TOP 11 LIST: MOSTLY 80s BARGAIN DRUM MACHINES
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- This is a list of mostly 80s bargain drum machines. There is one unit from 1990.
0:00 Intro
0:39 What this list is not
1:53 The list starts
24:49 Important point #1
25:35 Important point #2
26:14 Important point #3
I have no shame. My first drum machine was the Mattel Synsonics Drums, back in 1981. I was a young teenager, wanted a drum machine, but could afford a Roland TR-606. I still own it and works just as well as it did in 1981.
That's awesome, thanks for sharing.
The Roland R-8 is a great drum machine but you missed its biggest cons:
1. The power supply has a proprietary plug. There are no aftermarket replacements. You have to spend close to $100 or more if you lose it or it breaks.
2. The reason why so many of them look so beat up isn’t necessarily that they were used so much but that the strange rubbery paint they used gets sticky, rubs off or both.
3. The best sounds are found on the sound cards. You can spend $100+ each for the best cards. The MkII remedies this somewhat but you pay extra for the convenience.
4. The pads rely on a plastic hinge that wears down and breaks. Replacements are hard to find.
I'd forgotten about the sticky pads. Thanks for sharing.
Yup that's true especially for number 2 and 3. The sticky body had already been improved in the MkII version. Even if MkII accommodates the best of sounds from SN-R8-01 to 11 (but not all sounds in every cards), improved Pad Bank accessing, more memory and features, but some of the drum sounds featured in the original version, I call it MkI, were removed in the MkII, and some of them were replaced, such as the hihats and cymbals. In my opinion the cymbals in the MkI are still better than the MkII version, and some of the best drum and percussion sounds in the MkI have become the standard in the Sound Canvas series as the General MIDI Drum Kits, as you've heard in the GM Instrument in Windows.
I have definitely noticed how the SR-16 never left the market. It on its own has probably kept Alesis alive when their other ventures have been hit-and-miss. I even considered getting one myself, even though I don’t sequence drums and Alesis had uploaded most of its sounds to my first synthesizer, the QS6.
What you said at the start, Jeff, about how drum tones can be interchanged (if I remember that right) but that a drummer is worth their weight in gold easily “hits the downbeat” with me. During the upper 80s, Don Dorsey issued 2 electronic interpretations of the classics, *BachBusters* and *Beethoven or Bust.* He sequenced most of it on a Synclavier II and output the parts to various outboard synth models for both. In the liner interview from *Beethoven or Bust,* Don mentions how he had no qualms about sequencing drums; he said that having been a drummer himself, he was only “replacing himself”. I hold to the same attitude whenever I play the percussion on my own tracks; I’m only replacing myself (only my self-titled debut, *Eric Benjamin Gordon,* features a regular drum kit). This comment is in March 2024. Since September 2018, I have used a Yamaha DTX Multi 12 for my drum tones. The glory part for me is how it includes samples from the RX5. An original one is sitting here but without a power supply.
I love that you can get a new drum machine today that has a tape output.
Between the two Alesis I'd go with the HR, more character.
The Yamaha RY30 is also a good choice. It ranges from $250-$400. It has a stereo out plus two assignable individual outs. The pitch wheel (yes it has one) can be used for pitch, filter, pan, etc. for some real-time modulation. You can kit-bash any two internal samples together to create "new" sounds, which was great for alternative percussion creation. Being a product of the very early, early 1990s (circa '91), it's close to this list. But it's well worth it if you're looking for a stand-alone drum machine.
Great video. I was really expecting to see the Yamaha MR10 appear,but the list is excellent.
The MR10 is certainly worthy. Perhaps on another list. Thanks for the comment.
When my Drumulator went out on me, I too bought the brand new Korg "Super Drums". What a piece of junk! I was glad when my Drumulator only needed a factory reset to start working again!
Funny story: I sold the Super Drums to my bandmate and neighbor...a guy we called Maynard...and he ran it through a distortion pedal to use for his pre-Tool C.A.D. tape project.
I had the RZ-1 as well, and, at the time, actually had fun with the sampling feature!
I used the RX-11 too...a LOT! But I never did care much for most of the sounds.
Fun video...thanks for the memories!
