Yamaha RX11 One of the best drum machines ever made

The Yamaha RX11 drum machine from 1984. This is the drum machine Erasure used for their live gigs after their debut album "Wonderland". The RX proved itself to deliver the sound they were going for and it's also very easy to use and setup for both live and studio applications.

[@fender1000100]

Anything this man demos. He makes it sound like something you need. Never heard the Roland 626 sound as good till his demo of it. Now the RX11 sounds like an afordable Linndrum here. Absolutely superb. We are fortunate to have this talented man on youtube. Putting the spotlight back on the great sounds of the 80s.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! There's so much cool 80s gear out there so we don't stop here... ;-)

[@fender1000100]

@@EspenKraft There is ive just discovered the Yamaha DX11 on Hedge 777s channel. And through you the Roland Alpha Juno. Seriously underrated synths. And they can be bought for very reasonable money. Theres alot of gear from the golden decade. That didnt get the respect and recognition they should of. Alot has to do with Artist favouritism. I realize that. Like a synth like the Jupiter 8. Because it was used by iconic artists. It immediately elevates it to a god like status among synths. The Same with the Linndrum and Roland 808/909. Great machines no doubt. But then so many other great machines got underappreciated. The RX11/TR626 as you have shown. Being two obvious casualties. And when you hear them in the mix. With that 80s sound. They are superb. I feel the same about my RX7. Its has some killer samples on it. Along with its bigger brother the RX5. Its never got properly appreciated. Caught somewhere between the overused LINNDRUM/DMX/808/909/LINN9000. And then the workstation revolution of the late 80s. And the R8. The RX5/RX7 has some incredible punch. And clean crisp samples. I know they were used by Cameo and the Pet Shop Boys. The editting features on the RX5 in particular are superb.

[@javiceres]

PROJECT DX Also used by Prince and Roxette at some point (RX-5 I believe)

[@fender1000100]

Yes Prince used the RX5 on SIGN OF THE TIME. CAMEO ON WORD UP BOMB THE BASS ON BEAT DIS. MADONNA ON LA ISLA BONITA THE PET SHOP BOYS ON WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS. To name some famous examples.

[@crunchyfrog555]

I have an alpha Juno and a DX7. They were my first and second synths from back in the day. I'll never get rid of them. I did have this drum machine too, but I got it in 1991 and I absolutely hated it, as I had a Boss Dr550 at the time, and I felt it was way out of date then. But it is incredibly close to a cheapo version of a LinnDrum.

[@davidmartin123]

I bought the RX11's little brother, the RX21, to provide some drums to go along with my Casio CZ-101 and Atari ST as my first MIDI setup back in the 80's. The RX21 was a very scaled down version with 9 fixed drum sounds. The Cymbal is unmistakably the same sample. Today I took my RX21 out of the attic, set it on the kitchen table, plugged in some headphones - and time traveled back 3 decades for about an hour.

[@maxgrind28]

Russian band "Kino" has used it as well

[@MC_DED1948]

Eee KINO!!!

[@ingoodmusic]

и Чернавский

[@MC_DED1948]

@@ingoodmusic а ну да

[@FLDE]

A lot of Russian acts used Yamahas, not just the RX11. Alliance (of Na Zare fame) also used an RX11

[@MC_DED1948]

@@FLDE yes

[@waynefarrellvoiceovers]

The lead at 19:50 is superb! Your talent brings me to tears! Was an 80s teen. I need a time machine!

[@Tsaddeous]

The RX-11 was my first drum machine !!! Lot of memories !

[@ReneeNme]

Mine was the RX7. Still looking around occasionally trying to find one in decent condition.

[@Normhart]

Mine as well.

[@marcmistermarc]

My first 'proper' drum machine was an RX11. Cost me £450 new. A couple of years later I sold it as I was playing in a band with a drummer. The guy who bought it offered me his Roland TR-808 and £200 for my RX11 and like a fool ( had no idea how brilliant the 808 was) I said no! Can't believe that happened. That was 1988.

