All of the 'negatives' you have pointed out are actually what have made me so fascinated by the the Korg Drumlogue 😁👍 That massive pallette is why it's so interesting. I've been making music for a couple of decades now, and I'm pretty bored of the tried-and-true sounds. I need something fresh and strange 🎶 Also, for the price it has sync in/out as well as all those dedicated outs and audio in for processing and gluing your sound together. Parameter locks, probability and trigger conditions, per-step fx sends, I could go on. This thing is pretty insane. I won't be surprised if it gets massively expensive like the MC 707 did after everyone realized how crazy it was. 🤷 I could be wrong. Its a midrange to advanced instrument though, no doubt. Thanks for sharing ✌️🎶
I like it. But Korg's real magic is when they release an item you didn't see coming at an irresistible price point. It will take a mega blowout clearance sale before I'll get to touch this thing.
I picked up mine two nights ago after pre-ordering. I hooked it up through my Focusrite, into Ableton 10. It sounds intimidating and intense. The percussive capabilities are outstanding for a hardware device! Any text description of just how sick this thing can sound doesn't really compare to what can be captured by these reviews!! It sounds great!! But whatever excitement I may have had has been tarnished with massive amounts of frustration. COMPLAINTS: Tempo: 56 - 240. C'mon!! It's 2023!! Give us something as slow as a crawl at 01 for real drones experimentation... and something at least as fast as 500 for the breakcore and junglists out there. Menus: They aren't the most intuitive. Especially not for the midi/USB routing. USB: my computer doesn't even see it when it's plugged in. If my computer can't see it... how will I ever update this thing or change out samples. Is it possible that the USB host port on mine is already bad?!? Or am I missing something fundamental in hooking this up to my computer. Step-Sequencing Melodies: I plugged in my Nanokey and started playing some melodies/riffs over some beats using the VPN/Nano synth that is built into the Drumlogue. When I went to record what I was playing... every note was the same note... A1 or whatever. 🤔 Further, outside of knob twiddling, I found no way to step-sequence a note change. If there is a menu to step-change the notes being played by the VPN/Nano, I don't see it. The Manual: these days, manuals suck... and Korg's manuals REALLY SUCK!! You get a sheet of paper. I understand that in 2023, there's RU-vid videos... I get it. But it would still be nice to have a manual that actually explained how to 'make ship go' for us Pakleds. FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, the positives of this machine has been significantly outweighed by the above complaints. In some of Korg's Drumlogue demos, there were things happening that I'm not sure this Drumlogue can ever do. And then there's the issue with the USB. Why doesn't my computer see it as at least a 32mb drive?!? Do I need to download drivers?!? If so... that should be in the manual. Again, I've only had this thing for two days. My opinion could change with additional experience and knowledge. But so far, it's been a mixed bag at best. Time to look at that return policy.
Is there no way to change the BPM range in the menu? Even the Volcas, as inexpensive as they are, have an option to change from standard BPM range (what you mentioned) and extended (10-600 BPM)
u have to press some buttons and power the device on, the device has some boot modes (mode for firmware update is another than the mode for sample import), yes mabe the manual is bad but it tells you how to do that..
Thank you for your honestly. It was also pathetic about the user manual. I am sure a Korg fanatic would have been more than happy to write one for Korg to use.
Is the BPM thing really an issue? 🧐 Can't you layout your beat with more or less steps in-between each hit over the course of 64 steps and then speed up or slow down accordingly? 🤷
I think i will hold TR8s for LONG time, i find very few problems with it, more LFO and better "trig lock" type options, very minor complaints, very fun and good sounding box!
I had the TR8 for years and then I sold it to now use a samplerMPCx for drums. The TR8 sounds alive and the sampler sounds great but very machine gunny lol. I now utilize round robins
Based on the reviews and demos, I think the issue with the drumlogue is that it isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. There’s the analog voices for that old school drum machine, but there’s also samples! Well most of them are preloaded PCM samples, but you can add your own. No more then 32 megabytes worth though, guess they’re doing the 90’s throwback thing with regards to storage space. Then there’s the SDK engine which has amazing potential but is limited to only one voice. They either should have picked one lane (drum synthesis, sampling, or custom digital engines), or developed the features more and bumped it into more of the Elektron/Polyend territory and made it a proper groovebox.
Taking this thought further, I think you’re touching on Korg’s main problem in this market: trying to be too many things to too many people. Do Korg machines really need Trap-oriented presets, when 99% of hip-hop producers base their workflow around MPCs or other samplers? If Korg focused more on the synth/electronic musicmaker and less on all demand segments, they’d have more elegant products and a more loyal fandom. But this Drumlogue thing feels a bit like the Korg Gadget LE app brought to life.
@@Bonn5656 That's the opposite of my point -- my point is it should be more focused, streamlined and elegant. Not that it should have MORE half-baked features in an attempt to be a please-everyone jack-of-all-sounds.
Great and honest review! Honestly, I really like the Drumlogue, and I think it is just misunderstood in some ways. To me, it is a really good and affordable techno machine (I got mine new for 420 euros) for a modern, minimalistic style, and I appreciate it for having its own unique sound. I mainly use it with a DFAM and a TD3 (I was always skeptical about Behringer, but the TD-3 as well as the RD-8 surprised me very positively). I love the Drumlogue for being a simple yet sophisticated machine that offers features like filtering for all the instruments (which is really important to me), kits, pretty good effects, the ability to use samples and analog sounds (like Jomox Alphabase), an amazing sequencer, quick and intuitive workflow, and separate outs. I can imagine that at some point in time, people will actually want to have this thing, maybe after it is discontinued. I've tried several Elektron machines like the Octatrack (of course, amazing but too complex for me), Digitakt (pretty cool but somehow not my thing), or Model: Samples (had lots of fun with it but it feels more like a toy to jam around and has no sync in/out and no separate outputs). Somehow, I could connect more with the workflow of the Korg Drumlogue.
