Don't forget about the DR-5 Dr. Rhythm Section - the cheapest isomorphic MIDI controller you can get (plus the chord mode is pretty deep and really fun to use with an arpeggiator), it runs on batteries, and it has a wretched-in-a-good-way pitch to MIDI converter (with built in guitar tuner). The sequencer is kind of cool, too, like a cross between a DR660 and one of the earliest Yamaha QY series (the 10 or 20, not the good ones) - a bit more awkward than the 660 but not nearly as awkward as the QY10. Not exactly good but unique enough to easily be worth the $30 or $40 they went for a couple years ago, and I don't think they've gone up all that much since then.
@@gwEmbassy It's a pretty weird machine, if nothing else it's a really space-efficient controller for entering notes into other sequencers since you get something like 4 octaves in about the same footprint as a DR660. Also the distorted guitar sounds are really funny.
Hey thanks for this video, this was a very interesting voyage through Boss history. As you named it in the intro, the design is also a part of the thing, these machines promised something and had a haptic attraction. I would say I also still love these old machines….as a teenager I was always longing for a good drumcomputer but I had not the luck, to get the good sounding expensive machines. Mainly the crap ones. So here is my story: - About 1983 I bought my first drummy…a used Roland TR-606…unfortunately the device was defective and so the retailer took it back. - Short after that disaster I cleaned up and reorganized the whole cellar from my parents…in fact they gave me a job and so I was able to buy…tadaaa…the Amdek RMK-100 which was quite similar to the Boss DR-55. Amdek was a kinda predecessor of Roland I think, although the sounds were not that great (I was longing for real drums) I found the device quite cool because you could chain 8 Patterns and could do whole song structures. - My Bass player had the Boss DR_110 and I remember how jalous I was because it looked and sounded so cool…. - About 1989 I bought the Roland TR 505, the dream of the real drums came true and I was quite happy with the unit, had a lot of good sessions with my music companion Andy. - Within the last two years I found again my still excisting love for drum machines. The Boss DR 880 I bought last year…but strangewise it did not touch me, although it is the flagschip. I resold it. - This week I bought the Boss DR 202….I love it and now I’m looking for ist counterpart the Boss SP 202…not easy to find it in a good shape and for a reasonable price… Anyways…I think the obsession will go on…I mentioned here only a part of my GAS aquisitions… But it’s true…the Boss machines a damn cool!
Absolutely top video, I’m finally getting around to using the import sample feature on my TR-8s and needed to do some “homework” on the older Boss/Roland drum machines and I’ve found everything I need in one video! Deserves more views!
Thanks for the taking the time to describe these vintage drum machines. Last year I bought the DR-880 and had a lot of fun with it. I think it exceeds any of these units,, but has only a limited selection of electronic drum kits (like 1 or 2). It has a high learning curve and found watching a $30 video tutorial from proaudioexp really helped a lot. I've found most youtube videos on it very lacking, esp. in showing the advanced capabilities on how to make songs and use ghost notes, etc. The DR-880 is also a pretty nice guitar amp built it, so a drum machine with auto bass and ability to jam along. Probably good for an old school one man band. The DR-880 is for those who want to take the time to piece together patterns into songs and it has the ability to chain together things to create a complete song, complete with intro, many types of fills and endings. The probability based notes and ghost notes are advanced features that make the 880 a more human-like drum machine, but the focus is on traditional kits more than modern drum kits.
Hey there RockinChristmas! Thanks for popping by and giving your assessment on the DR-880. It’s interesting to hear how they’ve developed the line. Definitely sounds like a much more advanced product.
@@gwEmbassy I've found the DR-880 is obviously aimed at guitar players, maybe bass players ... for practicing and the "one man band" setups. I also think it's highly pattern based, so if you want to build your patterns and chain them together into complete songs, the DR880 would be great. I've also found it a bit lacking in techno, hip-hop and live performances. I feel the DR-202 or Akai XR20 s a great compliment to a lot of what the 880 isn't good at. I wish you had mute capabilities and fills on the fly ... but the 880 wants you to program that in ahead of time and then play along if you want. I have used the 880 to control external gear, and the bass parts through the JV-1010 (or similar sound module) sound great. I've also used he DR-202 for external gear and its similarly great on external gear and has has one additional channel the 880 doesn't.
Thanks for that interesting vidéo ! I played with my school's Dr-550mkII (and M-1) back in the 90s and I loved it too, the sounds where not too far from those of the Roland's SC-55 and derivatives ! But it really missed a MIDI OUT to bulk save everything... I was offered a Roland R-5 which was a lovely machine, very expressive and which I used as sequencer. Now I have a DR-770 which is very similar to the DR-660. I agree the chorus is an awkward addition :D And I'm impressed with your talent for mod'ing these machines, it's awesome !
