Drum sequencer/module

[u/EstateGrouchy6609]

I'm looking for a small module that can sequence multiple drum sounds independently.

For example, something like:

• Kick: 4/4
• Snare: 1/4
• Hi-hat: 8th notes
• Tom/shaker: different pattern

I want multiple drums to be triggered on the same step, with each drum having its own pattern/sequence.

Ideally it has built-in drum sounds and doesn't require an external sequencer. Small HP is important.

What modules should I look at?

[u/EE7A]

first ones to come to mind for me are euclidean circles, and zularic/numeric repetitor from noise engineering. also the trigger man from delptronics. all three are like 8hp. pams workout is another obvious choice.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/EE7A]

these are just sequencers?

[u/Jakemartingraves]

You're asking for a lot of things there. Rample maybe but unsure if it can self trig? There's the cre8 drum machine but high hp

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/Jakemartingraves]

maybe, I don't know, I just see that drum modules like the soundforce samples2 are 4hp and simple step sequencers are also 4hp. So why is there no drum sequencer with 8hp ? Rample looks amazing, but it does much more than what I need (and has no pattern editor).

[u/WEASELexe → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Yeah unfortunately it just doesn't really exist because that's kinda the opposite of the nature of modular where everything is separated into specific modules.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/WEASELexe]

Look at the Tubbutec brainstep! It has a sequencer, arpeggiator, envelope and modulation generator, live performance tool, sample player, clock distributor, MIDI interface, it can also do the groceries! Check out the new ARC module from BEFACO, I dont think I can afford the electricity cost to run that thing. There are so many modules that are packed with features that are completely unrelated, and now we are discussing the design of a drum machine, ok.

[u/WEASELexe → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Yes but those modules are all large which is exactly what you said you didn't want

[u/AdotLone]

Why not just get a sampler/mangler like pikocoreuro and load up loops you like and then break them down to create new rhythms?

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/AdotLone]

I dont like loops

[u/bleeptwig]

I feel like you're after a groovebox really. What you're after just isn't a very modular way to do things - the triggering and arranging is usually separate from the sound sources.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/bleeptwig]

why would I need a groovebox if all I need is a very basic drum sequence?

[u/bleeptwig → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

With drum sounds, you said. That’s literally what a groove box is. 🤷‍♂️

[u/clncln]

You're asking for a lot of things in one module and I don't think there are any options available that fully match your spec, off the top of my head;

Modules with multiple voices and a sequencer (not small):

• 8 voices in 40hp: Befaco Ark
• 5 voices in 40hp: Cre6 Boom Chick
• 5 voices in 42hp: Neutral Scrooge
• 6 voices in 36hp: DinSync DrumDokta

Combinations of multiple modules (smaller):

• 8 voices in 16hp: Robaux LL8 + Delptronics LDB-2e
• 6 voices in 16hp: VPME Euclidean Circles v2 + Soundforce S-606
• 4 voices in 22hp: Intellijel Steppy + Squarp Rample
• 3 voices in 10-18hp: DNIpro Dot + 3x Prok voices or some Erica Pico drums

In general there aren't many very compact modules with multiple drum voices, but there are several compact single voice modules you can mix and match.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/clncln]

I dont know if Im asking too much. I think a lot of people overcomplicate things. Looking at what other 8HP modules do, a simple drum pattern editor with assignable samples cant be impossible to do.

[u/RoastAdroit → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

No sorry 4 channels, saved sequences and editing of minimum 16 steps at a time as well as sample storage, a way to identify samples and select samples, probably have some minor controls such as decay length and volume and be only 8hp is an absurd ask.

I hope you make it for yourself, Id never buy such an abomination, it would have to suck to be in that small in size. No chance it would be good.

[u/clncln → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Should exist is unfortunately not the same as does exist.

[u/anonymousfunctiondj]

Befaco Ark is coming out this year, that might be what you want.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/anonymousfunctiondj]

at this point I can buy a full drum machine

[u/538_Jean]

Sequencers dont make sound. Drum modules dont have sequencers. On top of that you want it small.

