Modern day drum machines typically offer more advanced options than the first generation of drum machines that came out decades ago. Today, we will discuss some of these features so that you may be a more educated consumer when you go shopping.
Sampler: Most drum machines nowadays are samplers. This means they can play back audio recordings that a user loads into the machine. The importance of this feature is that it allows a producer to expand beyond the pre-determined stock sounds that typically come with a drum machine. This increases the shelf-life of the drum machine dramatically. These samples can be sourced from third-party sound design companies, sampling vinyl or other audio sources, or recording one's own sounds via microphone.
Sample Chopping (Editing): Sample chopping is an advanced editing feature which allows a user to break down a large sample into many smaller samples that can be mapped to pads on the drum machine. This gives the user more flexibility to play back only parts of a sample, or to re-arrange the sample to come up with a different musical idea. The thing to note is that with the expansion of memory on even the most basic sampling drum machines, modern day drum samplers are now optimized to handle more than just drum audio. They can handle sampling of instruments, records, and other sources.
Sequencer: A sequencer allows one to control multiple software programs, hardware instruments, and audio recordings at once from a single visual interface. A sequencer allows one to be a one-man band. Drum programs that are part of a larger package (such as ReDrum), typically don't have this feature because the host program is the sequencer. However, drum machines that come as standalone equipment or software programs, such as the Akai MPC or Native Instrument's Maschine, typically have this feature. These sequencers are usually loop oriented (versus a linear sequencer), and are suited for hip-hop and other electronic forms of music.
Step Sequencer: This feature allows a user to program rhythms without having to record in real-time. Via mouse click or tapping on a pad, a user chooses which beats he wants a certain sound to play on. This makes it easier for a producer to program complex rhythms that would be hard to play in real-time.
The above represents some of the key features that you will find on modern drum machines today. Take caution to check that the program of your choice comes with the features that you think you'll need.
Sampler: Most drum machines nowadays are samplers. This means they can play back audio recordings that a user loads into the machine. The importance of this feature is that it allows a producer to expand beyond the pre-determined stock sounds that typically come with a drum machine. This increases the shelf-life of the drum machine dramatically. These samples can be sourced from third-party sound design companies, sampling vinyl or other audio sources, or recording one's own sounds via microphone.
Sample Chopping (Editing): Sample chopping is an advanced editing feature which allows a user to break down a large sample into many smaller samples that can be mapped to pads on the drum machine. This gives the user more flexibility to play back only parts of a sample, or to re-arrange the sample to come up with a different musical idea. The thing to note is that with the expansion of memory on even the most basic sampling drum machines, modern day drum samplers are now optimized to handle more than just drum audio. They can handle sampling of instruments, records, and other sources.
Sequencer: A sequencer allows one to control multiple software programs, hardware instruments, and audio recordings at once from a single visual interface. A sequencer allows one to be a one-man band. Drum programs that are part of a larger package (such as ReDrum), typically don't have this feature because the host program is the sequencer. However, drum machines that come as standalone equipment or software programs, such as the Akai MPC or Native Instrument's Maschine, typically have this feature. These sequencers are usually loop oriented (versus a linear sequencer), and are suited for hip-hop and other electronic forms of music.
Step Sequencer: This feature allows a user to program rhythms without having to record in real-time. Via mouse click or tapping on a pad, a user chooses which beats he wants a certain sound to play on. This makes it easier for a producer to program complex rhythms that would be hard to play in real-time.
The above represents some of the key features that you will find on modern drum machines today. Take caution to check that the program of your choice comes with the features that you think you'll need.
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