Author Topic: Drum Machines? (Read 319 times)

terryc · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2010, 03:12:40 AM »

I find it hard to believe(but obviously true) that a professional musician would state that about timing devices ie metronome being opposed to because it should be inside you at birth.
Is this the same all skills?? can we get on a bike/car/motorcycle and safely control it, can you read and write without being taught?, do we need to develop interpersonal skills or is it with us at birth?
I think not.... but I don't want to start one of those controversial threads!

mike1762 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2010, 03:40:11 AM »

I think Berlin just has a whole different approach to music... almost mathematical. He is fairly demeaning to those players who are more technique oriented (they are often not rooted in theory: HEY... you played a B# 32nd note and it should have been a B!!!). Whereas most of us went to the music store, bought a bass, and started learning Smoke on the Water, he is classically trained. If you play for as long and as intensely as he has, you probably DON'T need anything to keep you in time. But how about some acknowledgment for those not as fortunate? I'm seriously going to try and fit his 1 week course into my schedule. For some reason, I usually get along with people who have polarizing personalities.

terryc · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2010, 05:25:55 AM »

Good luck Mike1762!!

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2010, 06:07:51 AM »

I've also got an Alesis SR-16, although mine was sold under the Ion brand as part of an electronic drum kit (same unit, different label). For the price they're hard to go wrong with, and I really enjoy practicing with it.

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 07, 2010)

bigredbass · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2010, 08:52:17 AM »

I practiced with a metronoe for years as a kid taking piano lessons. I prefer playing with a drum machine as it's just not so dry, and BTW, we play with drummers !

In my case, while I had a fair 'innate' sense of time, after all that time with a metronome I was much better. On gigs I could tell instantly if we were dragging or rushing, for all the good it did me (none). I have pulled drummers around by the short and curlies at times.

I found that if the band as a whole let the time 'breathe' a little, it was exciting. If however, I'm on time and the drummer was behind, the keys were rushing, the pulse at the center was lost and it would never groove.

Jeff's idea is that a professional is a professional. Period, end of story. He's very opinionated, and somewhat angry. I admire big parts of the guy, but for some folks he takes all the fun out of it.

J o e y

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2010, 10:04:45 AM »

I pratice with my old Roland R-8 but on producing I use plug ins like EZ Drummer or any Sampler available

pace · « **Reply #21 on:** June 07, 2010, 10:07:56 AM »

Greg,

I grew up w/ the Alesis SR-16.... I actually think Kevin's Ion is slightly different, the old ones never had trigger inputs...

10 years ago I moved on to Reason which was revolutionary, as the sequencer was easier to tweak, plus I was able to slice live drum tracks that I had in Pro Tools and sample those!

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2010, 11:05:18 AM »

Mike,

There's actually a second box that came with the drum set that converts the signal from the pads to midi, which is then used to trigger the drum machine via the midi cable input(if I understand how everything works properly). Just from looking at the specs of the Alesis, it sure looks like the same thing, but I'm by no means any sort of expert.

pace · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2010, 01:02:56 PM »

No Kev, not to doubt you, but I've seen the same plastic molding that belonged to the SR-16 as the brain of an electronic set a couple of years back. The only difference was the back panel had a bunch of trigger inputs for the pads in place of the aux outputs and Midi I/O/thru.... Even back then I was scratching my head because the original SR-16 was almost 20 years old at the time!!!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #24 on:** June 23, 2010, 03:29:42 PM »

How's this for an electronic drummer!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u02ATWhWV4&feature=related
Is this the new future man?
Jazzyvee

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #25 on:** June 24, 2010, 06:17:01 AM »

A picture is worth a thousand words . . .

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 24, 2010)

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #26 on:** June 24, 2010, 06:28:46 AM »

So I found this picture of one that is identical to mine. You can see the other box below that I was describing.

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 24, 2010)

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #27 on:** June 24, 2010, 09:06:02 AM »

I have and use an Alesis SR-16. But I must say the owner's manual just plain sucks. I once tried to get it to play time signatures other than 4/4 and I failed. Perhaps this is a reflection of me, rather than the manual or equipment... but I'm not ready to go there yet.