Elektron Machinedrum SPS 1 MKII, hardware drum machine

Elektron Machinedrum SPS 1 MKII

RRP: £1,250 (street price typically below £900)

Produced: 2001 – 2008 (MKI); 2008 – present (MKII)

The Machinedrum redefined the hardware drum machine for the modern era. Following the emergence of affordable DAWs, software sampling and virtual instruments in the late 90s, you’d have been forgiven for assuming that hardware would become a footnote in electronic music history as we flocked in our droves to the brave new world of cheap, flexible software options.

The Machinedrum was released in 2001, just as software looked to have won the battle for the vast majority of producers. Against all odds, this Swedish-made boutique drum machine emerged as a cult favourite, winning over admirers for its workflow and versatility in the context of a modern studio setup as much for its sonic prowess.

The sound engine is based around Elektron’s now-familiar ‘machine’ concept, each of which is tailored to achieve a specific end result. The main machines in this case are the TRX for Roland-style sounds, EFM for FM synthesis, E12 based on E-mu SP-12 samples and PI for physical modelling of realistic acoustic sounds. It’s an incredibly impressive architecture which makes the Machinedrum capable of a huge range of sounds.

The Machinedrum’s sequencing options are equally vast, based around step and real-time modes, but offering an array of LFOs, effects and filters to make it incredibly flexible. The unit can also be used to sequence external MIDI instruments or process external audio sources. It’s a credit to Elektron’s original design that the MKII model, released in 2008, only refined the formula very slightly, most notably by improving the signal-to-noise ratio and increasing the maximum pattern length.

The more advanced SPS-1 UW+ model offers additional sampling features, but the MKII remains a winner for its pure, refined approach to drum programming. It’s a modern classic for good reason. Keep an eye out for second-hand bargains (we’ve seen them go for less than £500 in mint condition, which is a steal) but even at the current street price of just under £900 the Machinedrum is a great buy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo-F0b7hWFk

14th January, 2014

Comments

  • Wow no Tempest !
    Great Great Post ! Thanks

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  • Roc – the Tempest’s in there!

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  • SP1200 > SP12

    http://youtu.be/iAZO3XBtUzE

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  • thanks for this. i was looking at the tanzbar but i didnt know how cool the machinedrum was. another one to check out.

    do a feature like this on analog synths! 😉

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  • no oberheim dmx? no dynacord ADD-one?

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  • Jomox xbase 888 is killer once you change the sounds in it

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  • @KV the 1200 has no ROM sounds so it’s definitely a sampler and not a drum machine. I agree it’s better than the Sp12. Both incredible though.

    Attack, please do a Ten Of The Best on samplers. MPCs, SP1200 etc. Keep up the great work!

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  • id replace the 606 with the 808, but then again I haven’t owned either of them :p

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  • IMHO, the video featuring the Machinedrum does not make it justice.
    Some thing like the link below or any demo video from Mr Dataline can provide a deeper idea if its capabilities, just my 2cents…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxX0VEpMSI

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  • 707 is boys noize go to drum machine. He’s got a super modified one and an orignal

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  • 707 clap isn’t so bad imo!

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  • Casio RZ-1 is truly horrible. Worst $25 I ever spent.
    Volca Beats?
    Any MPC should of been on there.

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  • Repeat until fade: an MPC is a sampler, not a drum machine; an MPC is a sampler, not a drum machine; an MPC is a sampler, not a drum machine…

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  • korg volca toy

    yet….
    no oberheim dx/dmx
    no sequential drumtrak
    no sequential tom
    no simmons :-O
    no dynacord add one
    no pearl syncussion
    no LINNDRUM?

    really poor list made by roland fanboy

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  • Too true on the Volca, didnt think as first look but when you get on one its fun as hell!

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  • @Gertie i love lots of the drum machines you mention but i suppose this feature is meant to represent the ideal proportion between money, fun and sound you can get nowadays, and, let’s face it, the best part of roland tr series can match this.

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  • I’d add jomox 999 here as well as linndrum

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  • you are a douche for missing mpc

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  • @won… MPC is a sampler, not a drum machine. Doubled-douched.

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  • “MPC is a sampler”
    What do think a SP12 is? It plays samples……

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  • Bull. If the SP is mentioned here, then the MPC series should have been represented…

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  • Tr 808 is the best

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  • What the hell??? Why isn’t the Linn LM-1 on here? And if you’re gonna add the DRM1, you guys might’ve well put the SDS-V on this list.

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  • Guys complaining about drum machines not being mentioned…..
    MAKE Your own LIST.

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  • Hi guys! Which make of drum machines do you recommend me?

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  • where is the Analog Rytm?????

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  • Why an SP12 and not a SP1200?? Why a Tempest and not a LM1??? Best hardware drum machines in what sense? Poor columnists here…

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  • Wow I like these reviews. I’ve been using drum machines for about 7 years now, and I’m thinking of switching over to a simpler version of one, well at least simpler to use (not simple in functionality). Anyone ever used the BeatBuddy (their site is http://www.mybeatbuddy.com )? It looks pretty cool, but I am not sure if I should get it. I’m really thinking of getting it, can anyone tell me if it’s worth making the switch??

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  • Best drum machine ever: The one that has the sound you want.

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  • RZ-1 is *horrible*. It is so bad, I actually bought one new in like ’83 and played with it for like 2 weeks… it’s timing was sloppy, sounds were dull and I ended up taking it back and getting a TR-505… which was no great DM either, but at least had a snappy kick.

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  • Zoom RT-234? It’s cheap and incredibly flexible.

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  • I agree with dagan,
    I have the orginal Zoom RT-123.
    The button layout is very intuitive – unlike anything else in this review.

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  • The RZ-1 is actually really useful, just not as a main instrument. I find it is best used being run by another box to cut sounds in as accents and fill. As a main or only piece, it’s really going to let a lot of folks down, it’s all about the faders and the outputs, one per instrument, give you all manner of processing options to takes it’s admittedly cheesy sound to a level far beyond it’s capabilities.
    Now for the “why not this…” part, Electribes, personally I would replace the Volca with them, but that’s me.

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  • Where is the Sonic Potions LXR???

    Amazing drum machine for the price.

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  • lol how the hell you put aSP12 and no MPC. this is bullshit preference based article

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  • nice to see the Tanzbar and MDS-1 in there…
    but I NEVER see a list like this include any of the Zoom RT-series, which had a kind of sequencing that has yet to be re-created in any other machine.
    Their “Groove Play” mode allowed you to play multiple patterns (of arbitrary length/meter) simultaneously… with velocity and time-alignment control by pads… somewhat a hardware pre-cursor to Ableton clip launching…

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  • Don,t forget the sounds u hear r fatten up with a analogue filter (white box on top) a Niio Iotine ?. Only whant to say the sounds r more thin without the filter.

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  • I mean the dsi ?

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  • I think they missed the awesome Anolog Rytm by Elektron. This thing is a real killer.

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  • I don’t think the Analog Rytm had been released when this article was written had it? Same with the Roland tr-8 which probably would have made the list too if it had been available at the time

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  • For me Elektron Analog Rytm far ahead!

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