Sonic LAB: Arturia DrumBrute Impact Analogue Drum Machine Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2018
- We take a look at the new Drumbrute Impact from Arturia.
An affordable analogue drum machine with a lot of features packed into a small package.
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I love how he mentioned gabber...that makes it officially an artform.
That little jam at the end though, probably one of Nick's best
He's got the rhythms of a man half his age!!
having played with this in person now it has real breadth to design the voices, and actually sounds really nice, i particularly like the closed hat and the fm drum. also very intuitive, i could find and use the various features without needing to look up the manual.
“More size to it Like there where more people clapping” is what I say when I gig.
What ?
try using these weird little things [ . , ]
Awesome review as usual, it's always very pleasing to watch Nick reviews :) :) :) cheers from france
Sounds good and as a DB owner I have to say I love the sequencer and I think it pairs great with the Digitakt. It's cool to layer things.
Awesome review!! I really want to love this machine as the design and sequencer is so cool but I just don't dig the sound enough. As Nick said it could do with a wider sound palette.
This little sequence at the end is really excellent!
Very nice. Sounds good, love the programming features & step length for each part. Very cool. Pretty bloody good price as well. Tempting.
is it just me or does the lcd during the intro say “drunbrute”? .-.
sold me on the impact; I don't need the regular drumbrute, given the other instruments in my studio, but the analog sounds and the simple workflow sold me. Plus that bit at the end, Nick, nice!
Now, to hear tracks actually made with it. Curious how it'd fit in a mix and what kind of genre's it could work with. Seems like it's focused on the hard hitting side of things but would be cool to hear a more sparse use of it (kind of like the outro track I guess).
I like the sound of this. It sounds better for industrial music.
Nick, let’s no forget the 909 cymbals and things were gritty PCM samples so this is of course different.
In fact this would play nicely with a Volca sample. I think I’ll buy one, I have an idea about using MED on my Amiga and sequencing the DBI and the internal samples at the same time.
I love the clap sound, especially with that distortion up and extended decay. It just has this great EBM/Aggro vibe to it
Could the beatstep pro be used to sequence a pattern of parameters, such as fm pitch?
I've love to see your take on the Twisted Electron deton8, much smaller unit - different style, but interesting in the price point.
@sonicstate Great review as always Nick, thank you. At @11:08 you mention the swing and how you can dial it independently to each track "like in the beatstep pro"... I know what you mean by that: tracks being the three different sequencers in the beatstep. You may see where I'm going. Is it possible to swing each of the different drum pads in the drum sequencer from the bspro ? I know this is out of topic but that has puzzled me since I got mine and would love to have a way of doing that or at least have Arturia update the machine with that feature if possible. Cheers
Any velocity action? Velocity to the VCA? i would have liked some cross fade between the 2 color modes depending on velocity.
So is it possible to change the divisions per track...i mean for example 8th note triplets on the bassdrum track with 7 steps...then 16th divisions on the high-hat with 5 steps..possible?
Neat little thing. Sounds great!
You had me at "polyrhythm".
what bluecataudio plugin is that you're using to analyze the output? Is that the oscilloscope multi? It would be nice if you did a video on how to setup and analyze synth and drum machine output, I would find that very useful.
I was looking for someone using the ventris on the fm out and there you are
really weird how they didn't implement the decay on the cow bell, there is something like this with another voice in the original. I mean the controls should always do something!
Great demonstration, many thanks for sharing :-)
With the RetroKit cable, would this work to sequence a Volca Sample?
I’m realizing that with usb midi out this guy is basically a 8pad drum controller with a sequencer. Like a akai mpd 328 with 8 fewer pads.
where can i find the midi-controllcenter for the Impact? The one on the Arturia site is without the Impact.
I’m looking at a drum machine in this price bracket as a Christmas gift to myself... Had thought it’d be the Roland TR-08 but now I’m not sure...
but are there "tracks" that you can record midi in to? can I drive melodies on other gear with this like a big boy sequencer or is it limited to sequencing drum sounds only?
Arturia does it again, just like the MicroBrut affordable analog for us starving artists!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget all that external processing you can do with main out and 4 individual outputs, this is where Arturia really shined. Thanks Nick for a great review, your reviews go to the meat and potatoes of devices so when you are finished I really have a great understanding of the product.
I was going to sell my original DB but the clap on this one isn't very articulate. Also, I was experimenting with the filter (which isn't on the new DB impact) and it has it's place. It's great for shaping your snares snap if you don't have an analog eq. So, I'll end up buying this one too. I can't wait to play with the distortion types.
Cant wait for you to do a review of the new Erebus 3, do you know when that will be, can you ask if you can get one in advance? :)
Does anybody know if the full-sized Drumbrute features parameter lock?