I’m happy you liked the video :) I agree, it is a pity the Dr-550 does not have a MIDI output, it would make a big difference. I never tried a Dr-770, but I also heard it’s a lot like the Dr-660. I hope you get good use out of it :)
Thanks for this video. So Boss started making these when I was still in primary school - wow. I joined the Dr Rhythm bandwagon in 1994 with a DR-660 (which I think I had 3 of as the first two were stolen). Compared to the preset rhythms of my old Roland KR-500, I was amazed at how versatile the DR-660 was - how I could change the pitch, tone, volume, decay, panning and sends of each individual drum sound - made for some very unique patterns. Sold my last one in 1999 - for a DR-770, which was identical in function to the 660, but with more up to date sounds, more memory - and the dark blue / orange colour scheme... it was otherwise an identical box. I also had a DR-5 which enabled me to create some backing tracks with drums, bass and two other instrumental tracks. These sounded good, but it didn't have the versatile sound changing features of the 660 (percussion) or my XP-50/60 (everything else)... but together, they produced some great results for some gigs. I last sold both in 1999 and my DR-770 in the early 2000s. I was thinking of getting another 660 soon after, but then came Logic Studio... Good times...
@@gwEmbassy Yep. The first was left with a Yamaha MDF-1 disc unit I used to save my DR-660 rhythms - in a DSS office when I was living in Fulham, London in 1994. The second was stolen along with a Yamaha QY-300 in an East End pub 4 years later. Unsurprising I suppose - it was a great little machine that could pack a creative punch.
...Great clip !!! ...and a bit of a 'memory lane' trip for me ...as I owned a Dr-55 ...and a Dr-220E ...sadly sold a long time ago (...at the time to buy a brand new Yamaha RX-7 ...that's also long gone)
@@gwEmbassy I can see why it had such enduring popularity; gives all the basics, doesn’t over complicate, and though dated, the samples and patterns are usable.
Nice job. I forgot i owned that 220e once. Roland should bring back the big lcd screen on the drum stuff... like 707 etc and i repeat, seperate outs :)
i think its worth mentioning that the 660 has bass sounds in it. there were many ghetto house songs done completely on the 660. also it has issues, or some of them do. mainly the screen going out.
@@gwEmbassy Would recommend if you ever get the opportunity. Really well spec'd machine, every sound has attack, decay, nuance, extreme pitch shifting (+/- 480 cents), it's got a great 'multi' mode where you can play the pads chromatically. Plus editing functions which are proto-Elektron p-lock esque. Decent reverbs, stereo delay, chorus and flanger. I used to arrange entire tracks on it before I could afford a synth. Also got the 909ish MIDI sequencing capabilities for external gear. The sounds range from ethnic percussion and jazz brush kits to mondo 80s gated kits and most of the 808 kit + 909 kick and snare. For a 90s rompler it's great, strong in built punchy compression a la DR550. Mine's stashed in the loft, might get it out (fnar) one night soon.
You can layer sounds too. And 2 additional outputs, one of which was really handy for triggering the arpeggios on my old Juno6 (RIP) by assigning short click/rim sounds
@@gwEmbassy www.muzines.co.uk/articles/roland-r70-drum-machine/1018 This original review gives a good overview of its capabilities, there aren't that many yt vids about it alas. Maybe I will do one in the future, will put it on my procrastination list ; )
Still have my DR-55 from way back. I always wondered if the sounds are the same circuits from the CR78 because they sound so similar. And actually, how close those are to the 606. I like the snare on those three.
The case candy for the DR-55 I grabbed a few months back also came with the original mini catalog of BOSS products in Japanese. The graphics are amazing.
How did you manage to keep the buttons from fading all these years? You can still easily ready all the printed symbols. Great video! Thanks for sharing. I have the Dr. 202
the Alesis SR 16 does not have a battery compartment? Sooo the Nippon Dr 110 is as not good? I thought it sounded the best? also most expensive version on eBay? O I just need it for back up for variation if I am on the road. Currently using uhm the other brand. Very solid Far out, Dep Mode. 55.
Are the samples on the DR220A included on the DR550MKII? I own a DR550MKII but would love to have a DR220A... would it be completely redundant? Very useful video. Thanks!
I got the 660 in 92 and there is a update sheet for a error in the machine. I like to jam guitar to it. But I honestly felt it was complicated or it just sucked. New is was $500.
@@gwEmbassy the only downside is lack of swing control but it may be 'swung' by something external, must try it out. Oh and it lacks 909 hats,i think. Between my 505 and 670 i essentially have 505,808,909, and cr78 or whatever that old one is called. Love your channel btw. You're a gear secret agent, unassuming yet so knowledgeable. Thanks for your content
Sounds like a cool setup, I like digital drum machines. Happy you are enjoying the channel, it’s a little difficult at times to summon up the motivation to record a video, so comments like this really help!
I have a dr rhythm 550 MKII as well but Its not much use as I can't sync it to my behringer td3. the notes of the td3 pattern trigger the drum sounds over the top of the drum pattern and it just makes a mess. help me if you can
