| I didn't necessarily start using older drum machines specifically because they don't sound like humans playing acoustic drums. But I think that my Alesis SR16, which kind of sounds like acoustic drums, lacks character. And I don't think I have enough of a drummer's mind to program it in a way that it more closely resembles a human drummer.
I started exploring the world of more robotic sounding drum machines after I started messing around with various keyboards and synthesizers. I bought a Yamaha YC-20 combo organ. And as I got more into it I started looking around for other keyboards I thought I would have some fun with. One of the things I got was a particularly cool looking wood grain Casiotone 501. One of the nice surprises on the Casio was its drum machine which sounds a lot like the drum machines on home entertainment organs. This led to seeking out other older drum machines. And I just found myself more attracted to the drum machines that sounded more electronic and/or robotic. And I think that those more electronic sounds fit more with the kinds of goofy shit I record by myself.
My thought is that if I am going to use a drum machine it might as well sound like a drum machine rather than an imitation of a human drummer. When I play live I almost always play with a human drummer. But for the more electronic stuff I record at home I prefer more electronic and somewhat old sounding drum machines. |