One of the best things about having outboard gear in a studio is being able to completely ignore your computer and focus on the hardware. That’s why so much analog, standalone gear keeps hitting the market. The Arturia DrumBrute is a new drum machine that packs a punch at a budget-friendly $ 449. Keep reading to watch Mad Zach take it through the paces in this hands-on first look.
Arturia DrumBrute Review
Gear: DrumBrute analog drum machine
Manufacturer: Arturia
Price: $ 449
Availability: Out now
Mad Zach’s Thoughts on the DrumBrute
Build Quality: The DrumBrute is very similar in quality to a lot of other Arturia products (like the Beatstep Pro, MicroBrute, etc). If you’ve felt the knobs on those other units, you’ll know what to expect. The buttons aren’t as ideal for heavy use – but they work.
Sounds: The kicks are both fairly simple; one is punchy and the second is more of an 808 sub. The hi-hat sounds metallic when you open it up – which might be desirable to some users, but also unique. Some of the drum slots have the ability to alternate between two different sounds that are sequenced independently – adding an extra set of sounds without needing more physical controls.
The DrumBrute has shakers, which is something that we’ve never seen on an analog drum machine before. There’s also a laser zap sound, which again is unique and interesting.
Sequencing Workflow: You can program beats in a few different ways:
- Select an instrument and then program it into the step sequencer in the top section
- Hit record and play live with the pad at the bottom of each slot. Depending on how hard you hit the pad, it is either an accented note or not.
- Hit the record button, select an instrument, and hold down the step repeat touch strip at the top to record patterns in – it’s quick and fun.
Autore: DJ TechTools