Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment

Subject: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:48 AM

I know this is a bit of a sad b*st*rd request and I do play with other people.

I sometimes practice with a metronome but have the rhythm section of an old elctronic keyboard much more fun. It has a selection of 88 different tracks from 4/4 to Latin and beyond. I can also control volume and speed(?).

It is a but of bother to set up and it takes up space. Does anyone know of a similar electronic rhythm section with built-in speakers, total size about the same as a kettle?

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 02:56 PM

Ey up, Les!

Yamaha do one for around 170 squid.

I don't know owt about it, other than finding it by doing a Google search for 'drum machine with speakers'...

I'm sure someone else does something cheaper - but someone as wealthy as you can afford it!!

;0)

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 03:08 AM

Thanks Bernard,
it looks as if I may need to learn to play the drums aswell as get rich! Life maybe too short. Perhaps I will continue with the Yamaha keyboard on the grounds that if I choose 6/8 'Folk Rock' I can play along to the Fairport Rhythm section, well not quite.

Perhaps a smaller simpler beast is out there somewhere?

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 03:18 AM

Have you tried googling"on line drum machine"?

Gerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 03:48 AM

thanks Gerry, I just have and that certainly opens up another possibility.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 04:09 AM

You're welcome,glad to be of help
Gerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Tootler
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 12:20 PM

I used to have some midi drum patterns on floppy disk which you could simply load into a midi sequencer and play it through a computer.

I don't have them now as I got rid of most of my floppies, but it is likely that something similar is available on the web.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: oggie
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 04:52 PM

If you can practice in the same room as a computer then 'Rebirth' is available as a free download though you'll need a torrent program (Azureus or similar) to do so. That is my current preferred option but I also have Steinbergs 'Virtual Drummer' on the PC but it's more work and too tempting to go for the perfect drum track rather than using it as a practice tool.

All the best

oggie

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 06:01 PM

But please don't go using a drum machine except for practice.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:39 AM

I can't imagine that anybody would turn up at a club or session with electronic accompinment but you never know. More people turn up with words on bits of paper and as my memory ... er .faids, fades(?) ... who knows. One singer moved on from bits of paper and books to a laptop!

Perhaps next we will have someone turn up with a laptop, a projector and a screen with the words to choruses on scrolling PowerPoint?

Before I go this far I am just searching for discipline in my practice.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:56 AM

If you fancy a free drum programme to play through your computer speakers send me a PM.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 12:04 PM

I've known musicians booked to play in pubs do it. But I'm sure no Mudcatter would ever go in for it. Practice is different.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 03:46 AM

Ok folks much good advice to be going on with but I am still searching for this magic box which will do what my four foot Yamaha elctronic keyboard will do, which is to provide 88 rhythms with varying speed and volume.

Anyone?

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: oggie
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 05:08 AM

Short answer is no, I don't think they exist. Rhythm sections are cheap to add to a keyboard which needs the amp and speakers anyway. All the drum machines etc that I've come across assume the user will be using some form of amp anyway and are built accordingly (though I'd be happy to be proved wrong).

Best I can come up with would be something like the Zoom MRT3-B which is about £80 from Soundsalive and comes with 396 patterns, trigger pads, umpteen drum kits etc. Couple it to a small practice amp or use headphones.

All the best

oggie

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Hitchin' John
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 05:48 AM

There is a range of definately non-pro drum machines from Yamaha all starting DD I think the DD10 may have been one of the earliest I had a DD5 as thru midi you could trigger any sound from it. In a quick search I have just found a DD35 for £44 and a DD9 for £32 on ebay. They do have a built in speaker - Yamaha quote the DD35 at 10cm. I think they are about the size of a newspaper these are dd-35 from yamaha W: 435mm D: 236mm H: 160mm. You could check these out.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 02:34 AM

Thanks John, I will go and google

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 02:47 AM

I can think of at least another mudcatter besides me who has done it - in fact one who does it for a living.

When you do it for money - you do what you have to.

And music that people get up and dance to, cos they want to, and cos its the end of the evening, and they fel a little drunk and ready to dance.....theres a sort of motherlode there of human values and if you hit it right, its the best feeling any musician ever had.

It has a sort or integrity and beauty the average 'folksinger' could only dream about.

Subject: RE: Tech: Electronic rhythm accompaniment
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 02:59 AM

I cannot knock what you are saying drummer but I bet some else will

Cheers

Les