Category
Drum Machines · Models
Programmable rhythm machines, drum synthesizers, and related beat-making instruments.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
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.
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Model
Roland TR-707
Drum machine · Japan
The Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer is a 1985 drum machine that replaced the analog voices of the TR-808 and 909 with digital samples of acoustic and electronic drums. It introduced a clear LCD grid for step programming and pattern chaining and remained popular for its straightforward workflow and crisp, dry sounds.
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Model
Elektron Analog Rytm
Drum machine · Sweden
The Elektron Analog Rytm, originally released in 2014, is an eight-voice analog drum machine that combines analog percussion synthesis with digital sample playback across twelve drum tracks plus an effects track, driven by Elektron's parameter-locking step sequencer and a performance pad interface.
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Model
Roland TR-808
Drum machine · Japan
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is a programmable analog drum machine that Roland produced from 1980 to 1983. Its sounds are generated by analog circuitry rather than samples, giving it a distinctive booming kick, snappy snare, and sizzling cymbals and hi-hats. Commercially unsuccessful at launch, it became one of the most influential instruments in popular music, defining the low end of hip-hop, electro, and dance records and remaining a sought-after sound decades later.
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Model
Korg volca beats
Japan
The Korg Volca Beats is a compact rhythm machine in the Volca series, generating most of its drum sounds with analog circuitry alongside a few PCM voices, and offering a hands-on step sequencer with parameter motion.
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Model
Roland TR
Japan
The TR (Transistor Rhythm) series is Roland's long-running line of drum machines, several of which became foundational to electronic music. It includes the analog TR-808 and TR-909 along with the compact TR-606 and the sample-based TR-707.
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Model
Novation Circuit Series
Drum machine · United Kingdom
The Novation Circuit series is the company's line of standalone, battery-powered grooveboxes combining polyphonic synth tracks (derived from the MiniNova engine), sample-based drum tracks, and a grid step sequencer, including the original Circuit, Circuit Tracks, and Circuit Rhythm.