All About Drum Machine

Drum machines are an electronic instrument usedwas held together in a cabinet with a speaker and
to mimic the sound of real drums. They are usedan amplifier.
for a variety of reasons and in many types ofIn 1963, Raymond Scott invented a drum
content. From electronic use to filling in as a drummachine called the Bandito. And in the later 1960`s
session for a missing band member, it can take itdrum machines began to accompany all organs
all on.and organists. By the 1970`s many pop stars and
It works by using sequences with playback or amusic groups were becoming fans and using them
synthesizer that are used in the copying of drumin their songs and music.
timbres. They can produce unique sounds and canIn the 1980`s programmable drum machines
create unique drum beats.became available, and one began to sell called the
Programming can be done in real time. It functionsLM-1. It had a distinct sound that was picked up
by creating the drum patterns by pressing on theby many singers including the singer Prince. It was
trigger pads and using the step sequencing.so popular that drummers were beginning to feel
Pattern is created by adding sounds at particularthe pinch and started buying them and
points by placing them along a sixteen step bar.programming their music into it to stay employed
The drum machine has been around for a while,as a drummer. In the later 1980`s a company
but hasn`t always been used. In the 1930`s it wascreated the DMX which took the likening of many
called a rhythm machine. They were forgottenhip hop stars and was heard in many hip hop
about for a while and used later forsongs of the 80`s.
pre-programmed rhythms such as mambo musicNow it is uncommon to find it that stands on its
and tango. In 1947 Harry Chamberlin created aown. These days most drum machines are
tape loop based drum machine called thesoftware based. They offer sequencing and
Chamberlin Rhythmate. It used fourteen tapesampling and use of loops and music workstations.
loops with sliding head and allowed for playback ofThe workstations use sequencing and drum
tracks on tape or blending of sounds.sounds to create the sound effect.
In 1959, Wurlitzer created a device called theDrum machines have certainly come along way. It
Sideman. It was the first ever commerciallyis amazing to see how they have emerged over
produced drum machine. It was anthe years to come to the electronic sound that
electro-mechanical system that used percussivewe hear today. It is an integral part of music and
accompaniment for Wurlitzer organ music andcan be heard in many types of music, from hip
range. It offered twelve electronically madehop to organ music. It has also made its way too
predetermined rhythm patterns with variablemany keyboard designs allowing players to mimic
tempos. Sound was made from vacuum tubesthe sound of drums as they play the keyboard.
which created ten present electronic drum sounds.The drum machine offers a sound as unique as
The tempo patterns were controlled by a sliderthey come.
that increased rotation of a disc. The Sideman