straight up drum machine software... I would say fruity loops, although a more expanded version for beat makin would be reason. but fruity loops for drums is off the hook..even though I dont use it
If you're after a simple, easy to use, FREE, drum machine, check out HammerHead (http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead/). If you get the some of user banks from the site then there are some cools sounds to play with. It is no way a flexible as Fruity Loops, but it's great to mess with.
i dont know about anyone elses prefrences but i find it hard to use software for making drum patterns that you already have set in your mind,like say u have a good idea of what you want it to sound ,i have a hard time getting it to sound right with software and i found it much easier to do with a drum machine cuz its hands on,
Native Instruments Battery, or FXpansion DR-008 no question. They both put any MPC version to shame. Hook it up with a Akai MPD16 and it cant be beat. You can tweak drum sounds in a fraction of the time compared to the MPC2kxL. Tweak any perameter in seconds right down to choosing the bit depth. I would never in my fuckin life go back to hardware. Battery sounds so much better.
PS: Why do people think you have to click drums into a computer? Its 2003. Get a midi controller.
I'm all set to go with either Native Instruments Battery or FXpansion DR-008. I've played with Battery and like it so far and I'm gonna try dr-008 soon. Any reason why one is better than the other besides whichever I feel most comfortable with?
Propellerhead software makes a cool program called Rebirth that contains a TR-808, TR-909 and two TB-303's. There are many samples of the TR-808 and TR-909 out there but it's cool tweaking a graphical represenation of these boxes. Definitely worth a look.
"dood"...I did some research....not sure what the problem is with me asking for opinions. And the original quetion was "what is the best drum machine software", NOT "should I use hardware or software for drums."
won't u down load the demo version of fruity loops and see how u like it, and if u don't delete the program. just go out and get the demo version of the stuff. but if i was u i would get reason and the mpd-16 then u would be coming wit some tight ass beats. but thats just my two cents.
i agree with x-squizet i have reason and use my mpc as a controller for it and its works great and plus its really quick which allows u to get your ideas down quick before u forget em (thats a real problem for me!).
as we;re on the subject, what does battery do? dont you still need to use a midi controller to program the drums or sets put into battery? or whats so good about battery?