Modern day drum machines typically offer more advanced options than the first generation of drum machines that came out decades ago. Today, we will discuss some of these features so that you may be a more educated consumer when you go shopping.
Sampler: Sampling has pretty much become standard on drum machine's today. Samplers allow one to play back audio samples on the machine. The samples can come from companies who specialize in selling samples, samples recorded by the user via microphone, or by sampling audio sources such as a cd or turntable. The important thing about the sampling feature is that it allows a user to update and customize his/her sounds. A user is no longer locked into the set of sounds that came built in to a drum machine.
Sample Chopping (Editing): The first wave of sampling drum machines had just enough memory to fit only drum sounds (since drum sounds are typically shorter than other instrument samples). However, with the rapid evolution of technology, even the most basic modern day sampling drum machine has enough memory to sample almost anything. The sample chopping feature is geared towards hip-hop users who want to take a large sample of let's say ten seconds, and break it down into smaller segments of one second each. Each of the new smaller segments are then mapped to one pad on the machine. The producer can now re-arrange the order of the samples to come up with new sonic phrases. The importance of this is that the sampling feature is no longer optimized for drum sounds; but can be used to sample vinyl and other sources as well.
Sequencer: Think of a sequencer as a program that allows you to be a virtual orchestra conductor. With a sequencer, you can record and playback all of your synthesizers, software instruments, and audio recordings from one central hub. Standalone drum machines such as the Akai MPC or Maschine by Native Instruments, typically have this feature. However, drum machines that are included within another software package typically don't have this feature because the host program for these instruments are typically the sequencer.
Step Sequencer: A step sequencer is an interface that allows a user to program a drum beat without having to record in real-time. This can be done via mouse click where a user clicks on a square that represents a beat in a measure. It can also be done where a consumer taps on a pad that lights up to indicated a user has clicked on a certain beat within a measure (Maschine). Either way, a step sequencer is a handy tool for producer's who don't have the rhythmic chops to program in real-time, or for producer's composing intricate patterns that would be difficult to program in real-time.
The features just listed are features that are included on many drum machines today. Use this as a reference when shopping for your next machine.
Sampler: Sampling has pretty much become standard on drum machine's today. Samplers allow one to play back audio samples on the machine. The samples can come from companies who specialize in selling samples, samples recorded by the user via microphone, or by sampling audio sources such as a cd or turntable. The important thing about the sampling feature is that it allows a user to update and customize his/her sounds. A user is no longer locked into the set of sounds that came built in to a drum machine.
Sample Chopping (Editing): The first wave of sampling drum machines had just enough memory to fit only drum sounds (since drum sounds are typically shorter than other instrument samples). However, with the rapid evolution of technology, even the most basic modern day sampling drum machine has enough memory to sample almost anything. The sample chopping feature is geared towards hip-hop users who want to take a large sample of let's say ten seconds, and break it down into smaller segments of one second each. Each of the new smaller segments are then mapped to one pad on the machine. The producer can now re-arrange the order of the samples to come up with new sonic phrases. The importance of this is that the sampling feature is no longer optimized for drum sounds; but can be used to sample vinyl and other sources as well.
Sequencer: Think of a sequencer as a program that allows you to be a virtual orchestra conductor. With a sequencer, you can record and playback all of your synthesizers, software instruments, and audio recordings from one central hub. Standalone drum machines such as the Akai MPC or Maschine by Native Instruments, typically have this feature. However, drum machines that are included within another software package typically don't have this feature because the host program for these instruments are typically the sequencer.
Step Sequencer: A step sequencer is an interface that allows a user to program a drum beat without having to record in real-time. This can be done via mouse click where a user clicks on a square that represents a beat in a measure. It can also be done where a consumer taps on a pad that lights up to indicated a user has clicked on a certain beat within a measure (Maschine). Either way, a step sequencer is a handy tool for producer's who don't have the rhythmic chops to program in real-time, or for producer's composing intricate patterns that would be difficult to program in real-time.
The features just listed are features that are included on many drum machines today. Use this as a reference when shopping for your next machine.
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