In all then, it’s a subtle, but very well-targeted upgrade to the original design. Users of the original may also be casting envious glances at the increased memory which now tops out at 200 slots, double that of the original. The inclusion of the USB port is the most welcome addition, with the original's over-reliance on iOS connectivity not one of its strong points.
Thankfully Korg took it upon itself to right this particular wrong by updating the sampler with a micro USB port, greater memory, plus sequencer and MIDI improvements. When we first reviewed the diminutive sampler, however, there were a few niggles that we felt hampered the instrument, with the most notable caveat being that lack of digital connectivity. Korg's Volca range took a turn in a new direction back in 2014 with the launch of the Volca Sample, proving that the 'people's synth' range could be more than just analogue revivalist instruments.
Read our full Teenage Engineering PO-32 review While they can be slightly fiddly to use, these machines are great fun, sound great and come at a very affordable price. You can create a whole full song with the onboard 64 patterns and pattern chaining, and also sync the Pocket Operators with each other and to other gear. This last model is the pick of the bunch as it enables you to import sounds from Sonic Charge's MicroTonic drum synth plugin, allowing users to completely alter and overwrite its sonic palette. Other models like the PO-33 K.O! and PO-133 Street Fighter include sampling so you can add your own custom beats. There are three drum/percussion products in the range: the PO-12 rhythm the PO-24 office, which deals in noise percussion and the PO-32 tonic.
Looking more like barebones calculators than drum machines, Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators are fun and surprisingly flexible sound makers that can be had for a low price. In terms of getting classic sounds, the Behringer RD-8 will give you 808s almost as good as the real thing, while Roland's own TR-6S gives you all the XOX kits and more, for not a lot more than the Behringer.įinally for the full groovebox experience, Novation's Circuit Tracks is a fantastic sequel to the original Circuit with excellent sequencing, synth and drum sounds. At the top-end of the scale we'd also still heartily recommend the Elektron Analog Rytm MkII, although the company's much cheaper Elektron Model:Cycles gets you some of the Elektron magic for far less. We have budget-friendly depth in the form of the Teenage Engineering PO 32, which certainly offers a lot more than its looks might suggest, and Korg's Volca Beats is also still a great buy at the lower end of the price range.
We're including no less than 15 current models in our round up and there are plenty of new machines set to hit the market including Behringer's long-awaited RD-9, Korg’s Drumlogue, Modor’s DR-2 and Koka’s Pocket Beatbox, a portable multisampling drum machine that looks very interesting indeed. You can get a measure of just how popular the drum machine market is by how many new machines are available or set to be released over coming months. They come in all shapes and sizes: from cheaper beat makers that provide great, workhorse sounds for many genres, right up to full-blown grooveboxes that will add bass and lead synth and sample parts to those beats. Each one of the best drum machines in our round-up works as a standalone unit without the need for any other gear.
Drum machines are therefore in demand for everything from live performances to adding that elusive analogue clout to a computer-based mix.