Electric Rhythm: The History of the Drum Machine | Reverb

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  • Опубліковано 3 жов 2018
  • Leon Theremin. Sly & The Family Stone. Prince. Drum machines have influenced our music and the way we perceive rhythm since the Rhythmicon popped onto the scene in the 1930s. Join William Kurk as he gives us a run-down of the evolution of the incredible drum machine. Read more on Reverb: goo.gl/MfT1zq
    For more from William Kurk: goo.gl/NWE2Qh
    Special Thanks:
    - Danny Garcia (Danny The Wildchild) : goo.gl/zcPUR9
    - Noam Wallenberg & RaxTrax Recording : www.raxtrax.com/
    Want to know more about Drum Machine History?
    Check out these excellent resources:
    www.factmag.com/2016/09/22/the...
    • The Linn LM-1: The Dru...
    www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/16...
    daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/...
    / looking-for-the-perfec...
    reverb.com/news/alesis-hr-16-...
    reverb.com/news/gear-tribute-...
    reverb.com/news/the-process-h...
    reverb.com/news/two-classics-...
    For a ton of awesome info about the 808, be sure to check out the 808 documentary: itunes.apple.com/us/movie/808...
    808 tribute "Ad" footage taken from Origin Workshop:
    • Roland TR-808 Original...
    "Rhythmicon" Footage sourced from Andrey Smirnov:
    • Rhythmicon demonstration
    "EKO ComputeRhythm" footage sourced from EKOSALE:
    • EKO COMPUTERHYTHM for ...
  • Розваги

КОМЕНТАРІ • 816

  • @Assortment54321
    @Assortment54321 5 років тому +245

    I love how the host in this is dressed all 80s.

    • @battlecatsgo
      @battlecatsgo 4 роки тому +4

      Members Only jacket FTW

    • @cruzrfl
      @cruzrfl 4 роки тому +2

      damn!

    • @bernsteiner88
      @bernsteiner88 3 роки тому +4

      He ROCKS!!!

    • @seanthehaggis
      @seanthehaggis 3 роки тому +2

      Might be a hipster

    • @NOWtheband
      @NOWtheband 3 роки тому +3

      I get what you mean but as far as I've seen, he always dresses like that, ha ha!

  • @frottery
    @frottery 4 роки тому +248

    8:08 it's the 808

    • @krisscanlon4051
      @krisscanlon4051 4 роки тому +6

      Irony

    • @jrurbbehdidiwdnndjduw85eos73
      @jrurbbehdidiwdnndjduw85eos73 4 роки тому +36

      @@krisscanlon4051 that is the opposite of irony

    • @thesadwolf
      @thesadwolf 4 роки тому +16

      @@jrurbbehdidiwdnndjduw85eos73 Which is ironic.

    • @rooneye
      @rooneye 4 роки тому +1

      @@krisscanlon4051 lol you tool! hehe :P Are you American by any chance? You guys just do NOT get irony. As demonstrated here.

    • @rooneye
      @rooneye 4 роки тому +1

      @@jrurbbehdidiwdnndjduw85eos73 It is. Literally! :D

  • @thecaveofthedead
    @thecaveofthedead 5 років тому +563

    I'm an old rock dinosaur raised in the anti-synth '90s. Videos like this are giving me an insight into an entire creative world I missed out on. Brilliant stuff.

    • @goatskindreams
      @goatskindreams 5 років тому +23

      so you don't like Nine Inch Nails?

    • @WrektSK
      @WrektSK 5 років тому +25

      Hey thecaveofthedead! I'm a rock/metal guy too who got into synthwave music about a month ago. It's a beautiful genre and the gears are great in their own way. Both raw and synthesized music have their own quirks in my opinion. I've gotten into producing synth and retrowave stuff, it's not only helping me broaden my perspective, it's helping me to generate new ideas for my heavier stuff :D

    • @thecaveofthedead
      @thecaveofthedead 5 років тому +10

      @@WrektSK That's what I was hoping Sajid. Thanks. I really think there's so much to add to the rock stuff we do by paying attention to electronic options.

