Sonic LAB: Arturia DrumBrute Impact Analogue Drum Machine Review
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- We take a look at the new Drumbrute Impact from Arturia.
An affordable analogue drum machine with a lot of features packed into a small package.
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That little jam at the end though, probably one of Nick's best
He's got the rhythms of a man half his age!!
“More size to it Like there where more people clapping” is what I say when I gig.
What ?
try using these weird little things [ . , ]
I love how he mentioned gabber...that makes it officially an artform.
Sounds good and as a DB owner I have to say I love the sequencer and I think it pairs great with the Digitakt. It's cool to layer things.
I like the sound of this. It sounds better for industrial music.
Nick, let’s no forget the 909 cymbals and things were gritty PCM samples so this is of course different.
In fact this would play nicely with a Volca sample. I think I’ll buy one, I have an idea about using MED on my Amiga and sequencing the DBI and the internal samples at the same time.
I love the clap sound, especially with that distortion up and extended decay. It just has this great EBM/Aggro vibe to it
having played with this in person now it has real breadth to design the voices, and actually sounds really nice, i particularly like the closed hat and the fm drum. also very intuitive, i could find and use the various features without needing to look up the manual.
Arturia does it again, just like the MicroBrut affordable analog for us starving artists!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget all that external processing you can do with main out and 4 individual outputs, this is where Arturia really shined. Thanks Nick for a great review, your reviews go to the meat and potatoes of devices so when you are finished I really have a great understanding of the product.
You had me at "polyrhythm".
is it just me or does the lcd during the intro say “drunbrute”? .-.
Awesome review as usual, it's always very pleasing to watch Nick reviews :) :) :) cheers from france
It kinda peeves me to loose all of the sounds of the OG DrumBrute but the Impact just sounds so much better. The hats and snare sound great on this guy. The distortion and color are a nice touches as well.
I get one since a few days (I was the first worldwide to register the serial of the machine, confirmed by support because I was not able to register). My opinion is that this version of the Drumbrute is far more interesting than the original one because it sounds good and has its own sound. Bigger sound, more agressive. Saturation knob is adding a lot to the machine, a lot more than the original very weak filter effect.
Now, of course, it has limitations, it will sound always the same in the built-in range of possible sounds.
So you can use it :
- just to peek one instrument (kick or FM perc for example),
- in its whole, and you must consider it as a full instrument to play with in real time (performances mostly)
- recorded track by track from the mono output (setting the level of only one track up at a time) to use each voice in your daw (bitwig, ableton for me, and it is working really well)
- and certainly many other uses in a modular setup just to add some kick and hhats
But for that price it will be a shame to miss this analog drum machine. You will always find a use for it or for part(s) of it...
Olivier Dahan can you sequence or record the metronome? It’d be cool to be able to use that as a rim shot.
The metronome itself is not accessible, but there is a clock out, and there is midi out, so you can get a clock from there. But if you want to get a "non conventional clock" (ie beating a specific rhythm) for modular or semi modular synths you can use the FM Perc to make a very short sound and use its dedicated output, I succeed to sync other synths this way.
Olivier Dahan I wasn’t really speaking about clock sync. I just thought it’d be cool to be able to record the metronome as a makeshift rim shot.
Do you want the metronome sound ? you can record it and loop it (it is available on the mix output). Do you want to simulate a rim shot ? If it is a regular one, use the metronome... else use the FM Perc to create a rimshot like sound.
If this can help making you happy, why not.
He was right about the genres associated with that kind of kick.
I prefer my kicks to be more snappy and woody. This unit doesn’t
deliver that. Looks like fun anyway!
I’m realizing that with usb midi out this guy is basically a 8pad drum controller with a sequencer. Like a akai mpd 328 with 8 fewer pads. The fact I can record in real time without quantize is fantastic.
Analog Modern, Club, Techno dance music box for $300. It leans towards live performer
sounds fantastic, excellent review, the knobs seem to have a better range than the Drumbrute (which I have and found the sounds and adjustment range to be disappointing) - this one sounds better
really weird how they didn't implement the decay on the cow bell, there is something like this with another voice in the original. I mean the controls should always do something!
