msh3005_records's Live Rig

Tanzbar Lite is a very nice-sounding drum machine that is fun to play live or record in the studio. It has MIDI ports, so it can be integrated into most setups. I do wish there were an analog sync jack, but MIDI worked just fine for me.

I used it to perform my live show in 2019, Confreg “Deep Solar Dive EP”, and it was amazing. The raw analog sound sits well in the mix, and it’s a pleasure to work with in the studio as well. In fact, I used it as my main drum machine on that album. So if you want to hear how it sounds, you are welcome to listen to the album. Have I mentioned how good each drum voice sounds? The bass drum can go really low without becoming muddy. It’s very musically pleasing. The snare drum is crisp and pure, the clap is spot on—much better than most—and both the closed and open hi-hats are lovely. Again, the voices are very musical, which is a rarity for drum machines in general.

These amazing voices make up for any potential drawbacks. The sound quality is so good for a drum machine in this price range that it’s hard to believe. The only alternative would be something like TipTop Audio 808 modules in a modular rig. But for me, this little drum machine has such a small footprint that it’s definitely a clear winner.