Drum machines are electronic musical instrument that creates percussion. They are able to emulate the sound of drum kits and percussion instruments. In addition, drum machines can also create their own distinctive sounds. Most of them allow players to program their own rhythms and are able to produce a variety of sounds using analog synthesis. In this same fashion, they are also capable of playing prerecorded samples.
In general terms, we categorize drum machines in two groups: the ones that use synthesizer circuitry to create percussion sounds and those that use sampled sounds.
Drum Machines and the Synthesizer
Drum machines have had a great impact over time. Today they are very common on both the pop music culture and on electronic musical instruments. Synthesizer players have been using drum machines to create electronic percussion sounds for a very long time. Users are able to run a sound through a filter when applying an envelope generator to the filter cutoff frequency.
The Modern Drum Machine
When hardware manufacturers were able to merge a sequencer with a set of percussion sounds within the same device, then came the modern drum machine. This was a great step forward in the music industry, since it decreased the costs and challenges of the traditional recording process. And it did so by permitting music producers to generate unique drum patterns and record percussion sets using live drummers. When using a drum machine, the producer is able to plug one unit into the mixing board, press a button, and start the performance.
Drum Machines Step by Step
A drum machine is easy to use. You should start by setting up the kit. Then, select the drum sounds you’ll use. Lastly, adjust the multiple sounds. Voilà ! It’s easy to create your own unique patterns by simply setting up the time signature and the number of measures in the pattern. After that, you’ll be able to choose the resolution or number of steps in each measure.
However, before you start recording, it’s essential that you select a pattern number to record into. For this, you might have to erase the previous pattern beforehand. It’s important that you decide if you will be recording in real-time or if you’re going to step sequence. Afterwards, just play the buttons and let the metronome do the rest. Granted, it’s easier said than done. But when you’ve finished recording a drum machine pattern, you’ll be able to copy it so that you can alter the content and make variations. Repeat this process as many times as you like and string the pattern together to assemble an arrangement afterwards.
Drum Machines: the Quantization Feature
Most drum machines have a quantize or quantization feature which corrects timing errors automatically. This feature is very helpful for both new and professional players. Quantizing can eliminate small timing variations that add personality and a special feeling to a drum part. Yet, heavily quantized drum patterns might sound mechanical—and they are a trademark of industrial and techno styles.
Final Thoughts
One the one hand, the arrival of drum machines disrupted the careers of many professional studio drummers. On the other, they were also very helpful for beginners, since it offered them the opportunity and physical space to practice, acquire new skills, and create full-sounding quality drum tracks. To this day, rock performances do not widely accept drum machines. Regardless, they appear rather frequently in live performances of rap and electronic music styles.
