I have no shame. My first drum machine was the Mattel Synsonics Drums, back in 1981. I was a young teenager, wanted a drum machine, but could afford a Roland TR-606. I still own it and works just as well as it did in 1981.

The Roland R-8 is a great drum machine but you missed its biggest cons: 1. The power supply has a proprietary plug. There are no aftermarket replacements. You have to spend close to $100 or more if you lose it or it breaks. 2. The reason why so many of them look so beat up isn’t necessarily that they were used so much but that the strange rubbery paint they used gets sticky, rubs off or both. 3. The best sounds are found on the sound cards. You can spend $100+ each for the best cards. The MkII remedies this somewhat but you pay extra for the convenience. 4. The pads rely on a plastic hinge that wears down and breaks. Replacements are hard to find.

I have definitely noticed how the SR-16 never left the market. It on its own has probably kept Alesis alive when their other ventures have been hit-and-miss. I even considered getting one myself, even though I don’t sequence drums and Alesis had uploaded most of its sounds to my first synthesizer, the QS6. What you said at the start, Jeff, about how drum tones can be interchanged (if I remember that right) but that a drummer is worth their weight in gold easily “hits the downbeat” with me. During the upper 80s, Don Dorsey issued 2 electronic interpretations of the classics, *BachBusters* and *Beethoven or Bust.* He sequenced most of it on a Synclavier II and output the parts to various outboard synth models for both. In the liner interview from *Beethoven or Bust,* Don mentions how he had no qualms about sequencing drums; he said that having been a drummer himself, he was only “replacing himself”. I hold to the same attitude whenever I play the percussion on my own tracks; I’m only replacing myself (only my self-titled debut, *Eric Benjamin Gordon,* features a regular drum kit). This comment is in March 2024. Since September 2018, I have used a Yamaha DTX Multi 12 for my drum tones. The glory part for me is how it includes samples from the RX5. An original one is sitting here but without a power supply.

The Yamaha RY30 is also a good choice. It ranges from $250-$400. It has a stereo out plus two assignable individual outs. The pitch wheel (yes it has one) can be used for pitch, filter, pan, etc. for some real-time modulation. You can kit-bash any two internal samples together to create "new" sounds, which was great for alternative percussion creation. Being a product of the very early, early 1990s (circa '91), it's close to this list. But it's well worth it if you're looking for a stand-alone drum machine.

Between the two Alesis I'd go with the HR, more character.

Great video. I was really expecting to see the Yamaha MR10 appear,but the list is excellent.

When my Drumulator went out on me, I too bought the brand new Korg "Super Drums". What a piece of junk! I was glad when my Drumulator only needed a factory reset to start working again! Funny story: I sold the Super Drums to my bandmate and neighbor...a guy we called Maynard...and he ran it through a distortion pedal to use for his pre-Tool C.A.D. tape project. I had the RZ-1 as well, and, at the time, actually had fun with the sampling feature! I used the RX-11 too...a LOT! But I never did care much for most of the sounds. Fun video...thanks for the memories!

I have a pristine Boss DR110. Really lovely simple Drum Machine with quite decent sounds and an awesome display similar to the 707! Bought mine for £90 I recall!

Thank you Well done and good analysis.I owned a few of these and my favorites would have been the R8 and the RX5.The RX5 suffered from lack of touch sensitivity but could be overcome by programming from a MIDI keyboard.I look forward to Behringer doing an upgrade with new or interchangeable sounds a larger screen and sampling (Maybe RX1 finally) The RX 5 sounds were also easily dated.The R8 despite its proprietary cable which can be obtained from Amazon was also wonderful because of its quality sounds which still sound full and usable today.Additionally the human element with ghost notes etc was revolutionary. The refusal of Roger Linn to build another drum machine beyond the will known "2nd Linn Drum" hampered the industry by removing that top end competition when larger screens greater sample times etc became available. I look forward to your high end listing and analysis.I hope to see the R70 and DR880 in that group.BTW the TR 707 could also be paired with a percussion unit the TR 727. It would be good to see these return upgraded. However with cheap loopers and a combination of sample units such as the Roland SPDX pro and Alesis Pad unit I think the 80's style drum machine may be history.

