR16, a drum machine from the '90s, this instrument is completely digital. It comes with a wide range of acoustic and electronic drums and, unlike its predecessor, has percussion and bass tones.
The sounds are mostly of good quality and do not carry any unpleasant digital artifacts. In addition to pitch, audio processing includes filtering, per-beat envelope control, and 22 reverb presets (with global send level), as well as 14 EQ/compressor presets. Audio outputs and MIDI I/O connectors are located next to the pedal inputs.
The SR18 tool is simple and effective. It looks and feels like it was made in the '90s, but the body is rugged and portable, which SR16 fans will definitely enjoy.
