Best drum machine on Reddit

390 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/DrumMachine, r/TechnoProduction and 20 more subreddits

390 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Roland

4.4

(79)

"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."

"Another vote for the TR-8!"

"Straight up. No hesitation... it’s the 808."

Elektron

4.5

(52)

"Just get a used Elektron Digitakt 1. Best bang for your buck at this moment."

"Grab a dijtakt mk1, quite cheap right now used."

"I can find a used elekteon analog rytm mk1 for 600-650€."

"Elektron digitakt. The mark 1 is now much lower in price."

"If you want the most flexibility, then get something that plays back samples."

"Elektron Model:Samples is my top recommendation."

"Seconding the digitakt OG, amazing drum machine that will take your money the farthest."

"One of the electron models starter boxes will get you in track 100% music never came so easily until I got mine."

"I honestly can't think of a better drum machine for the price."

"Analog RYTM for me hands down."

Korg

4.0

(48)

"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."

"Korg Volca Sample"

"Volcas are cheap and easy for beginners with any music experience to learn."

"I think I'd go with the korg Volca sample, as it is a nice sounding machine."

"Flexible - Korg Drumlogue, used Roland TR8"

Alesis

4.0

(33)

"I got a 2nd hand SR-16 on Ebay for £30-ish."

"Sr16 is awesome."

"The Alesis seems like the best simple choice that meets the needs."

"I second the Alesis stuff. Tons of decent acoustic sounds."

"Beginner here, I‘m using an Alesis SR-16 and it makes practicing a lot more fun."

"Alesis SR-18, Elektron products (e.g. Model Sampl"

"I really like the Alessis SR-18. Really well thought out, not too horrible to program."

"Another vote for the SR-16.. best bang for $100."

"Maybe look into a alesis sr 16."

"The Alesis. Get the Alesis thing."

Arturia

4.3

(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."

"An Arturia Drum Brute would be better suited for live performances."

"The Arturia DrumBrute Impact is pretty great analog drum machine."

Akai

4.4

(17)

"MPC ONE or MPC 500"

"Get an MPC Live!"

"I highly recommend the Akai MPC Live 2."

"I'm gonna just order an Akai Force and get everything in one box."

"Akai XR-20"

"An MPC One. The do-it-all machine."

"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."

"I’m seeing a lot of MPC Lives and Keys at work nowadays."

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."

"I enjoy using my behringer rd6 close of a tr606."

"Real drum machine."

"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."

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."

"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."

"I think the most affordable option would be getting an OG Novation Circuit."

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

Teenage Engineering

3.8

(6)

"Maybe the Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO! or KO 2 (smaller and larger versions of a sampler)"

"Go for a cheap Teenage Engineering or Korg Volca model."

"Pocket operator 12 or volca beats."

"The Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator series is great and fairly inexpensive."

"The cheapest version of this would be a Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator."

"Teenage Engineering PO-12. It‘s quite limited but gritty as hell."

#11

NI

4.2

(5)

"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."

"I would just get an old R8, or a Maschine plus or Ableton Push."

"NI has the best pads. So if the pads are all you concern about, Maschine (Mikro) MK3 is the way to go."

#12

Singular Sound

4.2

(5)

"BeatBuddy to the rescue!"

"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."

#13

Erica Synths

4.5

(4)

"Erica Synths Perkons HD-01"

"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."

#14

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?"

#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

Boss

3.8

(4)

"The Boss has a good variety of sounds from nice vanilla acoustic kits through the usual TR808s and 909s."

"Grab a boss rc5 looper pedal. Gets you a looper with a boatload of built in drum beats."

"I think the Boss DR-5 is excellent for what you describe."

"The RC-10R is pretty capable but Boss's software f"

#17

SP404

4.7

(3)

"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."

"I’d suggest a used SP404. You have to record your own samples but it’ll likely teach you some useful skills and you’ll grow with it."

#18

MPC

4.0

(3)

"MPC 1000 or 2500 with JJOS"

"I like MPC's because they have great sample editing and sequencing in one box."

"MPC 1000"

#19

Digitech

3.7

3.5

3.0

(1)

"The free version has some bog standard beats that are good enough."

#70

MFB

3.0

(1)

"MFB Tanzmaus. Not good as a performance instrument, but is an excellent sound source."

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