    • @WrektSK
      @WrektSK 5 років тому +6

      @@thecaveofthedead Couldn't agree more! Good to have like-minded rock listeners man 🤘♥

    • @markuskoivisto
      @markuskoivisto 5 років тому +17

      @Dr. Jack Kevorkian Metal/alt-rock scenes in the 90s were generally pretty anti-synth. Eurodance was obviously a thing.

  • @edwinsamuel5065
    @edwinsamuel5065 5 років тому +235

    William is turning into a reverb legend

  • @darkknightsds
    @darkknightsds 5 років тому +47

    Prince's work on the Linn LM1 was revelatory

  • @jeffblack5024
    @jeffblack5024 8 місяців тому +1

    In about 1981, I had a little Boss DR55 Dr Rhythm. I used to play with the thing in my bedroom and it taught me the basics of step time and how rhythm is all about fours (and multiples). New Order used one of these little things to trigger their sequencers via its CV output early on.
    I think the next thing I got hold of was the Roland TR-606 (AKA Drumatix). which was meant to be the companion to the failure bass sequencer that was the TB-303 (whatever happened to that?). It's now a softsynth on the Roland Cloud and just the sound of it evokes early 80s hiphop and electro. I love it.
    But we all wanted 'proper' drums sounds. A richer friend bought a Sequential Circuits Drumtraks and I spent ages painstakingly programming one note at a time step sequences to go with it into a Roland Micro-Composer via the brand new MIDI. Of course, it was all strictly machine time - a groove was barely possible.
    I think I lost touch round about the Roland TR505 - a sample upgrade to the early analogue efforts, I was always looking for the next thing and it looked like the grooveless machines had had their day. Then House came along and suddenly this old junk shop technology was all the rage. I kind of felt it was old hat at the time, but now I recognise that the sound of analogue is just as important as acoustic drums. It can certainly deliver low end better than any drummer.
    The original Propellerheads Reason was based on Rebirth - their recreation of the Roland classics. So I naturally graduated to that and it's still my favourite DAW. So that little box in my bedroom grew to a bigger box in my living room. And that's been my journey. I'm an old man now, but feel privileged to have witnessed the evolution first hand.

  • @12edit
    @12edit 4 роки тому +63

    Tracklist:
    00:04 Roxy Music - Same Old Scene
    00:09 Blondie - Heart of Glass
    00:12 Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
    00:14 New Order - Blue Monday
    00:18 Madonna - Into the Groove
    00:25/10:57 Prince - When Doves Cry
    01:03 Super Mario Bros - Underwater Theme
    02:56 Jorge Ben - Mas, Que Nada!
    04:24 Kraftwerk - Tanzmusik
    04:58 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
    07:00 Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
    08:30 Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
    08:47 Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush The Show
    11:42 Mr. Fingers - Can You Feel It
    13:00 Nas - The World Is Yours

    • @xu1net
      @xu1net 4 роки тому

      ua-cam.com/video/4d89S-jOsfY/v-deo.html Roxy Music - Same Old Scene from memory but hey what would I know!

    • @12edit
      @12edit 4 роки тому

      @@xu1net You're right! Fixed.

    • @xu1net
      @xu1net 4 роки тому +1

      Hey thanks! Glad I could help :) Your channel is awesome by the way, I have internet radio streaming in my garage, always looking for new stuff to play!!

    • @RichRobinson
      @RichRobinson 6 місяців тому

      Thanks guys. Much appreciated, from one music lover to another…

    • @michaelgamboa4986
      @michaelgamboa4986 5 місяців тому

      The whole Pink Floyd AMLOR used that shit

  • @outdatedgear5036
    @outdatedgear5036 5 років тому +34

    Not only do you guys run a awesome website, you guys make great UA-cam content.

    • @Reverb
      @Reverb  5 років тому +9

      Thanks! Glad you like watching as much as we like creating. :)

  • @Meikurey
    @Meikurey 5 років тому +319

    Ironic how back in the 90s we tried making drums on these machines sound as realistic as possible, now it's the other way around

    • @alapekuttaja7222
      @alapekuttaja7222 5 років тому +44

      What, we're trying to make real drums sound as fake as possible?

    • @publika6883
      @publika6883 5 років тому +10

      Not really

    • @weldin
      @weldin 5 років тому +18

      TC I think he’s trying to say that now we have a lot of electric drums that use sound effects and even some drummers who use a laptop.

