A band member brought a Beat Buddy to practice the other day

GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on May 27 2016 11:50 AM

Looking for a drummer. Auditioned three of them. Not to seem harsh but the term "flakes" applies.

Our second guitar player brought a Beat Buddy to practice, he had spent some setting it up for our setlists.

It rocked! Was cool how it can do fills, etc. with just a stomp of the pedal. Great for practice. I wouldn't even have any heartburn gigging with it.

You do what you gotta do.

Top

SixStringSurfer

Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1436
Memphis, TN
United States

Posted on May 27 2016 11:57 AM

This may be an option for us, as we can't seem to find a drummer either. I wonder how difficult the programming part is?

—

MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale.

Top

JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on May 27 2016 02:35 PM

I downloaded Funkbox2 from Mac App Store for $5 and it works great! Sounds like any number of old rhythm boxes.

—

Squink Out!

Top

elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Aug 01 2017 05:08 PM

We have been performing as a duo using a mid-80's Roland CR-1000 drum machine for over 10 years. I have 2 of them, in case one breaks. My tech says any of the things that can go wrong can be fixed. I'm thinking of getting a Beat buddy or Beat buddy mini. Anyone else tried either?

Top

drumsdick

Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 225
Central CT, USA
United States

Posted on Aug 01 2017 08:42 PM

This just in from the "Ya do what ya gotta do" dept:
Back in March, I would be away for one of our "Aquatudes" cocktail gigs. We had been recording our 10th anniversary album of original tunes, so we had my drum tracks in the can. We recorded a few more drum tracks from our repertoire of cocktail set covers. Aqua Tom and Mike played the gig with my drum tracks pumped through the PA. Watch sample below. My big solo happens at about 1:05. Talk about "phoning it in"! Fun stuff!

—

*Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521

Last edited: Aug 01, 2017 20:44:26

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bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
1 Security Pin

Posted on Aug 02 2017 05:31 AM

Interesting to say the least. In this area there's what I call "The Drummer Drought", as noted by a previous reply pickings are slim and the response you get from an ad tends to be marginal at best. Will have to check the Beat Buddy out, believe my tech has one, now to get my hands on it.

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2296
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Aug 04 2017 02:03 PM

Hola Ghost did it for several years both in studio and live and it was pretty cool

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Last edited: Aug 04, 2017 14:04:51

Top

CreepBeat

Joined: Feb 25, 2016
Posts: 242
Seattle, WA
United States

Posted on Aug 04 2017 02:14 PM

Sad to hear. Surf drumming is a blast! Kids these days...

—

Skins for The Delstroyers

Top

WoodyJ

Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1549
Bethlehem, GA
United States

Posted on Aug 04 2017 10:34 PM

I got a Beat Buddy soon after they were introduced to replace an old Alesis SR-16 drum machine I used in the studio for scratch tracks and occasionally some "enhancement" for a live drum track.

The Beat Buddy is a really useful piece of gear. Entire sets can be programmed which makes it useful for gigging if a live drummer is unavailable. As good as the SR-16 was back in its day, the BB does a really respectable job of replicating a live drummer - because all the patterns within were actually recorded by a live drummer. I don't play live gigs anymore but I don't see why a BB wouldn't work well in a live situation if amplified properly. It is very useful in the studio.

And there are some serious advantages of having a Beat Buddy on hand in the event that your band can't find that elusive "right" drummer....

The Beat Buddy always plays at the volume you want it to.
The Beat Buddy has a more diverse arsenal of drum patterns than the average live drummer.
The Beat Buddy is always "on the beat", no speeding up or dragging.
The Beat Buddy is always on time to rehearsals and gigs.
Once you get past the initial investment, the Beat Buddy plays for free.
The Beat Buddy stays sober and never complains.
The Beat Buddy doesn't try to steal anyone's girlfriend.

—

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025+

The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Top

bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
1 Security Pin

Posted on Aug 05 2017 07:02 AM

Beat Buddy arrived two days ago, yesterday I took it to practice, current project is an acoustic duo (sorry, not surf). Amazing it took this long to put a drum machine in a pedal format, brilliant idea that works great. Even better it manages to not sound like a robot drummer. Would I use it with a full band? Depends on the band and the music, but it's definitely doable.

Top

Squid

Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1019
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
18 News Pins

Posted on Aug 05 2017 12:50 PM

More advantages for Beat Buddy:

Keeps the setlist.
Compact. More compact than a drummer.

Disadvantages:
If (while attempting to trigger a fill) you press the main pedal twice the beat stops. There is supposed to be a new way around this that diverts the stop function to the auxiliary switches, I have to find it.

It takes time and effort to program it, and also to keep up with software updates. I wish I had a lot more skill in handling MIDI.

Observations:
It is too easy to dislodge the SD card. I posted a brief YouTube video on an easy way to keep the SD card in place. This method continues to work for me 100%. https://youtu.be/is-y_jxDytk

I invested the effort and time to find and install a variety of surf and surf-compatible beats and fills. Tunes similar to Pipeline are easy to program for. Slower and more complex songs can be obstructed by incongruous fills.

To sound like a real drummer it should be played through a PA or a bass guitar amp. Getting bass drum (deep lows), cymbals (high highs) and a fair balance across the frequency range requires more than most electric guitar amps can deliver.

