Best Drum Machine?

[walterb]

I’m rather new to studio recording, and don’t want to start a fan boy fight, but I was hoping I would get some good advice as which drum machine to buy. A Boss 880, or an Alesis SR-18, or something else?

The Alesis looks pretty good, but the one problem I have with it is that it has no USB port. That seems rather strange to me for a product that came out in 2008. The Boss 880 has one, but its older, and I’ve read some complaints about its ease of use.

I’m pretty much a VST guy but I didn’t want to over tax my Windows PC with latency issues by asking too much of it while running 3 or so other virtual synths and Cubase , and that’s why I was wanting to avoid NI Battery. I do own the original StormDrum, which has great sounds but the interface doesn’t lend itself well to being creative. Maybe the problem is with me and not Stormdrum.
Anyway, if you have some suggestions on a drum machine, it would be appreciated. It will be strictly used in the studio for writing and creating demo tapes.

thanks

[ScroogeMcDuck]

Hi there!

I think it depends a little on your genre, but I use the Roland MC-808 sampler/drum machine. That's because I like the pattern style, although it can also be used like the SR-18. Without the pattern style, I couldn't make music. But then again, it depends on what you prefer and what you're aiming for.

[cky751]

I had a boss Dr. rhythm 550, and it was pretty awesome. It also allowed for you to compose bass too. I had the alesis sr-18 and it was nothing compared to the dr. rhythm.

[fortyseven]

I also used a Dr. Rhythm for a while until I discovered EZDrummer. Now adding drum patterns has never been easier; plus its very light on system resources.