    • @kirilltilman
      @kirilltilman 5 років тому +23

      Same about trying to make recordings as undistorted and clean as possible with digital recording and now we distort them and make them worse sounding to give them a this warm and good feeling analog vibe))

    • @michaelx9079
      @michaelx9079 5 років тому +6

      When these things came out they always sounded shit....so most people smothered them in explosive reverb

  • @KlausBahnhof
    @KlausBahnhof 5 років тому +42

    I believe the first record to feature an 808 was Yellow Magic Orchestra's 'BGM' in 1981. They were quick to adopt new technology as soon as it became available and, being Japanese, were in a unique position to do so. Their earlier albums were influential on hip-hop. Worth checking out their music if you're curious about non-Western drum programming.

  • @RoomAtTheTopStudio
    @RoomAtTheTopStudio 5 років тому +14

    It's great to see some of these old drum machines. I specifically remember the studio that I started at having the Oberheim DX. I remember when Sly Dunbar got the MPC 60 and every studio that did reggae wanted one. My studio musician had the EMU. The first drum machine that I bought was the MPC 2000. Great memories

  • @DrakenSchwert
    @DrakenSchwert 4 роки тому +3

    Thank you Reverb for your massive drum machine soundbank, it's been an absolute pleasure educating myself in the history of these machines.

  • @MakeSomething
    @MakeSomething 5 років тому +104

    This video needed to be made! So well done and great research!

    • @momtnz
      @momtnz 5 років тому

      If you want to know more about Drum Machine history then check out the RHYTHM MACHINES books and DRUMFAX books by Alex Graham on Amazon.com. Three books that cover the entire history of drum machines from the Rhythmicon to 2018. They list pretty much EVERY drum machine ever made, including some rare prototypes.

    • @wokeautism9662
      @wokeautism9662 5 років тому +2

      no it didnt, its just a moby promo sucker, its a scam to sell his kit, they using drum machines and music history to profit as ususal, its not about the music , a true music head knows all of this already and wouldnt watch a doc with moby as the 'expert' he's an expert scammer, FACTS

    • @emmettfrancis9894
      @emmettfrancis9894 2 роки тому

      you all prolly dont care at all but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account..?
      I was stupid lost the account password. I love any help you can offer me!

    • @emersontristen4080
      @emersontristen4080 2 роки тому

      @Emmett Francis instablaster :)

  • @AlexBallMusic
    @AlexBallMusic 5 років тому +195

    Really enjoyed this video, then clicked the description and found you've linked my video on the same subject. Thanks very much!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic 5 років тому +24

      Thanks, that's good to know! Yours is a much higher quality production, so really enjoyed watching this. I've got a BIG documentary coming up this month telling another very iconic synth story. Just got one more section of it to film.

    • @goodboid
      @goodboid 5 років тому +6

      Alex, the sheer effort you put into your videos is no joke!

    • @ThinkBritishEnglish
      @ThinkBritishEnglish 5 років тому

      Alex Ball interesting , what's that bud?

    • @GavinMorris1
      @GavinMorris1 5 років тому +1

      Get a room you two :)

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic 5 років тому +1

      @@ThinkBritishEnglish There's a big clue on my Facebook page...

  • @idiotdrummer60
    @idiotdrummer60 9 місяців тому +1

    The Sly & The Family Stone single may have been the first hit in the USA to use a drum machine, but Robin Gibb's 'Saved by the Bell' from 1969 uses a drum machine, and was a hit all over Europe.

  • @carlmasondrums
    @carlmasondrums 5 років тому +2

    This was awesome guys! cant wait to see more mini-doc's like this!

  • @live2024.MicroStrategy.
    @live2024.MicroStrategy. 5 років тому +5

    ALWAYS had a soft spot for the LINN drum its just amazing!

  • @zacharykim295
    @zacharykim295 5 років тому +102

    1:10 isnt he playing the mario underwater theme??

  • @sydwhitaker5776
    @sydwhitaker5776 4 роки тому +5

    The production value is insane on this, good stuff

  • @SexRaptorize
    @SexRaptorize 5 років тому +2

    Got emotional watching this. Thank you

  • @janbonne
    @janbonne 5 років тому

    Y'all are so fun to listen and watch!!