I used to own an rx17. It could do bass lines by changing the midi note output for the pads, and using the midi outs. I loved my rx17.

What about the Korg DDD 1? That was a beast…

If you have an iPad (many do) the iM1 app from Korg is $30 plus $10 for all the M1 and T1 cards.

As a drummer, I agree ... you can get GREAT drum sounds from just samples and samplers. Even cheap samplers. However, as a drummer ... there is no way I am not getting recreations of my favorite drum machines (I just purchased a used RD-8 mKII on Reverb for $275 last night)! Thanks for putting this list together!

Would love to get your take on modern drum machines!

I bought a Korg DDM 110 for £30 I'd say. Yeah agree very limited Drum Machine on many fronts but has a certain charm!

Were any of these commonly used in commercial synthpop or dance music between 1986 and 1989? It's just that I've heard about the early 80s drum machines but I want to look up if there are any good emulations of the late 80s ones.

Come on, 4 Yamaha RX on the list and no Korg DDD 1 or 5? Best budget 80s drum machines ever!

3:32 Did they change the power-supply unit on the SR-16 over time? Looks like the old one requires 9V and the new one 12V.

Had some fun with RX-5, DR-660 and RY-30. Currently only own a TR-8s.

My main 80s drum machine at the moment is Roland R8 because of it’s sequencer. The RX5 is in the rack too 😊

The SR-16 doesn’t have a rotary encoder. That’s actually just a big volume knob. On the newer SR-18, it is a rotary encoder. Unfortunately, when you’re in pattern mode on the SR-18, it’s easy to accidentally change patterns by bumping the encoder.

Aww! Ive got the HR16 I still use and I’ve also got the Yamaha RX7 the cheaper version of the RX5, the only difference is the amount of outputs for external effects and strangely the RX7 has 100 internal sounds compared to 24 on the RX5

i've owned most of these (all but the RX15, RX11 HR16 and TR707 (though i tried a couple of time on that one...)) but the only ones i still have are your top 2 - the RZ1 requires an OS chip upgrade before the samples will play in time properly but the faders make it a party in a box! my RX17 was absurdly cheap on ebay...£15 i think? - i like that it's velocity sensitive over MIDI (works real nice with yer beatstep pro), great source of classic 80's drums. typically i replace the kick for both with a jomox mbase01, both of them have more of a pop than a thud...

roland r-8 (original and mkII), tr-707 and yamaha rx-11 ❤❤❤ I had them! and I totally agree when you say they can be replaced using a nice samples lib!

Also as a drummer here must say a Used R8 (with extra sound cards) or R8 mk 2 is the winner on this list as far as sound quality and what it could do for the time. Incredibly flexible and nuanced machine. The drum track “Sunlight” from the Pat Metheny album Secret Story is peak R8 programming. At the time it fooled me into thinking it was a real drummer. But it’s all R8.

Yes yes dude right up my street. I agree about Drum Machines being easily replaced you're right.

I might add that maybe it's because the Boss DR-5 is complicated to program but hands down it's the best overall programmable rhythm composer available at low cost. It's actually much more than a drum machine. It features synthesizer sounds and a 8 track sequencer as well with hundreds of assorted preset multi-instrument rock, soul, funk, & jazz built-in background tracks. All this in a lightweight practically handheld size sturdy module.

Had an Yamaha RX15 which I bought for £20 but got dust in it so gave it away sadly. Nice Drum Machine though and lovely clap.

Actually you need to mention Roland TR-727 along with 707 here, because 727 is for those who need more percussion sounds, and both of them can be linked together through MIDI sync capability. But in the same year when 707 and 727 were popular, there was a low budget drum machine from Roland but brings the complete drum and percussions, although the sample quality may not as good as the older brothers, but the individual outputs make us able to mix the sounds faithfully and individually. It is Roland TR-626.

