Baine
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 197
NJ shore
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Posted on May 19 2008 10:10 PM
I've been trying for a while to get around the whole no drummer thing. Started out with a cheap casio keyboard with some drum rhythms and key tones to do cymbals and tom toms, then went on to an Acid Rock recording program with drum loops, then a Zoom pedal with built in beats.
None very satisfying, particularly for home recording. (the Zoom pedal ain't great, but it will keep the beat when playing with a couple of guys and is fun).
My kids are no help either. My daughter seems to be a piano prodigy, damn her, and my son just wants to play the bass.
I've taken to putting drum machines on my ebay watch list, trying to get an idea of prices.
Is it worth investing some bucks in one? Can I get a useable rhythym and drum rolls and fills for recording? Or am I just gonna be spending more bucks for more frustration?
— "We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 19 2008 10:19 PM
If you have a decent lap top I would suggest buying a good program that you can program drum tracks onto. This way you can choose just what you want for each track and choose from hundreds of percussion samples.
If you have a Mac I suggest Reason or Logic. I don't have a mac but I know many bands who use it... and I don't really know what is good for the PC
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Spud
Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 666
Oz
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Posted on May 20 2008 05:34 AM
Just by pass the whole problem Baine and get a drummer, they're easily programmable, usually friendly, bring beer and you can always blame them if something goes wrong.
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Baine
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 197
NJ shore
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Posted on May 20 2008 07:32 AM
The drummers are supposed to bring beer?
I've been playing with the wrong guys.
— "We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11067
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on May 20 2008 07:40 AM
Baine, have you downloaded any of our SG101 member comps? There's lots of examples of us using drum machines. You can get a good idea of what they're capable of. Typically, a used one is easily obtained for under $100.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on May 20 2008 10:04 AM
The Alesis SR-16, which has been around for eons, is a great practice/demo recording tool. It is easy to use and has a couple of preset patterns that work well for perhaps 80% of the traditional surf songs. The drum sounds are samples of real drums and cymbals. Being a computer, it is artificially steady unlike a human drummer, so I wouldn't use it for a "real" CD project but it is fine for demo work. I've had mine for 10 years, and still use it for recording click tracks for our drummer.
Some guys like the Boss DR-880 as well. I've never tried one, but perhaps someone on here can expound on its merits. I chose the Alesis because it has fewer buttons and seemed to be simpler to operate for what I was going to use it for.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 20 2008 11:03 AM
maybe this thread can help:
Low Budget Drum Machine
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brandonio
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 885
Indianapolis, In
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Posted on May 20 2008 12:54 PM
Drum Machines never!  Try befriending a real drummer.There are millions of them out there.I'm sick of hearing programed drums.maybe you should buy a drum set yourself and learn the basics.As a drummer of 25 years playing comes very natural and quit easy.It will take sometime,but you'll get there.
— Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!
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Baine
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 197
NJ shore
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Posted on May 20 2008 08:18 PM
I checked out the thread. THat's what I was looking for. I'd been interested in the SR-16. Now I'm very interested!
THanks
— "We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .
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Baine
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 197
NJ shore
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Posted on May 23 2008 07:48 AM
Yikes!!
Came across this in a NY Times story about single indie musicians who record as bands, playing all the instruments themselves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/magazine/18bands-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin
The quote is from some guy named Owen Pallet, who performs as the band Final Fantasy
Drummers ruin bands, he said simply, as if the fact were common knowledge. There are probably about 10 people in indie rock who know how to play the drums. If youre in a mediocre band, just fire the drummer, and chances are youll have the best band in the world.
Now that's harsh!
— "We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .
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MadScientist
Joined: Jan 17, 2008
Posts: 2188
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on May 23 2008 08:05 AM
That's also incredibly ignorant, not to mention pretentious. Stupid statements like that give musicians a bad name.
—
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brandonio
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 885
Indianapolis, In
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Posted on May 23 2008 09:41 AM
Drummers ruin bands, he said simply, as if the fact were common knowledge. There are probably about 10 people in indie rock who know how to play the drums. If youre in a mediocre band, just fire the drummer, and chances are youll have the best band in the world.
That's guys music more than likely sucks ass! What freakin' dork ,one man bands are usually a huge sloppy mess. This idiot probably got bitch slapped by a drummer and is holding a grudge against every drummer in the world. What the hell is indie rock anyway?I'm mean really! 
I can only think of a few examples where programmed drums actually work Stereophonic Space Sounds Unlimited,Aqua Velvets,Servotron and Messer Chups.
I can not stress enough that your sound is more than likely going to benefit from a real live in the flesh drummer. 
— Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!
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Ben
Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 591
Encinitas, Ca
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Posted on May 23 2008 10:21 AM
Sorry if my reply is off topic...!
Who says one man bands are a huge sloppy mess?
My favorite one man band...and drum machine.
Captured! By Robots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zvU165DEYc&feature=related
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tenderfoot
Joined: Feb 01, 2007
Posts: 308
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Posted on May 23 2008 11:24 AM
I decided to go with a Casio Digital Percusion DD-55 as an alternative to a drum machine for making demos. The samples sound very good, though not all of them are appropriate for surf. However, the pads do not respond like real drums and can be very difficult to do rolls and fast fills. The foot pedals are worthless. I haven't recorded with it as of yet. But when I do, I am going to have to lay down a couple tracks for the drums, snare and bass then ride and fills or something like that. I think it will work, but not ideally.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 23 2008 05:11 PM
"DP" is one man band...a one man surf band...
http://www.myspace.com/dpsurfmaster
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 23 2008 05:14 PM
Ben
Sorry if my reply is off topic...!
Who says one man bands are a huge sloppy mess?
My favorite one man band...and drum machine.
Captured! By Robots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zvU165DEYc&feature=related
Man!...Captured! by Robots is pretty cool...sort of like Chuck E Cheese in Purgatory...I feel myself strangely admiring that setup!
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Baine
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 197
NJ shore
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Posted on May 23 2008 07:33 PM
What freakin' dork
I can not stress enough that your sound is more than likely going to benefit from a real live in the flesh drummer.
I agree. I like playing with drummers. My problem is that I can usually find more than enough guitarists willing to jam, but coming across guys who can play drums (particularly guys willing to play drums for a not-so-talented 40-something wannabe) is pretty tough.
— "We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .
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mournblade
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 328
central Pennsylvania
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Posted on May 23 2008 08:48 PM
— Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!?
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SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
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Posted on May 24 2008 02:35 AM
I think the important thing is that you make music however you can...with or without a drummer. Real drums ALWAYS sound better to me but real drummers are tough to find.
When MIDI drums are used I usually prefer fake rhythms; by that I mean I think it sounds worse when MIDI drums are trying to be real with fills, rolls, etc as opposed to having them play simplistic mechanical beats (trance, industrial, dance, etc)
...and for those who say it can't be done as a one man band without a real drummer...look how successful the White Stripes are! 
— www.apollo4.com
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oestmann
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 584
Adelaide
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Posted on May 24 2008 02:49 AM
I agree that it's much better playing with a real drummer, if you can find a good one. I've had the honour to play with some excellent drummers who really know how to kick. I've had an Alesis SR-16 for years and it's been good to me. The think that irks me most about drum machines are the cymbals and high hats. They never sound 'real'.
— Tim O
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