[@guitarcomet5]

I used a friend’s (Glen) Yamaha drum machine once (I can’t remember the model and I haven’t been able to find a picture online of the model I used). The friend is dead now and he sold the machine long ago. This was in the early 1990s. Funny story: Glen wanted to buy an electric drum set, but the current market price was high. Roland had the best pads (some things never change) and Yamaha was believed to be the most natural sounding drums. So he got the triangular Roland pads but the drum brains being made were limiting and one trick ponies. The salesman suggested Glen buy a drum machine and a midi interface separately to hook all the pads to the machine. Then he’d have a drum brain and a machine to program songs (musical instruments). After having it at his house for a week or two, he suddenly showed up at my place. (My living room is basically a studio) Glen showed me the new equipment and said he was having problems programming the pads through the midi interface and he didn’t understand how to write songs on it …because drum brains are simple, drum *machines* are complex musical sequencers. (I’ve had 2 drum machines myself) He left his setup at my house so I’d hopefully figure out the problem. (I’m a local wiz with music/electronics stuff) I found that the drum machine could only be used for 4 drums/pads at a time. He was using real cymbals so at least it was somewhat usable…but within a year, he sold them and got a Simmons kit (sound quality downgrade😂). Funny note: Glen left the stuff at my house for a month or so, long enough for me to figure out how to program songs on it. It was way better than my current drum machine (lots of musical instruments and dynamics!). I started kicking @$$ with it, wrote several songs, really cool stuff! I could tell Glen was getting jealous that I was playing with HIS toy. 😂 one day he came by and quickly took it away. I never saw it again. I asked him if he’d written any songs with it. He said he did but I never heard anything. I think his aptitude wasn’t cut out for such things. I wonder if he ever erased my songs or did he play them for other people (probably did) and say it was his creation? Some friend, huh? 😮

[@jeffmarc1846]

I had one of these in the 80's. It was part of my studio when MIDI was quite new. Great sounding machine.

[@atomsound-synth]

Quality sound!

[@sagaempyrean]

I can't believe you have one of these. This was my very first drum machine and I LOVED it! I actually miss it.

[@a_nick_t]

Big brother Yamaha RX5 was one of the best drum machines ever made. Sound design capability was awesome. Similar sounding to RX11 but many parameters to edit which took it to another level. Plus individual outs.

[@EspenKraft]

RX5 is great. The 11 has individual outs as well.

[@photobritain]

The RX11 little brother was the RX15. Most of the same sounds but without the separate outputs and a second bass drum. The claps, snares, high hats, ride, cowbell and rim shot are also found in the RX15.

[@AndrewG2.0]

That last live song was awesome man! I just bought a RX11 for 50 bucks and have been loving the classic 80s sound

[@mrdali67]

So good memories. This was my first drum machine and I remember a friend of me had the Roland TR 707 and we used to discussed like crazy which one was best. Fun thing about this early sample drum machines you can usually pick them out imediatly if used in a track. the Rimshot always reveals the RX-11 and the horrible sampled Crash 😄

[@XYtoTheDoubleG]

Start video immediately skip to the middle only to immediately return back to that magical scene in the woods... Wow... What an intro!!!

[@garystackhouse5787]

Owned one of these in the mid-80's and did a LOT of recording with it... this was a nice trip down Nostalgia Lane for me.

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet Gary, that's awesome!

[@dozerblade]

I had a RX 21 back in 1985/86 with a DX100 and a QX21 sequencer,. Happy days!

[@AdamBorseti]

This was the drum machine used by the Russian rock band Kino, on their most successful album "Gruppa Krovi" (Blood Type). This machine provided all of the drum tracks for that album.

[@Vitalka_project]

Hi from Ukraine

[@AdamBorseti]

@@Vitalka_project Hello from the United States. 👋🏻😃

[@SunnyBear]

Thanks for that little insight, I just looked up the album and it sounds nice!

