Best drum machine on Reddit
385 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/DrumMachine, r/TechnoProduction and 19 more subreddits
385 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Roland
4.4
(80)
"MC 707 for sure"
"A used Roland TR-8 is perfect as a first machine."
"TR8S or Digitakt 2."
"TR 6S"
"Splurge and get a used TR-8S."
"I would advise you a model samples because of modern sequencer."
"I really enjoy the sp404mkii it’s got a lot to give 🙌"
"I’m partial to the Roland SP-404 mk 2 sampler."
"TR-6S or 8S"
"Used Roland TR-6S."
#2
Elektron
4.5
(61)
"Digitakt 1 is an incredible machine for the money they’re going for."
"OG Digitakt 100%. Amazing sequencer, can sound like anything you can sample, and the midi sequencer tracks will unlock your mininova in crazy unthinkabke ways"
"I would look for a used Digitakt. Really can't beat it."
"For pure versatility and synthesis, I would recommend the Syntakt over the Digitakt."
"Just get a used Elektron Digitakt 1. Best bang for your buck at this moment."
"Grab a dijtakt mk1, quite cheap right now used."
"Used Elektron Digitakt 1"
"Elektron DT/DT2/Syntakt would be great at this."
"Digitakt is one of the most intuitive sequencers I’ve ever used."
"Elektron digitakt. The mark 1 is now much lower in price."
#3
Korg
4.0
(48)
"I love the Korg KR- mini for jamming, its extremely simplistic."
"I'm gonna be bold an recommend a Volca Sample 2, Volca Drum, or Volca Kick."
"Volca sample2 is the best beats maker currently."
"If you can get a Drumlogue on that half price sale... that would be a very good idea."
"For lofi? The Volca Drum! Hands down."
"Get a volca sample plus a dark matter distortion pedal and thank me later."
"Tons of capabilities In a tiny machine."
"A simple and fun drum machine would be the Korg Volca Sample 2."
"Korg Volca Sample 2 seems to fit what you're looking for."
"I see a Native Instruments MKII, some Korg's, Boss drum machines, and plenty of Akai."
#4
Alesis
3.9
(38)
"I got a 2nd hand SR-16 on Ebay for £30-ish."
"Sr16 is awesome."
"Alesis SR16, it’s cheap and 80s/90s sounding, also easy to use."
"Alesia SR 16 or 18"
"Worth trying the Aksel’s SR-18."
"For learning purposes I would strongly advocate for drum machine with bass."
"The Alesis seems like the best simple choice that meets the needs."
"I second the Alesis stuff. Tons of decent acoustic sounds."
"It is my first and only drum machine, and it sounds like you have much more knowledge than I do."
"Beginner here, I‘m using an Alesis SR-16 and it makes practicing a lot more fun."
#5
Arturia
4.2
(30)
"Intuitive and beginner-friendly - used Arturia Drumbrute Impact"
"Save up for a Drumbrute Impact. You will not regret."
"I love my DrumBrute Impact. Very easy to work with, and I like the analog sounds."
"Two popular suggestions here will be the RD-6 and the Drumbrute Impact."
"I second the Drum Brute Impact.. Goes well with my 303 clone and Minilogue XD."
"Arturia Drumbrute Impact."
"Can't go wrong with a Drumbrute Impact that thing is serious fun."
"I can't help _LOVING_ the DrumBrute Impact for fun, ease of use."
"I'd go with a RD-6 myself."
"I now have a drumbrute impact which seems to be what i want."
#6
Akai
4.3
(16)
"MPC ONE or MPC 500"
"Get an MPC Live!"
"I highly recommend the Akai MPC Live 2."
"Akai XR-20"
"An MPC One. The do-it-all machine."
"MPC is my main platform, so I won’t go on about that too much."
"Best get a second hand, older unit. Something like an Akai XR20 or even a Boss DR660."
"Akai has the best overall package. The MPC standalone capability makes it a complete music production."
"Find someone selling a cheap akai xr20?"
