I’m the same age as you but I didn’t warm up to electronic music until the late 90s. I played punk music the hard way, with half-ass musicians in damp basements. Once I got fed up with other people I had a friend show me how to use a computer to make music by myself. Now I have a room full of midi gear and three modular racks. Still have the guitar but it’s less relevant every year. Never stop making music! 🙂
My first drum machine back in 1985. I hated it at the time because it didn't sound electronic enough for me. But I have revisited it over the years and fallen in love with it gradually.
That track was beautiful. I own a Boss Dr 550. I sampled it into my Digitakt. I always end up using them. That era Roland drum samples have always sounded awesome to me.
Ooh a Squid. I made several albums on one of those. Was a really nice device. Also great because you had to be able to visualize the structure of your piece in your head. That teaches things that seeing everything laid out on a computer screen can't. Yes, lovely tight sounds. Thanks for the reminders.
I just love it's sonic sound. It's nice, thick and rubbery sounding. I love a rubbery kick. Awesome video, execellent tune, incredible filming locations, and informative as usual.
Thanks my friend! 10 ft from my house, so not bad ;-) The drum machine is great though and should definitely be cheap to get on Ebay for ONE more day... ;-)
О, это маленькое, забавное чудо! У меня есть BOSS DR-880 и в нем присутствуют звуки барабанов TR606/TR707/TR808/TR909 и другие. Я некоторые из них сэмплировал в KORG PA4X и теперь мой KORG отчасти стал ROLAND. У меня возникла идея превратить KORG PA4X в синтезатор, для исполнения музыки 80х. Спасибо за опыт, Espen!
My first digital drum machine. I really wish I'd never sold it. I still have a DR-55, DR-550MKII and a Yamaha RX-11 but the 220A would complete my dream drum machine collection. Along with an 808. I shouldn't have sold my 808.
My TR-707 died sometime back. I miss it so much. I'm a lousy at drums and having the Matrix Display on the 707 was a tremendous help to me. I haven't found anything that compared to it.
@@markuskoivisto Yup, but a bit expensive ..I was just hoping for some newer technology in a similar package. I heard about the Behringer DR-808, it may be as close as I can get.
I had one of these in the 80s. Went into a music shop in Romford when big hair and guitar shredding was all they cared about. I wanted an 808 but the DR220A & E was all they had. I opted for the A and sort of regretted it. Both paled compared to my mates' DR55. I sold it in the early 2000s but I can now hear how it wasn't so bad. Noisy outputs though!
I own a DR-550 and although I have much more sophisticated equipment around, I still love to use my little Boss. The sounds have this typical punchy, analog-like sound that really stands out in the mix.
Most of the gear I have is in ok condition as I don't tour anymore, haven't been doing for some years now. Personally I don't like synths in museum condition as they're meant to be used and not displayed, but I get what you mean ;-)
Surprisingly punchy and classic sound indeed! I just had a DR-220E loaned from a friend and used the opportunity to sample its sounds - not the same admittedly. Still love to use those "electronic" drum sounds (Simmons, anybody?). The "acoustic" sounds here IMHO have the typical late 80s drum computer quality to them, not at all sounding convincingly real by todays standards, but loads of character there.
For some reason, this is the oldest piece of gear I own (both when it was made and when I got it) and I still have it! I remember programming a beat in this thing and then the batteries fell out of the back because I don't have a battery cover and I lost it. Pretty much gave up on it then, but never got rid of it!
@@rodmorrison47 DR-55, my first drum machine, but I don't have it anymore. It disappeared many years ago. I think I last saw it 20 years ago. Now. they've shot up in price.
big and warm. I am anti piccolo snare:) I found samples and will use them on my next tune. Great reverb. I need to learn to dial that in with the tempo.
Well sir, You taught me about how BARS today with this video! I was thinking a BAR was the COUNT of beats. Now that said, I noticed in pattern mode you only get 1 bar or 4 counts which roughly translates to 16 notes or 16 steps. VERY limited as this does not allow for any rhythm variation. Understandably this unit is vintage and memory was extraordinary expensive back then, but I have played many beat boxes that allow recording at least up to 4 bars per pattern like the Boss 660 and Boss 770. Those allow upto 16 bars though, as they are from the 1990s. The Casio RZ1 allows upto 8 bars per pattern though, and the bugger was from the mid 1980s. My old Yamaha PSS480 allows 2 bars or 8 counts for the one custom pattern and the preset patterns are all 2 bar or 8 counts. So at least one variation in the beat is allowed. I say all that to say this, I noticed MOST modern beat makers only allow 1 bar pattern record! Why?? I do realize you can chain short 1 bar patterns in SONG mode but that can be a pain if you just want to play the pattern and play your synth live and on the fly. Also, at least on my Yamaha DX200 groove box that only allows 16 steps or 1 bar per pattern, the pattern also has synthesizer tone patch associated with a PATTERN so to chain 4 bars worth of patterns in song mode would require I repeat the same synth tone for 4 different patterns, just to allow me to have a normal 4 bar beat with the same synth sound to play in real time.. Yeah it sucks. I noticed the Korg Volcas have this SAME limitation. 1 bar patterns only.. There must be a lack of cheap memory I am unaware of in 2020. Love your videos btw! I thought you were Dutch but I see you are Norwegian! Uff da! lol!