[@kevinlangley9644]

Had one of these. Man why did i ever get rid of all my cool old gear? Still have an sr16 by alesis still going srong plus a sequence by kawai that has no flaws.

[@ДмитрийФинский-м1я]

Да. Это чистая правда:)

[@chrislisten87]

today my Yamaha RX8 arrived :-) and i decided to finish this evening my little cover of your song you made at the end. Its not an RX11 but has sth familiar. Thanks Espen. Thats one of your videos i like most and come often back to listen. Have a nice weekend!

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats! Awesome :D

[@jimchik]

Reminds me how I used to MIDI mine to a synth (usually my DX-7), with each drum or cymbal hit sending note info. The one thing that it took me a minute to figure out was that with the note data, the note off was sent very quickly, and if I wanted to have a synth note of any duration beyond staccato, I had to adjust the release time on the synth so it would sound (as well as with an appropriately short attack time). It was actually a pretty cool trick, especially for bass lines or accents of any sort, while working without a sequencer. It was the mid-late 80’s after all and I still hadn’t purchased my first sequencer, let alone computer.

[@RobbiesVideoArchives]

This made me so nostalgic for the way I recorded in the 80s. I’m gonna get my RX11 out of storage and fire it up! It’s Yamaha so I have no doubts that it’ll work perfectly after being packed away for a few decades.👍🤠👍

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome! Dig it out :)

[@jppcreative]

I nabbed an RX11 in February. Love it! It adds so much extra character to the tunes with its simplicity. Well done, Eben!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! It's a great machine when used in the right places.

[@Spence12]

First thing I ever programmed was the intro to the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited". An easy exercise that got me started in drum programming.

[@houstonjones9123]

Your tutorials are fantastic. Please never delete your videos. :)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! I don't plan to delete anything :)

[@bellaambiens]

Such a great early nineties AMIGA demoscene feeling with that song ! Excellent !

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I remember the Amiga scene :)

[@alevqole]

I recognize those sounds. My dad had that machine while I was growing up.

[@Studio-62]

I owned the RX-15, which is essentially the same unit without the card. I think the RX11 has separate audio outs. I loved it, but it was stolen In 2000 during a break-in at my house. It was great the way the pads were laid out, which made it good for jamming live.

[@EspenKraft]

The RX11 HAS separate outs. ;-)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Saw one of these in a shop the other day and thought about picking it up, but left it. Kind of regret it now. Nicely demonstrated as ever. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! You blew that one ha-ha... a definite keeper! :D

[@donnieottway6025]

Lol make the guy regret that decision even more haha come on you know he cant sleep an night now.

[@roberthagstrom259]

I just got me one of these. It was in a pretty bad shape but after some cleaning and soldering, everything works! I love how easy it is to make patterns in real time. And the sound fits my bad 80-s keyboardplaying perfectly. Thanks for the demo, it got me up and running in no time! I will also read the manual of course ;-)

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@LuckyFlesh]

Excellent video! I used to own one of these "back in the day." Another cool thing about this (and the rx15) is you can select which MIDI note each individual pad transmits on. I'd program the drum track, dump that to my sequencer (at the time an Indus MIDI DJ 2 - track floppy disk recorder) and then change the MIDI channel, set the note numbers for each pad and program my bass lines and such.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Absolutely, that's a great way of using it. I've also set up different drum machines in the past like that.

[@392Firepower]

LOVED this drum machine. It was just so "sexy". Had the "X" aesthetic Yamaha was going for in the early 80's with all their electronic professional instruments, but mostly it just sounded GREAT! AND it was easy to program. We used this quite a bit for gigging AND recording. That's quite a nice specimen, Espen!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! Yes, I always loved how stylish most of Yamahas gear was in this period. Especially their flagship sequencer QX1.

[@nihilvoid4112]

I have this and the TR707. It's a killer underrated machine. Also used by New Order, Asylum Party and on the Nightmare on Elm Street soundtrack

[@fender1000100]

Nihil & Void Very underrated im using one at the moment with a KORG VOLCA FM for bass and sequenced lines. Its punchy with alot of charactor.