How tight is the midi sync with Live, for example?
This thing is sick and the price is amazing. Haven't had gear lust in like 4 years... really looking forward to picking this up.
Can you record the metronome and use it as a make shift rimshot?
Analog Modern, Club, Techno dance music box for $300. It leans towards live performer
I'm kind of torn between getting the regular drumbrute or the drumbrute impact. I like the snare on the impact and the fact that it has Distortion, but I also like the fact that the first brute has a 909 and 808 kick. Plus two Toms!..?
Spend time with both in a store if you can, but you might find yourself leaning towards the Impact. It hasn't suffered the issues that the Drumbrute original has (the failing noise board) and the new snare and kick drum design are objectively more useful in range. Both make an incredible controller, so either way you will be happy enough :)
@@hellodavidryan Thank you.
I like it. Maybe not the best drum machine for a live set, but for recording tracks in my studio, it's a great little analog drum synth at a low price. I like it more than the original brute.
Only thing I wish Arturia had added in the Impact would be the ability to do real parameter locks. But still... pretty nice!
compared to the boutique trs... what do you think?
sounds fantastic, excellent review, the knobs seem to have a better range than the Drumbrute (which I have and found the sounds and adjustment range to be disappointing) - this one sounds better
Thanks, Looks like you can't go wrong at that price. sounds good, and a joy to use.
The DBI is now about $250. Do you still agree with your comment from 5 years ago?
I bought one brand new when it came out and returned it to buy the Roland TR8S. The DB sounded weak in the bass and other sounds just didn't hit me off right. Volume was an issue too. Needs an amp.
It kinda peeves me to loose all of the sounds of the OG DrumBrute but the Impact just sounds so much better. The hats and snare sound great on this guy. The distortion and color are a nice touches as well.
very helpful video guys , just bought one
Two years on, what are your thoughts?
When you route e.g. the snares to the effect unit, the snares will bypass the master output. Do they then bypass the distortion too?
yes
Loved that firecracker beat 12:30 - 12:54
Looks good
lets all smash it this weekend!
I didn't know that using the sub-outputs removes them from the main, but that makes sense. Opens up a lot of fun possibilities. Also Bo Beats has a couple of great videos where I swear the sounds out of it almost sound like a digital unit. I have the DB, and will probably get this one as well.
same on every analogue machine i know, in layman's terms it is basically inserting into the circuit and creating a switch via the cable tip - that switch removes the circuit from the main out
OGASI totally makes sense, I just never really considered it.
Craig_M it's a great feature BUT to really get the best it means always having mixer inputs to spare, which is hard to be fair.
please read and comprehend before typing.
I dig the new kick. Everything else is on the wimpy/mushy side for my tastes, especially the snare and clap. For under $300, though, this is very tempting.
Did they get rid of the high-end rasp in the cymbals/snare on the original DrumBrute? They sound clean here.
Also, every demo I've watched so far skips the cowbell ("under" the cymbal), this one included. Heh.
nah the snare is legit, he just didn't demonstrate at its best
With the Reverb, this sounds pretty good. I need something simple to program. This looks easier than the Volca Drum, for me. Thanks Nick! My go to Demo guy, for this kind of stuff.
can you make a pattern and save it for when you turn the machine back om again?
Yes
Wow! Nick you’ve become very
The man important in the industry! You seem to get new gear, the moment it’s released! Same in the US. We watch everything over here. I’d love to know your ratings in the US compared to the UK and Europe;)
wil buy 2nd hand one in the future
Hmmm when is the MatrixDrum brute coming out ????
Which oscilloscope software is being used?
I’m realizing that with usb midi out this guy is basically a 8pad drum controller with a sequencer. Like a akai mpd 328 with 8 fewer pads. The fact I can record in real time without quantize is fantastic.
Can put a shaker on numberwang though?
Rim tap and cowbell are two of my favorite sounds so I would never buy a machine that didn't have dedicated ones. However, I think this is worlds better than the original DrumBrute.
Nice review, though didn't you kinda jump past the FM voice?
That step/repeat touchstrip seems broken or something, it was way too jumpy and prone to going full right even though you were touching it to the left.
Interesting product in that it sounds pretty darn good, and at a reasonable price. But I feel like there's too little editing of some of the voices, like those that can't be pitched/lengthened independently or at all. And like so many others, I'm wondering why not rimshot instead of cowbell? Especially as it can't be edited enough to be really useful.
Feels like a bit of one-trick pony. It does that trick extremely well, but I think it will grow boring/overused pretty quickly. And despite being reasonably priced, it's still too expensive if it ends up in the cupboard too soon.
I don't know, maybe I'm being too negative, it does sound great and has some pretty cool features..