"I’m seeing a lot of MPC Lives and Keys at work nowadays."
#7
Behringer
4.1
(14)
"Behringer has Roland clones for cheap cheap cheap. Easy to use. Classic sounds. Can get an rd6 for around $100."
"Behringer RD-9 or Behringer RD-8 I would recommend."
"RD9 is a ton of fun, flexible, easy to program, sounds great."
"Behringer just announced lm drum clone check it. It is under your budget."
"I enjoy using my behringer rd6 close of a tr606."
"Go behringer rd6."
"I'm quite smitten with the 606/RD6 sound."
"An RD6 pairs well with a 303."
"Get a used behringer rd8 (808 clone) for like $250."
"Behringer RD-6, Liven LoFi-12, Arturia Drumbrute."
#8
Novation
4.3
(8)
"IMO a (used) Circuit Rhythm blows a lot of the other recommendations out the water."
"Novation Circuit Rhythm. Simple, cheap, fun, faster than every other groovebox imo."
"[Novation Circuit Rhythm](https://youtu.be/R0q7FPHNerQ?si=EnK8fnVWQH5jUrSW)"
"I got the Circuit Rhythm - does exactly what it says on the tin."
"A used Novation Circuit Rhythm. I actually picked one up for $200 Cdn new - it was a Xmas sale."
"If you want a “performance friendly” drum machine: Novation Circuit Rhythm."
"2nd hand novation circuit Rhythm"
"Used Novation Circuit Rhythm will cost you about $250."
#9
Digitakt
5.0
(6)
"Google parameter locking. And then buy the Digitakt :)"
"Can I say 'Digitakt OG' again?"
"I'd second a digitakt if you've got the scratch."
"Probably Digitakt."
"If you want maximum flexibility, get a sampler like the Digitakt."
"Digitakt or tr8s 🔥"
#10
Singular Sound
4.3
(7)
"This is what I use. Really works great."
"BeatBuddy to the rescue!"
"My buddy uses this pedal, there's a bunch of similar pedals that do the same thing at different price points."
"I picked up a used BeatBuddy and like it."
"The BeatBuddy is a great pedal but it's pricey."
"You might want to take a look at a Singular Sound Beat Buddy."
"If you just want to have something to play along to, there's Beat Buddy."
#11
Drum Genius
4.5
(4)
"Drum genius app"
"Download the Drum Genius app. It will change your life!"
"Drum genius is pretty good!"
"Drum Genius app"
#12
GGD
4.5
(4)
"I use GGD myself. Lots of Neural DSP users also use GGD."
"GGD stuff is great."
"I personally gravitate toward GGD Modern and Massive."
"GGD is amazing."
#13
Circuit
4.3
(4)
"Circuit rhythm. Easy to use."
"Circuit Rhythm"
"Used Circuit Rhythm goes for about $250, maybe lower."
"Circuit Rhythm and load it up with drum samples?"
#14
NI
4.3
(4)
"I’m on the same boat as you, recently got an used Maschine MK3 and it’s wonderful."
"Used Maschine mk3. Make sure software license is included in the deal."
"I haven't seen it mentioned yet, probably because it's a controller rather than a full drum machine."
"NI has the best pads. So if the pads are all you concern about, Maschine (Mikro) MK3 is the way to go."
#15
Analog Rytm
5.0
(3)
"Analog Rytm. Great out of the box drum machine."
"Analog rytm is the best drum machine."
"Analog Rytm"
#16
Digitech
3.8
(4)
"Look into the Digitech Trio."
"Check out the digitech trio plus."
"SDRUM is more for guitar players, but it could probably work with a little ingenuity."
"Haven't seen anyone mention the Digitech SDRUM yet."
#17
Addictive Drums
4.7
(3)
"Addictive Drums 2."
"Addictive Drums is insanely good"
"I use Addictive Drums. There’s a ton of premade beats in the plugin."
#18
Erica Synths
4.3
(3)
"I think you would really like the Erica Synths LXR-02."
