| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 740 Registered: 9-2002 |
Anyone here use a drum machine as part of their practice/writing process? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1030 Registered: 5-2009 |
A drum machine or even a metronome is a useful tool to instil a good sense of time . A "Click Track" in the studio will instantly reveal this aspect of a player . | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 741 Registered: 9-2002 |
yeah, ive always used a metronome....im just wondering if im missing out anything by not having a drum machine | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 558 Registered: 1-2008 |
Not that I agree with him, but Jeff Berlin is VEHEMENTLY opposed to using a metronome. There were some pretty good threads over on TalkBass where he personally took part in a rather nasty debate on the subject. My recollection is that Berlin actually got banned from the site for a period of time!!! Jeff seemed to be someone who is... let's say "never in doubt" about his opinion!!! | ||
| hb3
Senior Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 487 Registered: 2-2005 |
That's pretty funny. What was his argument? | ||
| brb9911
Member Username: brb9911 Post Number: 65 Registered: 10-2007 |
Check out these guys and their drum machine! Who needs a drummer anyway?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ThSi1wbqU | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 630 Registered: 6-2004 |
I've used a Roland TR-505 for years to practice with. http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/505.php | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 559 Registered: 1-2008 |
Apparently you are just supposed to have a perfect sense of timing ingrained in your DNA. It's your job as a bassist (and human-being) to express it!!! I concur with him that one should strive to develop your own "internal metronome", but while you're waiting for that to happen... you do what need to do!!! But he doesn't allow his students to use one. I've never used any type of timing device (other than a drummer), but I WAS a drummer for several years prior to picking-up the bass. | ||
| oddmetersam
Member Username: oddmetersam Post Number: 75 Registered: 7-2008 |
I've used an Alesis SR-16 for 10 years or so as a practice tool for odd meters. It's not meant to supplant a real drummer, though. But it sure takes up a lot less space and never drops a stick or breaks a bass drum head. The main difference between a metronome and a drum machine is that you can program stuff that actually inspires improvisation and helps you think like a drummer and see things more from their perspective. Uh, but don't tell Jeff I said that; it'll just be our little secret... | ||
| eligilam
Advanced Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 260 Registered: 2-2006 |
I use a good ole Roland R-5...I got it in 1989 and I've used it consistently to practice with (and occasionally record with) ever since. One cool thing you can do to practice chops and timing with a d.m.: find the writing mode on your device, come up with some time signature, then randomly add bass drum and snare throughout the "blank slots"...play it back and try to nail the accents and groove on it for a while until the random/bizarro resultant rhythm starts sounding smooth and second nature. Then, delete it all and do it again with some other time signature. Now that's what they call "good clean fun." [PS. I'm convinced this is how some Meshuggah and Soilent Green songs are originated....] (Message edited by eligilam on June 05, 2010) | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1031 Registered: 5-2009 |
The exception to where such devices might be "in your way" in my opinion is where one might play in "Tempo Rubato"; perhaps an expressive work of solo playing or other passages where one might speed up and slow down for the sake artistic expression . | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 781 Registered: 1-2005 |
I've been using iDrum for Mac - nice fairly intuitive interface, plus the newest version allows odd time signatures! But I don't use it to practice, more for sketching things out. | ||
| jedisan
Intermediate Member Username: jedisan Post Number: 133 Registered: 3-2008 |
I have a Roland 626 that I have used for years on my home recordings. I would always prefer the real thing, but this machine is quite nice, as it has individual outs for each drum. Also, I believe Jeff Berlin was permanently banned from Talkbass. He is sort of a firebrand. | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 562 Registered: 1-2008 |
Google "Jeff Berlin Metronome" and check-out the hits from TalkBass. He was using the handle "cwazywabbit" on one thread and his real name on another (you can see they were both banned). I just asked for some information on his "1 Week Intensive Course"... I gotta meet this guy!!! Stratospheric arrogance aside, he IS an incredible player. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1227 Registered: 11-2004 |
I use the drum unit in my Zoom B1u, it too also has metronome click to keep you in time | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1228 Registered: 11-2004 |
