In our discussion for today, we're going to start talking about critical pieces of equipment used in hip-hop starting with the drum machine. In modern music production today, there is a much confusion about what a musical component does. This is mainly because in today's time, each piece of equipment does multiple things now. This is similar to how most phones nowadays are way more than phones. They have calculators, internet browsers, and email programs. However our article today will clear up the confusion regarding musical equipment.
Before jumping into details about the drum machine, it is important to not think of the drum machine as an actual piece of equipment anymore. The drum machine is now a function that can exist in software form or hardware form. Even in software form, the drum machine typically does not exist as a standalone instrument, but as a program within a larger program (think of ReDrum inside of Reason). The old days where one piece of equipment did one thing is nearly extinct.
The first function of a drum machine is that it has drum sounds for a producer to use. When drum machines first came out, they came with stock drum sound samples that a producer could not change on the machine. A producer brought the drum machine for the sounds that came with it. Thus, machines like the Linn drum machine, the Roland TR-808, and TR-909 are known for their unique drum sounds. However, almost every drum machine now is a sampling drum machine which allows a producer to buy samples from third parties, sample from records, or record his/her own sounds to use in the drum machine.
In addition to playing drum sounds, drum machines also have the ability to program rhythms. The ability to program rhythms can come in the form of having physical drum pads that a user taps on ( a la Akai MPC), a step sequencer that a user fills in via a software interface (Fruity Loops), or a combination of both (Maschine by Native Instruments). The rhythm programming feature makes it easier for a producer to make more complex rhythms found in commercial productions today.
These two jobs mentioned in the previous two paragraphs are the most basic functions of a drum machine. However, in modern times, the functionality of most machines go way beyond the 2 just mentioned.
In our next article, we will discuss some of the more advanced tasks of the modern drum machine. As a result, you will be a more educated producer and you will be able to have a better idea of what equipment exists that does the job that you want.
Before jumping into details about the drum machine, it is important to not think of the drum machine as an actual piece of equipment anymore. The drum machine is now a function that can exist in software form or hardware form. Even in software form, the drum machine typically does not exist as a standalone instrument, but as a program within a larger program (think of ReDrum inside of Reason). The old days where one piece of equipment did one thing is nearly extinct.
The first function of a drum machine is that it has drum sounds for a producer to use. When drum machines first came out, they came with stock drum sound samples that a producer could not change on the machine. A producer brought the drum machine for the sounds that came with it. Thus, machines like the Linn drum machine, the Roland TR-808, and TR-909 are known for their unique drum sounds. However, almost every drum machine now is a sampling drum machine which allows a producer to buy samples from third parties, sample from records, or record his/her own sounds to use in the drum machine.
In addition to playing drum sounds, drum machines also have the ability to program rhythms. The ability to program rhythms can come in the form of having physical drum pads that a user taps on ( a la Akai MPC), a step sequencer that a user fills in via a software interface (Fruity Loops), or a combination of both (Maschine by Native Instruments). The rhythm programming feature makes it easier for a producer to make more complex rhythms found in commercial productions today.
These two jobs mentioned in the previous two paragraphs are the most basic functions of a drum machine. However, in modern times, the functionality of most machines go way beyond the 2 just mentioned.
In our next article, we will discuss some of the more advanced tasks of the modern drum machine. As a result, you will be a more educated producer and you will be able to have a better idea of what equipment exists that does the job that you want.
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