Hi, I am butt new to electronic music, but bear with me as I am fairly technically proficient.

First of all, I am using an old Roland U-20 and a cassette tape 4 track. I would really like to get a drum machine, but it seems there are some interesting hybrids out there.

I am trying to decide what "little black box" I should buy (ie. sequencer, groovebox, drum machine.) Can anybody reccomend a good box or combination of boxes that would be appropriate for a newbie? Shoot should I just sell my Roland, save up my dough and get an honest to goodness keyboard workstation such as a Triton or the Karma?

My music interests lie in dark ambient, experimental, techno, industrial, classical.

I'd advise you to get some sort of sampler, or maybe a software sequencer and a softsampler. As for your Roland, it depends on how much you like it. I looked it up and it seemed pretty cheesy, but if you like it and use it, then keep it. With a sampler, you could always sample stuff from your synth and the mess it up real nice.

Personally, I avoid drum machines. I prefer to use sampled drum sounds that I can manipulate to my heart's content.

For experimental, industrial, and dark stuff, out of the box sounds tend to not cut it. DIY is a major part of the industrial and experimental asthetic.

Triton is cool, also check out Kurzweil. Stay away from the groove boxes. They are trend synths which only provides a style that is on its way out anyways.

Sampler allows the most control over your sound, complete control.
Anything associated with the word "Groove" sucks, they use that word to market to ignorant idiots and DJs.

If you have the kwan, check out the Akai MPC4000. It's a full fledged sampler with drum-machine style pads and built-in sequencer. Also, large screen and the pics I've seen seem to suggest, you can connect it to a monitor.

If I really put my mind to it, there's no limit to what I can't afford.

-tek

Hi SuperGuled,
Have you looked at the "Korg-Karma" , from what I hear they have some pretty cool drum sounds and I think you can add a sampling card.
Welcome to our corner of the web !!
jedi

Thanks everybody for the great advice. Wow this a responsive board

I think I am going to just save up and buy a workstation. I was eyeing the Karma for a while, but I think maybe the Triton LE or the Standard Triton may be the keyboard I go for. I just need to decide how important sampling is for someone like me...

Sure o innocent blissfully un-aware one, except on those special weeks, when it grinds to a halt for three days. You'll see.

-tek

[This message has been edited by tekminus (edited 03-26-2002).]