Boss DR-110

very easy to use. patch, bank press play.
programming :
for live, tap mode is the way to go. this works like an automated version of step, you tap in beats as the clock goes around.

advantage is that you can work out the beats and tap them in.
disadvantage, you gotta be quite precise to erase single nodes.

step works, but is a bit boring. no live stepping, roland please.(or hopefully i am wrong)

all in all a fun easy to use drum machine.TEN

how do i mute individual sounds in tap mode? if this is possible, i will throw out my TR-808 (software emu of course).

no effects. no individual outs. no eq. no distortion. no extortion. no proposition. no valves.

only an accent trigger. only use is for led (pre-internal mod) for tempo research.

roland should have utilized the 3 digit lcd for tempo recognition. now its by head bang count.EIGHT

my first realist analog drum machine. i would call this a groovebox. it does dance beats pretty effortlessly. again, no experience with roland's x0xes so i can't compare. but for this kind of price, it is worth it. enough power for a daft punk concert(with a bit of reverb).

house, electro, etc. no trance, techno. kick too boring toned.

but with mods, everything is possible (almost everything but still no tempo info)

snare powerful attack thump

cymbal/hh/ohh ok.

clap should be applauded to

accent a bit too piercing for my ears, but ok.NINE

same age as me, still working bar leaking LCD (anyone got parts). and it smells like burning electronics with batteries.NINE

will get a restoration more like. i want LCDs

with mods, it would get a value score 808s and 909s would never have dreamt of.

if only it looked more like the TR-808/jupiter-8, it would get a TEN everywhere. if it had the design sense of a 707/909, it would get a TEN everywhere. now those are vintage looking.

right now the DR-110 looks like something korg produced in 1998. so my only complaint is the visual appeal of this mega instrument, poised to be legend in 4 and a half years time. i promise.NINEINCHNAILS

This thing is so easy to use a little kid could program it

The features aren't amazing but are good. Only has open and closed hat, bass drum, snare drum, cymbal, and hand claps. No pressure sensitivity just accent. Pre-MIDI and no expansions that were intended to occur by boss but you can expand it if you have the time. The sequencer is super easy to use just as is the rest of the machine.

This machine has some of the best analog drum machine sounds i've ever heard, and for the price. The hand claps are simply amazing the snare is very good the hats are really really good the bass drum is a little short and I personally love the cymbal sound I've already recorded with it and have only had it for a week. But the cymbal sound can be alittle annoying sometimes.

Only had it a week or two but it's been good to me so far and I would gig with it

Like I said only had it a week.

This is an amazing value buy one now and if you lose it or something buy another one, they are dirt cheap right now.

If you plug the accent trig output to a Korg Poly Six, it works great, triggers the arpeggiator with whatever pattern is programmed into the accent track. This alone makes it quite useful. No more straight eigths or quarters, you can now get more interesting patterns, though the notes you press on the keyboard fire in linear sequence.

ok, needs eq

anyone know where to find a manual? I can't figure out how to program it yet.

It's cute, small and quick and dirty. Just what I was looking for - something where I don't need to fire up my whole studio.

Just to comment on the other guy's review. It is not syncable at all, unless you do the dr-110 synh mod http://geocities.com/researchtriangle/9730/110.html. If you do hack the clock it's 12ppq not 24. So, it's double speed compared to Roland, not half. You thinking Korg. I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Sooooo easy to use! The programming interface is about as simple as it gets. It't got a graphical interface that let's you visually step-edit. Pity the drum machines of today aren't this easy!!

Well, features aren't this thing's strong points, but not bad for a graphical analog drum machine. It's syncable, but if you sync it with anything but Roland equipment, it will sync at half-speed. Apparently it syncs at 24 "queries" per second (not the technical term) and non-Roland equipment "queried" at a rate of 48 "queries" per second, so it effectively syncs at half-speed. But anyway, the sync on this thing isn't all that super anyway, and you'll have a hard time trying to find something these days that syncs with anything BUT MIDI, which I should add this thing is not equipped for.

This is where it get's good. As if a no-brainer interface wasn't enough, this thing is loaded with the coolest analog sounds you can find (well, besides the 707, compurhythm, and DR 55...) A lot of folks complain about the bass being weak, but it's not so much weak as it is short. It has no sustain, but it thumps well. As far as the other sound, the snare is that stellar analog pop, with a good amount of snap to it. The cymbals are comical, as they have that "Nintendo" ching quality to them, but not by any means useless. Lots of people constantly praise the clap on this thing, and I must admit, it sounds good. My favorite is that tight snappy snare, though.

