Arturia DrumBrute Impact - Drum Computer

Product Information

The coolest feature here would be the FM drum (which you can sculpt) and polyrythmic options for each voice. As well as Color, the Impact employs the tried-and-tested Accent concept, implemented the same as on the original DrumBrute. Sounds have two trigger levels (accented or not) and generally sound slightly different from one state to the other. As we’ll see later, Accent sequencing is handled differently to Color. First though, let’s run through the sounds. The Impact’s FM Drum unit, meanwhile, is a much more versatile percussion and sound effect generator part based on FM (Frequencey Modulation) synthesis. Four dedicated knobs give you control over Mod Pitch, FM Amount, Carrier Pitch and Decay. Turn up the Modulation and the FM Drum is capable of some interesting tones. It obviously isn’t going to be as capable as a dedicated FM synth but it is an easy to use and proves to be a useful sound generator. Color mode can be activated for the FM Drum too. Upon taking the DrumBrute out of the box, we were impressed by the weight and overall build quality of the unit. Our eyes were drawn to the large pads at the bottom of the machine, which are satisfying to bash and pleasingly firm and springy.

Step Repeats (‘ratchets’) can be added to existing gates using the same convention of holding the step button. While a step is held you’ll see its number of triggers light up on the Step Repeat LEDs above the Looper/Roller touchstrip. You can change this from the default 1, to 2, 3 or 4 by tapping the zones on the strip. Repeats are divided evenly into the sequence step, so a setting of three will produce a fast triplet. This is a great feature often overlooked by more expensive machines.In Step mode you can create and edit patterns on the Step buttons using the TR convention; in fact you can do this at the same time as live recording. Regular triggers light blue, and Accented steps are shown as red. Slightly confusingly, to add Accents you switch to a dedicated Accent mode. From here you can create new Accented steps or convert regular trigs. But if you switch a step to Accented, then tap it again, it will remove that step entirely, rather than revert it. In other words Accent is a property of specific notes, rather than being a separate layer that modifies trigger events. Deep Impact Regardless of which Drumbrute drum machines you opt for, you’re unlikely to be disappointed especially if you favor gritty, electronic sounds. Both machines deliver in terms of meaty, juicy analog sounds and both machines represent excellent value for money.

Once you’ve honed your drums to tonal perfection, you can either record a sequence by turning on the metronome (which you could consider a bonus 18th instrument!) and playing in your pattern with the fully velocity-sensitive pads, or you can program it manually in ‘Step’ mode. As with the original DrumBrute, the hats have quite a metallic quality, which we really like, but others might not. There are front panel rotaries to control the tone of the hats and the open hat decay. The Color switches below the two hat channels can extend the length of the closed hat and change the overall harmonics of both sounds; this latter option gives a nice alternative flavour that broadens the sonic scope. The world of drum machines, just like the world of analog synths, is considerably more fun now than it was a few short years ago. Then, your choices were slim—hard-to-find vintage gear, high-end offerings from Elektron or Dave Smith, or a slew of 90s drum machines that always left you wanting a bit more, sonically and otherwise. The Drumbrute has a ‘Zap’ part while the Drumbrute Impact has a capable FM Drum part. Of the two the ‘Zap’ part is the least interesting and is not ‘Zappy’ enough for my tastes. Don’t expect the Zap effects to send clubbers running for cover – it’s an adequate but pretty tame affair and something of a missed opportunity in my opinion.In terms of sound quality, it is quite gritty, low pitched, and punchy which would be a better fit for edgy mixers. However, this could be ideal for producers working in the techno genre. While some aspects of the DrumBrute are a nod towards vintage Roland units, it is certainly not an emulation of any particular machine and really does have a unique flavour once you tweak everything to your personal taste and get a pattern Another factor you might like to consider is size. The original Drumbrute is both bigger and heavier than the Drumbrute Impact. What Type of Genres Are the Drumbrutes Best Suited to?

Be aware that the Drumbrute’s sounds are not meant to be direct emulations of Roland’s sounds but given the analogue nature of the Drumbrute’s architecture it is only natural that you’ll be able to detect certain sonic similarities.French developer Arturia create not only emulations of vintage synths but original hardware products too. In recent years Arturia have released not one but two analog drum machines in the shape of the Drumbrute and the newer Drumbrute Impact. In an ideal world the Drumbrute Impact would have the Steiner-Parker filter too – and a reverb woud be sweet too! – but obviously that would bump up the price. Which Drumbrute to Buy? Arturia have added a feature called “Color” that changes the timbre slightly for each instrument. Color can be added per instrument or per step, and paired with the accent function, meaning there are four different levels for each sound (Normal, Accent, Color, and Color with Accent). Arturia’s BeatStep and KeyStep sequencers have become pretty much standard issue in hardware synth rigs, and the DrumBrutes get the technology built in. As far as I can tell, the sequencer is identical across both Brutes. Bank and Pattern are selected from the step trig buttons via specific modes. Pattern launching defaults to instant take-over, ie. the pattern changes instantly but maintains the same beat position. This is how I like it and is ideal for preparing and performing variations and fills. You can choose ‘At End’ behaviour if you prefer pattern changes to queue until the current pattern finishes playing.