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The one place I used it where I actually liked the sound was the very end of a 15 minute minimalist piece that was probably closer to classical music on synthesizer than like... anything they were marketing it for
@@snowleopard9749 -- There are tons of one-shot cowbell samples out there, any one of which can be slipped into an audio track in your DAW project at whatever point(s) in time cry out for that sound. At least that's what I would do if it needed more cowbell.
@@ConwayBob The whole point of drum machines like this is going DAWless. If you're going to be in the studio with a DAW, then why bother with the hardware at all?
Another thing to consider with the DB is the depth of the sequencer. It's honestly worth it just as a cv trigger box / sequencer considering you get 10 outs. Combine those with the fact that you have polyrhythms, beat repeats, randomness, and other functions and this thing is actually a pretty great controller / clock source for eurorack systems.
It would be far useful as a sequencer for other drums if turning the pots could emit CCs. Suddenly the analog badge it proudly wears becomes a black eye. But I've often imagined how fun it would be for sequencing my euro drum racks, because it has a couple features that the BSP does not but most importantly, moar knobz.
R D not just eurorack. For example: u could trigger volcas too. Or any other synths in. With the different outs u could generate different voltages which makes such an exciting result.
Ariam it’s a mystery as to why they are still so much in current minds I think the new era of producers come in along with new listeners and re spark it all over again
Ariam I’ve only just discovered that a perc sound used in some of prince’s tracks is a side stick from an original Lynn drum - it’s a sound that’s always puzzled me because it some how manages to stand out and I’ve never heard it in any other records - it’s an interesting story as to how these instruments became what they are now. In some ways it’s all become slightly de valued because you can get any sound you like very easily in any way. The lin drum was about £30 k when it was first released only people like prince could get one
i own a DrumBrute and its a pretty decent Drummachine it doesnt try to copy 909 or 808 its something on their own it just needs some good effects added and its a good unit also the step sequencer is pretty advanced our Ears are way to used to 909 or 808 sounds nowadays so we dont easily accept some new trys
I'm really excited to get a larger mixer/interface for my DAW down the road for this guy. Separating a decent amount of key inputs to their own channels gives this good potential for me. I can squeeze out a lot of interesting drum loops using the repeat slider. It's just different to any other drum machine I was considering. And I have no clue what people do/don't hear, I get very pleasing sound from it as is. Maybe it just needs a special niche the way the TB-03 got.
FKA twigs & nicolas jaar used drumbrute on some of the tracks from Magdalene !!! there’s an interview somewhere where twigs mentions programming beats on it
B J pretty sure it was a radio / podcast, either her interview with zane lowe, her songexploder episode, or her episode with broken record !!! sorry i can’t link you to the exact one
It sounds, fine? People just don't like it because it hasn't been used prominently in an entire generstion of music like 80's vintage drum machines were.
It’s not very punchy the snare sounds like someone slapping a wet blanket. The rest is fairly generic and imo the brute sound just doesn’t do it for me. The drumbrute impact has a lot of punch. It doesn’t have the brute trademark harshness.
Both things are simultaneously true, imo the DB just kinda sucks. And for the record I think the minibrute line is sick, I'm not a hater, the drums just sound particularly weak, making it a fairly sucky drum machine at the end of the day
I use it often, but not for all the drum voices in a song; mixed and layered with sampled drums or other analog drums. The drumbrute sequences percussion beautifully; it's great for improvising and for creating unpredictable variations. As a controller, using midi or the individual outs as triggers, it's worth the price of admission. I also love kick 2, the toms and congas; very soft, 606-like sounds which work great as mellow percussion. Recently I paired the closed hat with an open hat Linndrum sample. You have to get creative, sculpt the sound. But of course it has individual outs, so all of these uses were planned by Arturia from the start. As a single instrument it does lack balance, but paired with other gear (and who only has one drum machine anyways?) it's awesome.
The best part of the Drumbrute is the sequencer. Each track has its own swing and random setting. It's also a good controller for VST. I use mine to control NI Battery 4. It's a really fun combo.
I have this one and it's amazing. It sounds like a 808 or 909 at places (Kick 1, Cymbal...), but it has a distinct character of it's own (some people call it "woody"). It's a really warm, modern machine with probably the best sequencing section in any drum machine, it's very well laid out and it is SO MUCH FUN to use. Beware of the batch with some broken sound engines though!
