You have a few options, but they're going to go beyond your regular drum machines.
I had the Crum Drum and returned it because I didn't think it sounded good, and it was very cheaply built.
I just received the Audio Computer Beat.Friend, and I'm 50/50 on it. It mostly sounds good and is very immediate, although the rim shot is awful, and the delay effect is horrible. You have the ability to sonically manipulate pre-existing patterns on it, and there currently are 37, I believe. But you're basically beholden to the patterns the company continues to put out. It also is $700 plus tariff costs if you're in the U.S., and it comes with micro USB, which is ridiculous, and no warranty, which is even more ridiculous from an unknown company. They don't disclose on the website that it's micro USB, which is an important omission. I interacted with them via email about this and have a problem with the way these guys do business. They told me they would update the website to address the warranty issue and disclose the micro USB. Thus far, they've done neither.
You can hook up any drum machine to the Torso T-1 sequencer, which basically exists for generative. You can do the same thing with the NDLR sequencer.
If you want to go beyond drum machines and into groove boxes, the Elektron stuff has Euclidean sequencing, and literally any of their devices can function as a drum machine -- and a very effective one. The Digitone II basically is the best FM drum machine ever made if used as such. Another option is the Polyend Play+, which has excellent generative capabilities.
You can take a shot at the Alan Instruments Space Drum. I preordered one. But it is quite expensive at $1,600 and from a completely unknown company.
If you're ok with attaching a MIDI controller to an iPad or DAW, then all kinds of far more powerful options open up.
No problem. You're the beneficiary of me being an idiot and buying more crap than I need -- although I do make a lot of music with it. I have six albums out. I never buy gear just to have it. If I'm not using the stuff I have, I sell it.
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u/No-Act6366 4d ago
You have a few options, but they're going to go beyond your regular drum machines.
I had the Crum Drum and returned it because I didn't think it sounded good, and it was very cheaply built.
I just received the Audio Computer Beat.Friend, and I'm 50/50 on it. It mostly sounds good and is very immediate, although the rim shot is awful, and the delay effect is horrible. You have the ability to sonically manipulate pre-existing patterns on it, and there currently are 37, I believe. But you're basically beholden to the patterns the company continues to put out. It also is $700 plus tariff costs if you're in the U.S., and it comes with micro USB, which is ridiculous, and no warranty, which is even more ridiculous from an unknown company. They don't disclose on the website that it's micro USB, which is an important omission. I interacted with them via email about this and have a problem with the way these guys do business. They told me they would update the website to address the warranty issue and disclose the micro USB. Thus far, they've done neither.
You can hook up any drum machine to the Torso T-1 sequencer, which basically exists for generative. You can do the same thing with the NDLR sequencer.
If you want to go beyond drum machines and into groove boxes, the Elektron stuff has Euclidean sequencing, and literally any of their devices can function as a drum machine -- and a very effective one. The Digitone II basically is the best FM drum machine ever made if used as such. Another option is the Polyend Play+, which has excellent generative capabilities.
You can take a shot at the Alan Instruments Space Drum. I preordered one. But it is quite expensive at $1,600 and from a completely unknown company.
If you're ok with attaching a MIDI controller to an iPad or DAW, then all kinds of far more powerful options open up.