I want to invest in a hardware drum machine

[ChrisMack99]

Any recommendations?

It will mostly be used for live improvisation. I play electro/dubstep/trance.

[LeifonMars]

Yep. Octatrack. You won't regret.

[Rabalder]

Metasonix D-1000 Vacuum Tube Drum Machine. Hell yeah!!

[dinverro]

Elektron Machinedrum is really good!

[flowdesigner]

tr-909 is my choice

[tigali]

Depends on your budget and how much time you want to spend learning how to use it. Octatrack looks awesome, but it's over €1000 and I believe it's very deep when it comes to getting the most out of it (ie, it will take a good amount of time to get to grips with). Other end of the scale (betweend 200 and 500 euro) MFB do some great little analog units, and if your sequencing the unit from Live there's my own personal favourite: Vermona DRM1 (between 550 and 750 depending on the model). It's a fully tweakable monster with a very unique sound.

[willdahbe]

Dave Smith Instruments - Tempest

[Tarekith]

Machinedrum, works great in the studio and for live performance.

[login]

Tempest would be my first choice now that I have seen the videos.

I have a Machinedrum and I really like it, great for improvisation and to get very good patters really fast, tons of synthesis capabilities and 16 tracks.

Elektron has right now a 15% discount on the machinedrum and octatrack in their site, check it out.

[oddtones001]

I recently got a Tempest. It is very cool. I'm waiting for MIDI in/sync. That is supposed to be coming in about a week according to DSI when I spoke with them today. I've had a problem with it freezing up. I have to turn it off then back on to fire it back up. It has happened about 5 times in the last three weeks. I'm sure they will fix it. That's a lot of fucking money so I am hoping they will take care of it. Tempests are hard to get so you wont be able to swap one for another anytime soon.

[T.I.M.]

Live manipulation? Tempest hands down.