The high frequencies sound off .... when you played the example, I was thinking “well that isn’t bad. What is your problem?!” But when you played your processed example I was clearly blown away. Sounds so much better!! Great job!
You’ve quickly become one of my favorite new (to me) gear reviewers, and I love these videos so much! They’re really smart, funny, and thoughtful, and you’re a great musician too. I can’t wait to see more!
Yeah, its like the hats have an effect or something? I only like the short decay clicky hi hats. I also think the knob range is a lil small. Hails this is a mediocre machine in my book, not bad because of the individual outs!
@@AudioPilz I suppose I am happier these days using a digitakt, but my time with the drumbrute was copacetic. It was definitely a cut above the Tom Cat and Volca Beats. I mean every knob actually makes an audible and useful adjustment to the sound! For me it just ended up taking up too much table space and once the Digitakt arrived in my life I moved on.
@@AudioPilz I found it hilarious, I almost spat out my coffee when you said that. I guess some people should lighten up a bit, in the end, it's just gear.
I don”t buy synths or make electronic music. But these reviews are great. Killer demos. And I have to keep the mouse next to the screen to pause all the silly crap. And your delivery is perfect.
I never use just one drum machine on a track and tend to layer, and blend, drum sounds to get the sound I’m after. The DB really works in this regard, it’s harder edge working well with the warmth of my 808 or 909. Really excellent instrument.
It reminds me of the sounds of “La Movida Madrileña” the pop revolution that happened in Spain right after Franco’s death. There is a group in particular, “La Mode” who has a particular beautiful song called “aquella chica” wich I highly recommend to you, my bro.
As a genuine bad person of many years standing, I like the Drumbrute. You can trim that hideous tail on BD1 with a gate. BD2 kicks like mule. The snare and hats are decent and tunable enough, and the clap cuts through like a wonky Drumtrax. Maracas, clave, rimshot and forward cymbal are all ok in the mix, but the tambourine and reverse cymbal are a waste of space. The toms are bleurgh, and the zap belongs on a Syndrum. I use it with a Drumstation. They're pleasantly complementary. The Drumbrute fits snugly in a sliding rack tray, so I've got it set up with the Drumstation and a Presonus ACP8 multicomp/gate (to tweak the kicks, snares and hats) between them. No desk space surrendered!
Mate. I dont have much of a clue about synthesisers but love electronic music and the way its made. Your video's are top class and you are halerious. I watched quite a few now and subscribed. Your face at 600+ bpm is priceless man hahaha nice1
I either like bad gear or I have terrible music equipment selecting skills haha either way you always show me how to make it better 😁 and you're videos hit every funny bone in my body. Keep it up dude!
I unironically love this drum machine. I like the mellow sound the percs have but truth be told I do normally back it up with a Volca Kick or some 909 samples.
I shopped back and forth between this and the DB Impact for a month or so, and ultimately went with the Impact. When listening to the youtube demos, I heard a better the kick and snare in the Impact and that was compelling enough to sacrifice the additional features found on the DB. I'm newer to hardware synths and I didn't want to spend tons of money out the gates. The DBI did the trick. Super fun machine.
Great video. Thank you. I'm old enough to remember the 808 as the new wonder drug for the studio, back in the early 1980s when the use of drum machines in live performance was an heretical act, so the idea of processing drum machine sounds from day one was essential and the place of "vintage analogue sound" in contemporary settings is entirely down to current fads and personal taste. The Drumbrute was already discontinued before I finally understood it was the only drum machine for me and like most enthusiasts for the Drumbrute, it was partly the combo of connectivity and price that sold it to me (second hand). The clincher was polyrhythms and randomise, which together can create insane and unpredictable grooves I could never dream up in a million years. Why doesn't it get listed as used in specific hit recordings? Who needs to know? Let's get on with the music. Life's too short. Do I find Arturia promo sultry and sexual? Not really. I think online 'reviews' by people who get sent a free machine have given it some unjustifiable hype but I genuinely think it is as useful as it is claimed and if it's bad gear then the scarcity of second hand examples says it's bad gear people are not letting go.
I have one and I’ve thought this many times over!!!! But like you said with some processing you can make the sounds shine to ones liking. Also I produce minimal /Berlin style techno so I think I’ll keep it 🤣. Great review keep them coming man 👌🏽
I have a Drumbrute Impact, and it sounds great. Haven't played with the big Drumbrute, but I've read that the snare dose'nt sound as good, and that the Impact improves on this.