Can i connect this to an amp with stereo speakers?
He was right about the genres associated with that kind of kick.
I prefer my kicks to be more snappy and woody. This unit doesn’t
deliver that. Looks like fun anyway!
Has that roll strip jumpiness been corrected at all, can anyone confirm? After Spark I'm hesitant to buy a glitchy arturia product since they tend not to fix bugs.
He looked to be having much more glitchiness than I've ever seen on mine.
The Casio MT65 called... it wants its drum sounds back !
Good review . I nearly bought one. thanks for helping not waste me money
As your only/main drum machine it's a bad option, but i think it will become a future Electro classic.
I would not buy the Impact for my only drum machine, but I want to layer this machine over my digital Electribe2 to really enhance the sound and process the kit parts separately. This combination should give me limitless sound creations. Plus, since the Electribe2 has motion sequencing, it will add modulation layers over the top of the DrumBrute.
Good video. Too bad it has No Clap! ( Snare 2 isn't one. ) Also - why not a machine that fits their Rack system? ( Unless, another is planned later? )
hey, when i sync it to my volca sample - the sample is going crazy, like 300bpm while the drumbrute stays at 130. how can i fix that?
ma jus - are you using the clock out? Maybe use the hi hat out or another sound at a 16th note steady rhythm? Clocks are probably running at different rates. Sometimes you can adjust the quantization of the clock out too: 8th note, 16th, 32 etc etc
Hold the Sync button and twist the Rate knob until it says 2P.
wouldnt have me picking this over a cyclone analogic tt-606 for the pricing, vittles, and accessibility, but, impressively ALMOST usable. maybe theyll get there on MK VII or VIII.
Wish arturia included the distortion circuit on the original DB.
I wonder if anyone modded their DB with an audio in for the filter. Same could be done for this DBi's Distortion :)
it's intersting to not one of the first reviews had the chap hooked up the drumbrute to a distortion pedal...
I get one since a few days (I was the first worldwide to register the serial of the machine, confirmed by support because I was not able to register). My opinion is that this version of the Drumbrute is far more interesting than the original one because it sounds good and has its own sound. Bigger sound, more agressive. Saturation knob is adding a lot to the machine, a lot more than the original very weak filter effect.
Now, of course, it has limitations, it will sound always the same in the built-in range of possible sounds.
So you can use it :
- just to peek one instrument (kick or FM perc for example),
- in its whole, and you must consider it as a full instrument to play with in real time (performances mostly)
- recorded track by track from the mono output (setting the level of only one track up at a time) to use each voice in your daw (bitwig, ableton for me, and it is working really well)
- and certainly many other uses in a modular setup just to add some kick and hhats
But for that price it will be a shame to miss this analog drum machine. You will always find a use for it or for part(s) of it...
Olivier Dahan can you sequence or record the metronome? It’d be cool to be able to use that as a rim shot.
The metronome itself is not accessible, but there is a clock out, and there is midi out, so you can get a clock from there. But if you want to get a "non conventional clock" (ie beating a specific rhythm) for modular or semi modular synths you can use the FM Perc to make a very short sound and use its dedicated output, I succeed to sync other synths this way.
Olivier Dahan I wasn’t really speaking about clock sync. I just thought it’d be cool to be able to record the metronome as a makeshift rim shot.
Do you want the metronome sound ? you can record it and loop it (it is available on the mix output). Do you want to simulate a rim shot ? If it is a regular one, use the metronome... else use the FM Perc to create a rimshot like sound.
If this can help making you happy, why not.
What odds on Korg doing a full size analogue drum machine?
That would be very exciting, though I'd be scared they might focus on the very sharp/harsh modern side, as they mostly did on the monologue.
NOLNV That's interesting. A similar sound aesthetic to the Mini/Monologue would definitely be something different.
Mark Aldred as long as it can be funky!
doubtful and if they did they'd lose the midi ports and put adapater on em..YUK
I'm praying for it every day, but they seem to be focused only on the prologue for the moment...
Yeah, rimshot over cowbell! But, otherwise a nice piece of gear. I like the interface for live noodling... and the FM drum! Great outro jam, as always.
Don't know why they made it to where the cowbell has no functionally other than the master distortion. Can't even add color to it which is super disappointing because tweakable cowbell sounds can be super dope. I agree a rimshot would have been cool as well. I'm sure they will make a revamped version of this within a year or two.
P.s. individual distortion instead of master distortion also would have been nice.
For the price you cannot beat it (pun), but I need some output sends for adding effects. Can you USB output separate channels? I just don't have enough analog inputs in my A/D to handle all the separate outs. Does anyone know of another way I am not thinking of to add outside effects. I would hate to buy a mixer just for this drum machine.