"Erica Synth LXR-02 might be worth a look."
"LXR-02 is a beautiful drum machine for techno, it's $600, maybe you can find it used to stay within your budget."
#19
Monster Drums
4.3
(3)
"Monster Drums also free."
"A good and versatile free one: Monster Drums."
"I'd give Monster Drums a try."
#20
Boss
4.0
(3)
"I see a Native Instruments MKII, some Korg's, Boss drum machines, and plenty of Akai."
"Have you looked at the Boss DR-01s?"
"I think the Boss DR-5 is excellent for what you describe."
#21
Teenage Engineering
3.7
(3)
"Maybe something in the Teenage Engineering pocket operator line."
"The Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator series is great and fairly inexpensive."
"The cheapest version of this would be a Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator."
#22
Elektron Octatrack
5.0
(2)
"Elektron is the better one by a lot; The sequencer is much better, overbridge simplifies a lot."
"Just get an Octatrack"
#23
SP404
5.0
(2)
"The Sp404 Mk2 is amazing and they run for $300ish used all the time."
"The sp404mk2 is my drum machine. I'll fill up an entire bank of the pattern sequencer with variations."
#24
Wave Alchemy
5.0
(2)
"Just get Triaz by Wave Alchemy."
"Wave Alchemy Triaz is an impressive drum machine."
#25
Superior Drummer
5.0
(2)
"You want superior drummer 3."
"SD3 all the way."
#26
BeatBuddy
4.5
(2)
"Super easy to use and adjust to different song layouts, and really high quality sounding drums."
"A friend uses a Beat Buddy and likes it."
#27
Linndrum
4.5
(2)
"You could load up any modern drum machine or sampler with Linn drum samples."
"Linndrummmm."
#28
Elektron Digitakt
4.5
(2)
"Look for a used Elektron Digitakt OG."
"I sample into the digitakt sometimes with my TR6s."
#29
Tempest
4.5
(2)
"I got a tempest and it’s awesome."
"Tempest probably"
#30
Linn
4.5
(2)
"Linn for drums."
"Its mostly a synth based city pop 9/10 its gonna be a linndrum specifically LM1."
#31
MPC
4.0
(2)
"MPC 1000 or 2500 with JJOS"
"MPC 1000"
#32
Koala Sampler
4.0
(2)
"It has a sequencer so patterns can be entered that way."
"I'm a big proponent of Koala Sampler just because it's cheap and easy."
#33
Loopz
4.0
(2)
"Loopz app on your phone does about 90% of that."
"The app Loopz is great for this."
#34
Yamaha
4.0
(2)
"You might want to look for a used, compact Yamaha QY model."
"Ones used a lot in 80s productions include Yamaha RX5/7."
#35
MFB
3.5
(2)
"2nd Hand MFB Tanzmaus"
"MFB Tanzmaus. Not good as a performance instrument, but is an excellent sound source."
#36
Elektron Rytm MK2
5.0
(1)
"What about selling the digitakt and go for an elektron rytm mk2?"
#37
Zoom MRT3
4.0
(1)
"Zoom mrt3 sounds great"
#38
Decimator
4.0
(1)
"Just get decimator :)"
#39
Plugin Alliance
4.0
(1)
"Plugin alliance battalion is absolute mental."
#40
Nord
4.0
(1)
"Nord Drum 3P."
#41
Simmons
4.0
(1)
"Simmons sds is also another alternative."
#42
Pulsar
4.0
(1)
"Pulsar 23 perhaps? I like the idea of sampler too."
#43
Native Instruments
4.0
(1)
"If you look on Reverb, there are a ton of around 100 dollar used drum machines that will fit the bill much better than that pedal."
#44
Dr. Groove
4.0
(1)
"I would go with Dr. Groove because he's a licensed groove practician."
#45
EZdrummer
4.0
(1)
"Ezdrummer is pretty good."
#46
Oberheim
3.0
(1)
"You could go for an Oberheim DMX or a Linndrum but they are crazy expensive."
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