@@AudioPilz Can confirm, the Impact has a different sound altogether. Phat kick, really great clap/snare, much improved hihats, an FM drum.... all it lacks is a tone knob for that cowbell.
AudioPilz yeah the Drumbrute impact is wayyyy more punchy. Like a 909/606 combo. The master distortion is great! Without running any outboard gear it stands up well.
The kick on the impact is amazing, you can sculpt pretty much what ever you need with it. The hats are a bit meh, but with some work you can get them there. The snares are pretty much unusable clean.
The only arguments 'in favor' of this machine i've heard are that you've got 'an analog drum machine with separate outs' for $350 or whatever. I'm an analog purist type myself but there is NO benefit to having an analog device if it doesn't sound good. I own a TR-09 and hate how small it is and how a TR-707 sounds more like a real 909 than the TR-09, but it gets the job done every time - much like that Alesis drum machine you reviewed. The sounds of the TR-09 are serviceable, and while the tiny knobs aren't much fun to operate, they are fully functional and the device itself takes up so little space that it will likely remain in my setup for years to come. The drumbrute's sounds are so.....unfocused? random? disjointed? to the point where there is no benefit to them being analog and having individual outs.
I find that its true appeal for me is the sequencer. For not a lot of money you get polyrhythms, beat repeat, random chance, and a number of other things you really don't see much. Combine that with the individual outs and you can process the drums to your liking with effects or eurorack, or ignore the drums altogether and just trigger a eurorack system with it.
What you described about the Micro Brute and Matrix Brute also perfectly describes the way how i feel about Arturia's Hardware Synth Characteristics. It's kinda annoying that they always sound a little too harsh, distorted and kinda too heavy. Dunno why… it's probably the fault of the filters that they use. Also something that shapes the sound of the Arturia Microfreak quite a lot and not always in a pleasant way. It really takes a lot of skills and patience to "tame" the filter and make these synths sound a little less harsh and more pleasing. I mean... is this a general trend right now? That every current hardware Synth has to be aggressive in nature?
Yes! Finally someone says it! I see so many people recommending this machine online for people as a good entry level device and I never understood it. Your demo with the FX makes it sound a lot nicer though. Also I have seen quite a few people on RU-vid use the drumbrute impact and imo that sounds a bit better but not enough to choose it over most other available drum machines
@@MrPhatPhilm you mean like for the price on in general? For the price range some behringer 808/909 clone is definitely a better option, or going to something digital like a tr8s because why use an analog drum machine if it sound bad. In general, if you want to buy an expensive drum machine for the sound alone things like an mfb tanzbär or a vermona just sound so much better. When it comes to buying the first drum machine I would probably get either a tr8s if you want something that can do a bit of everything, is easy to use and has a heap of comfort features, or a digitakt if they want something more interesting/quirky.
Drumbrute is one of my favourite tools. Needs external processing for individual sounds, of course, but it's got personality and the sequencer's got it all. Pair it with a more conventional drum machine and it's a treat.
I've found that the most unusable sound in my work is the clunky kick1. Kinda disappointed, that the far more usable second kick wasn't used in the video.
@@AudioPilz I've driven a part of it through bass amp emulation and blended the original sound. Maybe cheating, but sounds awesome to my taste. I'd love to link a couple of actual tracks, but since they're still unmastered, I'll shy on it. I might through a private message, though! :D
I work, well, worked (thanks corona) at Guitar Center and we had a drumbrute hooked up into a big 300 watt Roland KB amp. I never did a deep dive into the thing but cranking the distortion and playing the bass drum always produced a very satisfying rumble. Getting one used at a decent price honestly doesn’t seem like a bad idea, even if the sounds aren’t mind blowing the interface is decent and for a gear junkie like me the individual outs are super useful, chains of pedals into a 4 track cassette recorder and you’ve got all the gritty beats you need.
I really love my drumbrute! It works fine for me, bassist and keyboardist. I always like a live drummer best, but this is simple to use and works well with all my other synths.
Arturia seems to make decent instruments to learn on, but possibly something that’ll collect dust once you move on to better gear. I saved up and started my HW journey with MD UW and A4. No longer have desire for any other drum synths, as those two cover all the bases; magnificent.
@@AudioPilz I bet. Thats pretty much why I ended up not going with an analog drum machine with my rig. I love what they can do, but the amount of space to beef them up entirely outside the box is a hassle.
