How it started for most of us
In the year 2014 Japanese music industry giant Korg had presented its take on analog drum machine Volca Beats, and later to other crucial synth gear.
For the decades, home-brewed musicians were looking toward recreating the iconic TR-808 sounds — first massively successful analog drum machine that shaped the sounds across 80’s and 90’s hip-hop and electronica.
For millennial generation experiments began in 90’s with the mass adoption of home computers.
The landmark Propellerhead’s Rebirth programme contained a recreation of Roland’s TR-808, TR-909 drum machines and two TB-303 bass lines, with an easily accessible pattern memory. This was our introduction to grooveboxes.
Cannot skip mentioning another programs: Rubberduck, or Hammerhead TR-909-like drum computer. With the latter recreation available now on iPads.
So the scene was formed. But for 2000’s programs began to outdate, and there was no replacement.
Untill it all changed
Since 2014 with introduction of tiny Volca units, the analogue revolution has begun.
Following the workflow of Korg Gadget iOS DAW, these little machines started the analogue renaissance and brought the whole lot of recreated (hello, Uli!) and new analogue machines and instruments, and a vast opportunity for all kinds of bedroom producers.
Author’s thoughts
Some criticize not exact copy of Roland’s holy grail, other accuse floppy snare sounds and PCM samples.
But for me, it’s just a new, reimagined machine, with its own unique sounds and feeling. And you can be pretty sure to grab the piece before analog drum machines go off the scene again.
And I must admit, ever since I have tried different gear, but somehow this always kicks best.