[@VIC-20_Synthwave]

Just snagged one for $100. Thanks for making this video Espen, it's going to be really helpful in my learning to use this baby.

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome! Make something great with it! :)

[@VIC-20_Synthwave]

Thanks! Planning on putting it to good use.

[@antfactor]

Great video! Bought my RX11 within a year of it's release. Still have it in my closet - runs solidly - built like a tank. My fave drum machine (aside from Digitakt) - so far - is my DR660. Still amazingly flexible and programmable. Tons of tracks and live sets on it.

[@EspenKraft]

It's great! Thanks :D

[@spazkong]

I remember lots of acts on the UK social club circuit using these in the 80's. Usually solo artists and duos often synced to a sequencer. They almost always had DX7's or Casio CZ's also. The memories :)

[@lundsweden]

Yamaha drum machines seem to gave been underrated compared to Roland, thank you for demoing this gem from the best decade of all time! I have to say that I believe a good indicator of a good drum machine is how worn the drum pads are. The RX11 has those shiny, smooth spots that show its been worked hard!

[@newsoundagency6729]

NSA HQ just acquired one of these thanks to Espen's video. 1984 here we come.

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats! :)

[@michaelcaplin8969]

I'm pretty sure the drummer who recorded these sounds for this machine and it's siblings was Jeff Porcaro. If so (which I think is correct), every song who used this had Jeff Porcaro play on their track-ish :)

[@NLind]

Love my RX11. And for you vintage arcade game fans out there this machine lent some of its samples to Sega’s OutRun cab, especially the Hi Tune 1 snare.

[@definitelymiami7978]

I have an Yamaha RX5 which is very similar. Love playing with the pitch and EG to make new percussion sounds.

[@MiroslawBlazek-Gdansk]

What works great for these old drummachines is adding a bit of gated Reverb for the snare (and even more for the toms). In fact that was common practice in the 80s and it's what in large part defined the "trademark 80s drum sound" in pop and electronic music.

[@MatthewHarrold]

I must be getting old, I used this kit circa 88/89 with a few friends, yet totally forgot until now. One guy (Bluey ... Brett A) had meticulously programmed classic Australian hits that made his duo a money maker. The (possibly) earlier manifestation of a guitar/keyboard duo playing "anything" whilst sounding studio legit.

[@EspenKraft]

We're all old here he-he ;-)

[@jtBrander]

after watching this video I found one on craigslist for sale cheap ($80), it is indeed easy to setup and use. thanks Espen!

[@EspenKraft]

Nice, congrats! :)

[@Flaytt744]

depends on what your set up is..if it is live performance...go for it..but for recording... NO

[@ralis]

Damn you Espen! You made me fall in love with this drum machine and drove up the prices all in the same video. I had been searching for a reasonably priced one since this posted. People want crazy prices for it. I finally found one on EBay for $164.00 after tax and shipping. it was listed “in Good Working Order” alas is was not, half the buttons did not work, the other half made horrid machine gun sounds. Darn, I really wanted this drum machine. A google search later I found some videos on cleaning the contacts in the buttons. I found out about replacing the internal battery. I had never done anything like that before so - Hold my Beer! I had to purchase some proper soldering and desoldering gear, a multimeter, some deoxit d5 contact cleaner and F5 fader cleaner/lube. I opened her up and got to work. After cleaning a new battery and a hard factory reset she is working like new! I do love her; now she needs a name. Thank you Espen

[@EspenKraft]

I take full responsibility! ;-)

[@agentaxe]

Perfect! Love the song too! Found this drum machine for 40 euros. I think it will help me a lot.Have a great day Mr. Espen!

[@zombeat7376]

BTW I just done my very first track with this machine. Uploaded it acouple of days ago. It is called just music. Love the heavy snare especially. Just perfect for me. Looking forward to using again.. noticed if you add just rhe right amount of reverb to the snare it can sound pretty amazing.

