re:OB midi boxes (was cyclone (was Vortex info))

[Tom Spaulding <tspauldi@gibson.com>]

If I may quote Mark Vail's  July 1991 review of the Drummer...

"Compared to the playback capabilities of...drum machines, Drummer pretty
much sits on its own drum throne...it can start when you do, it'll get
louder when you do, and it will play a fill to occupy the gap in the music
- automatically.

One of the neatest benefits of Song Mode is that, should presets with
different tempos be strung together, Drummer will - during playback- start
adjusting the tempo of the following preset. Thus, there will be smooth,
rather than abrupt, changes in tempo.

Drummer belongs in the catagory of devices that, with minimal user
orientation, can be integrated into a MIDI setup and start generating
satifying results almost immediately. ...Once you get familiar with it,
you'll probably develop a closer relationship with Drummer than you've had
with any drum machine, bercause you won't be stuk with programmed drum
tracks that play exactly the same part everytime" I have seen used Drummers
for very low cost. They retail new for $199.00. 

Tom 


At 03:17 PM 11/12/97 -0600, you wrote:
>
>>Kim wrote:
>
>>The OB Strummer though, I never could figure out why anyone would want 
>that...
>-----------------
>
>Speaking of these OB midi boxes, do any of you have experience with the 
>Oberheim Drummer?  The description I see says that the drum patterns in 
>the OB will respond to an audio input, say a guitar or bass, and create 
>fills, etc.
>
>Is it musical?  I miss playing with a drummer.  I don't enjoy creating 
>patterns on my Alesis HR-16 (though I like the drum sample sounds), and 
>besides, they just repeat the program.  No dynamic response to live 
>performance.  If the OB would control my Alesis, play a basic beat, and 
>respond to what I play in some directed manner, this might feel more like 
>working with a live drummer.
>
>Re Jamman availability and cost, I saw an internet ad for a Jamman for 
>over $700 yesterday.  The copy said "it's a steal" at that price.  While 
>this price is clearly absurd, I hope there isn't a trend of price upflex 
>on the used market for the Jamman.  I sold mine, with full memory for 
>$250 
>this year.  The world needs an inexpensive dedicated, HiFi loop box for 
>the people who would never think of spending the money for an EDP, but 
>would still have the time of their lives with a looper.  The guy I sold 
>mine to never expressed any interest in loopers, until I gave him the 
>Jamman to try.  After 1 night with it he was sold!
>
>bret
>
>
>