You can assemble different patterns into songs, that's have you use this with some degree of variation. Not uncommon for these drum machines. This was a very entry level drim machine so they cut corners everywhere. ;-)
Wow, fantastic little drum machine, still punching above its weight 35 years later! I’ve owned most of the old Roland/Boss drum machines at some stage, this would be one of the best in terms of sound. I’m a big fan of the Roland R8/R5 too, but they came out a bit later, around ‘89.
@@markuskoivisto In this video I've digitally "fixed" the key so it appears to be fixed. I have a spare key now, but have not yet had the time to fix it properly ;-)
Thank you so much!!!! I possessed this baby back in 86 to 89 i think and have very fond memories of it being so user friendly and rich in sound! Unfortunately a exchanged it against a Yamaha RX5 which you could do far more with, but lacked that compact punch!
GREAT ITEM...and 220 B also...I took pretty samples from them ..2years ago ...from tutorials...THE SOUND IS NICE AND PUNCHY...!!...the 80 s at their best...
warm, thick snare love it. It's all you need. I recently use samples of the 220a, but i still want the machine. This will be my next purchase, ebay here i come. For me, step write is much easier.
Oh man great, I own one of these! There's a video of me using it to do a live jam with a monotron on my channel (Called Headcharge). Always a pleasure to see a new video from you Espen. (notification squad!)
Lovely demo track! Came here to get help working out how to sync it with a Drumbrute .... haven't worked it out yet but really enjoyed your demonstration/tutorial. Inspired to check out song mode now, thanks!
Thank you very much. Syncing the 220A up against other types of gear can be tricky and in some cases practically impossible, at least in terms of start/stop.
@@EspenKraft got it working! I used the metronome output of the Drumbrute into trig in of 220A and trig out of 220A into trig in of 220E.. It all works - tempo sync and stop/start!
I had the DR-220E which is the Electronic "Simmons" drums version. Crash, ride, hi hat and clap are the same samples as the A version if I remember correctly but It's been a very long time ago since I had the thing. I also think they were 32 khz, 12 bit samples too. No matter the specs, it was fun to play and easy to use. I sold my sometime in the early 90s. Just remembered that the Demo song on the DR-220E sounds a lot like Shalimar's Dancing in the Sheets. Well, the base (not bass) part of it anyways. The demo goes through a few styles but kinda sticks with a base pattern. Gotta wonder exactly which came first? Dancing in the Sheets' drum pattern or the DR Demo? Song is from 1984 and DR is from 1985 but there's R&D time and production time to get the product to market. I'll have to research this and see what I can find out. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fZmHu1t_5X0.html
You could also sync them with a TR-606 or similar with the trigger out from the toms, rim shot from a 909 I think, each entry of a tom or rim would step the sequencer forward one step on the 220, could get some very interesting stuff going on if you didn't put one on every step.
I had one of these but all my friends said it was dorky. I even got it to sync to midi via somehow. I sold it for 5 euros and bought a noodle soup at the little Korean soup restaurant. Maybe I shouldn't have. I guess I can go get the samples.
Espen, so glad I found your channel. I had the DR110 and a few other dinosaurs like the Akia S612 Sampler and yes, you still wanna trade my Amiga 4000 for your SK1? hahahaha Love you man, keep doin' what you love. I love watching and listening!!! :)
That is a fun and unique drum machine! Great to hear it in a tune. Straight out'a the 80s! Next up, the 220E, right? ;-) I think I'm picking up a JX-8P this afternoon, been wanting to add one to my collection for awhile. Found one with the original Roland hard shell case :-)
Excellent, as always, Espen! It has always been a little powerhouse of a drum machine. But I'm mostly here for your gorgeous demo track! :-) Lovely combination of sounds, and actually the 2nd section reminds me a lot of a retro composition I love: 'My Little Baby' by Yuzo Koshiro, from Streets of Rage. Thanks for another terrific video, my friend!!
We'll just keep doing what we love Ethan, that's the main objective. As I recently was given this as a donation it only seemed fair that I could promote this little rascal properly :) Thanks my friend!
@@EspenKraft Absolutely, that is what it's all about! :-) Well, I had a great time seeing you put this machine into service, especially as a fan of the 505...I think you have a point about this being punchier. Thanks for another great one!
I used to have one when it first came out - wasn't too happy with it though, because you couldn't divide a bar into more than 16 parts, which made the whole thing sound like a robot! But thanks for the trip down Memory Lane nevertheless! ;)
@Love made in Japan No? I rarely remove comments with links. I only remove comments that has links ONLY. I know RU-vid does some of its own though. What was the link?
This great track could be fleshed out with vocals and/or remixed with your friend. It sounds like it came from Pet Shop Boys ""Please" which is a very good thing. I need to listen to this in the car.
How I love this analog, juicy, punchy drummachines - DMX, Linndrumm etc. ! Beautiful, romantic 80's song. Reminds me Paul Hardcastle's "Rainforest", I adore this track. Thanks a lot Mr. Kraft! 💓👍👍