[@arpmuless_official]

I just bought an RX11 and I can't wait to use it :) Will look great with a DX7

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats!

[@arpmuless_official]

@@EspenKraft Thanks Espen! May get a Korg Poly 61 as well as there is one for a bargain price

[@arpmuless_official]

@@EspenKraft Thanks Espen! May get a Korg Poly 61 as well as there is one for a bargain price

[@fangettes]

It has its limits, but it shines so bright just being what it is (especially if it’s in good condition). It has some cheap build quality going on, but I’ve never seen a broken one. It’s easy to program a pattern, and having assignable outs is nice. I love the shaker and the toms so much! I found mine for $70 Canadian which is a fair price for something like this. I’d have even paid a bit more. If you like these types of sounds, I highly recommend the rx11!

[@RoyMaya]

The first drum machine my father bought back in the 80's was the RX15. I knew that machine inside out! A few years ago I purchased the RX11 and I couldn't remember how to program it - lol. I had to crack open the manual for a refresh. It's a great machine, though.

[@EspenKraft]

Very much so. Hope this can help out in the programming.

[@adytech5788]

i was using the RX11 to sequence my home studio 25 years ago, it worked :)

[@InFamousProductions]

I had one for a while, and sold it. I even had one extra cartridge. It was cool but after a while if found the sounds to be so limited. I had just about every vintage drum machine and now of course I wish I still had them, but at the time it was a good idea.

[@SRV2013]

This was the first drum machine I ever used. I loved it.

[@robbelliii]

Kind of a cool jam at the end. Definitely some Synthwave potential there. Thanks for such an informative and descriptive video. Always a fan of yours.

[@EspenKraft]

Excellent, thanks! :)

[@meneerjansen00]

Finally somebody who's not from an English speaking country who does not have a zany accent. Your voice/YT channel is actually worth a serious listen to. :-)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@thomasekman4548]

at that 14:56 mark ... the amazing bassline of so many songs from early Depeche Mode (See You, Work Hard, Everything Counts etc... ) thanks Espen now I know where to find that bassline...

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@crebegea]

The best tutorials and reviews on YT. And there are lots. Hope this channel grows big.

[@EspenKraft]

Hey, thanks for saying! I have loads of exciting stuff coming in 2019 so stay on! :)

[@VIC-20_Synthwave]

Espen, those snares are so punchy. Sounds like some New Order snares I’ve heard before. Great video & keep up the good work.

[@EspenKraft]

Yeah, the snares, or some of them, are awesome and really sounds classic 80s in every good way. Thanks! :)

[@fulcrumspigot455]

New Order used it on LowLife.

[@cnfuzz]

John foxx used it on the in mysterious ways album 1985 , i think the tr707 was the better machine in 1985 but then yamaha came with the rx5 wich dominated till the r8 , the rx5 has more synth like functionality

[@GerryMoningkey]

@@cnfuzz agreed, the RX5 is a beast of a half-synth, 80s digital drum machine

[@mikaelschloenzig9590]

The fourth lost member of a-ha in action?You are so 80:s and great of showing that off,much to love here Espen!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@kriacaoverbal]

I was born in 1984. This is my machine and hole 80's Funk, New Jack Swing, Miami Bass etc used this. Fucking awesome

[@georgegeez8708]

This is a great sounding drum machine. Almost sounds like a Linn. I have these sounds for my Akai MPC. Now I want one. Great video. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers! :D

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

Yam's best drum machine in my opinion .... As you say Vince Clarke moved on from the Linndrum to the RX-11 for the first two Erasure albums ... I still play with the RX-11 today. For me it's an unsung gem and more so, so reliable, the Japanese builders are the finest in electronics!

[@robfriedrich2822]

Did you change the battery?

