Drum tracks: MBR vs Boss DR3

[tony]

I'm aware that some of this ground has been covered with the recent thread on the Alesis S-16 but I have some specific questions here.

I get dissatisfied with the drum tracks on the MBR.  I know they are more flexible than how I use them but I don't think that is the issue.  I like the idea of building the track up from its component parts for each section of the drum track.  At present I edit tracks down from loops and there is limited pleasure in that.  Using MBR drum tracks or Garageband drum loops always makes me feel like I'm using someone else's drums.  I'm no drummer so tapping the drums in hasn't worked for me (I tried editing loops down to kick and snare and then tapping the hi-hats, etc., in but that wasn't particularly successful).

Does anyone have any experience of the Boss DR3 and how does it stack up against the drum patterns in the MBR?  I should say that I'm not likely to spend more on a drum machine than what I would pay for a DR3.  I might stretch to a SR-16/18 if the horses are good to me.

[Dmann]

I'm not entirely sure about the DR3, but I have an old Dr.Rhythm DR5 I bought back in the early 1990's, and I really enjoyed using it until I started using PC programs. On my old DR5 you could change the pitch and depth of the drums, and totally create the drum set sound you wanted. It also has keyboards and and bass and hundreds of other sampled instruments like organ, piano etc. I think in the newer Boss drum machines they took out everything except for bass and drums though. The only Problem for me is the time involved, When I was younger and single I could easily spend a hours and hours programming all the beats and fills, now that I'm older, have a family and a full time job, I haven't really used it like 10 years... which makes the MicroBR great for quickly matching the beat to your song idea so you can get the idea recorded before losing the inspiration.

 The thing for me is, after owning it (MicroBR) just over a year I have used the built in patterns to thier full potential and while it's great for keeping the beat while laying down your other tracks I personally am not satisfied with the sound or quality when it comes to doing a final mix and master.

 I actually went on the hunt a couple months ago when I started using Reaper instead of Audacity to mix and master instead of the MicroBR and after doing more searching and learning, Discovering DAW's, and then VSTi's and samplers, I found out that there are 100's of PC programs out there that are way better than any stand alone drum machine (IMO). I recently bought Fruity Loops, which is awesome. First thing I did was set up some mics and took samples of my Tama Drum Kit, and then used them in fruity loops and created my drum patterns in that. I don't use reaper any more, Fruitly Loops 9 does it all and more, plus I like the GUI better.

 It really comes down to what you are using it for and how much you want to invest. Fruity Loops for example is comparable in cost to an entry level drum machine, but you can do so much more with it. It also comes with pre programmed beats/loops, but really it seems the included loops are more geared towards electronic dance/hiphop/rap music.

  The nice thing here is there are 100's of samplers out there, many include 100's of fully programmed drum beats, fills, etc.

 I don't know, these are just my insights. I would really recommend just browsing the internet and going to manufactuers websites and doing a hard compair prior to buying anything now a days. Pretty much all of the PC software has a free trial so you can try it out at no cost, where as hardware your only option is to go down to the local music store and hope they have the model your looking for to Demo.

 At any rate, good luck

[64Guitars]

LMMS is a free alternative to Fruity Loops.

[Greeny]

LMMS is a free alternative to Fruity Loops.

Oh yes... I'm havimng some of this! Thanks 64 guitars!

I'm getting a bit bored of the same old beats on the MBR. After 200-250 songs, an injection of new rhythms is bound to take me off in a different direction.

I've been waiting for a new MBR release that may expand / alter the rhythms available, but I'll have a try with this in the meantime

[tony]

Thanks for the info, guys.  I picked up on LMMS earlier in the year when you posted about it, 64, but unfortunately I'm a mac person and I work on a work machine so I didn't want to do all the things that you have to do to get it working on mac.

I have been straying towards EZdrummer.  It looks like it has what will suit me (when I get a new computer after the sad liquid death of my mac last Sunday night).