—

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Aug 05, 2017 12:57:52

Top

GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on May 27 2016 11:50 AM Looking for a drummer. Auditioned three of them. Not to seem harsh but the term "flakes" applies. Our second guitar player brought a Beat Buddy to practice, he had spent some setting it up for our setlists. It rocked! Was cool how it can do fills, etc. with just a stomp of the pedal. Great for practice. I wouldn't even have any heartburn gigging with it. You do what you gotta do. Top
SixStringSurfer Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1436 Memphis, TN	Posted on May 27 2016 11:57 AM This may be an option for us, as we can't seem to find a drummer either. I wonder how difficult the programming part is? — MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale. Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on May 27 2016 02:35 PM I downloaded Funkbox2 from Mac App Store for $5 and it works great! Sounds like any number of old rhythm boxes. — Squink Out! Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Aug 01 2017 05:08 PM We have been performing as a duo using a mid-80's Roland CR-1000 drum machine for over 10 years. I have 2 of them, in case one breaks. My tech says any of the things that can go wrong can be fixed. I'm thinking of getting a Beat buddy or Beat buddy mini. Anyone else tried either? Top
drumsdick Joined: May 29, 2007 Posts: 225 Central CT, USA	Posted on Aug 01 2017 08:42 PM This just in from the "Ya do what ya gotta do" dept: Back in March, I would be away for one of our "Aquatudes" cocktail gigs. We had been recording our 10th anniversary album of original tunes, so we had my drum tracks in the can. We recorded a few more drum tracks from our repertoire of cocktail set covers. Aqua Tom and Mike played the gig with my drum tracks pumped through the PA. Watch sample below. My big solo happens at about 1:05. Talk about "phoning it in"! Fun stuff! — *Dick B. The Aquatudes http://www.aquatudes.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521 Last edited: Aug 01, 2017 20:44:26 Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Aug 02 2017 05:31 AM Interesting to say the least. In this area there's what I call "The Drummer Drought", as noted by a previous reply pickings are slim and the response you get from an ad tends to be marginal at best. Will have to check the Beat Buddy out, believe my tech has one, now to get my hands on it. Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2296 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Aug 04 2017 02:03 PM Hola Ghost did it for several years both in studio and live and it was pretty cool — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Last edited: Aug 04, 2017 14:04:51 Top
CreepBeat Joined: Feb 25, 2016 Posts: 242 Seattle, WA	Posted on Aug 04 2017 02:14 PM Sad to hear. Surf drumming is a blast! Kids these days... — Skins for The Delstroyers Top
WoodyJ Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1549 Bethlehem, GA	Posted on Aug 04 2017 10:34 PM I got a Beat Buddy soon after they were introduced to replace an old Alesis SR-16 drum machine I used in the studio for scratch tracks and occasionally some "enhancement" for a live drum track. The Beat Buddy is a really useful piece of gear. Entire sets can be programmed which makes it useful for gigging if a live drummer is unavailable. As good as the SR-16 was back in its day, the BB does a really respectable job of replicating a live drummer - because all the patterns within were actually recorded by a live drummer. I don't play live gigs anymore but I don't see why a BB wouldn't work well in a live situation if amplified properly. It is very useful in the studio. And there are some serious advantages of having a Beat Buddy on hand in the event that your band can't find that elusive "right" drummer.... The Beat Buddy always plays at the volume you want it to. The Beat Buddy has a more diverse arsenal of drum patterns than the average live drummer. The Beat Buddy is always "on the beat", no speeding up or dragging. The Beat Buddy is always on time to rehearsals and gigs. Once you get past the initial investment, the Beat Buddy plays for free. The Beat Buddy stays sober and never complains. The Beat Buddy doesn't try to steal anyone's girlfriend. — Jack Booth (aka WoodyJ) The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025+ The Hula Hounds (1996-2000) The X-Rays (1997-2004) The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012) Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990) Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Aug 05 2017 07:02 AM Beat Buddy arrived two days ago, yesterday I took it to practice, current project is an acoustic duo (sorry, not surf). Amazing it took this long to put a drum machine in a pedal format, brilliant idea that works great. Even better it manages to not sound like a robot drummer. Would I use it with a full band? Depends on the band and the music, but it's definitely doable. Top
Squid Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 1019 Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers	Posted on Aug 05 2017 12:50 PM More advantages for Beat Buddy: Keeps the setlist. Compact. More compact than a drummer. Disadvantages: If (while attempting to trigger a fill) you press the main pedal twice the beat stops. There is supposed to be a new way around this that diverts the stop function to the auxiliary switches, I have to find it. It takes time and effort to program it, and also to keep up with software updates. I wish I had a lot more skill in handling MIDI. Observations: It is too easy to dislodge the SD card. I posted a brief YouTube video on an easy way to keep the SD card in place. This method continues to work for me 100%. https://youtu.be/is-y_jxDytk I invested the effort and time to find and install a variety of surf and surf-compatible beats and fills. Tunes similar to Pipeline are easy to program for. Slower and more complex songs can be obstructed by incongruous fills. To sound like a real drummer it should be played through a PA or a bass guitar amp. Getting bass drum (deep lows), cymbals (high highs) and a fair balance across the frequency range requires more than most electric guitar amps can deliver. — Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com Last edited: Aug 05, 2017 12:57:52 Top

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A band member brought a Beat Buddy to practice the other day