[@RUHDD4HVN]

Authentic realtime jam at the end.....very cool!! Hat's off to you!!! p.s. A coworker and I programmed the Toy Piano sound on the original DX7 Rom Cards. We were at the first FM synthesis education seminars held in Portland Oregon back when Yamaha first introduced the DX line of synths before shipping them out. While we were in a training session we tried to program a string patch but it came out just as you hear on the Rom Card. They saved the patch on the spot and included it in the original set of patches. History is strange!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome story man! :)

[@possumridgeentertainment4614]

It wouldn't happen to be String Ensemble 1, would it? I use my DX7 for everything, it's the first keyboard I've had with built-in sound that's good enough to record with and I use it to control my VST instruments (though I'm thinking of utilizing the MIDI thru port to bring my Optimus (just a Casio keyboard rebranded for Radio Shack) so I can record more per take instead of having to go track by track), but I largely forget the ROM card (dead battery so ROM card is the only source for presets) and program my own patches. The one exception to that, other than when I take it to church on special occasions and use Takeoff on high volume to call the congregation in from the dining hall when it's time to start the music, is String Ensemble 1. It is the only preset I use in any serious capacity, and if that's the one you and your coworker programmed I would love to pick your brain for a while.

[@bobjoe7508]

That's pretty cool! I'm from Eugene, never thought that part of DX history was from my home state!

[@RUHDD4HVN]

@@bobjoe7508 Yeah, kind of a strange morsel but cool trivia none the less. Blessings bob joe !

[@Spence12]

I love my Yamaha RX15. It's the RX11's little brother; a few less features, but mostly the same. The drums seem limited to the basic sounds, but you can MIDI this to a General MIDI source and specify which pad plays what sound. I use it today because I've long ago learned to program complex songs with it. I keep notebooks of the songs I create-- a flow chart, so to speak, of the programs in order for each song. I record backups of these files on my computer through the cassette audio output-- works the same on a computer, so long as you record in mono-- stereo throws it off for some reason.

[@Spence12]

The RX15 served me well in the 80s and serves me today through GM. Once you learn a machine, it's hard to give it up later. Especially when all your backup data works only on that device. I don't think there's many new traditional drum machines available anymore and I might be lost trying to create in a software version.

[@andrewgarley1400]

I had an RX15, OSCa, DW600, Jx8, Moog. Was fun. Will be a Korg Wavestate later this year. Love the ending Demo's

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@cresshead]

I had a RX11 back in the 80's was pretty good, upgraded to a RX5 later

[@lassel1644]

I had the RX21 the budget version before i "upgraded" to the Roland 707.

[@systemfan8]

I had goosebumps from that pad at 18:50🔥 And DW-8000 is a beast too!

[@devingademan]

Sweet! The RX11 sounds great! Very well explained + I love the song at the end of the video! A great combination of sounds!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@MrTom-Songwriter-Composer]

Hi Espen, I hope you are doing well. I don't think I ever commented on this video. I actually have the Yamaha RX21, and I have it hooked up to my monitor speakers which is also playing the audio from your video. I can tell you, by playing the drum pads as the same time as you are in the video, this RX21 has the same sampled drum sounds as your RX11 has and is close to the same mid-1980's manufacturing date. I bought this unit used for $50.00 back in the very early 1990s and I know that the RX21 was made as a more affordable version. It does not have the programmable bar function, but it does have the length and quantize functionality. It also only has 9 drum pads / sounds. It's been a real great piece of gear that I still use for recording. Just using some small amount of reverb and compression on the recorded track really makes it pop more. Have a great weekend and stay safe over there. Mr Tom.

[@EspenKraft]

All good here thanks! I'm not surprised if Yamaha reused many of the samples throughout the RX series. This video is very old now and I sold my RX11 a long time ago, but it did me good while I had it. ;-) Cheers

[@recordcollector0665]

My favorite band, They Might Be Giants, used this machine on their first album.

[@ensenada5757]

nothing screams the Pink Album like this thing.