I’m realizing that with usb midi out this guy is basically a 8pad drum controller with a sequencer. Like a akai mpd 328 with 8 fewer pads.
4:17 best representation of what I want in a clap.
Chiiiiiqqqqqcchhhh
@@samusordicus sample him!
I like it. Maybe not the best drum machine for a live set, but for recording tracks in my studio, it's a great little analog drum synth at a low price. I like it more than the original brute.
sold me on the impact; I don't need the regular drumbrute, given the other instruments in my studio, but the analog sounds and the simple workflow sold me. Plus that bit at the end, Nick, nice!
This thing is sick and the price is amazing. Haven't had gear lust in like 4 years... really looking forward to picking this up.
What odds on Korg doing a full size analogue drum machine?
That would be very exciting, though I'd be scared they might focus on the very sharp/harsh modern side, as they mostly did on the monologue.
NOLNV That's interesting. A similar sound aesthetic to the Mini/Monologue would definitely be something different.
Mark Aldred as long as it can be funky!
doubtful and if they did they'd lose the midi ports and put adapater on em..YUK
I'm praying for it every day, but they seem to be focused only on the prologue for the moment...
what bluecataudio plugin is that you're using to analyze the output? Is that the oscilloscope multi? It would be nice if you did a video on how to setup and analyze synth and drum machine output, I would find that very useful.
Only thing I wish Arturia had added in the Impact would be the ability to do real parameter locks. But still... pretty nice!
"I don't know what the genres are called."
Neither do I! Love this comment.
This little sequence at the end is really excellent!
Rim tap and cowbell are two of my favorite sounds so I would never buy a machine that didn't have dedicated ones. However, I think this is worlds better than the original DrumBrute.
With the Reverb, this sounds pretty good. I need something simple to program. This looks easier than the Volca Drum, for me. Thanks Nick! My go to Demo guy, for this kind of stuff.
As your only/main drum machine it's a bad option, but i think it will become a future Electro classic.
Very nice. Sounds good, love the programming features & step length for each part. Very cool. Pretty bloody good price as well. Tempting.
Restrictions breed creativity. Maybe it doesn't do everything but I like what I hear, and I was completely unimpressed by the original drumbrute's sounds. This has more oomph and I could really see incorporating this into my jam setup.
I've love to see your take on the Twisted Electron deton8, much smaller unit - different style, but interesting in the price point.
That distorted bass drum is in the style of Zonk House!
I'm kind of torn between getting the regular drumbrute or the drumbrute impact. I like the snare on the impact and the fact that it has Distortion, but I also like the fact that the first brute has a 909 and 808 kick. Plus two Toms!..?
Spend time with both in a store if you can, but you might find yourself leaning towards the Impact. It hasn't suffered the issues that the Drumbrute original has (the failing noise board) and the new snare and kick drum design are objectively more useful in range. Both make an incredible controller, so either way you will be happy enough :)
@@hellodavidryan Thank you.
lets all smash it this weekend!
I would not buy the Impact for my only drum machine, but I want to layer this machine over my digital Electribe2 to really enhance the sound and process the kit parts separately. This combination should give me limitless sound creations. Plus, since the Electribe2 has motion sequencing, it will add modulation layers over the top of the DrumBrute.
Loved that firecracker beat 12:30 - 12:54
very helpful video guys , just bought one
Two years on, what are your thoughts?
it sounds like its being chocked, it just does not breath, everything sounds muffled and muted and it has no bounce which is essential to a drum machine, but I guess it works ok for some stuff
spacezignul you mean “choked” and “breathe”?
yes thanks!
This description of it excites me.
sounds ok actually
can you make a pattern and save it for when you turn the machine back om again?
Yes
imo they should've gone further with the distortion. The top setting is just *starting* to get distorted. It wouldn't have been hard to double the distortion on the knob, and it wouldn't have taken anything from anybody.
I dig the new kick. Everything else is on the wimpy/mushy side for my tastes, especially the snare and clap. For under $300, though, this is very tempting.
Did they get rid of the high-end rasp in the cymbals/snare on the original DrumBrute? They sound clean here.