  • @andrejristic278
    @andrejristic278 3 роки тому +1

    excellent work. hats off for the film. brief, but tells you everything, and covers the history of such an integral part of modern music.

  • @tauttechminusmanagedmusic3778
    @tauttechminusmanagedmusic3778 4 роки тому +1

    My grandfather had both the Chamberlin and Sideman playing alongside a grand player-piano in every pub to which he was owner-landlord. I remember my step-grandmother singing as he played and depending on the song, one of the two drum-machines playing. A fantastic boyhood memory.

  • @powerkor
    @powerkor 4 роки тому +3

    really helps me understand what happened to music from the 70s to the 80s

  • @FazerOnStunn
    @FazerOnStunn 5 років тому

    Thank you William Kirk! I love this, esp. by how you tied it back to things in the 1930s and Leon Theremin! This is a most excellent, informational video, William!

  • @racooninvasion
    @racooninvasion 3 роки тому

    Great job on this video! The pacing, sound, EVERYTHING is perfect!

  • @christopherfederici2776
    @christopherfederici2776 5 років тому

    This is one of the most educational videos on UA-cam, keep making these long videos with a ton of interesting content!

  • @nunayobiz
    @nunayobiz 4 роки тому +17

    Greatest drum machine pattern ever - 777-9311 by The Time (Prince)

  • @projectz975
    @projectz975 5 років тому +2

    this is fantastic! hope to see more videos like it

  • @paulmurray280
    @paulmurray280 3 роки тому +2

    Having played so many bars in the 90s I would always sneak the drum machine, 707 and later the R8, into the third set as they were often frowned upon as being playback. The sheer ingenuity we had to go through to make such a small internal memory go so far, oh the good old days

  • @jthchs
    @jthchs 5 років тому

    Reverb just kills it as always. Keep doing your thing.

  • @ifferl8781
    @ifferl8781 3 роки тому

    That was mind opening. I still feel overwhelmed. I play piano and learned on a casio but didn't play much with the rhythm. It even has an sd card capability. Time to finally read the manual. Reverb videos are amazing

  • @RoadToSalvationX
    @RoadToSalvationX 4 роки тому +1

    The TV shot is framed so well. Great vid

  • @wirtzlouis
    @wirtzlouis 4 роки тому

    This video was so informative and interesting. I can't understand how somebody can dislike this.

  • @DheerajSukumaran
    @DheerajSukumaran 5 років тому

    awesome documentary... loved this. short and precise with every points mentioned.

  • @mindflux1445
    @mindflux1445 4 роки тому

    loving this, will have to share it with my students

  • @leadspot
    @leadspot 5 років тому +25

    this is probably the most important video to watch and to have as a favorite youtube video for those who think EDM is a now electronic music genre and for those who wants to learn about the history of where these sounds come from and why they are so important for future productions and how important are as basic material to produce music
    this is pure gold, thank you Reverb !!

    • @wokeautism9662
      @wokeautism9662 5 років тому

      nice sentiment, but this is a pure scam by reverb and moby, if you TRUELY feel that, way how can you listen to a moby for more than a few seconds??? MOBY = EDM ...........by deffinition he's a mainstream comercial product of the underground

  • @LukeLine
    @LukeLine 5 років тому +4

    This was really insightful and great to learn about the progress of drum machines... please do more 👍 I noticed Nils Frahm uses one of those old rhythm boxes too

  • @tonematrix
    @tonematrix 5 років тому

    Awesome job on this! I could watch these videos all day!

  • @ASHdemoREEL
    @ASHdemoREEL 4 роки тому +1

    *excellent* historic trip down drumsynth generator's interesting timeline from its origins to present day! THANK YOU for making this!

  • @Musik_Arbeiter
    @Musik_Arbeiter 5 років тому

    Great video Reverb! I'd love to see more videos about the history of different electronic instruments in the future!

  • @___Benedetto
    @___Benedetto 4 роки тому

    One of my favorite videos on the Internet.

  • @jaggass
    @jaggass 5 років тому +42

    You can't say that the 808 had realistic sounds but it's distinct.