[@L31PZ1G]

The DX7 and the RX11 bring me instantly back to the 80s and of course, there are a lot more great gear outhere, but these two are still one of the best at all! By the way, your video helped me to gets quick fit with the machine! Greetings from Germany, keep going!✌🏻+ ❤

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@LowerWestSideStudio]

Great video! By sheer coincidence an RX11 came up on eBay for a great price after I watched your video so I grabbed it. Thanks for sharing the review and your music!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, congrats you'll love it! Thanks for watching :)

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

There are no coincidences

[@frontcentermusician]

I had that when it came out. Wore it out! Many many songs made with that and my Fostex cassette 4 track recorder.

[@bruhbobent]

the Yamaha RX11 is definitely one of the drum machines ever made

[@johnsnow5650]

The beautiful song you made at the end got a similar vibe to Ivory Tower from Moroder, I really like it.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@yuriymatochkin9428]

Blood Type (Album 1988) by the Soviet group KINO

[@kryticaldepth5220]

found an RX21 in alley today.. Wish it was an RX11, but i'm not complaining, since it was free..

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats!

[@dnantis]

I also miss mine !!! Just in case it was not mentioned by ESPEN ( i have not seen the full video yet ! ) ....well this machine is velocity sensitive for programming with more dynamics, but it accepted velocity ONLY if you used an external MIDI pad or any velocity sensitive keyboard (aka keyboard controller) !! That way the patterns were very drummer alike !! These on board pads only played the sample at a full 128 velocity ! Thanks Now days I only use a Boss DR-880 drum machine or any computer VSTi drum plugin

[@dietmarschlichtherle7061]

I use the Roland R8 and am very satisfied with it...since 20 years ;-)

[@EspenKraft]

I would think so.

[@Bewar3them00n]

I regret getting rid of this machine, so easy to use!

[@kristianTV1974]

No you don't. So easy to reproduce now.

[@Bewar3them00n]

kristianTV1974 hmmm. yes I do, because I like using physical machines over programming

[@hovermotion]

Cool retro machine and vid... I had a Kawai R50 years back ...it was a superb machine ..

[@6581punk]

I have the RX5 which is a beast. Individual outputs with sliders to set the volumes for each output.

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

I have one of those, as well. I like the ability to modify the sounds, like flipping the sample backwards, and envelope editing, but I don't like how deals with panning.

[@6581punk]

@@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5 Nothing is perfect, the step view is also non-visual. My friend used to have one when I first met him and then he upgraded to an RY30. I have his RY30 and I also bought an RX5. I keep meaning to etch a PCB for the GliGli custom ROM cartridge.

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

@@6581punk That last part sounds rather interesting.

[@6581punk]

@@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5 You can buy them pre-made. Search for RX5USB MK2

[@stompingstones]

That end track is legit. Thanks for the videos!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@antfactor]

still have mine - many dozens of tracks over the years. bought new - with Japanese manual. Apparently I'm good at deciphering pics and diagrams - LOL!

[@OlVeil]

Amazing! I happen to have both a RX11 and DW8000 at the moment. This video will help me very much. Thank you!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers! :D

[@systemlfo]

Hi Espen, I noticed one of the keys of your Korg above the RX 11 is chipped off on its underside. I’ve repaired a few vintage synth keys that have the same problem- get a white bread clip (from a standard supermarket loaf of bread), cut to fit and glue it on the inside of the key, not the outside. Use Araldite glue so it will dry as you hold it. Make sure as little glue as possible spills out into view because the glue turns yellow with age. Sorry, but it’s one of my pet hates. If it doesn’t bother you then disregard this. Thanks for your vids.

[@EspenKraft]

Frankly, I don't care so much about this kind of chip, but I thank you for the fix and I'll look into it! :)

[@naitranaitra8196]

That was really thoughtful thank you, it helped me out

[@andypeck1972]

As always, an excellent tutorial. Gave me quite an insight into the similar RX-7 Drum machine I got yesterday for my birthday!

