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  #1  
Old 06-26-2022, 04:49 AM
joelhunn joelhunn is offline
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Default Using a Drum Machine for a metronome?

Anyone do it? I’m traveling this week and using a cheap little Kong with the most annoying beep. Got me started thinking about a drum machine app on my phone. That led me down the path to a beat buddy pedal. Way overkill for what I want but it got me curious
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Old 06-26-2022, 05:41 AM
Bob from Brooklyn Bob from Brooklyn is offline
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A drum machine is a metronome with possibilities.
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Old 06-26-2022, 06:57 AM
BoxCar_Joe BoxCar_Joe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joelhunn View Post
Anyone do it? I’m traveling this week and using a cheap little Kong with the most annoying beep. Got me started thinking about a drum machine app on my phone. That led me down the path to a beat buddy pedal. Way overkill for what I want but it got me curious
I've had a Beatbuddy for years and have frequently used it as a metronome.
Overkill is correct, but honestly I wish every metronome had a few options like the BB does.
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Old 06-26-2022, 10:00 AM
FrankHudson FrankHudson is offline
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For me (and I may be wrong for you -- or even for myself) I find it hard to feel time with a simple metronome. So, I've always preferred to practice with a drum track. The one problem (shared with a metronome) with quick and dirty drum tracks is that they don't drag or push or change tempo without tweaking. Playing with real humans you need to listen/feel that sort of change too.
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Old 06-26-2022, 10:19 AM
Joe Beamish Joe Beamish is offline
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I wish I liked the drum machine apps available for iPhone. There are some good ones for desktop online but they aren’t terribly convenient to use, so I just stick to a metronome.
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Old 06-26-2022, 10:22 AM
RRuskin RRuskin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joelhunn View Post
Anyone do it? I’m traveling this week and using a cheap little Kong with the most annoying beep. Got me started thinking about a drum machine app on my phone. That led me down the path to a beat buddy pedal. Way overkill for what I want but it got me curious
I use a drum machine all the time instead of a click track in the studio.
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Old 06-26-2022, 10:32 AM
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Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
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When I am playing sessions I find it much better to play to either a guide drum track or the recorded drums. With nothing except a click, I tend to obsess over playing in the pocket... at the expense of playing with feeling. Drop in a drum track, even a metronomic scratch track, and I immediately play with more swing and feeling. As a result, when I am producing songs and building them up from scratch, the drum track always goes in before I play guitar or bass.

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Old 06-26-2022, 11:19 AM
joelhunn joelhunn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Beamish View Post
I wish I liked the drum machine apps available for iPhone. There are some good ones for desktop online but they aren’t terribly convenient to use, so I just stick to a metronome.


Since I’m traveling for a couple of weeks, I picked up a $7 app. “Drum Beats+”. I’m working on a David Hamburger lesson and a simple 4/4 cojon beat seems to work ok.
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Old 06-26-2022, 11:25 AM
gfirob gfirob is offline
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Some time during Covid I got a Beat buddy to practice with and to work on my tempo issues. This year, as musicians got back together, a lead guitar player friend said “Man, I can hear you have been practicing with a metronome….

I would much rather use a drum pedal than a metronome, just more fun to play with.
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Old 06-26-2022, 11:58 AM
westview westview is offline
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I sometimes practice with a drum machine. Alesis SR 16.
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Old 06-26-2022, 06:00 PM
Joe Beamish Joe Beamish is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westview View Post
I sometimes practice with a drum machine. Alesis SR 16.

I’ve never tried one, but I always read that there is a sharp learning curve to using it. Was that your experience?
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Old 06-26-2022, 07:04 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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The Boss DR-01S might be fun to use for practicing to:



The Korg KR Mini is another option, built-in speakers and a whole lot cheaper!

Last edited by Rudy4; 06-26-2022 at 07:10 PM.
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Old 06-26-2022, 07:13 PM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Using a Drum Machine for a metronome?

I don't travel much at all anymore, but in my studio I often use a drum machine rather than a metronome. I have found drum patterns much easier to play with as opposed to that cold "beep...beep" sound.

I do use a metronome fairly often for quick checks of tempo, but for recording when I need a click track, I often prefer a drum track to play with. Sometimes a click track made with a simple high hat sample works fine.

- Glenn
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Old 06-27-2022, 03:56 AM
westview westview is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Beamish View Post
I’ve never tried one, but I always read that there is a sharp learning curve to using it. Was that your experience?
There are plenty of pre recorded tracks and patterns in different genres.
You can easily change the tempo speeds faster or slower.
I use these in place of a metronome.
You can also program it in more detail with Toms, Snare, Kick, close or open Hat, etc.
Especially when personalizing or recording. That's where a learning curve comes in.
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Old 06-27-2022, 09:09 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westview View Post
I sometimes practice with a drum machine. Alesis SR 16.
Hi Westview,

I also own an Alesis SR 16. It's an excellent drum machine for what I feel is a moderate price.

When I am recording I use EZDrummer as a plug-in in my DAW. I have learned how to be quick about making use of that program.

- Glenn
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