I got Drumbrute few months ago. I have a nice hardware setup, ranging from Volcas over Mini Brutes and Minilogue to Prophet REV 2. So, I have no problem with the device "poshness" as long as it delivers. However I find Drumbrute 1.too quiet, needs boost when plugging in 2. Hats too weird, almost like lfo applied to them in a bad way 3.It was marketed as a "modern 909" and is nothing but, especially with the thin snare that sounds much more like 808 than 909. Impact version did not change the core issue, and that is sonic palette of this instrument. To answer your question, I used it on few tracks, where I have recorded channels separately and processed them heavily. I must say that certain elements are decent, but i had to layer them with either samples or percussion from my Volca Drum, which reminds me of old Electribe. Drumbrute is a nice attempt, good sequencer, in a line of Arthuria aesthetics, but far too limited. I think I will sell it soon - I am not live performer, I think it will most likely shine with some minimal-transparent live performer.
I came to synths after mostly playing bass/guitar for about 10 years. Currently use my drumbrute with a fuzz pedal and mel9 for an industrial project and my mini brute in a doom metal band. Perfect entry level synths for someone who is coming from a non-electronic music stand point and doesn't want to just use preloaded patches.
Hey Nicholas, do you have some links to your sounds? I've played bass for years, and am going down a pretty deep synth hole and am working on some dark ambient doom metal type stuff (trying too anyway), and am interested to listen to what others are doing in a similar vein.
@@wraithdragon Wifekisser dot bandcamp dot com for the doomier band. Our studio time for some newer stuff got cancelled due to covid so we haven't been able to record new stuff but I think there's some live videos floating around from a little tour we did back in January I have a demo recorded for the Industrial project recorded but haven't put it out yet (sometimes your recording gear gets wet) but that project is called Bleach Cubes
@@BeepBeepAwoo Hey man, I checked out Wifekisser, really digging it! That groove on Fluorescent Tomb had me nodding along with it. I'd love to peep those live vids so I'll have a look for them, and hear any Bleach Cubes stuff you may want to share, and or hook up on some socials and chat about shit if you're down for that
Ist wahrscheinlich nicht ganz bad, aber der Zoom ARQ AR-48 wird gerade neu um € 90 verscherbelt und zumindest optisch und die Bedienung betreffend ist das Ding...eigenartig. Sehr unterhaltsamer Kanal, freu mich auf die nächsten Videos!
The drum Brute - the kick is excellent - punchy and thick and the best on the market The Clap is nice and thick The snare is thin and weak - if you put it through a distortion pedal it gets better. The High Hats are thin The toms are just blip blop I usually just record the Kick as it is really nice. The rhythm wolf has really lush thick High Hats Its snare is long and thick - but not punchy - its actually good paired up with the DB Snare - played together on a song works The Kick is fat but not punchy The Bass (when tuned) is good for leads and blade runner esq weirdness The wolf is not powerful and cannot drive a song but as a song writers tool its great.
I use one for most of my stuff, even some hard rock. I have a 16 channel mixer just for the Brute. I have to process the hell out of the hats. I send the hats out through the main mix and use the SP filter to get rid of a lot of those high mids. Some reverb really helps the snare, and the clap tends to sound more in time the less decay you have dialed in. The zap is very niche, useless in most situations, but I love slightly panning the hats right and panning the maracas almost full left and letting the randomizer have fun. The rim shot is horrible, no amount of processing has helped me there, but the claves sound like they're ripped from a Tool album. And the reverse cymbal is awesome. I'm not big time but it's how I make a living and, like I said, the Brute (I call mine Alfred) provides a solid master clock for my setup and most of my percussion.
I was so horny to get this great looking machine but I didn't use it in productions until now. Tried to use it for the drums but then changing the kick into a better sounding sample from logic and also snare and hats. The DB feels so solid and powerful but you have nearly no chance to put it into a synthpop mix. Maybe following generations will create a new musical style and DB will become a cult instrument (like a 606 or 303 which had no use in the early 80ies)... Who knows...
I like the sound of it. But I grew up in the 70s-80s and have a taste for grungy analog drums. I have made similar myself on purpose by hacking a DR110, but the sequencer and features on this look so much nicer.