Not going to lie, it sounds good, I was looking at getting a Tempest but this may be a contender, it seems simple to use and that is as important as how it sounds. It can pretty much do anything....
Many years ago I owned a KR-55B, loved the sounds, but programmability and editing was about as limited as it gets, - but I've always wished for those same analogue sounds, just with modern day programmability and editing, like tune, decay, etc. The Drumlogue appears to have a few of those sounds available, but personally, for my purposes, I feel they may of overcooked the unit and implemented many functions I'd probably never use, and which would probably get in the way of my workflow, - which has always been a "Path of least resistance" approach. That said, the demo was good, and I'm positive many out their, especially those more autistic than me, will get phenomenal results. love to ALL, feel no hate
Cant wait to get a second hand good deal as many people are complaining and letting them go super cheap... I think it could sound amazing, as it has many parameters to shape its sound and its analog design is real good! The individual outs, its sequencing and editing posibilities, plus the chance of loading user synths and effects make it a super contender ;)
For sure one of the best drummachines on the Market, in a time where all the companies Just do stupid audio over USB bullshit which is totally unusable as you can only use one soundcard at a time, it is really nice to get single real audio Outputs. When i Look at the alphabase or the Elektron Dinosaurs it can do pretty much the same but for Just 1/3 of the price, with an pretty intuitive Handling, in contrast to its competitors. If i wouldnt have the alphabase the drumlogue would be the first choice for sure.
IDM/House is what it was designed for. For a top of the line dedicated drum machine I would have expected it to contain some World/Ethnic programs/kits. Only a couple Brazilian programs, that was it. Korg was just kidding, right? LOL.
I preordered one so long ago, I'm sure the retailer will even still honor it (no deposit). It's...weird. I like weird. I think this device will find its niche, but it will be a niche and not a drum machine for everyone (like the Roland Airas )
i have no idea why they have this almost 7 hundred price tag on it. They took Electribe 2, added some Volca drums, some VA, some samples, combined it all in the box and charged us 200 bucks extra for it. And look on the internet reaction - immediate flop. I bet sales are even worse. Not a bad device tho, just overpriced for no obvious reason. Thanks guys, the best channel around.
Ok 👌 👍 your demo was a little better from what I seen,still not a big fan of the 808 and 909 drum sounds,but I like the fact you were showing the engines it has.
I'm still waiting on my nts-2. I just wanna see my sounds! Ok that sounded pretty awesome, sad there's no dedicated cowbell though. Why are the drum machines dropping the cowbell? My drumbrute impact has one, and it's kinda awful but it's there. I would still upgrade to this though, it kinda sounds like a full groovebox more than just a drum machine. I dig it.
Its definitely interesting. Sounds cool, but it doesn’t really know what it wants to be. Meh. It’ll sell badly, and late this year you can probably snag it for super cheap.
The factory programs revealed very few ethnic and world drum sounds. Mostly just house and dance programs. Pretty much shows who this instrument is targeted for. As an ambient music producer it is a no-go for me.
Yep as an ER-1 owner… drumlogue bares absolutely no resemblance to it. I think drumlogue is very interesting and would have been a hit a decade ago but now it’s up against the likes of the elektron’s and polyend’s … and even to a degree, the classic sounds of the Roland clones and reissues. It may find some love in the Trap community. 🤷♂️
Really, polyend? This Absolutely overrated cheap plastic Box would be OK with a price of 200€ nur beside it is totally overrated it is also totally overpriced. The drumlogue is for sure the much better solution. And all this Elektron stuff is just a Workflow Pain, with much too steep learning curve. I think the drumlogue will be a very undertated Maschine which could do nearly the same as an alphabase but just for 1/3 of the price!
They should’ve just made a full featured Volca Drum digital on steroids with sampling. Make it a desktop within a 19” rackmountable size with end pieces to fit. Would have had my money.
Sorry to go against the grain but I found this lacking. It's not really a 'live' tool and with no audio over USB it's not really a studio tool either. It's fun but just feels like an ER1 update and not as instant as that device was. Plus since you can now get the ER1 as a plug in...is the drumlogue needed at all. It's overpriced, needs to be £/$200 less and I predict the price will fall dramatically as it won't sell as well as Korg hopes. This isn't in the same calibre as the Minilogue (a future classic) and just adding 'logue' to stuff ain't gonna pull the wool over peoples eyes. I love Korg gear but I feel a little 'meh' over this puppy. It'll be interesting to see how third party engines develop but I feel that unless the price drops, it's a flop. Waiting for the MK2 or a cheap 2nd hand one, once the kids tire of the presets 🙂
I think this is kind of an underdesigned machine tbh It has potential, specially if they update the so-called digital slots to actual drum synth slots. I don't think this will be a succesful product, unfortunately.
Terrible sounding drum machine..I’m gutted because I love the volca drum and was hoping this would be basically that on steroids ..but this drumlogue has very weak sounding kicks and snares which the volca drum really excels in doing
Man the volca sample 2 runs laps around this machine jack of all trades but good at nothing, and why is the sound so bad disappointing from korg memory horrible and relies on user sdk but only one slot for that and one for fx just a miss by korg love the look though not to mention it’s never in stock