I find it hard to believe(but obviously true) that a professional musician would state that about timing devices ie metronome being opposed to because it should be inside you at birth. Is this the same all skills?? can we get on a bike/car/motorcycle and safely control it, can you read and write without being taught?, do we need to develop interpersonal skills or is it with us at birth? I think not.... but I don't want to start one of those controversial threads! | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 563 Registered: 1-2008 |
I think Berlin just has a whole different approach to music... almost mathematical. He is fairly demeaning to those players who are more "technique" oriented (they are often not rooted in theory: HEY... you played a B# 32nd note and it should have been a B!!!). Whereas most of us went to the music store, bought a bass, and started learning "Smoke on the Water", he is classically trained. If you play for as long and as intensely as he has, you probably DON'T need anything to keep you in time. But how about some acknowledgment for those not as fortunate? I'm seriously going to try and fit his 1 week course into my schedule. For some reason, I usually get along with people who have polarizing personalities. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1229 Registered: 11-2004 |
Good luck Mike1762!! | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 805 Registered: 3-2004 |
I've also got an Alesis SR-16, although mine was sold under the Ion brand as part of an electronic drum kit (same unit, different label). For the price they're hard to go wrong with, and I really enjoy practicing with it. (Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 07, 2010) | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1405 Registered: 9-2002 |
I practiced with a metronoe for years as a kid taking piano lessons. I prefer playing with a drum machine as it's just not so dry, and BTW, we play with drummers ! In my case, while I had a fair 'innate' sense of time, after all that time with a metronome I was much better. On gigs I could tell instantly if we were dragging or rushing, for all the good it did me (none). I have pulled drummers around by the short and curlies at times. I found that if the band as a whole let the time 'breathe' a little, it was exciting. If however, I'm on time and the drummer was behind, the keys were rushing, the pulse at the center was lost and it would never groove. Jeff's idea is that a professional is a professional. Period, end of story. He's very opinionated, and somewhat angry. I admire big parts of the guy, but for some folks he takes all the fun out of it. J o e y | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 450 Registered: 9-2008 |
I pratice with my old Roland R-8 but on producing I use plug ins like EZ Drummer or any Sampler available | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 555 Registered: 4-2004 |
Greg, I grew up w/ the Alesis SR-16.... I actually think Kevin's Ion is slightly different, the old ones never had trigger inputs... 10 years ago I moved on to Reason which was revolutionary, as the sequencer was easier to tweak, plus I was able to slice live drum tracks that I had in Pro Tools and sample those! | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 806 Registered: 3-2004 |
Mike, There's actually a second box that came with the drum set that converts the signal from the pads to midi, which is then used to trigger the drum machine via the midi cable input(if I understand how everything works properly). Just from looking at the specs of the Alesis, it sure looks like the same thing, but I'm by no means any sort of expert. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 558 Registered: 4-2004 |
No Kev, not to doubt you, but I've seen the same plastic molding that belonged to the SR-16 as the "brain" of an electronic set a couple of years back. The only difference was the back panel had a bunch of trigger inputs for the pads in place of the aux outputs and Midi I/O/thru.... Even back then I was scratching my head because the original SR-16 was almost 20 years old at the time!!! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1998 Registered: 6-2002 |
How's this for an electronic drummer!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u02ATWhWV4&feature=related Is this the new "future man"? Jazzyvee | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 814 Registered: 3-2004 |
A picture is worth a thousand words . . . (Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 24, 2010) | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 815 Registered: 3-2004 |
So I found this picture of one that is identical to mine. You can see the other box below that I was describing.  (Message edited by hydrargyrum on June 24, 2010) | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 299 Registered: 5-2007 |
I have and use an Alesis SR-16. But I must say the owner's manual just plain sucks. I once tried to get it to play time signatures other than 4/4 and I failed. Perhaps this is a reflection of me, rather than the manual or equipment... but I'm not ready to go there yet. |