I used to own an rx17. It could do bass lines by changing the midi note output for the pads, and using the midi outs. I loved my rx17.
I have a pristine Boss DR110. Really lovely simple Drum Machine with quite decent sounds and an awesome display similar to the 707! Bought mine for £90 I recall!
Very cool! Always liked it.
@@JeffreyScottPetro Agree it is limited mainly from an interface perspective that's it's main shortcoming.
If you have an iPad (many do) the iM1 app from Korg is $30 plus $10 for all the M1 and T1 cards.
Had some fun with RX-5, DR-660 and RY-30. Currently only own a TR-8s.
What about the Korg DDD 1? That was a beast…
Yeah definitely and quite a nice looking Drum Machine too. I have the DDD5. I like it but the sounds are a bit limiting scope wise and no individual outs which makes finessing it difficult!
DDD1&DW8000 were my first pair of Midi Gear, than the ESQ1 and the Kawai Q80
Thank you Well done and good analysis.I owned a few of these and my favorites would have been the R8 and the RX5.The RX5 suffered from lack of touch sensitivity but could be overcome by programming from a MIDI keyboard.I look forward to Behringer doing an upgrade with new or interchangeable sounds a larger screen and sampling (Maybe RX1 finally) The RX 5 sounds were also easily dated.The R8 despite its proprietary cable which can be obtained from Amazon was also wonderful because of its quality sounds which still sound full and usable today.Additionally the human element with ghost notes etc was revolutionary.
The refusal of Roger Linn to build another drum machine beyond the will known "2nd Linn Drum" hampered the industry by removing that top end competition when larger screens greater sample times etc became available.
I look forward to your high end listing and analysis.I hope to see the R70 and DR880 in that group.BTW the TR 707 could also be paired with a percussion unit the TR 727.
It would be good to see these return upgraded.
However with cheap loopers and a combination of sample units such as the Roland SPDX pro and Alesis Pad unit I think the 80's style drum machine may be history.
Thanks for sharing.
Would love to get your take on modern drum machines!
In the pipeline, but going to be a while. Tons of work. Thanks for the suggestion.
I bought a Korg DDM 110 for £30 I'd say. Yeah agree very limited Drum Machine on many fronts but has a certain charm!
I think so too, I like the grainy sound.
Come on, 4 Yamaha RX on the list and no Korg DDD 1 or 5? Best budget 80s drum machines ever!
You're right. A lot of Yamaha, but there will be another list, or even two. Thanks for the comment.
As a drummer, I agree ... you can get GREAT drum sounds from just samples and samplers. Even cheap samplers. However, as a drummer ... there is no way I am not getting recreations of my favorite drum machines (I just purchased a used RD-8 mKII on Reverb for $275 last night)! Thanks for putting this list together!
Well said, and better coming from a drummer than a keyboard player.
@@JeffreyScottPetro Thank you. I forgot to mention the one I have from the list is the SR-16. I have had it since 1995 and there are plenty of videos of me using it on my channel. The first drum machine I programmed was the HR-16 in 1988 and 1989. It belonged to someone else. As for synths, I love the drum sounds from the Roland D-70, but I not interested in obtaining one of those.
Were any of these commonly used in commercial synthpop or dance music between 1986 and 1989? It's just that I've heard about the early 80s drum machines but I want to look up if there are any good emulations of the late 80s ones.
Pseudo Echo used a Yamaha RX11 (with a RX15 as a backup) in the late-1980s. Madonna's Like A Virgin tour also used a Yamaha RX11 for percussion rather than the recorded LinnDrum - because the RX11 had MIDI control.
My main 80s drum machine at the moment is Roland R8 because of it’s sequencer. The RX5 is in the rack too 😊
Thanks for sharing.
roland r-8 (original and mkII), tr-707 and yamaha rx-11 ❤❤❤ I had them!
and I totally agree when you say they can be replaced using a nice samples lib!
Thanks for sharing, sir.
i've owned most of these (all but the RX15, RX11 HR16 and TR707 (though i tried a couple of time on that one...)) but the only ones i still have are your top 2 - the RZ1 requires an OS chip upgrade before the samples will play in time properly but the faders make it a party in a box! my RX17 was absurdly cheap on ebay...£15 i think? - i like that it's velocity sensitive over MIDI (works real nice with yer beatstep pro), great source of classic 80's drums. typically i replace the kick for both with a jomox mbase01, both of them have more of a pop than a thud...