Also, every demo I've watched so far skips the cowbell ("under" the cymbal), this one included. Heh.
nah the snare is legit, he just didn't demonstrate at its best
I like it a lot. In fact I just ordered it! £265!!! There is no way possible to compare to it to other devices at this price point. We are never happy...
that 400 dollar Reverb though
The fact you can get close to a 909 sound for so little $$ compared to say Jomox suddenly this is far more interesting than an 808 clone. Personally I like the 909 better ever since I saw Adamski rocking one live at a small club in hollywood in 1989.
Thanks, Looks like you can't go wrong at that price. sounds good, and a joy to use.
The DBI is now about $250. Do you still agree with your comment from 5 years ago?
I’m looking at a drum machine in this price bracket as a Christmas gift to myself... Had thought it’d be the Roland TR-08 but now I’m not sure...
I actually like the hi hat sounds very 606.
Me too , Thats why I`m watching the 5th review , I love the hats !
Have you heard all six different kinds of hi hats the TT-606 has? 😏
? what do you mean ?
The Casio MT65 called... it wants its drum sounds back !
Yeah, rimshot over cowbell! But, otherwise a nice piece of gear. I like the interface for live noodling... and the FM drum! Great outro jam, as always.
Don't know why they made it to where the cowbell has no functionally other than the master distortion. Can't even add color to it which is super disappointing because tweakable cowbell sounds can be super dope. I agree a rimshot would have been cool as well. I'm sure they will make a revamped version of this within a year or two.
P.s. individual distortion instead of master distortion also would have been nice.
I was looking for someone using the ventris on the fm out and there you are
Could the beatstep pro be used to sequence a pattern of parameters, such as fm pitch?
I bought one brand new when it came out and returned it to buy the Roland TR8S. The DB sounded weak in the bass and other sounds just didn't hit me off right. Volume was an issue too. Needs an amp.
Can i connect this to an amp with stereo speakers?
Great review as usual ,, nice drum machine well worth the money .
I was going to sell my original DB but the clap on this one isn't very articulate. Also, I was experimenting with the filter (which isn't on the new DB impact) and it has it's place. It's great for shaping your snares snap if you don't have an analog eq. So, I'll end up buying this one too. I can't wait to play with the distortion types.
@sonicstate Great review as always Nick, thank you. At @11:08 you mention the swing and how you can dial it independently to each track "like in the beatstep pro"... I know what you mean by that: tracks being the three different sequencers in the beatstep. You may see where I'm going. Is it possible to swing each of the different drum pads in the drum sequencer from the bspro ? I know this is out of topic but that has puzzled me since I got mine and would love to have a way of doing that or at least have Arturia update the machine with that feature if possible. Cheers
They added HOWL from the Rhythm Wolf heheh (except it sounds good)
I'd still be tempted to get the original Drumbrute due to the outs/more controls/voices, can always throw it through a distortion. Kinda an odd two steps forward and two backwards product, but I guess it was mostly price driven.
The rhythm wolf wasn't that bad to be honest. I got the Tom Cat and it's great if you know how to process drums. Doesn't compare to this tbh but for sound design it's potential is good.
Wagoo his one has individual outs just not as many.
yeah I know, hence it being a step backwards
Wagoo depends on how you look at it. All the same performance controls. The distortion is way more useful than the filter, the FM drum providing synth like tones, the color function giving every sound 2 variations, etc. I think it’s a much better machine, so in that respect, I wouldn’t say it’s a step backward. Just a different machine for different people :)
Well I'm not sure how you can say it has all the same performance controls when for example on kick (primary, since Impact only has 1) you lose impact and sweep pots.. and you obviously lose the controls for the missing voices. The colour and FM voice are great additions, the distortion sounds great.. but it would have been nice not to compromise other things.
If this was the Drumbrute Impact Mini, and they upgraded the original Drumbrute with all the new things.. then it would make more sense to me. Maybe they will upgrade it. You can get the original used for around the same price as the Impact new.. it just seems more fun to use all the outs on the original to go through a bunch of different bits of kit to make the sound unique.