Let's see... it's held up for almost 20 years so far, that's gotta say something!!

Pretty sure they'd just laugh their asses off if I called Roland over this dinosaur.

I'd definitely buy this unit again if it were lost or damaged. $80 was a bit steep, but that was the best price I could find one at. I don't regret buying it at all, and I use it quite a bit. If you see one, grab it and don't let go!!

Easy as 1-2-3

1)Knobs include TEMPO,BALANCE, ACCENT, MAIN VOLUME
2)No Midi, I just get A fat loop and sample it!!
3) Cool onboard rhythym sequencer

VERY REALISTIC CLAP!! If you sample the kick and add effects, you WILL be pleased, All hats/cymbals also have a real-life feel and sound which is UNCOMPARIBLE TO ANYTHING ( different than 909/808, not worse DIFFERENT!)

ONLY WAY THIS IS NOT RELIABLE < IS IF YOU ARE SO IN LOVE WITH IT THAT YOU MAKE BEATS IN THE SHOWER!!! HA HA HA HA.......Could you call that a wet effect?

Theres alot of people support ( Boss dr-110 lovers)
Have never needed to talk to roland.

YES, I WOULD TRIP MY MOTHER IF WE WERE THE ONLY TWO RACING FOR THE LAST DR-110!!! AND I LOVE MY MOTHER TO DEATH.....
I would like midi, but mick jagger said it best " You cant always get what you want, but you get what you need!"
Never heard a better CLAP on ANYTHING(808/909)
I also own an Access virus(10 of 10), a kawai k5000 s( excellent board feel), Mac G4 dual 450 w/ Digital Performer 2.7

I don't think they could make this easier to program, unless it was mentally controlled or something. Everything's laid out right there, with a nifty screen to show you what's going on and cool pictures of the instruments on the buttons. A 1st grader could do it (not that this a toy or anything).

The poliphony is, I guess, six, since if you stack the open and closed highhats, they make an entirely different sound as one. It can't be expanded in any "legal" or official way, but everyones talking about mods and such, so I guess you can do stuff to it. I like it just the way it is.

The instruments are semi-realistic sounding, but you won't fool anyone into thinking they're hearing real drums or anything. The snare is awesome, sorta like a 909. The highhats are real good, and it has that nifty "closed highhat stops the open highhat" feature, just like real life! Plus if you stack them they play half open, something I haven't heard of before, but I'm kinda new. Anyway, the hand clap is really cool, and the bass isn't that bad. Everyone rags on the bass, but it's not weak, just short, so it's perfect for Trance or Trip Hop! Plus, with a simple EQ and reverb pedal, you can beef it up to sound thunderous. The cymbal is, however, the weak point. It sounds more like an electronic "hiss" rather than the real thing, but hey, it's a drum machine, we don't care about the real thing!

I haven't had it for long, so I don't know how dependable it is. It's lasted as long as it has, and whoever had it before put some minor bumps and scratches into it, so why shouldn't it last for a while longer? I did notice one thing though- the volume occasionally fluctuates a bit, at least through the headphone output.

N/A

If it was lost or stolen I'd be pretty upset. I haven't had it very long, but already I love it for it's wonderful simplicity. By the way, mine came with the manual, so if anyone wants to know anything from it, just e-mail me. Although I dought it, since it basically just covers how to progrm it, and you all know that already.

This silver box is the last analog drum machine made by Boss.

It has kick, snare, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat, ride, clap, accent.

4 knobs : speed, balance (to choose what sort of instrument will play louder), accent level, main level.

No independent level (sight !!).

16 preset and 16 user banks. Well, well,...

Fantastic analog sound !!!

The kick and snare are cool, excellent. The clap and cymbals are cool. And sound oldies, but goodies !

I made my music only with Boss : SYB-3 Bass Synthesizer, DD-3 Digital Delay, and the DR-110.

To hear the sound :

http://site.voila.fr/NECROPOLIS

Boss, by Roland. No problems.

This is the most simple drum machine i've ever seen. I never even seen a manual for it and had it pinned down in like half an hour.

