The Electron Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII is a drum synth and sampler that you can sequence on and program all of your kits with. It has a 2.5MB memory on it. Also, it does have some pretty simple and basic effects. The cost of the Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII is about 1200 USD, it seems expensive but once you get the chance to work with it you will realize that it is worth the money. UTILIZATION The sound quality of the Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII is top notch. You can really get some good sounding drums while using it if you know how to add some flare to them. If you are a sound designer or want to get into sound designing then you will love the Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII, it will allow you to dig deep into the sound creation process and come up with any sound you can imagine. SOUNDS Most all of the drum machines and generators of today are all software based. It was sort of like a breath of fresh air to get to use a hardware unit that can do what software drum machines can do plus more! It gives you real-time control and 130 MD machines. If you want you can even expand the drive to 6000 ROM samples. OVERALL OPINION The Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII does have 64 kits and 128 patterns for each individual song. There are 2 ¼ inputs on it and 6 ¼ outputs, including a headphone output. This unit is very portable and can be taken anywhere with you because it only weighs around 5 pounds and is about a foot wide. It comes with everything you need right out of the box to start using it right away. If you are into sound creation, this is where you need to invest your money. I love the Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII; it has added some much needed creativity to my set up.
Paid $1150US Store: novamusik.com As a Techno producer looking for futuristic, high-end percussion sounds, the Machinedrum, loaded with effects, filters, LFOs, a kick ass equalizer and even a compressor (not to mention the best sequencer I've had so far), offered all I was looking for. 1- If you can dream it, you can make it: From cold,electro type percussion, to warm, deep tribal sounds and everything in between (including some filtered pads, LFO'd bass lines and more), the possibilities are endless. You can say anything you want about your 909s, 808s, JoMox, whatever, I've played with them all... NOTHING compares to a Machinedrum as a stand alone unit. 2- Sequencer heaven: When I made the concious desicion to make electronic music using machines, rather than a computer, I decided everything I bought would have a sequencer of some sort. Having said that, the sequencer in the Machinedrum is my favorite. 16 tracks for either internal sounds, external gear, and any combination in between thanks to ingenious "midi machines" that convert tracks into controllers that go beyond simple note imput sequencing to controlling effects, filtering BY NOTE (up to 64 different parameters per note, if not mistaken). 3- Better built than Angelina Jolie. My one little qualm with the machine is the distortion. It's not as crunchy as I would like (in general the sound of the Machinedrum is rather clean, and you can get dirtier stuff, but it would be nice if the distortion were a lot more..."distorting". Other than that, I'm really the wrong person if you're looking for somebody to diss' this baby. Like a Volvo. If you are a freak for techno, percussion and verything cool, you are a fan of the Machinedrum . If my machinedrum were lost, I would cry and buy 2 more. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
<p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span> What connection types are there (audio, MIDI...)?</span> Midi in, out, thru, headphones out, 6 separates mono outputs (from A to F, A+B can be used as stereo main out) and two in that can be used as trig. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span> How many different sounds and/or styles available?</span> You have about 9 synths (GND, TRX, EFM, E12, P-I, MID, INP, CTR, ROM and RAM) divided in machines. Machines can be bassdrum, snare, audio in, external/internal midi controller... tons of stuff. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Can they be edited? Through a Mac/PC utility software?</span> Elektron made C6 for sysex and samples transfert. You can dump all your kits and patterns, or juste some of them. And for the UW version, you can sand/receive samples in the rom section. Some people created editors made to work in a musical way. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Is there an effects section?</span> Each track have his own FX page, with a two-band filter, a sample rate reducer, a eq thing and a modulator fx that gives something close to ring modulation. Via the routing page, you can send each track to reverb and delay included in the MasterFX wich also contain a compressor and a multi-band eq. But the MasterFX only works in main out mode. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>What are the features/Characteristics of the sequencer?</span> It's a Tr-like with avanced features : a swing for groovy patterns, the setting is global but you can set the swing steps for each track. Same thing for the accent. Also a mute mode. Sequencing md is all about the parameter lock. It makes you able to set different machine settings for any step of any track... it is simple to use, and powerfull. There is a slide function that you can activate for any step for all track at once or for each track. And sound become powerfull and versatile in way you often can't imagine. Seriously. UTILIZATION <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Is the sound or effects editing easy?</span> Oh yeah. This machine is made for live and on the fly work. You can edit everything and hear the result in real time. For each track you got three pages : synth, wich is specific for each machine, efx page and routing page wich is the same for all track. In routing page, you can set the amount of disto, volume, pan, reverb/delay send, lfo speed/depth/mix. 16 lfo, one per track that can be routed the way you like (yes, you can rout 16 lfo to one track), set the speed, the depth, choode one of the 6 waveforms + the same waves reversed. For each lfo you can use two waveforms at once with the mix function, working like a crossfader. SOUNDS <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Do the sounds suit your style of music?</span> Yep. Made for various kind of electronic music. With the sampler... why note make drum'n bass? Nothing is impossible. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Are they realistic?</span> Nope, but you can use samples, so... <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>What do you think about the effects?</span> Good, pretty good. Simple and effective. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Is the expressiveness acceptable? (touch sensitivity, aftertouch)?</span> There is no velocity, but you can play with volume setting and accent. The sequencer is truly binary. I mean, you dont have that groove feeling, like in 909 or 808. It would be sooo cool. OVERALL OPINION <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>For how long have you been using it?</span> Two years. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>What thing do you like most/least about it?</span> His potential, this machine can make so much more than basic rythm... and you work with it totally on the fly, very intuitive, you can put your brain on the desktop and have fun. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>What is your opinion about the value for the price?</span> Expensive, but it can worth it. It's a matter of the way you work and the sounds you like. <p class="bbcode-cite">Quote: <span>Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...</span> Oh yeah. No hesitation.
