BOSS Drum Machines

Boss/Roland gear such as Keys, Synth, Racks, Drum Machines, etc
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Kulten
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BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Kulten » Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:45 am

Anyone have BOSS drum machine ?

I started with a DR-220-E, really "Simmons"-like. I liked it, I made hard-techno-acid tracks with it, and I sold it, now I have the DR-220-A for my rock band.

I really like the ergonomy of the 220 series, it's easy to use and small.

A guitar player in an other punk/rock band had a DR-660, great sounds and lots of memory, you can found realistic drum sounds to pure electro kits.

I also have a DR-110, "my precious", really LOVE it. Analog. Amazing. Like a Roland TR-606, a bit fatter, without toms (I don't like toms) and ith a clap instead (I do like clap sounds). Big LCD screen to see the score of the patterns. P-Bus input to use the DR-110 as an amp.

I tried also DR-550 MkII, like a small 660, more simple to use and great kits, but less sounds. I hated the 330. I also have the DR-3 at home but veeeeeery complicated to use, hard to understand, big user manual, but lots of possibilities fo professionnal musicians.

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Pepe
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Pepe » Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:56 am

I had a DR-550 MkI for some time, but I found it horrible to program. It has less sounds than MkII and is overall quite limited. I wouldn't buy this model again. I'm not a drum machine user anyway.
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BearBoy
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by BearBoy » Sun Aug 19, 2018 11:52 am

I've got a DR-550 (Mk1) and a DR-670. Never had any trouble programming the DR-550 tbh but it does have fewer sounds than the Mk2 and later models.

I briefly (for about a week) had a DR-220E. I had ordered the A model but the shop sent me the E version by mistake. My friend and I recorded a couple of songs with it then swapped it for the DR-550 (the shop didn't have any DR-220As in stock). I liked the sound of the DR-220E but it wasn't really what we were looking for at the time.

I recently downloaded a bunch of samples of the DR-220E. Just got to work out how to program/sequence them in my DAW now... :?

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Admin
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Admin » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:47 am

BearBoy wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 11:52 am
Just got to work out how to program/sequence them in my DAW now... :?
I was going to suggest this to Pepe. Getting a program that can control your external devices makes it much easier. Especially if you play covers because you can download midi tracks and you're good to go.
BearBoy I would suggest trying to use your DAW to control the drum machine as well and recording the entire track back in as a stereo track. A lot of samples and DAWs don't compress or mix the sounds as nicely as the actual device. I have a Roland Electronic drumset and the internal sounds can't be beat even when I sample each drum sound in separately to my software. I just run a midi out program, connect the usb to midi cable, and let the Roland TD-3 do all the work. Biggest drum sounds you can get and yet they don't sound lifeless as if they've been compressed too hard to get the extra volume.

It takes a bit more work, but in the end it's worth it to sound the best as possible.
Kulten wrote:I do like clap sounds
Another studio trick that is used a lot by pros: Widen your snare sounds with layering a clap sound. Or just use it at certain parts of the song if the snare is getting lost in the mix.

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The_Doc
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by The_Doc » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:26 am

BA92D40C-E9DC-43E9-BEFE-870D456ED28E.jpeg
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Bought this new when they came out and had it ever since. Great to dig out for a bit of a drum machine vibe :)

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Kulten
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Kulten » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:33 am

Yes !
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Pepe
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Pepe » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:02 pm

Yesterday I received a broken (but now already repaired) DRP-III Dr. Pad. Not really a drum machine, but a fun machine! The sounds are really nice. I only need to purchase a replacement potentiometer. Pics will follow once it's cleaned and the potentiometer swapped.
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by BenF » Tue Dec 11, 2018 1:11 am

I would love a DR-55 !!

I have been using a DR-550 mkII for a while now. Me and the 550 sequencer dont really see eye to eye but I normally use it through midi anyway. Its quite limited midi wise but its small, light and great for grab and go.
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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by Boogieman » Tue Dec 11, 2018 10:38 pm

Don't know if this counts, but I use the drum machine built in my BR-800 digital recorder. The Rhythm Editor software allows me to create or modify patterns and send it back to the BR-800 via USB. The drum sounds are pretty decent for what I need.

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Re: BOSS Drum Machines

Post by snufkin » Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:52 pm

I have a couple of DR-110 one is modded for dinsync using the circuitbenders.co.uk kit and plays nice with my two 606s, together they make a nice fully featured analogue drum machine. Wouldn't mind individual outs but I think at that stage I would probably build clone voices as there isn't much space in the case

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