Best drum machine?

[Martin Gifford]

For me, efficiency and sound are the two most important things. Love to get a large variety of great sounding, yet distinctive, drum kits with previews and just quickly run through them to choose them and everything matches up when you replace kits in a project (kicks all on the same line, etc.)

I had a listen to Battery a few weeks ago, and thought that might be the go for good sounding variety. But it was like $279 Australian. Can get a full DAW for that.

And a problem with Battery is that it is very complex. I wish someone would make my drum machine, which has the benefit of being intuitive and putting everything you use most often right up front:

[Kypresso]

Try FXpansion Geist.

[Martin Gifford]

Try FXpansion Geist.

Wow, just had a look at the Geist videos. Freaking amazing and brilliantly thought out. Ableton should copy their browser.

Trouble is that the skin looks boring and the program has too many features - almost like a complete DAW. It would take ages to learn, and you would naturally start over-emphasising drum programming even though your original aim was to finish songs faster.

It would be great if they came out with a simplified version for half the price that just focuses on finding and adjusting good drum kits with basic sequencing. Even better if they made a more exciting skin and changed the name to something that's more in your face, like Bang!