I'll just stick with my Korg Electribe ER-1. Sounds almost identical, has parameter lock and you can get them used for under $200. Or you can get the ipad or iphone for $10. Not analog but way cheaper.
Charlie Malone the electribe only has 2 outputs.
James Reeno - it’s true - I guess it depends on how you’re going to use it. You can solo and mute all the different parts in the ER-1 and record them individually if you really want that type of feature, but you’re right, if you’re performing live I guess individual outputs may be important.
Finally someone else mentions that you can get the iOS one for $10! Yea I get that hardware is gonna be a better experience with that machine especially, but the software works and the barrier to entry is so low in that case; for me the biggest benefift of the software version is that youve ALWAYS got an ER-1 in your pocket (iphone)
Agreed, Nick -- rimshot would have been waaaaaay more useful
Good review . I nearly bought one. thanks for helping not waste me money
At this price I’d honestly rather buy the TR-09 even without the individual outs. Sure it’s not analog but it sounds way better.
exactly! who cares if its analogue, when sounds like this? This machine is a bad joke...
Wish arturia included the distortion circuit on the original DB.
I wonder if anyone modded their DB with an audio in for the filter. Same could be done for this DBi's Distortion :)
it's intersting to not one of the first reviews had the chap hooked up the drumbrute to a distortion pedal...
Sounds pretty typical modern drum machine. Not many can do the hi hats, claps, and snares of the old drum machines. Just not snappy/crunchy enough. I don't know I give it a 6/10 on sound alone.
but are there "tracks" that you can record midi in to? can I drive melodies on other gear with this like a big boy sequencer or is it limited to sequencing drum sounds only?
Any velocity action? Velocity to the VCA? i would have liked some cross fade between the 2 color modes depending on velocity.
So is it possible to change the divisions per track...i mean for example 8th note triplets on the bassdrum track with 7 steps...then 16th divisions on the high-hat with 5 steps..possible?
Neat little thing. Sounds great!
12:06 popcorn
You forgot the cowbell!
can't believe you can't adjust the transient/click level of the kick
Looks good
Great demonstration, many thanks for sharing :-)
I've never heard anything described as 'nifty' since I was at school. He'll be saying 'Seff' and 'Wick' before long.
Or 'well skill' !
compared to the boutique trs... what do you think?
I didn't know that using the sub-outputs removes them from the main, but that makes sense. Opens up a lot of fun possibilities. Also Bo Beats has a couple of great videos where I swear the sounds out of it almost sound like a digital unit. I have the DB, and will probably get this one as well.
same on every analogue machine i know, in layman's terms it is basically inserting into the circuit and creating a switch via the cable tip - that switch removes the circuit from the main out
OGASI totally makes sense, I just never really considered it.
Craig_M it's a great feature BUT to really get the best it means always having mixer inputs to spare, which is hard to be fair.
please read and comprehend before typing.
Now, to hear tracks actually made with it. Curious how it'd fit in a mix and what kind of genre's it could work with. Seems like it's focused on the hard hitting side of things but would be cool to hear a more sparse use of it (kind of like the outro track I guess).
Cant wait for you to do a review of the new Erebus 3, do you know when that will be, can you ask if you can get one in advance? :)
Wow! Nick you’ve become very
The man important in the industry! You seem to get new gear, the moment it’s released! Same in the US. We watch everything over here. I’d love to know your ratings in the US compared to the UK and Europe;)
This or the Roland are 08?
I want this so badly.
Did you ever get one?
we need more drum synthesizers and less drum machines that are not really synths (this being as example of that). . I'm talking about being able to shape the sounds deeply. Drum synthesis can be almost as deep as any kind of synthesis. Call them drum synths, and make them real, deep, drum synths.
Moog DFAM:) And yeah: we need more of those kinds of devices you describe! Lots of room for creativity.
Honestly, with the Rytm & Tempest, there's not a lot of room in terms of market size (I'd imagine.. Just look at the #'s and prices of Rytm on Reverb) for any new examples any time soon...
