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Beat machines, also known as drum machines, can be your best friend whether you’re starting out your producing journey or just want to play some songs on your guitar without a drummer. They’re a single piece of equipment that packs hundreds of sounds. They’re perfectly portable and super easy to use as well
When it comes to picking your first beat machine, however, the process can be challenging. That’s where this post comes in; we’ll round up some of the best beat machine for beginners without overcomplicating stuff for you. Stick around!
Our Recommendations of Best Beat Machine for Beginners
The best choice of drum machine depends greatly on what you need it for. In this list, we’ll go from the most basic, lowest budget options to the only beat sequencer you’ll ever need to buy.
1. Teenage Engineering Series
Pros
- Impressively portable design. They mostly weigh under 300gm and are around 8” tall
- Some POs have preset sounds, whereas others let you record your own
- A built-in speaker means you can play them whenever you want
Cons
- Their bareback tiny design makes them very breakable.
- Unless you pair a few of them or use a virtual studio, they’re limited on the number of sounds they can play simultaneously.
If you’re still mulling over the decision to invest in a great drum machine, we suggest you buy this sub-$100 trinket while you make up your mind.
Nothing feels more satisfying than making a beat to bop your head to on a machine that’s as cheap as a midrange pair of headphones.
Pocket Operator options from Teenage Engineering can start from as budget-friendly as the Teenage Engineering PO-24 Pocket Operator, going all the way to the fully portable sampler and sequencer like the OP-Z.
The PO Series includes multiple tiny handheld beat machines that pack some of the quirkiest and most creative sound presets, from 8-bit beats to office FX.
These calculator-looking beat machines are fun to play with, can make real music, and more than one model can work with a VST plugin (sold separately) to create unlimited sounds.
With all that said, they won’t be an all-in-one solution. Chances are you’ll need to upgrade fairly quickly or group it with some other beat machine.
2. Korg KR Mini
Pros
- Has a whole lot of pattern options to choose from
- Extremely easy to use; you’ll figure out your way around it from the first attempt
- Boasts up to 7.5 hours of battery life
Cons
- The preset sound can be a bit too “classic” for some people’s taste
- The sound quality isn’t the greatest
The Korg KR Mini is another budget-friendly drum machine that’s listed around the $100 price point but looks and sounds much more professional. It comes with 60 rhythm patterns and two drum fills for each pattern.
This ergonomic little machine comes with built-in speakers and the ability to play it on an AC adapter or batteries in case of a spontaneous live performance. It also gives you the ability to plug in your AUX headphones for a quiet practice sesh.
The Korg KR Mini is affordable, sturdy, and perfect for a guitarist or pianist who likes to have the beat ready to go at a moment’s notice.
3. Alesis SR-16
Pros
- Velocity-sensitive pad
- Built like a tank
- Has a large collection of sounds to make your rhythms from
Cons
- The pad is stiff which may interfere with your creative process
- Has “boxy” sounds that work better with some genres than others
This Alesis SR-16 is a classic drum machine that has been around since the 90s! It’s durable, super easy to use due to the lack of complicated knobs and controls, and most importantly, it comes with 100 patterns for you to tinker with to your heart’s content.
This is a studio-grade drum machine that is built to last with top-quality beats. It comes with 50 rhythm patterns recorded from real-life drum sessions, with two different drum fills for each pattern.
On top of that, this beat machine is velocity-sensitive, which means it creates different intensity sounds depending on how soft you play the pad.
Alesis SR-16 is the absolute perfect beat machine for someone who does lots of solo gigs and wants to up their game. You’re very unlikely to need an upgrade for a year or two of playing with this bad boy.
If you’re as in love with it as we are, we suggest you take a look at the SR-18, which comes with double the patterns for a slight price difference.
4. Roland TR-8S
Pros
- The sky’s the limit with what you can do with your sounds
- Saves every change you make on an SD card
- Comes with its own software, TR-Editor, which fits it like a glove
Cons
- The learning curve on this one is pretty steep, albeit equally fun and rewarding.
- It’s not as sturdy as it looks
We conclude this list with the all-in-one king of drum machines, the Roland TR-8S.
There really isn’t much you can’t do with the TR-8S. The only issue you might face—other than the considerable price tag—would be the time you’ll need to spend learning to use all its features as a beginner. As you learn, you’ll come to see that it’s completely worth it.
Color-coded buttons, separate decay and tuning knobs for each sound, the ability to add your own samples from an SD card, and so much more, this machine comes packed with features!
Not only is it made by the best name in the game, but the TR-8S also has every sound featured on popular TR drum machines, including recreations of the 707, 727, 909, 808, and 606.
The manufacturer’s website highlights that “these are not sound-alike sample-packs or mere recordings of TR drum sounds—each machine is a detailed, down-to-the-circuit model that sounds and behaves exactly like the original hardware.”
However, if you’re not ready for a $700+ purchase, you might want to look at its more humble sibling, the Roland TR-6S.
Conclusion
There are no limits to what you can do with a beat machine. Whether it’s cheap and portable or a pricey piece of equipment, a beat machine gives you the ultimate freedom to make whatever kind of music you want and edit it as you go.
If you are looking for a beat machine for Hiphop music, It’s your lucky day! We’ve got you covered in this article as well.
In our experience, the best beat machine for beginners is the PO-24 Pocket Operator, from the Teenage Engineering series. It’s compact, packed with preset sounds, and cost-effective. If you’re in the market for a machine that’s more feature-packed and money isn’t really an issue for you, you should consider the Roland TR-8S or the more-affordable Roland TR-6S.
