In a decade when electronic sound, the DJ world and dance creativity are going through an excellent moment, we put the analog power of this Arturia drum machine to the test, which we announced relatively recently. Both in the studio and in live sets, the role of the DJ and producer keeps broadening. On the one hand thanks to the success of packed clubs, and on the other thanks to the number of tools that make their work more "open" and creative every day.
Arturia DrumBrute
We set the unit up in our lab and put it through its paces. We'll avoid getting lost in endless text and try to sum up the essence of this machine in a practical way. You know the saying: "good things, when short, are twice as good". What is it? What's it for? What's cool about it? How does it work? And what activities does it really seem suited to?
As we said when we introduced the machine a few months ago, it's an elaborate analog drum machine with a personality of its own, containing 17 drum and percussion instruments (analog sounds): two kicks, snare, clap, open and closed hi-hat, high and low toms, high and low congas, maracas, rimshot, clave, tambourine, zap, cymbal and even a reverse cymbal.
Although there are 14 pads, several of them have a button that selects between sounds. For example, the "RIM" channel can trigger that sound or "CLAVES". Likewise the toms channel also plays the congas, and so on, for a total of 17 sounds that can also play simultaneously. One of the most appealing things is how easy it is to use, since it's a fairly intuitive unit, and it also gets along wonderfully with other external devices in our setup.
The device avoids the endless menus that drive us crazy trying to follow the "multi-function of each button". Dedicated pads for each function ultimately allow quick, simple operation.
Unboxing
As you'd expect, retro is very present in its look. This is a machine with a vintage, sober and elegant finish in black, white and wood tones. Its dark background makes the lighting of the pads/indicators even clearer and easier to follow. Continuing with its build, we think one of the Drumbrute's advantages is undoubtedly its solid and, above all, roomy construction. Big pads and enough space to handle all its controls comfortably. This lets us see our work clearly and work the unit's controls without feeling cramped.
Connectivity
Now for the rear panel. On the back we find 11 individual outputs (sounds in the same column share a channel: Rim/Claves, Congas/Toms, etc.), as well as the hi-hat. The Drumbrute features sync in/out via its MIDI (DIN), USB and analog clock connectors. Hence its "good vibes" with our peripherals: synths, modular systems and sequencing hardware.
The individual outputs offer flexible possibilities for multitrack recording and external analog processing per channel. And thanks to USB and MIDI, we can also use the Arturia as a DAW interface. Via USB we can also adjust the unit's basic parameters (note map, channel assignment, etc.)
As for the main audio outputs, there's a 1/4" TRS connection for the main mix output and a headphone section with a volume knob and 3.5mm (minijack) or 1/4" TRS jacks. Add the power switch and the power supply input and that completes the "back panel" list
The sound
Before getting into the editing modes and, in short, the Drumbrute's workflow, let's look at the character of its sound. We think "the device" tries to bring together a series of well-made, flexible sounds designed more for efficiency than for extreme variety. The set offers a range of 17 sounds, including two kick sections, enough to handle punchy lows, and a series of analog sounds in the mid and high frequencies (toms, congas, clap, snare, cymbals, maracas, tambourine, etc.) that give us enough versatility to compose full-bodied songs (in terms of the pattern's sonic range). Thanks to each channel's knobs, we can shape the nuance of each element to personalize it, from its level in the mix to its pitch (tuning) or decay (tail, depth). On the kicks there are additional parameters such as "impact", and on the snare, the "rim/head" action. In short, we can customize the sounds in a fairly malleable way.
The DrumBrute's main output also includes the acclaimed two-mode Steiner-Parker filter, which lets you perform dynamic frequency sweeps and effective low-pass filtering.
As a quick sketch, besides suggesting you listen to the videos and samples to get a feel for its "sonic vibe", I think the words retro, analog, vintage, electronic can help you quickly understand what the sound of the Arturia Drumbrute is all about.
Sequencing, composing
The idea is a mix of a classic, old-school drum machine setup (real-time recording) plus Groovebox-style step sequencing. It has 64 patterns of up to 64 steps (which can be chained to form songs: song mode lets you link up to 16 different patterns), organized into 4 banks.
So, by building patterns step by step, changing tempos and time signatures, with backlighting that shows where in the bar each sound plays, using copy/paste and adding real-time recording, we can sequence highly complex patterns in a matter of minutes.
Velocity, for shaping the intensity of the hits, doesn't come in 127 steps here; we only have two levels, "normal or accented".
Conclusions
As I said at the start, I think it's a very healthy machine for lovers of electronic music, vintage flavor and the DJ/producer scene. It can be integrated into a DJ booth or digital stage setup to combine different decks, CDs and mixes. In a DJ context, it seems like a tool that lets you fully personalize your set. For an electronic artist's stage show, it goes without saying that it fits perfectly with synths and modules for an electronic gig with a techno-retro-futuristic staging.
In the studio, or in more instrumental/conventional applications (I mean analog musicians playing conventional instruments), this drum machine is an interesting tool for mixing and exploring a huge world of possibilities. Think the most British-style drum-machine indie, with sharp garage-sounding guitars and basses in the purest "Orange" style.
Expand your creativity, take a bit from here and a bit from there, mix, experiment and develop your own vision of the sound you bring to your productions
I think that for people who want to get going without becoming lab rats, the Drumbrute analog machine is perfect, thanks to its simplicity and lack of complications.
As a machine, I think it's reasonably priced considering its build quality, sturdiness and durability. Light, portable and from one of the most prestigious brands in the electronic musician's world today: Arturia.
Specifications
100% analog drum machine with a 64-step sequencer
Suggested retail price: €449
Distributed in Spain by: Zentralmedia
Kick 1, kick 2, snare, clap, hi-hat 1, hi-hat 2, conga hi, conga low, tom hi, tom low, maracas, rimshot, clave, tambourine, cymbal, reverse cymbal, zap.
Wide-range controls for reaching new and unique sounds.
2 different kicks
Analog reverse cymbal
64 patterns with up to 64 steps each
Separate accent for each sound
Song mode for chaining patterns
Pattern effects
Global or per-instrument swing
Per-instrument randomness control for generating variations
Pattern looper for beat repeat functions
Steiner Parker filter output with bypass
Multiple sync options: Internal, MIDI, clock, 1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, DIN48
USB MIDI interface
1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, DIN48 Individual audio outputs
Headphone output with 3.5mm and 1/4" jacks
You can create polyrhythms: each track can have a different length