Smoking deal on the RX17. Thanks for sharing.
Yes yes dude right up my street. I agree about Drum Machines being easily replaced you're right.
Thanks for the comment.
I might add that maybe it's because the Boss DR-5 is complicated to program but hands down it's the best overall programmable rhythm composer available at low cost. It's actually much more than a drum machine. It features synthesizer sounds and a 8 track sequencer as well with hundreds of assorted preset multi-instrument rock, soul, funk, & jazz built-in background tracks. All this in a lightweight practically handheld size sturdy module.
There's a lot of utility in the DR-5. Kind of underrated for its time. Probably true for several products with the Boss label, that didn't get as much love as when the company just branded it Roland.
Also as a drummer here must say a Used R8 (with extra sound cards) or R8 mk 2 is the winner on this list as far as sound quality and what it could do for the time.
Incredibly flexible and nuanced machine. The drum track “Sunlight” from the Pat Metheny album Secret Story is peak R8 programming. At the time it fooled me into thinking it was a real drummer. But it’s all R8.
Speaking of Pat Metheny. I remember hearing this Amtrak Commercial in the late 1980s. The music was "Last Train Home" Just loved the synth lead, only to find out it's guitar when I stumbled across a live video. Great song.
@@JeffreyScottPetro yeah that was his synclavier guitar. Pretty amazing that was possible in 1987
Aww! Ive got the HR16 I still use and I’ve also got the Yamaha RX7 the cheaper version of the RX5, the only difference is the amount of outputs for external effects and strangely the RX7 has 100 internal sounds compared to 24 on the RX5
Appreciate the comment.
3:32 Did they change the power-supply unit on the SR-16 over time? Looks like the old one requires 9V and the new one 12V.
Yes, they did.
Had an Yamaha RX15 which I bought for £20 but got dust in it so gave it away sadly. Nice Drum Machine though and lovely clap.
Cool list
Thanks.
707 was a bargain but I think you can get one for £500. I bought mine for £250. Bags of character and easily my favorite all time Drum Machine!
You got a great deal. Thanks.
Actually you need to mention Roland TR-727 along with 707 here, because 727 is for those who need more percussion sounds, and both of them can be linked together through MIDI sync capability.
But in the same year when 707 and 727 were popular, there was a low budget drum machine from Roland but brings the complete drum and percussions, although the sample quality may not as good as the older brothers, but the individual outputs make us able to mix the sounds faithfully and individually. It is Roland TR-626.
I always liked the 7272, but it's kind of spendy now. Thanks for the comment.
Roland TR-707 shouldnt really be in this list as the current prices are not a bargain. Same for the Roland R-8. I agree with you about the TR-626 though that should be here instead.
Alesis HR-16 & Casio RZ-1 rank among my favorites on this list. DR-110 is a solid contender, but I tend to compare it directly with the TR-606 (non MIDI, battery power capable analog), and the DR loses ground for obvious reasons. I realize the 606 no longer qualifies as a bargain, but I still tend to compare them on traits alone. I guess I should spend some more time with the Yamaha RX family, see if a rapport develops.
Interesting... thanks for the comment.
The Kawai R-100 and R-50 are also very good 80s drum machines.
Indeed, both capable machines, with the 50 being a good value.
I think the RZ1 is a nice looking Drum Machine and the sampling is a great feature but the PCM sound set were pretty forgettable though man. 😂 Has a real charm though! Personally would have made the RX5 number one because you can now dump sounds to it via usb cards etc.
Yeah, and I did say the RX5 is really the best. I don't miss the RZ-1. Thanks for the comment.
@@JeffreyScottPetro I think the RZ-1 is one of the nicest and coolest looking Drum Machines and I have been after one as it happens for a little while but comparing it to say a 707 it's not quite there. For me it's main shortcomings are the stock sounds and the limited display. Obviously being able to load samples in is a massive plus as well as the individual outs!
I think the RX5 is a beast. I've been looking for one for a while. Agree the display isn't good otherwise this would have destroyed all competition!
