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Drum Machines

Programmable rhythm machines, drum synthesizers, and related beat-making instruments.

Models

View all (18)

  • Teenage Engineering PO-12 rhythm

    Sweden

    The Teenage Engineering PO-12 Rhythm is a pocket-sized drum machine in the Pocket Operator series, offering sixteen editable drum sounds, a step sequencer, and effects in a calculator-style unit.

  • Roland MC-303

    Synthesizer · Japan

    The Roland MC-303 Groovebox, released in 1996, combined a sample-based sound engine drawing on Roland's classic drum machines with a built-in pattern sequencer in a tabletop unit. Marketed to dance-music producers, it popularized the 'groovebox' format and launched Roland's long-running MC series.

  • Technical line drawing of Roland TR-909

    Roland TR-909

    Drum machine · Japan

    The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer, introduced in 1983, is a drum machine that combined analog-synthesized drum voices with sampled cymbals and hi-hats. It added MIDI and a refined step sequencer, and its punchy kick, snappy snare, and bright hats became foundational to house and techno.

  • Pocket Operators

    Drum machine · Sweden

    Pocket Operators are a line of ultra-compact, affordable, calculator-sized instruments from Teenage Engineering, introduced in 2015. Each unit focuses on a role such as rhythm, bass, lead, or sampling, with a small LCD, a built-in sequencer, and sync, designed for pocketable, playful music-making.

  • Technical line drawing of Yamaha RY30

    Yamaha RY30

    Drum machine · Japan

    The Yamaha RY30, released in 1990, is a digital drum machine that plays editable sampled drum sounds. It offers programmable patterns, parameter editing of each voice, and an expandable sound set for electronic and pop production.

  • Novation Circuit

    Drum machine · United Kingdom

    The Novation Circuit, released in 2015, is a standalone, battery-powered groovebox with two six-note polyphonic synth engines derived from the MiniNova, four sample-based drum tracks, and a 16-step grid sequencer, designed for fast, computer-free pattern-based music making.

  • Elgam Match

    Italy

    An analog preset rhythm machine series by the Italian maker Elgam, beginning with the Match 15C around 1971. It provided preset rhythm patterns and was used as a standalone accompaniment unit and with combo organs.

  • Technical line drawing of E-mu Drumulator

    E-mu Drumulator

    Drum machine · United States

    The E-mu Drumulator, released in 1983, is an affordable digital drum machine that plays back sampled drum sounds. Its 8-bit samples and step programming give it a characterful sound, and replaceable sound chips and a low price helped make it widely used.

  • Novation Circuit Tracks

    Drum machine · United Kingdom

    The Novation Circuit Tracks, released in 2021, is an all-in-one standalone groovebox with two polyphonic synth tracks, four sample-based drum tracks, and two MIDI tracks for sequencing external gear, all driven by a 32-step sequencer with micro-timing, probability, pattern mutation, and selectable scales.

  • Elgam Carousel

    Italy

    An Italian tabletop accompaniment unit made by Elgam around 1976, combining an analog drum machine with bass, chord, and arpeggio sections in one box. It is often cited as an early all-in-one groove/accompaniment instrument.

  • Technical line drawing of Linn LM-1

    Linn LM-1

    Drum machine · United States

    The Linn LM-1 Drum Computer, released in 1980 by Roger Linn, was the first drum machine to use digital samples of real acoustic drums. Expensive and produced in small numbers, its realistic sounds and programmable patterns made it hugely influential on 1980s pop production.

  • Roland TR-606

    Drum machine · Japan

    The Roland TR-606 Drumatik is a compact analog drum machine introduced in 1981 as a rhythmic companion to the TB-303 Bass Line. It generates its drum and cymbal sounds with analog circuitry and offers step programming, and its thin, punchy voices became a staple of electro, techno, and experimental electronic music.

Sources

Makers

  • Linn Electronics

    Linn Electronics was an American company founded by Roger Linn that pioneered sample-based drum machines. Its LM-1 Drum Computer (1980) was among the first to play digital recordings of real drums, and the follow-up LinnDrum shaped the sound of 1980s pop production before the company closed in 1986.

  • Teenage Engineering

    Teenage Engineering is a Swedish electronics company founded in 2005, known for the OP-1 synthesizer and the compact Pocket Operator instruments.

  • Korg

    Korg is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments founded in 1963, producing synthesizers, keyboards, drum machines, tuners, and effects.

  • E-mu Systems

    E-mu Systems is an American maker of electronic musical instruments founded in 1971 in Santa Cruz, California. The company pioneered affordable samplers with the Emulator series and later became widely known for its sample-based sound modules, including the Proteus family and the Vintage Keys. E-mu was acquired by Creative Technology in 1993 and ceased hardware production in the early 2000s.

  • Roland

    Roland is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines such as the TR-808, and the JC-120 Jazz Chorus, a benchmark solid-state guitar amplifier known for its built-in stereo chorus and produced since 1975.

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