Any recommendations for a drum synth?...

[jameslondon74]

Hi all.

I’d really appreciate some recommendations for a hardware drum synth/machine that is multi-timbral, so that I can use it with my Digitone sequencer.

Specifically, I’d have one drum instrument per midi channel (x 4 on the Digitone), all on the one synth. Does such a drum synth even exist? I was looking at the Model Cycles as an option, but wondering what else there is out there.

Thanks!

[N i g e l]

not sure what you mean here.

Somthing like the volca drum has 6 synth drums & sequencing,

Nord drum has 6 drums & pads but no sequencing.

Blofeld module has no pads or sequencing but extensive multi timbral synthesis.

None of the above do real [sampled] drums but other products are available that do.

also what is your budget ?

[resistorman]

Why do you need a drum voice per midi channel?

[The Elf]

Wonder if an Analog Four/Keys might be the sort of thing you're considering?

[jameslondon74]

not sure what you mean here.

Somthing like the volca drum has 6 synth drums & sequencing,

Nord drum has 6 drums & pads but no sequencing.

Blofeld module has no pads or sequencing but extensive multi timbral synthesis.

None of the above do real [sampled] drums but other products are available that do.

also what is your budget ?

Ideally no more than £250.

I don’t need any sequencing, my Digitone is the brain. But I’m beginning to wonder if my approach to drums in a DAWless setup needs reworking.

[jameslondon74]

Wonder if an Analog Four/Keys might be the sort of thing you're considering?

Yeah but it’s way too expensive! Ha

[jameslondon74]

Why do you need a drum voice per midi channel?

Because I want to use the Digitone to sequence each drum part. So I’d have a 4 x part drum machine via the Digitone midi aequencer

[N i g e l]

You are not necessarily limited to 1 sound per MIDI channel.

multi timbral synth modules sometimes have a mode whereby different sounds can be allocated to different zones across the keyboard but still all on the same MIDI channel.
There are standard note numbers for GM drums for instance.

1 channel drums can give slightly tighter timing but may be insignificant to notice.

[The Elf]

Wonder if an Analog Four/Keys might be the sort of thing you're considering?

Yeah but it’s way too expensive! Ha

Ah, OK. The AK does some good drum-synth-type sounds (and not limited to four sounds, if you know what you're doing). Anyone steeped in the convoluted ways of Elektron would probably get the best out of it (for me it's all a bit of a faff!)

[Ben Asaro]

You are not necessarily limited to 1 sound per MIDI channel.

multi timbral synth modules sometimes have a mode whereby different sounds can be allocated to different zones across the keyboard but still all on the same MIDI channel.
There are standard note numbers for GM drums for instance.

1 channel drums can give slightly tighter timing but may be insignificant to notice.

+1. Use a single channel and pitch to get the drum sounds you want. The other way is needlessly complicated and expensive. For < $250, I would look into the Alexis SR16.

[resistorman]

You are not necessarily limited to 1 sound per MIDI channel.

multi timbral synth modules sometimes have a mode whereby different sounds can be allocated to different zones across the keyboard but still all on the same MIDI channel.
There are standard note numbers for GM drums for instance.

1 channel drums can give slightly tighter timing but may be insignificant to notice.

+1. Use a single channel and pitch to get the drum sounds you want. The other way is needlessly complicated and expensive. For < $250, I would look into the Alexis SR16.

+2

[t-sun]

The important thing is what kind of drum sounds are you looking for? I assume acoustic samples. Look for a Kawai XD-5, which is a full on drum synth. The Korg S3 isn't quite to that level but it does allow layering.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/kawai/xd5.php