Boss DR-670 Dr. Rhythm

This drum machine is easy to use. I was making beats within minutes of having it out of the box. The downside is that it can only do two measures and a fill per pattern, but you can copy patterns, vary them, and trigger them with song mode or DPP. It is polyphonic, but some of the sounds will cancel each other out, which I find to give me a unique sound, and it seems to be based on what would be practical for a real drummer. It comes equipped with a lot of sounds, including classic Roland drum machine kits (the 808 and 909 are decent), and you can edit for instance the pitch and decay of the sounds individually, and create your own kits. It also sends everything over midi, so it can be used to trigger sounds on another device or within your DAW. The touch sensitivity of the pads is nice to give a more human sound than programming beats directly on a DAW. One trick is to put the beat as 16/8 to allow for more space to program your pattern. It saves everything automatically, so there is no menu diving or losing your patterns when you turn it off. It also has the ability to play bass parts, and it comes with some decent bass sounds. The tempo is not saved with each pattern as far as I can tell, so you will have to adjust the tempo, and I am not sure if this is true about song mode, as I haven't really delved into song mode, as I usually sequence via my DAW. Custom drum kits allow you to assign individual sounds to any of the pads, using both an A and B group for each kit. However, the pads are labeled with a standard layout for the default kits, and I find that sticking to this layout keeps things simple and easy. The pads are also arranged and labeled with the notes of a bass guitar, which is nice for bass players and also for programming the parts. It is so easy to use that I find it very inspiring for just jamming and getting the creative juices flowing. It can do any kind of beat, from jungle to hiphop to rock to jazz, using the default sounds, or you could use the midi to trigger sounds on your daw for example and use any sounds that you like. The tempo range goes from really slow to really fast as well. For the price that I paid, I could not be happier, and since it runs on batteries, it is portable enough to take anywhere that you might be inspired. This seems to be one of the better machines in the Dr. Rhythm line, having taken the best of the series and put it into one underrated machine. If you can find one at a bargain price like I did, go for it!

There are many great samples on this drum machine, all of which can have their tone, pitch, reverb, and decay adjusted. There are 200 preset patterns, 64 preset drum kits, and up to 200 user patterns can be edited along with 64 editable drum kits. Each drum kit can feature up to 32 unique samples across 16 dynamically touch sensitive buttons. There are multiple bass samples that are available as well, selectable across any of the drum kits. The bass is monophonic, but the majority of the drum samples are polyphonic. Each pattern can be edited with a fill, accessible by using the fill button as well. Patterns are edited in either step mode or in real-time with the use of a metronome. There is a 1/8" headphone out, 1/4" left and right outputs, MIDI in and out, and power can be supplied from 6 AA batteries or a BOSS power adapter, which runs for around $15.

UTILIZATION

It is very easy to edit patterns and make new ones from scratch. After the fact, individual samples can be manipulated. The only limiting factor is patches are designed to be 2 measures long, instead of 4 or 8 measures long. 4 measure patterns can be created using an 8/4 time signature, but this is not ideal. An additional fill pattern can be created along with each user pattern. Each preset patterns comes default with a fill pattern. Patterns can be combined to program songs.

SOUNDS

The sounds that come with this are pretty ok; there is a basic sampling of a variety of genres including rap/hip-hop, rock, latin, and swing. The bass samples are very good, and sound on average more realistic than the drum samples, but there tend to be more dance and techno related bass sounds than any other genre.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall this is a good drum machine, it's the first one I purchased and learned how to use. I now own a DR-880, which although sounds much better and can do more, takes me a longer time to get my patches created. Sometimes having too much choice can be a detriment to the musical process. If I could add two features to this drum machine, it would be the ability to program at minimum 4 measure patterns (8 would be even better and more musical) as well as some kind of random feature in order to randomize the dynamics and tone slightly for rock oriented music, to sound more like a real drummer.

Connections: Audio Jack 6.35mm Stro, MIDI IN / OUT, Foot Switch, Headphone mini-jack Stereo

255 drum and percussion sounds
16 bass sounds
200 rhythm patterns (drums + bass)

Edition features programs rhythmic + / - low
Foot pedals for swicth to launch and arrter dclencher patterns and the drum breaks (Fill-ins)
VLOC the sensitive pads to put a little nuances in the game

7 because ultimately CHARACTERISTICS classic now for BR ...

UTILIZATION

Top simple!
On the one hand intuitive, but also goes down in record time at all if you want to go further in functionality.
The only limit is a little thing that just pads as "sensitive" (you type a gently plays low, you type plays a very strong ..), it is not empty sometimes CRER a pattern correct. BUT, it is left quickly for two reasons:
- It's like an instrument, you have to learn to play ...
- Allow a few plants that are more rel (but the object of the game is to play the entire song but CRER rpter patterns, so a risk of some crash systmatique each measurement at the same place ... better fix up even when)

SOUNDS

Sounds OK. It allows real models and the battery is no longer a problem when you have 670 CDs! The preprogrammed patterns covering many styles, and if you can not find your happiness, they provide a basis for a variation CRER your sauce.
This is not the DLIR's splendid sample, but note that the average store is 350 ...!

OVERALL OPINION

OK, I admit, I just bought it, which makes me a little to express the DR 670, but have APRS jou few hours, we toured, which does not mean that nothing is done but we are doing what we need quickly because it is simple!
It can synchronize the MIDI squenceur, or save and duplicate audio loops (which seems to be the most direct approach).

The bass is ok, but leaves press the pads to play the notes and therefore not out of the trs basslines research, I prfre still play on a real low for the beautiful dynamics of the ... it is a choice of guitar that said, everyone does not want to buy a forcment low ....

Overall, I just bought a simple, complete, more than enough to make all the rhythm I need, easy to directly use in Cubase (at least in audio, I will try the MIDI sync later) for less than 250 c'tait becaufe it is an opportunity .... Rosco trs happy!