Can anyone identify an old drum machine sound?

[Delphine]

( at least I assume it's a drum machine ) Off an old Malcolm Mclaren track called 'Hobo' or 'she's looking like a Hobo'..... here's a sample.

http://vj-zaico.imeem.com/music/tVBg...ginal_version/

I like the sound of those drums and wondered what drum machine it was...


Cheers.

[JOBU]

( at least I assume it's a drum machine ) Off an old Malcolm Mclaren track called 'Hobo' or 'she's looking like a Hobo'..... here's a sample.

http://vj-zaico.imeem.com/music/tVBg...ginal_version/

I like the sound of those drums and wondered what drum machine it was...


Cheers.

I don't know, but I'm sure you can m,alke similar sounds and loops in MicroTonic!
http://www.soniccharge.com/products

[Delphine]

I have Microtonic, but I'm not interested in trying to get similar sounds, I am after the name of the drum machine if it is one.

The song is from 1983 so that's got to narrow things down, it's a bit early for me to remember anything let alone drum machines...but part of the reason is because I find drum machines interesting and I have an interest in them, I just don't recognise these sounds and it seems a bit early for samples.

[Scot Solida]

( at least I assume it's a drum machine ) Off an old Malcolm Mclaren track called 'Hobo' or 'she's looking like a Hobo'..... here's a sample.

http://vj-zaico.imeem.com/music/tVBg...ginal_version/

I like the sound of those drums and wondered what drum machine it was...


Cheers.

That was the handiwork of Trevor Horn, if I recall, who was using an Oberheim DMX drum machine lashed to a DSX sequencer at that time (this was just before he got the Fairlight), so the DX samples I posted in that other thread ought to do it for you.

Keep in mind that the DMX/DX allows you to tune the different hits, so try shifting the pitch a bit until you hit on it.

[Delphine]

Ah, thanks Scot.

I didn't know that those machines allowed pitch tweaking, to be honest, I don't know much about those apart from the fact that a lot if them sound really similar.

I'll have a bash with the samples, I actually have a huge library on some Akai disks somewhere too which probably has these on as I know they have Linns, Drumtrax and similar types of sample based drum machines...

Apart from just wanting the machines, is there any real benefit to owning them, I can see they have certain programming features which may contribute to something but basically, I'd be tempted to buy if I found them to be in good condition and reasonably priced. There doesn't seem to be a retro revival in sample based drum machines at the minute anyway, so I might keep an eye out for stuff.

Cheers for the help anyway .

[Scot Solida]

Ah, thanks Scot.

I didn't know that those machines allowed pitch tweaking, to be honest, I don't know much about those apart from the fact that a lot if them sound really similar.

Apart from just wanting the machines, is there any real benefit to owning them?

Really, the only reason to own a sample-based machine is if you want something about it that might not be precisely reproduced using a sampler and modern sequencer. For instance, many people love the swing functions of the DX and Linn machines. They sound a little different from anything else (the DMX/DX machines were big faves among mid-80s hip-hop musicians). I own the DX because I wanted a complete Oberheim "System" back in the early Eighties (I have such a system now). This was Oberheim's pre-MIDI system of interconnectable devices, including the DMX/DX, the DSX sequencer and synths like the OBXa/OB8.

But really, with only a handful of 8-bit samples onboard, no velocity control whatsoever and only rarely MIDI-retrofitted, there isn't a heck of a lot of draw to the real thing, unless you simply love old gear. Me? I sometimes find playing with those clunky old hardware interfaces to be quite inspiring.

[Delphine]

I picked up a seriously cheap Dr660 not that long ago and it's made such a difference to my way of doing drums it's crazy. ( Not the sounds, more the machine itself and the programming and learning off the preset patterns ) But I have just gone drum machine mad now and want more...

It's definitely more of a collector type interest that's spawning I think. Thanks for the info anyway.

[JOBU]

But I have just gone drum machine mad now and want more...
.

Oh, I see, you're one of those.

[Delphine]

Oh, I see, you're one of those.

What's one of those mean?

I used to do all my drum work via samplers/ grooveboxes and then software, it's only since getting a drum machine ( well I had one before but never really used it properly ) that I enjoy using it for what it is.

It's great for programming away from the PC too, I can be in my lounge with the TV on and create patterns, come back down here and dump them into the PC and use my GM mapped sampler kits to play my patterns. It's wicked.

They also just happen to be uber cool as well and I just want some more...

[Scot Solida]

What's one of those mean?

I'm not sure what "one of those" means, either, but I'm almost certain I am one of them, as well...