    • @fendi-bull8167
      @fendi-bull8167 2 роки тому

      I think the limitation of the hardware we were force to work, focus and commit on what we have, that's revolutionary.

    • @jaggass
      @jaggass 2 роки тому +1

      @@fendi-bull8167 I own nothing but vintage gear.

    • @fendi-bull8167
      @fendi-bull8167 2 роки тому +3

      @@jaggass yeah with the limitations you're force to do a singlework around perfectly instead of going for a cheap way. That's how I view vintage equipment. It forces you to be more creative.

    • @jaggass
      @jaggass 2 роки тому +2

      @@fendi-bull8167 The SP1200 being the best one. Modern day synths etc have got far too many features and nobody ever utilizes them. Most just stick to presets like a piano sound which is fine but an upright is much cheaper and does what it's supposed to. I have a Linn 9000 and i use all 2 features it has.

  • @tomaburque
    @tomaburque 5 років тому

    You know, this video was truly awesome. Hearing those tones just takes me back.

    • @wokeautism9662
      @wokeautism9662 5 років тому

      im glad you enjoyed it bruv, the tones made me press stop and unlike hahahahaha

  • @iwillnevergetone5
    @iwillnevergetone5 5 років тому +1

    this is incredibly well done !!

  • @jrsivmusic
    @jrsivmusic 5 років тому

    Excellent presentation, covered so much ground but didn't skimp on the epochal moments and gave them their due. Good stuff.

  • @DynamicRockers
    @DynamicRockers 5 років тому +1

    Excellent video. Very informative and well produced!

  • @cavalettibnu3488
    @cavalettibnu3488 5 років тому +2

    GIVE US MORE!!! amo seu trabalho!

  • @bobwillett5663
    @bobwillett5663 5 років тому

    How does this channel only 408k subs? This is so professional and made very well

  • @HjalteBjorkdahl
    @HjalteBjorkdahl 5 років тому

    Masterfully done. Bless Kurk!

  • @lagduck2209
    @lagduck2209 5 років тому

    Yeah, that was really informative and beautiful presentation. That's how musical documentary should work!

  • @cpcohen1945
    @cpcohen1945 5 років тому

    Thanks for this. I'm starting to learn a Volca Drum -- it's great to know where it came from.

  • @RitchieCaron
    @RitchieCaron 3 роки тому

    The links between the machines and popular music is very well presented in this video.

  • @hgbarria
    @hgbarria 5 років тому

    Thank you for such a wonderfull piece of history!

  • @NoUploadJustComment
    @NoUploadJustComment 5 років тому +3

    Nice job filming/editing the video to resemble the 80s aesthetic.

  • @goncalomarques2711
    @goncalomarques2711 5 років тому +20

    One of my favourite videos of your
    I would love one on KEY BASS

  • @theethanatorem
    @theethanatorem 5 років тому

    William Kurk is the MAN I love these vids.

  • @festeplatte4225
    @festeplatte4225 5 років тому

    GREAT VIDEO!!!
    Thank you mate!

  • @whatyoumakeofit6635
    @whatyoumakeofit6635 5 років тому +1

    Jeez oh petes !!!!!!! Dont mention the, boss dr rythem section. That thing made I big wave in the industry. And believe it or not, its still used by alot of people today.
    Great video !!!! I got reminded how far we've come with drum synths. Thanks

  • @alexmathewmendoza
    @alexmathewmendoza 3 роки тому

    Fantastic video! Really well produced and informative.

  • @robertchavez5137
    @robertchavez5137 Рік тому

    Awesome- Thank you for posting !!

  • @TsavosAlliance
    @TsavosAlliance 5 років тому +2

    So many Epic Drum Machines!

  • @jamessisson3703
    @jamessisson3703 3 роки тому

    Very good. Thanks for making this documentary.

  • @TayTayMakesBeats
    @TayTayMakesBeats 3 роки тому

    Love how cinematic this is.

  • @-k-b-
    @-k-b- 5 років тому

    Dope video!!! Gets me inspired to make more beats!

  • @mendiapodaca
    @mendiapodaca 5 років тому

    That was very informative. Love your channel. Thank you.