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats Andy! The RX series holds up very well imo :)

[@andypeck1972]

The former! 😁

[@andypeck1972]

So, this morning I restored the RX-7 back to factory settings, and two demo patterns appeared, sounds of which, I had no idea it was capable! Mind = blown!

[@EspenKraft]

Cool man!

[@wavegalactic663]

wow love that 80's sound who looks like laserdance

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@wavegalactic663]

@@EspenKraft you can follow me soon à new synth on my channel 80's fan ❤️❤️❤️

[@oholm09]

That's what I wanted in my production

[@HisXLNC]

Just found your channel. As a drum machine lover, this is pure joy. Hopefully there is a Casio RZ-1 video on your channel.

[@EspenKraft]

I don't have the RZ-1 at the moment, but it would definitely be a drum machine I'd like to feature on my channel! :)

[@markstevens5442]

I never owned one of these, I had the later RX21 which was a good bit of kit and served me well. I sold it and got an Alesis SR16 in 1992. Still have that to this day :)

[@rhodienite4897]

The sounds of RX11 later appeared in Yamaha PSR-SX900 keyboard under the "80s Pop Kit" patch

[@digitalperformer7]

I had RX-11 in the past and remember its really advanced programming functions such as accelerandos and ritardandos, D.C. to Coda and various and nested patterns repetitions inside a song. All in all I regret having sold it in the nineties but, at the time, I thought that its internal sounds and samples were a little out of date and a sampler would have been more versatile. What I didn't take into consideration was that a real drun machine is more straightforward to program and can drive a sampler. There's pros and cons in everything, maybe creating a drum track with a MIDI/audio sequencer and a generic sound source is not as satisfying as on a real drum machine (that can be synchronized with the sequencer or can act as a master source).

[@EspenKraft]

That's exactly why I still love those old drum machines. There's something (to me anyways) extremely satisfying about having the drum sounds coming out of a dedicated piece of kit and programming the patterns and finally putting those together as a performance and hearing it come together sequentially. In tight, thigh fashion.

[@MrMichaelConstantine]

Picked one of these up today, hardly used. The guy I got it from bought it brand new in 87. No clue how to use it, looking forward to learning.

[@buckdownscanada9946]

This just gave me so many ideas 💡 thanks 🙏

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, thanks! :)

[@ivettevaldezelvir7127]

It really worked for me after I look and try some tutorials, yours is the one that worked. Owe you a lot.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@SonicHertz]

I used this to learn how to use my Yamaha RX7. Practically the same settings, give or take a few features.

[@impulseproman]

my ears was happy hearing the 80's sound

[@pseudosun]

I've been searching for those snare sounds. I think i will try to get one. I haven't been happy with modern snares. I like those warm thick snares. No tuning of the pads is probably a good thing; a waste of time.

[@EspenKraft]

I agree. the RX11 has those thick snares that really add some weight to a track. More so than most other drum machines from back then. Underrated.

[@jpf2159]

Man, I was thinking the same thing.

[@pseudosun]

@@koolmaaan -- just got the RX11 sounds. I donated a dollar to him, worth it!

[@jtBrander]

I will be picking one up today, thanks for the review!!

[@EspenKraft]

Nice, congrats! :)

[@gmcenroe]

Nice, I just bought what looks like almost brand new one on Reverb for $180, should be fun

[@EspenKraft]

Congrats!

[@omaroliva8611]

por favor lo podrían ser en español

[@immersethecoast]

Such a sick jam at the end! May have to find one to pair up with my dx7 and minilogue!

[@cresshead]

Rx11 also used on some New order songs around subculture time

[@aleksandarsteva]

Very grateful video before buying drum machine.

[@EspenKraft]

That's awesome!

[@Mike_the_Barbarian]

Love the intros to these vids.. interesting seeing the nature vs hardware.

[@EspenKraft]

That's cool. I wasn't sure if I should go that route, but I might do more intros that way :) Thanks for commenting!

[@DylanSmithVHR]

Thank you so much for making this! I want to learn how to use my RX11, but the manuals I got with it are all in Japanese.