Drum machine and home recording suggestion

igorBG · April 25th, 2008, 10:36 AM

Hi. I posted this is the Stomp Box section, and I didn't get any response jet. THis is probably better place.
I enjoy creating music, and I decided to obtain few more deviced that will help me in this, when I am alone at my home.
So far, I used my pc in this way: I would find some drum pattern on pc and I would play and record guitar over it several times. For bass line, I used Sound Force to lovel pitch for one octave. I needed lot of cables, and I had lot of sound editing, beat matching, tunning issues etc.
The final result was good enough for me to get overall sound of the song, but it was far from good in general sense.

Now, I plan to buy Digitech JamMan loop station, which will give me all multitrack options I need, to easily record overlays of guitars. I am not sure if it has usable drum machine, and/or some bass simulator.

What should be my best choice for drum machine (in reasonable price category $100-$300 for example). I need something with auto "passages" or "fills". I don't know correct English term, I mean when I want to switch from verse to chorus, I need some passage (little drum solo) and then play the same rhythm, only with cymbal instead of hi-hat just to enhance it).
So I need something with prerecorded rhuthms, which can be easily filled with one button hit.

Also, do you have any suggestions for bass - maybe it would be easier to buy cheap Squier Bass
And finally I found Digitech Vocalist harmonizer, for creating vocal harmonies.
What do you think of this?
Please feel free to give as much sugestions or share your expirience.
I just want to be able to record song with drumm/bass/rhythm and solo guitar/vocal in simpliest and easiest way.

GhostofJohnToad · April 25th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Look into the Alesis SR18, it's the new model that replaced the SR16 which I have. The new one as I understand does include basslines. Most of all it is very good with switch patterns and placing a fill right at the change, like you are looking for. also I believe it is in your price range but maybe more towards the higher end. I have the SR16 like I said and find it very easy to record patterns and get a decent sound. Check it out.

woodman · April 25th, 2008, 03:41 PM

i've had a lot of luck with the Boss Dr. Rhythm (DR770) ... you can get a used one for a reasonable price. sound is excellent, preset patterns are decent, but i usually write my own. it's not that hard to learn, because the manual is well-written.

igorBG · April 26th, 2008, 11:10 AM

Thanks. I just surfed Web for Boss and Alesis, and Alesis has better reviews. These two are standards in their category. I hope hat I will be able to with those two somewhere in my city to test them

mikespe · April 26th, 2008, 11:40 AM

I have a Boss DR-550 MKII which is the older brother of the 770. I got it used from eBay for about $20. However, another alternative to a drum machine is a program called Band In A Box. You can create all sorts of backing tracks and then upload them to the Digitech Jamman. You can export to wav or mp3 (other formats too) from Band In A Box.

igorBG · June 2nd, 2008, 07:07 AM

Mikespe: I don't want software. It's just that I don't want cables, laptop, keyboard, Windowas startup, Start Menu, Programs, bla bla etc. I want some devic e, which will alwasy stand next to my guitar equipement, and with two button clicks, it should start playing

woodman · June 2nd, 2008, 02:20 PM

i like having the machine sitting right there too. i would look for used ones on the internet, they are very affordable. BUT make sure the manual comes with it, or it will be confusing to get started.

stephwills · June 2nd, 2008, 03:33 PM

FYI, you can download the manual from Roland's website.

mikespe · June 2nd, 2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephwills

FYI, you can download the manual from Roland's website.

Plus if you search eBay (maybe other sites as well?) there are various instructional videos that walk you through the use of some models of drum machines. I got one for my Boss DR-550 MKII that helped out a lot. The manual was a bit confusing.

Like I mentioned above, I like to make loops in Band In A Box and when I get the Digitech Jamman I can just upload them as WAV files to the Jamman. THat gives me the best of both worlds and a way to make backups of the loops.

April 25th, 2008, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
igorBG Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Age: 31 Posts: 473 9 Photos	Drum machine and home recording suggestion Hi. I posted this is the Stomp Box section, and I didn't get any response jet. THis is probably better place. I enjoy creating music, and I decided to obtain few more deviced that will help me in this, when I am alone at my home. So far, I used my pc in this way: I would find some drum pattern on pc and I would play and record guitar over it several times. For bass line, I used Sound Force to lovel pitch for one octave. I needed lot of cables, and I had lot of sound editing, beat matching, tunning issues etc. The final result was good enough for me to get overall sound of the song, but it was far from good in general sense. Now, I plan to buy Digitech JamMan loop station, which will give me all multitrack options I need, to easily record overlays of guitars. I am not sure if it has usable drum machine, and/or some bass simulator. What should be my best choice for drum machine (in reasonable price category $100-$300 for example). I need something with auto "passages" or "fills". I don't know correct English term, I mean when I want to switch from verse to chorus, I need some passage (little drum solo) and then play the same rhythm, only with cymbal instead of hi-hat just to enhance it). So I need something with prerecorded rhuthms, which can be easily filled with one button hit. Also, do you have any suggestions for bass - maybe it would be easier to buy cheap Squier Bass And finally I found Digitech Vocalist harmonizer, for creating vocal harmonies. What do you think of this? Please feel free to give as much sugestions or share your expirience. I just want to be able to record song with drumm/bass/rhythm and solo guitar/vocal in simpliest and easiest way.

April 25th, 2008, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,958	i've had a lot of luck with the Boss Dr. Rhythm (DR770) ... you can get a used one for a reasonable price. sound is excellent, preset patterns are decent, but i usually write my own. it's not that hard to learn, because the manual is well-written. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 2nd, 2008, 02:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,958	i like having the machine sitting right there too. i would look for used ones on the internet, they are very affordable. BUT make sure the manual comes with it, or it will be confusing to get started. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 2nd, 2008, 03:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	FYI, you can download the manual from Roland's website. __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

April 25th, 2008, 01:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
GhostofJohnToad Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Age: 35 Posts: 735 7 Photos	Look into the Alesis SR18, it's the new model that replaced the SR16 which I have. The new one as I understand does include basslines. Most of all it is very good with switch patterns and placing a fill right at the change, like you are looking for. also I believe it is in your price range but maybe more towards the higher end. I have the SR16 like I said and find it very easy to record patterns and get a decent sound. Check it out.

April 26th, 2008, 11:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
igorBG Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Age: 31 Posts: 473 9 Photos	Thanks. I just surfed Web for Boss and Alesis, and Alesis has better reviews. These two are standards in their category. I hope hat I will be able to with those two somewhere in my city to test them

April 26th, 2008, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
mikespe Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Western New York Age: 42 Posts: 1,075	I have a Boss DR-550 MKII which is the older brother of the 770. I got it used from eBay for about $20. However, another alternative to a drum machine is a program called Band In A Box. You can create all sorts of backing tracks and then upload them to the Digitech Jamman. You can export to wav or mp3 (other formats too) from Band In A Box.

June 2nd, 2008, 07:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
igorBG Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Age: 31 Posts: 473 9 Photos	Mikespe: I don't want software. It's just that I don't want cables, laptop, keyboard, Windowas startup, Start Menu, Programs, bla bla etc. I want some devic e, which will alwasy stand next to my guitar equipement, and with two button clicks, it should start playing