I think the polyophony is 5-6 or so. doesn't matter because there are only a handfull of sounds. It's got a built in accent button which makes a sound louder. If you're a Midi sucker then you're out of luck cause this machine has never heard of it. It has an onboard sequencer. you can save 16 patterns i believe. the grid makes this a great beginners drum machine and a great learning tool. (it helped me to learn more about some of my other drum machines.) also if you run out of memory, you can just look at the grid and record your pattern to paper and then delete the pattern. and there you have infinite memory!!! (sort of)
Ok there's only one drum kit. It's got adjustable tempo, balance control, accent control, a foot pedal jack, 12or 16 quantize, step write or tap (real time) write, 2 songs (i think). you can't expand the 110 but, it's possible to add a variety of mods to it. This has a low rating because there are next to no features compared to a newer machine. but you must look at the value and price of the dr-110 Not really a feature but it has a slick case that makes it look expensive. also, the size is something to write home about. it's about the size of a vhs tape or so

Most of the sounds are great. The snare and hat's + claps are the best. the kick drum is very very crappy. it's like really short and doesn't even sound like a drum at all. (like a pile of laundry dropped on the floor) the cymbal is like a space cymbal. it can be cool. no velocity sensitivity.

this unit came out in 83. it's like a week till 2000 and it's tip top as far as i can tell. i'd use it at a gig. but the crowd could get tired of the same 6 drum sounds. But it's obviously well built and i'd use it anytime anywhere with no worry

hello? oh you have a what? a dr-110? hey bob come over here! some sucker has a dr-110! those things are older than me almost! ha ha ha ha! Oh....you're still here? sorry cant help you. *click*
(actual transcript of a customer service call regarding the dr-110)
not really but you may expect to hear that.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat. look at the price. they go as cheap as 25 or 30 dollars. they're awesome. you will not find a better drum machine for this price. this just shows that everything from the 80's didn't suck. (look at me i was born in 80) ha ha
anyway if this was stolen i'd get pissed . I wish it had a better bass drum. or maybe an extra kit. it's a great tool. it's good to get back to the basics. YOu know this billboard with basic cigarretes?
it would be your basic techno. with a dr-110, a book of generic matches, and a pack of basic cigs.
this machine is highly recommended

The dr-110 is extremely easy to use. i don't have a manual (good luck finding one right?) but the system is so easy to learn. plus the grid makes it really easy

I haven't tested the polyphony yet. There's only like 5 or 6 different sounds anyway so who cares. i hear there is a series of mods you can preform on the 110. i'd like to find out how to do some. you can have like 16 or so patterns. it's super easy to edit. if you complain of the only 16 patterns, you can just quickly write down the grid positions on a piece of paper in like 30 seconds. and delete them. it's so convienient compared to any other drum machine i've used. It has accent effects i don't really care for it though. the tempo change is cool. and there's a pedal jack or something like that. as far as features and knobs go, it can't quite compare to a machine from this decade. but for the price, it kicks

Ok realism with these sounds was definitly not a priority. The bass drum sucks completely. It's so short and takes no presence over the other pads. The snare is beautiful. the hat's are pretty decent as is the clap. The cymbal however sounds like some space drum kit. it's like beating on sheet metal. I really want to mod that freaking bass drum.

this piece came out in like 79 or so. it's lasted this long why not longer? i'd use it at a gig. but only with a better bass drum.

good luck getting help with this! this machine is older than me. i doubt boss would care if you called

I really love this machine. The screen kicks, as does the size, it even has a slick carry case! I don't understand why companies stop making great drum machines like they used to. They should stick with the formula used by the earlier drum machines. I own a zoom 234, sr-16, boss sp 202, and a yamaha su-10. I like it more than my sr-16, the zoom is my best friend though. But i wish i could like breed my 234 and 110, have a machine with 124 drum kits, bass patterns and be able to program it on a led grid. *drool* i want to own all kinds of machines with grids now! i do gabber type music and the 110 fits the bill (except that bass) i can't think of any style of music that would appreciate that damn bass drum. In fact, if someone knows how to mod it, please email me and i will be grateful! If it got stolen, i'd weep. i'd never lose it cause it can practically fit in your pocket. (about the size of a vhs tape or two) The sequencing is great i love grids!...For the price, you can't go wrong. If you're just trying to break into electronic music, this is a great first machine. Even if you're a little more experienced you'll like the non tedious program layout.if you hate it, big deal you payed 60 bucks. sell it back.