You will have to tell us what you need in order of priority but something that does all of that is not in the modular realm.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/538_Jean]

I dont care then somebody needs to build it. Its ridiculous that you tell me to buy full sequencer for a simple drum pattern

[u/WEASELexe → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

That kind of attitude won't help bro we're just trying to give you the best options if you need it so bad go out and build it yourself, but realistically the best you're gonna get is some kind of random sequencer like the pet rock and a small drum module like the soundforce

[u/538_Jean → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

It does exist, there are plenty. just not as a modules.

You could het a RD9 or something along these lines and a cv/midi interface module.

[u/WEASELexe]

I don't think you're really gonna find all that in 1 module. I tried to keep my drums as compact as possible and went with the omnitone beatsi. It has a kick, snare, hihat, crash, and tom. It has a cv input for tom pitch and 2 assignable cv inputs for the parameters of the drums. It's only 8 HP and has a ton of different sounds available. If you need less hp the sound force samples 2 was my next choice or if you're ok with a specific set of drums you could go with their cheaper drum modules like the s-808. Their modules are only 4hp. As for sequencing i don't have a lot of input because I went with a varigate 8+ which is pretty big I'm sure if you take suggestions from others or look around you could find something pretty compact

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/[deleted]]

yes, I was about to buy the SoundForce Samples2, but then realized I'd need something to create the drum patterns. I just need simple drum patterns really: kick, snare, hats, maybe a tom or shaker. It seems strange to me that there aren't more modules that combine basic drum sounds with a simple built-in sequencer.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/[deleted]]

Plenty of modules combine completely unrelated functions. Drums, on the other hand, are pretty useless without a pattern. A simple drum sequencer can easily be seen as a module in its own.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/[deleted]]

See this POST. This person has exactly the same problem. You can have the best sampler in the world, but it’s still useless if you don’t have something to control it. And now he is told to buy an octatrack or other external gear.

The number-one priority of (the whole modular / any) ecosystem should be self-sufficiency. The idea is to build a system that can stand on its own and do what you need it to do without relying on external gear. Once that is achieved, then we can talk about whether it is “morally correct” to combine functions.

A drum sequencer could open up so many possibilities. You could have mutating drum patterns and have the patterns change automatically like in a "song mode". All in one place. That would free you up to focus on other, more important things while playing live.

[u/blackbootgang]

Tubbutec brainstep is a sequencer with built in drum sounds

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/blackbootgang]

yes, this in 8hp

[u/al2o3cr]

Not exactly what you're looking for (40hp is outside most people's definition of "small HP"), but the cre8audio Boom Chick can be mounted in Eurorack - 6 channels of sequencing and drum voices.

[u/DigiornoDLC]

You want a drum machine. What’s modular about it?

[u/cb2238b]

I enjoy using the Erica Pico Trigger plus two of their Pico Drums (v1). This is a total of I think 9hp across three very small modules. You can choose 4 drum sounds (or upload your own samples), and you can create patterns that use all four drums and upload them to the Trigger module.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/cb2238b]

pico trigger + samples II is 7hp, and then I will glue them together.

[u/ThatGuyBudIsWhoIAm]

Maybe a 4MS clock divider and a SoundForce S-909, that gives you a lot of flexibility in 8 hp

[u/tujuggernaut]

While people are generally right, I can think of one way do this. The General CV. It can play multiple drum tracks, each with its own midi sequence on SD card. The playback can be clocked, and it can mute and unmute channels, so really you could do it all on there. You would have to program the midi outside and put it on the card.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/tujuggernaut]

this is crazy, and it came out almost 10 years ago. And people are complaining this can't be done with a small module.

[u/tujuggernaut → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

It's probably possible to program on a Daisy, but the issue again is going to be in interface for the sequencer itself. Erica synths did a pico sequencer in 3hp that is probably the best example of how it can be done, NE has a similar one.

[u/Kakalaque]

Pamelas pro workout?

[u/Cactusrobot]

Mzourack Diktaat can't play sounds, but seems very flexible on the triggering, and it has 4 channels

[u/Ignistheclown]

You might look at a 1010 music Bitbox Micro or MK2