Agreed. If I could only have one on the list, that would be it.
@@JeffreyScottPetro You can get a card for it now which allows you to load tonnes of samples into from WaveRex via usb. Just a shame there's no big display ala the 707 or easy step sequencer otherwise history would have been quite different!
What someone thinks of drum sounds whether good or bad, is subjective. I have an HR-16, and from a realistic standpoint and no effects, I personally find it being one of the best. Even a lot better than the SR-16. Having said that, it has a whole lot of limitations, as you stated.
I don't have an HR16 but I know it's highly rated and has some brilliant drum sounds. For me the thing I never liked about it was it was damn ugly otherwise I agree could be a contender for number one spot!
@@TheBroDotTVIt would be nice if a device is stylish. But for me, sounds and programmability come first.
Great series i love this. There is one sleeper… the kawai R100… up there by connection witht the big boys
That's a contender. Thanks for sharing.
I'm still kicking myself for not buying a Yamaha RX-5 for $140(!!!) that was for sale a couple of moths ago. I'll check if you have "Top 11 - I Wish I Had Bought That" list.
We've all missed out on some great deals. I may do a list like that, but so many in the cue. Thanks for the suggestion.
I don’t really know why I’d go for one of these. If I’m on a budget, software is fine.. if I’m going to go for hardware.. I want it to have a real advantage over software. There are any number of.. on the market drum machine and groove boxes that aren’t that pricy.. and in many cases could be less then the ones you mentioned.
Agreed. It's more from a nostalgic point of view, which is why I don't own a drum machine, but have a lot of percussion sample libraries. Thanks for the comment.
In this genre, in current production, the IK Multimedia Uno Drum is interesting and cheap.
In the South East Asia, Roland R-8 and R-8 mkII were the most popular drum machines. That's because the genre of the music in South East Asia were pop-oriented, and most musicians were interested in the drum samples than synth-oriented like 808 and 909. Of course there are some alternatives from Yamaha and Alesis, but Roland R-8 wins the market. Before R-8, Roland TR-707 and 727 were popular, and often accompanied with Roland S-50 or S-550 to expand more percussion sounds not existed in 707 and 727.
Appreciate the comment.
The Korg DDD-1 doesn’t even make the list? Affordable, lots of i/o, lots of control over the sounds, expandable via multiple card slots, SAMPLING, and so much more!!
That's a cool unit. It will probably make it on the next list.
I think you missed the most important detail to these drum machines...that being what ones are velocity sensitive?...That was the game changer with the Alesis HR 16 to me and many others...this made it sound like real drums...Also the way the sequencer worked you could record it like you where recording to tape as one big song....The rolands and yamaha's i owned where not velocity sensitive...and Never sounded real...
I am aware of that, and it was an improvement back then. I purposely didn't want to talk about velocity. I believe that folks who are looking for an 80s drum machine, are not going to consider velocity a deal breaker. they probably have plenty better option for drum sounds. Thanks for the comment.
I have an RX-11. I got it for £85 I think. 😎
No room for the Roland TR 626, cheap as chips and easy to use
Yeah that's what I was thinking too. To be honest the 626 is pretty versatile sound wise but lacking certain classic character compared to say the 707 and 505 which can be had dirt cheap!
@@TheBroDotTV Will have a listen to those machines thanks. Take any of the old drum machines into a modern studio and the engineers can make them sound great 👍
No room this time, but it's on my list. Point well-taken, thanks for the comment.
@@Whitelight77 The 707 was the Chicago House drum machine basically. Obviously they used the 909 too but I guess it has a vibe because the 707 was synonymous with chi house and acid and it has a brilliant swing and flams. The 505 is a slightly different drum machine but I really dig the sounds as they're actually pretty punchy off the bat. I find em good for both house and hip hop. Thing is people say they're limited because of the display and no individual outs but there's no reason not to have two of these as they're so good and to run them in parallel with different sounds on each so you can say eq them differently or say apply certain FX to one and say have other sounds dry for instance. I have both!
🥁🥁🥁🥁
Korg DDD-1 is the king of 80s affordable drum machines. At least to look at. The kick is... embarrassing.
Thanks for sharing.
I love my SR-16!