Cool list

707 was a bargain but I think you can get one for £500. I bought mine for £250. Bags of character and easily my favorite all time Drum Machine!

I think the RZ1 is a nice looking Drum Machine and the sampling is a great feature but the PCM sound set were pretty forgettable though man. 😂 Has a real charm though! Personally would have made the RX5 number one because you can now dump sounds to it via usb cards etc.

Alesis HR-16 & Casio RZ-1 rank among my favorites on this list. DR-110 is a solid contender, but I tend to compare it directly with the TR-606 (non MIDI, battery power capable analog), and the DR loses ground for obvious reasons. I realize the 606 no longer qualifies as a bargain, but I still tend to compare them on traits alone. I guess I should spend some more time with the Yamaha RX family, see if a rapport develops.

I think you missed the most important detail to these drum machines...that being what ones are velocity sensitive?...That was the game changer with the Alesis HR 16 to me and many others...this made it sound like real drums...Also the way the sequencer worked you could record it like you where recording to tape as one big song....The rolands and yamaha's i owned where not velocity sensitive...and Never sounded real...

I think the RX5 is a beast. I've been looking for one for a while. Agree the display isn't good otherwise this would have destroyed all competition!

What someone thinks of drum sounds whether good or bad, is subjective. I have an HR-16, and from a realistic standpoint and no effects, I personally find it being one of the best. Even a lot better than the SR-16. Having said that, it has a whole lot of limitations, as you stated.

I think maybe the reason you don't currently own any drum machines is because you have a history of using drum machines with unpleasant interfaces! The 707 is the only one of those that looks fun to program. 😂 Well... the HR-16 looks a lot like the MMT-8, and people love that thing. If you're buying a physical drum machine you're either doing it because of the interface, or you're doing it for some kind of nostalgia. You can get a TR-6S for under $300 on Reverb, and that has all the ACB 808/909/707/727/CR-78 sounds and a bunch of other stuff. Or maybe you want to play with the knobs on something analog, then a used Behringer RD-9 is a lot of fun. If it doesn't have a good interface, I'm going to sequence it with something else, and then I might as well use an M1 or some random rompler that has a ton more sounds than any drum machine. Well, unless you want to sequence something analog externally, then you definitely need a Jomox, or a ridiculous eurorack percussion setup. That would be hilarious if the MBase was someone's first/only drum machine. An MBase and a SQ-1! Now that's a good first drum machine!

Great series i love this. There is one sleeper… the kawai R100… up there by connection witht the big boys

The Korg DDD-1 doesn’t even make the list? Affordable, lots of i/o, lots of control over the sounds, expandable via multiple card slots, SAMPLING, and so much more!!

I don’t really know why I’d go for one of these. If I’m on a budget, software is fine.. if I’m going to go for hardware.. I want it to have a real advantage over software. There are any number of.. on the market drum machine and groove boxes that aren’t that pricy.. and in many cases could be less then the ones you mentioned.

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a Yamaha RX-5 for $140(!!!) that was for sale a couple of moths ago. I'll check if you have "Top 11 - I Wish I Had Bought That" list.

In this genre, in current production, the IK Multimedia Uno Drum is interesting and cheap.

In the South East Asia, Roland R-8 and R-8 mkII were the most popular drum machines. That's because the genre of the music in South East Asia were pop-oriented, and most musicians were interested in the drum samples than synth-oriented like 808 and 909. Of course there are some alternatives from Yamaha and Alesis, but Roland R-8 wins the market. Before R-8, Roland TR-707 and 727 were popular, and often accompanied with Roland S-50 or S-550 to expand more percussion sounds not existed in 707 and 727.

🥁🥁🥁🥁

I have an RX-11. I got it for £85 I think. 😎

No room for the Roland TR 626, cheap as chips and easy to use

Korg DDD-1 is the king of 80s affordable drum machines. At least to look at. The kick is... embarrassing.

I love my SR-16!