  • @soydavidvidal
    @soydavidvidal 5 років тому

    This is beautiful.

  • @pointsofhonesty
    @pointsofhonesty 5 років тому

    I'm glad not every company needs to make videos for money...Reverb.com is being innovative in pushing AWESOME musical information...thanks William! Always looking forward to all the videos you are featured and your team is producing.

  • @segwaydave
    @segwaydave 3 роки тому

    Wonderful presentation! Well done!

  • @AndyMangele
    @AndyMangele 5 років тому

    A big Like for this video - interesting content alongside great narration and editing!

  • @KortKramer
    @KortKramer 4 роки тому

    Sweet brief history of the drum machine - I learned a lot. I love the Member's Only jacket too! 👍

  • @davecole0
    @davecole0 5 років тому +2

    Williams’ wardrobe is next level!

  • @Johnny_Dregs
    @Johnny_Dregs 5 років тому

    Job well done. This was entertaining and informative. Thanks.

  • @matthewcrane1599
    @matthewcrane1599 5 років тому +1

    Well presented. My friend is giving me an old organ soon and I'm pretty sure it has built in drum beats. Even though I have some drum machines I probably am going to use some of these old school beats just for the heck of it. This video makes me more excited to try it out.

  • @navierbresse5351
    @navierbresse5351 4 роки тому

    What a beautiful video. Congratulations guys!

  • @dababy819
    @dababy819 5 років тому

    I’ve just got access to a majority of these machines and I’m in tears I never realized that I had history in my hands

  • @machoenid44
    @machoenid44 4 роки тому

    Exelent Job my friend ,thanks for that Awesome job.

  • @SuperWave86
    @SuperWave86 5 років тому

    Very informative video on drum machine history

  • @elvinlewis4233
    @elvinlewis4233 5 років тому

    Quite fascinating. Great post guys.

  • @cruzrfl
    @cruzrfl 4 роки тому +1

    So much nostalgia in 16 minutes! Really really great video! Wish I had at least half of Moby's drum machines.

  • @LikeAGentlemanPlease
    @LikeAGentlemanPlease 2 роки тому +2

    TR 808 commercial shook my soul.

  • @audioartisan
    @audioartisan 5 років тому

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

  • @bluebird1422
    @bluebird1422 5 років тому

    This was excellent, thank you!

  • @xombi242
    @xombi242 5 років тому +1

    Thanks for the great video! I'm gonna give my Electribes a big hug now.

  • @phunkym8
    @phunkym8 5 років тому

    great production value of this video

  • @SOULGOODgroup
    @SOULGOODgroup 5 років тому

    Thank You for this!

  • @BeatMax2023
    @BeatMax2023 5 років тому

    Thanks for this nice history of drum machines ;)

  • @axelandru9346
    @axelandru9346 3 роки тому

    Happy to see you Moby !!!

  • @CinematicLaboratory
    @CinematicLaboratory 5 років тому

    Brings back a ton of good memories!

  • @bandfromtheband9445
    @bandfromtheband9445 4 роки тому

    Very informative. Very cool! This is our history!

  • @emmaj.harmon6368
    @emmaj.harmon6368 Рік тому

    Thank you for the informative video ❤️❤️🙌🙌

  • @elizabethmedina5056
    @elizabethmedina5056 5 років тому

    wow! I really enjoyed this video! super interesting! keep doing videos like this!

  • @hanglotusmantra
    @hanglotusmantra 3 роки тому

    Such a well made educational video 👌 Thank you for sharing it.

  • @matthewleger5605
    @matthewleger5605 3 роки тому

    Such a good video -- please do this for synths someday!

  • @AllyKiss18
    @AllyKiss18 5 років тому

    Loved this

  • @peev180
    @peev180 3 роки тому

    Excellent vid....thanks...

  • @naughtystudios
    @naughtystudios 4 роки тому

    Awesome video. Thanks man

  • @areameye69
    @areameye69 5 років тому

    awesome research, guys! thanks!

  • @georgedanova5679
    @georgedanova5679 5 років тому

    Impressive. Well researched. Good host.

  • @garyseymour6319
    @garyseymour6319 4 роки тому

    Excellent, thank you for sharing :)