BossAreaForum

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.

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.

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...

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.

Bought this new when they came out and had it ever since. Great to dig out for a bit of a drum machine vibe

Yes !

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.

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.

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.

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