Using a distortion pedal in a drum machine set up is a great way to help your dial in some uniques tones that sound great. Drum sounds combined with a good distortion pedal can be very cool! Yes, I know that this isn’t really a guitar related title but I was asked the question and decided it would be fun to write up my pedal suggestions here.
If you want your drum machine beats to sound different – this article is for you! Sometimes dialing in the best drum sounds can be enhanced just just a touch of distortion, or you could go hog-wild and crank up the noise to distorted delight!
However, there are some things to think about when you are choosing the right distortion effects pedal. Think about this:
- How will you be using this – live performance or just in a home studio setting? The ones I recommend below should work well for both applications.
- Do you plan on plug in other guitar pedals to help enhance your tone? Some other effects that could work are reverb, delay, fuzz, overdrive.
- Are you looking for a lot of distortion or something more subtle. I recommend ones that give you the ability to do both based on how you set the gain knob level.
- Do you want something that it simple to switch between your original non distorted sound to the
My Drum Machines Distortion Pedal Recommendations
Here are the distortion pedals I would recommend using with a drum machine:
- Electro-Harmonix English Muff’n
- Boss DS-2
- Pro Co RAT
- MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion
- Electro Harmonix Germanium 4 Big Muff Pi
- True bypass using a mechanical relay
- Dual vacuum tube preamp dedicated to a true tube overdrive
- Supplied with two Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 tubes
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- Classic BOSS distortion tones with added Turbo modes
- Turbo Mode I produces warm and mellow distortion with flat frequency response
- Turbo Mode II provides biting distortion with a mid-range boost, perfect for leads
- Built-in remote jack allows users to connect an external footswitch such as the FS-5L for instant, hands-free switching between modes
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- Used as a primary distortion, it excels at arena rock rhythm tones and soaring leads
- Nails that sweet spot where a tube amp goes from sparkly clean to warm overdrive
- Use the RAT 2 as a boost for solos and get the extra kick you need
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- Highly responsive full spectrum distortion
- Bass, Mid & Treble controls
- 100% Analog
- True bypass
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- True bypass Gain control Bias knob for putting your sound right at the edge of break up Volts knob for reducing battery voltage.
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