This analog drum machine only has analog audio outs (1 mix & 4 individual). There's no internal A-to-D converter for Audio-over-USB which, TBH, there's not many examples of that on pure analog instruments especially at this price range.
Thanks Kosh, what a shame. For me, I find most drum machines falling short in many ways (not pure analog, no audio/USB, no mixers, no effects, no sampling). The only one I can think of that may fit all me needs is the Elektron Analog Rytm. Although pricey it can do just about anything.
Donal I am not pissed off but it sounds like you are. I like my instruments to be full featured. I would love to see an analog drum machine in a NI Maschine format with (right in the box) mixing and effects for complex routing and processing. One very nice informative person told me to try an Elecktron Rym. I am currently looking into this option and it looks promising. BTW Donal all recorded analog instrument today eventually get turn into digital. Today's music is compressed, digitized, MP3, uploaded and downloaded. Thanks for your help, I think.
Can this play odd time..??
Restrictions breed creativity. Maybe it doesn't do everything but I like what I hear, and I was completely unimpressed by the original drumbrute's sounds. This has more oomph and I could really see incorporating this into my jam setup.
Spark is a better investment... Thinking about getting the Spark, Yamaha RS7000 and a Roland MC-909
4:17 best representation of what I want in a clap.
Chiiiiiqqqqqcchhhh
@@samusordicus sample him!
I like it a lot. In fact I just ordered it! £265!!! There is no way possible to compare to it to other devices at this price point. We are never happy...
That distorted bass drum is in the style of Zonk House!
The fact you can get close to a 909 sound for so little $$ compared to say Jomox suddenly this is far more interesting than an 808 clone. Personally I like the 909 better ever since I saw Adamski rocking one live at a small club in hollywood in 1989.
Great review as usual ,, nice drum machine well worth the money .
imo they should've gone further with the distortion. The top setting is just *starting* to get distorted. It wouldn't have been hard to double the distortion on the knob, and it wouldn't have taken anything from anybody.
Sounds like something ymo or kraftwerk would’ve made good use of
They added HOWL from the Rhythm Wolf heheh (except it sounds good)
I'd still be tempted to get the original Drumbrute due to the outs/more controls/voices, can always throw it through a distortion. Kinda an odd two steps forward and two backwards product, but I guess it was mostly price driven.
The rhythm wolf wasn't that bad to be honest. I got the Tom Cat and it's great if you know how to process drums. Doesn't compare to this tbh but for sound design it's potential is good.
Wagoo his one has individual outs just not as many.
yeah I know, hence it being a step backwards
Wagoo depends on how you look at it. All the same performance controls. The distortion is way more useful than the filter, the FM drum providing synth like tones, the color function giving every sound 2 variations, etc. I think it’s a much better machine, so in that respect, I wouldn’t say it’s a step backward. Just a different machine for different people :)
Well I'm not sure how you can say it has all the same performance controls when for example on kick (primary, since Impact only has 1) you lose impact and sweep pots.. and you obviously lose the controls for the missing voices. The colour and FM voice are great additions, the distortion sounds great.. but it would have been nice not to compromise other things.
If this was the Drumbrute Impact Mini, and they upgraded the original Drumbrute with all the new things.. then it would make more sense to me. Maybe they will upgrade it. You can get the original used for around the same price as the Impact new.. it just seems more fun to use all the outs on the original to go through a bunch of different bits of kit to make the sound unique.
"I don't know what the genres are called."
Neither do I! Love this comment.
Are there speakers on the Drumbrute Impact itself?
Nope.
Curious, have you ever considered replacing your camera switches with foot pedal switches? Seems like it would be much easier (and less distracting). Love your reviews don't get me wrong!
Awesome.
I want this so badly.
Did you ever get one?
can't believe you can't adjust the transient/click level of the kick
This or the Roland are 08?
The clap sounds like RZ-1 🤙
Hi Sonic State, I enjoy your videos. I was wondering which oscilloscope you use, as I’d like the ability to accurately identify a sweet spot’s Hz for future reference, and more generally as a noob to synthesis, see precisely what my tweaking does.
Cheers!
I'm using BlueCat Audio;s Scope and also the Spectrum Analyser in Reaper together
sonicstate thank you I appreciate it
Sorry but I got to ask: why is Stephan Bodzin doing reviews on youtube? I like it!!
That roller strip... Yeesh!
use the FM Voice for tabla....
Agreed, Nick -- rimshot would have been waaaaaay more useful
it sounds like its being chocked, it just does not breath, everything sounds muffled and muted and it has no bounce which is essential to a drum machine, but I guess it works ok for some stuff
spacezignul you mean “choked” and “breathe”?
yes thanks!
This description of it excites me.
sounds ok actually