I don't know what it is about this thing. When someone goes through and manually plays the voices one by one, I'm like, "Oh, this sounds alright." But then when someone plays a pattern on it, I'm like, "Oh, this sounds awful." It's like it's something to do with envelopes or something. There isn't a nice tight snap to the beats. It sounds all "blappy" and flat. The groove doesn't compel me at all. I guess for the price it's alright but the sounds. Nah, not for me. I'll leave it at that.
Matt Greer Music ‘blabby and flat’ is as good a description as any. I really wanted to want this, but to be honest my Dr-110 sounds better.
A compressor is a MUST to use with this instrument.
chinese made junk and I much prefer American made Dave Smith, Swedish made Elektron, or German made MFB or Acidlab.
"Blabby" may be the best description of the Drumbrute I've heard. The first thing I do when I power mine up is connect a compressor or drive or both. Too loose as is.
@Renaissance Man: Yeah defenitely. I think the thing that comes closest to the Drumbrute is the MFB Tanzbär. And while it sounds similar, it's actually so much tighter. Subtleties do matter. And then you know why you're paying 400 Bucks extra.
Can put a shaker on numberwang though?
The clap named snare...
Spark is a better investment... Thinking about getting the Spark, Yamaha RS7000 and a Roland MC-909
That cymbal is just horrible, sounds like a groundloop to me. Kick and snare quite better than in the original tho
I prefer the original's sounds by a long shot. But you can play around with the accents on both. I wish they both had a chromatically playable bass voice. That would just be awesome. Like the Rhythm Wolf but actually sounding good and in tune (although the RW is not as bad as its reputation). Quite a cool little groove he's got going near the end
Sounds like something ymo or kraftwerk would’ve made good use of
wil buy 2nd hand one in the future
Can you record the metronome and use it as a make shift rimshot?
At 5:02, who spotted the big stain on his t-shirt, which mysteriously disappeared at 6:36 :)
where can i find the midi-controllcenter for the Impact? The one on the Arturia site is without the Impact.
When you route e.g. the snares to the effect unit, the snares will bypass the master output. Do they then bypass the distortion too?
yes
Nice review, though didn't you kinda jump past the FM voice?
That step/repeat touchstrip seems broken or something, it was way too jumpy and prone to going full right even though you were touching it to the left.
Interesting product in that it sounds pretty darn good, and at a reasonable price. But I feel like there's too little editing of some of the voices, like those that can't be pitched/lengthened independently or at all. And like so many others, I'm wondering why not rimshot instead of cowbell? Especially as it can't be edited enough to be really useful.
Feels like a bit of one-trick pony. It does that trick extremely well, but I think it will grow boring/overused pretty quickly. And despite being reasonably priced, it's still too expensive if it ends up in the cupboard too soon.
I don't know, maybe I'm being too negative, it does sound great and has some pretty cool features..
I like its kick and snare , much better than the original
Sorry but I got to ask: why is Stephan Bodzin doing reviews on youtube? I like it!!
How tight is the midi sync with Live, for example?
Good video. Too bad it has No Clap! ( Snare 2 isn't one. ) Also - why not a machine that fits their Rack system? ( Unless, another is planned later? )
With the RetroKit cable, would this work to sequence a Volca Sample?
Yeah it's cool but honestly u am so tired of 808 and 909 clones. When the hell will someone give us an awesome LinnDrum mk1 or 2 clone that is what i want for a drum machine if i want to use an 808 i will just go to my dads house and borrow his. It is cool for what it is do not get me wrong but it would be nice to see a drum machine that does not have 808 sounds i vet the Linn was digital and these are analougue but i stand by my comment.
Yep a Linn clone would be amazing.
The linndrum was reborn already as the Dave Smith & Roger Linn Tempest. Yours for only $2,000.00 !
Lightbox Yeag i know about the tempest dont want it, i am talkinv about other companies making one. I am preying Behringer drops that LMX and OMX.
yeah, those kind of comments are seriously ill-informed on the subject in general
Nah pretty informed just dont care about the business side of things i just want instruments dude i already bought one of these it's cool in its own way i just want the LMX and OMX 🍻
less is more, so they say. I still want a proper hardware version of MicroTonic and not a small calculater sized "toy".
You and me both 👍🏻
Yes yes yes
That would great!
I agree completely.