DR5 Users?

[Wewus432]

Are any of you guys using The Roland DR5(drum/combo machine)? I love this thing. I've got it set up beside my computer right now and I'm basically using it as a MIDI controller to control softsynths. The thing has a lot of capablities though and it's portable.

[Sylver]

[quote]Originally posted by TheWewus: [b]Are any of you guys using The Roland DR5(drum/combo machine)? I love this thing. I've got it set up beside my computer right now and I'm basically using it as a MIDI controller to control softsynths. The thing has a lot of capablities though and it's portable.[/b][/quote]Naaaaaa, I do my drum programming with the mouse. I'm saving up for a Triton as a midi controller. I should be able to afford one by 2112. Unfortunately, they will be obsolete by then as music will be banned.

[Alndln]

[quote]Originally posted by Sylver Bells: [b] I'm saving up for a Triton as a midi controller. I should be able to afford one by 2112. Unfortunately, they will be obsolete by then [/b][/quote]Korgs never seem to get obsolete.I still use my X3 that I bought in the early 90's as my controller and main sound source with custom patches.The only thing a little dated is the built in 16 bit reverb(which I now disable).Although the new VSTi's are getting better all the time I don't see this synth leaving my arsenal anytime soon,far from it.

[ECBRules]

I have a dr5. I really dig it. For a simple drum machine it really has a LOT of features. It has three instrument tracks and a drum track. I use it in the classrom to teach students patterns. I can easily set up whatever pattern we are working on and loop it, and if I'm too lazy to do that it's very accurate to just fingertap the patterns into it. I have sequenced a bunch of tunes with it, and have written stuff on the machine itself and worked with a sequencer and it too. What I don't like about it is the noise. You have to use batteries or you get the evil 60 hz hum of death. And it's not a 9v either, it's at least 4 AA batteries if my memory serves me correctly. The samples are a little dated too. They have a cool almost old school analouge sample tone too which is nice, but not vintage enough to make history like the early roland machines. (I guess it was used somewhere between Star blazers and Gi Joe.) I'm pretty sure Boss was a independant company before Roland bought them Out.

[ECBRules]

Oh. Here it is. This is a little sequence I did a few of years ago with the dr5 and a 200 mhz macintosh with opcode software. http://www.eastcoastbands.com/mp3/dr5tune.mp3

[Wewus432]

Hey OldDude: Ever use the DR5 Edit program? This greatly expands the use of the DR5. You can download and upload MIDI sequences and edit soooooooo much easier. I haven't gotten into it much, but everybody swears by it. There's also a free, limited feature version. Here's the link- [url=http://www.rubicsys.demon.co.uk/paul/dr5.htm]DR5 Edit[/url]

[ECBRules]

Wow that looks pretty cool. Hmmmmmmm (gears turning) I may just have to check that out. It's at my lessons studio right now, so I dont really get a lot of chances to experiment with it, but I'll get to it sooner or later. Thanks!

[Wewus432]

This Old Dude he played one, he played knick knack on my thumb.........Jeez, get back Old Dude. :D I have noticed the noisy audio output on the DR5 and that guitar synth is kind of a joke. I play around with it every once in a while and it just makes me want a real guitar synth, but overall, it's a cool little box that really rocks.