I had no idea the drumbrute was considered “bad” don’t think I’ve really heard much negativity about it? Might be because I’m with you, I just don’t look at Arturia products.....as you say they aren’t bad but “just my not my cup of tea”. After hearing this....still don’t want on though 😏
I was excited initially by the Drumbrute, after I learned it was not an internet hoax...but the sounds didn't really do it for me, and the lack of cowbell I found disturbing...flash forward to the drumbrute impact, with punchier sounds, a glorious kick and snare, FM instrument, and a lovely cowbell and you have all the boxes ticked. Trade the wood panels for an orange stripe. It's a great machine for the price, for sure, and I have used it on many hit records. Danke!
I was so pumped when this came out. I used it for maybe 3 months, sampled the sounds off it and then sold it. Come to think it, I’ve never used the samples once.
I love Bad Gear so much! BTW, you are super talented and skilled at improve drum machine beat programming that it makes me mad at my self. Finally, through the entire video i find myself nodding in approval as if i truly knew what you were talking about even though through your lovely Austrian accent i think i really don't know what you are saying entirely. And one more thing, the music video montage just before the verdict had me in stitches. Thank you AudioPlz. I hope you never run out of Bad Gear as its my favorite RU-vid channel.
the drumbrute is still the most intuitive drum machine available. its sounds might be only average but for spontanious jamming it definitely is a great machine!!!
It looks and feels great. That’s true. 😂 And also the omission of sound in that sentence. 🤣 I thought, too, great concept. Liked the sequencer, overall feel etc. But I couldn’t accomplish anything satisfyingly sounding. Take the original 707 in comparison - that’s instant groove and joy.
Finally got mine in and with only one day I'm really liking it. I really like the sound, and it functions similar to 606 VSTs I've messed around with. So I might have an easier time finding the sounds I want in all the knobs. A lot of reviewers complain about the "weak kick" while having the sweep on kick one full blast, and simultaneously using the weak kick 2 (an accent kick in my mind.. You know the one without an "impact" knob?) to do kick one's job. But, my prediction is that once I can separate most used outputs to fine tune in post, it'll be my favorite. I can also see it not replacing any existing hardware for an established setup. So there's that.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qCsc2kN-B3Q.html Drumbrute is a single take for the hats ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Qnl_87wH13k.html This one it's my kick and clap. I like being able to ditch a sample library, rehearsing and "performing" my patterns rather than pressing duplicate is a treat on certain projects.
@Jeffery Yath build quality is solid. Survived a move, and taking in and out of storage multiple times. Everything feels nice, and I'll say, the output mix isn't too bad after learning how to work with everything (ratcheted sounds can get extremely loud tho, something to keep in mind). The plastic is "heavy" in the sense it's sturdy and has other materials in its structure, so probably 80s Roland if my mom's wood-paneled VCR was something to go by.
I wanted this so badly until I listened to in the store, I really couldn’t vibe with the sound. I do think the db impact has a better set of voices, and at 300 bucks it’s a steal. Having said that, the drum brute is also just waaaay too big! Spend the extra money and get a tanzbar :)
Yeah! Flak - Ao sol da manhã. Flak is a musician, songwriter and producer, he was the guitar player and main songwriter for Rádio Macau, a Portuguese major band in the 80s. The beat is an Arturia Drumbrute played live on the pads to stereo out and distorted like crazy through a Neve 1272. I played that myself and it was indeed released and played on the radio over here in sunny Portugal. I do agree with you that the sound is very hard to place in the mix, it just doesn’t cut through (probably the reason for distorting the sound like crazy). However, I do love the miniBrute, it sounds amazing even when compared against my Jupiter 6 - I find they both sound great! ;)
I thought long and hard about buying one. Look Mum No Computer thought that the DrumBrute Impact's drive controls gave it some of the aggressive and in-your-face qualities that the original didn't have on its own. I don't have either still, but if I did decide to buy a drum machine, this would probably be it.
@@SR-ih1be Behringer is making awesome sounding synths at suspiciously low prices but sticks to lacking interfaces just because they're classic. Obviously good marketing, but not for me. Do we really want drum machines without pads in this day and age? Behringer should do more original numbers like the Neutron and do more in the way of interface improvements with their clones.
lol I loved the original Drumbrute.. I ended up selling it due to hard times... I got the Drumbrute Impact but I'd rather have the OG version again. I'd imagine if you used Fabfilter Saturn 2 on it, The drums would be extra crispy like the TR -808 but with more character. Overall, Arturia's drums are a bit too soft. However, I had a multi-channel mixer at the time.
