We are the music makers - producers?

I really like this sort of glitchy drum sound. Delays, bounce sounds etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iimujttqr_A

The more I’m looking at it the more it seems a laptop with ableton and a decent controller is where I should be heading 😬
But I’ve been making beats with old records and and MPC for so long that I’m practically a dinosaur

TR-8S integrates pretty well with Ableton and if you put it in external mode you could control it with a MIDI controller.

I totally get what you're saying, I have Push with Ableton but I much prefer creating stuff out of the box. Hardware is just so much more tactile and instant than trawling through samples in Ableton

I’m in exactly the same boat. I’m going with the RD9 (despite some of the issues around Behringer’s owner).

The Beats will be used for concocting mad sounds in the background.

Hardware is just so much more tactile and instant than trawling through samples in Ableton

100% this. Might as well take up excel spreadsheets as a hobby.

Hardware is just so much more tactile and instant

I absolutely agree with that, and while it's not necessarily related to drum machines, I find it so odd that there's a complete lack of MIDI controllers with enough faders/encoders to properly control a VST. I've got a Arturia Keylab Essential which has 18 faders/encoders which does a decent enough job (enough for 2 envelopes, filter/LFO control and and a small amount of per oscillator control).

I know there's a few companies that offer MIDI controllers in a form factor to pair with specific VSTs, I was half tempted to pick up a Juno-style one for TAL's U-NO-LX:

But it seems odd that there's no one (that I can see) out there just making MIDI controllers with a huge amount of encoders/faders that can be set to whatever you want. I was looking into Akai's Midimix which was decent at 24 encoders/8 faders, but it seems to be a surprisingly niche product. I'm sure if someone out there made a MIDI controller specifically for something like Vital or Diva, they'd be onto a winner.

Obviously, even with all the hands-on control, hardware still wins out on the whole pick-up-and-play aspect!

I have a Console 1 which has transformed my workflow when mixing - very little mouse action required, especially as I have a motorised fader/transport controller as well.

Lots of people upset when behringer discontinued their knobby controller but I think they’ve made a new one now?

Novation automap seems like a decent compromise but I’m not sure what hardware is available.

Look at Faderfox.

Soundforce do make a controller for U-He’s Repro but I think Diva might have rather more controls… not sure if there’s one out there.

Thanks for all of your advice 🙏🏼
I’m going to spend some time researching all of this.
I should have mentioned that improvisation is important for me. I need to be able to jam with musicians playing traditional instruments.
As well as storing sequences.
Does that make any difference to the suggestions?

TR-8S is a great suggestion IMHO, and it is excellent for live jamming and so on, mainly because it has faders but it also has a really excellent fill mode, loads of stutter/filter effects, and usefully you can program a new pattern variation (with the sequencer playing) before switching to it. However, it only has one velocity-sensitive pad, it’s not for finger drumming in an MPC fashion.

Great drum machine overall though, I only sold mine to upgrade to an Analog Rytm Mk2.

@dangeek what mpc do you have?

Since the lockdowns I’ve started using my mpc 1000 again after years of it being packed away. I forgot how much fun it is

I have a 1000 and also packed it away for while.

Went with a broker in west for our second 7, roots merchant offered a good service but quoted more £££ and longer turnaround. Thanks to the peeps that messaged me with links and info.

You should check out the Bastl Thyme. Lots of examples on Soundcloud. You can do a lot with creative delays a mixer and some simple sound sources (band mates and/or a lil machine like the volca sample).

Maybe a traditional drum machine is useful but it might feel a little limited.

Will you let us know when it is available?

Having a bit of a studio clear out over Christmas - any interest in the following items:

(i) Sherman Filterbank 2 - owned from new but not heavily used - all pots running smooth. Think I have the box and manual somewhere. Selling as just bought UAD Moog filter. £500 plus shipping.

(ii) Pair Adam A7 monitors. (N.B. not the more recent A7x). These have been my surround monitors for a few years and prior to that my main stereo pair but haven't used them for a year or so. They're well used but not thrashed and cosmetically in good shape. £400 plus shipping.

(iii) Neumann TLM103 plus suspension and foam. Had this for about five years and only used lightly (but didn't buy from new) and kept boxed when not in use. Nice mic; reliable and very quiet. £750 plus shipping.

(iv) Rode NT55 matched pair omnis/cards. Poor man's KM84. Not really used the cardioids but the omnis make a decent spaced pair. £350 say (I have some Rode WS8 fluffies if you fancy too)

Everything is in Bath so could deliver if fairly close....

Adams:

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103:

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Rodes

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Sherman:

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Oof, always GAS'd on a Sherman

Will do mate.

^Lovely mics^

Thanks that’s an interesting idea, I’ll look into it.

A mate had one in his studio and it felt like 1 wasn't enough. But 2 might be too much space depending on the studio size . The Mutronics Mutator always seemed like one to try.

Nice mics!