rwn@iham1.UUCP (Bob Neumann) (05/28/85)
I've been seeing a lot of comments in this newsgroup lately about Drum Machines and Sequencers pre-determining the speed and feel of a pre-programmed performance. Many of you have also mentioned that you are LOOKING FORWARD to drum machines/sequencing devices that insert human feel and react dynamically to human changes in rhythm. All of these things have been available for quite some time. A good drum machine such as an Oberheim DMX, LinnDrum, etc. can be linked to a Garfield Electronics Doctor Click syncing device which will give a drummer the capability of controlling an external drum machine/sequencer with his bass drum. The bass drum acts as a click track which the Doctor Click converts to a control clock for the machines. Interactive computer based music systems have also been available for quite awile. My Oberheim system (OB-8, DMX, DSX) as well as most other computer music systems of professional quality (Roland stuff, Sequential, etc) allow for the dynamic control of "off-the-beat" swing for individual drums, sequencing transposition, dynamic sequence selection, etc. in real time while the computers and sequencers are playing. Although gaining the knowledge to manipulate these instruments may be difficult for some, the capabilities do exist for performances which use live drummers, interactive sequencing, handplayed keyboard parts, etc. Prices for all this fantastic power are dropping everyday. Can anyone share their experiences with live performance and/or studio work using these machines?