I have been doing drum machine programming long before stepping into DAW. Starting with Kawai R-100, Roland R8 and DR880. What I missed most is the real time loop pattern recording where you just record/delete notes on the fly while the pattern is running, to built up a pattern with velocity sensitive pads.

I've tried the step recording with Session Drummer 3, but I still prefers the real time recording work flow.

I'm gathering a list of drum machine software (some comes with controller) for feature/usage comparison, priced below 400/=

N.I Maschine Mikro (software / controller ) 399/=

Motu BPM (software only) 279/=

Fxpansion Geist (software only) 249/=

--

Akai MPC Studio (software / controller) 599/= (over budget)

My BFD 2 just arrived, not installed yet, pending a new hdd to store the samples.. not sure if it's recording mode is step recording only or can it do real time as well.

If you come across other software drum machine, pls add to the list.

Thanks.

You listed all tyhe ones i could think of , but here is a reasonably priced option: Fl Studio. Although it's not a drum machine per say, it can easily be used as such. I woulod suggest the $99 version if you simply need it to create loop patterns on the fly and the $199 version if you need to slice loops.

dubdisciple


You listed all tyhe ones i could think of , but here is a reasonably priced option: Fl Studio. Although it's not a drum machine per say, it can easily be used as such. I woulod suggest the $99 version if you simply need it to create loop patterns on the fly and the $199 version if you need to slice loops.

Thanks, that is a great suggestion. When I first started with X1, that is  exactly the feature I was hoping to find that is built into track recording, but the closest X1 offers is the multi layer recording, although use full, it's not for drum machine style loop recording. The FL Studio $99 version seems to fit well, as I'm not looking at slicing loops.

I'm also quite interested at Geist, after learning some of the features.

Another positive about FL is that it will function asd a rewire client within Sonar

I use geist, you can demo it see what you think. NI have been fond of selling me things, then dropping them.. so I returned the favour now.
    

I keep wanting to pull the trigger on Geist but my bank account keeps telling me no

Saving up for this one (Geist). No hurry though..

I have Geist, it is lots of fun and totally worth it I think

Tomixornot:
 
Have you checked out Arturia's new Spark drum machine software?  It has full emulations of 30 classic hardware drum machines like Linn, Roland, etc..  Also a large set of live performance features:  Quote: "Made for live performance: XY Pad, Beat Looper, Slicer, Real-time automation on all parameters"  You mentioned a live looping step sequencer.  It has that.
 
You can download a fully functional demo that runs for 10 days.  You can buy it for $99. 
 
I've had a ball playing with it and intend to buy it.  Check it out:
 
http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/spark-vdm/intro.html

Zenwit,

Thanks for the link. It looked very interesting at $99, especially with all the classic drum machines sound.

It mentioned copy protection based on eLicenser, and internet connection is required, just wondering if it's a one time authorization process or does it required internet connection every time it's used.

It also mentioned VST3 at the product detail page. But it's easy to test for compatibility with it's 15 days trial.