Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $170
Standard/Professional
$150
$601+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
The Yamaha RX11 is a classic drum machine that remains a favorite among musicians and producers for its authentic sound and intuitive design. Originally released in the 1980s, this piece of gear still holds its ground against modern counterparts. The RX11 offers 12-bit PCM sounds, delivering that sought-after vintage punch perfect for electronic, pop, and rock genres. With its robust build and user-friendly interface, the RX11 is both a reliable studio companion and a road-ready performer.
This drum machine boasts 29 preset sounds, including kicks, snares, hi-hats, and more, allowing for a wide range of rhythmic possibilities. Its programmable step sequencer is easy to navigate, making it a breeze to craft intricate beats. The RX11 also provides multiple output options for customizable sound routing and mixing. If you're looking to add a touch of retro flair to your tracks or gigs, the RX11's ability to store up to 100 patterns ensures you'll always have the right groove at your fingertips.
Key Features:
- 12-bit PCM sound technology for authentic vintage tones
- 29 preset drum sounds, including kicks, snares, and hi-hats
- Programmable step sequencer for creating custom beat patterns
- Multiple output options for flexible sound routing
- Storage for up to 100 user-created patterns
- Sturdy construction designed for both studio use and live performance
Product specs
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | RX11 Digital Rhythm Programmer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1984 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Drum Machines |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output |
| Number of Pads | 16 Pads |
| Polyphony | 16 Voices |
FAQs
-
Does the Yamaha RX11 drum machine support MIDI connectivity?
-
Yes, the Yamaha RX11 features both MIDI Input and MIDI Output, allowing it to be integrated with other MIDI-compatible gear for synchronized playback and control.
-
How many pads and voices does the Yamaha RX11 have?
-
The Yamaha RX11 comes with 16 pads and offers 16-voice polyphony, enabling complex rhythm programming and simultaneous sound playback.
-
Can the Yamaha RX11 be used in a modern studio setup?
-
While the Yamaha RX11 is a vintage drum machine from 1984, its MIDI capabilities allow it to be integrated into modern setups with appropriate MIDI interfaces and converters.
-
What kind of sounds can I expect from the Yamaha RX11?
-
The Yamaha RX11 is a digital drum machine known for its classic 80s electronic drum sounds, which are suitable for retro, synthwave, and electronic music styles.
-
Is the Yamaha RX11 suitable for live performances?
-
Yes, the Yamaha RX11 can be used for live performances, offering real-time control over its 16 pads and MIDI functionality for integration with other equipment.
Videos
Espen Kraft
Yamaha RX11 One of the best drum machines ever made
Reviews
PROS
-
Infectious rhythms perfect for dance floors
-
Affordable and user-friendly
-
Sync and crossfade capability for on-the-spot creation
-
Individual outputs for fine tuning and effects
-
Classic 80s drum samples recognizable in hits
-
Durable armored outer casing
-
Simple and effective groove machine
-
Not noisy, easily syncs with MTC
CONS
-
Limited sound variety
-
Tempo control via slider can be imprecise
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha RX11.
Setup and maintenance
-
Owners report that cleaning the contacts resolves multiple triggering in pads, though results can vary with some pads remaining problematic.
Source
Features and functionality
-
The RX11 features accent levels but lacks detuning capabilities, unlike its RX7 counterpart.
Source -
The RX11 does not transmit programmed accents when driven by patterns from an RX15, only note data is sent.
Source -
The SR-16 includes a song mode for chaining patterns, a feature not commonly found in similarly-priced drum machines.
Source
Use cases and applications
-
The RX11 is praised for its mid-80s vibe, with a thick snare, tight bass drum, and distinctive claps, ideal for retro or industrial music.
Source -
The RX11 is ideal for instant synthpop, whereas the SR-16 provides more sound variety, though not all may be usable for certain styles.
Source -
Digitakt users have successfully loaded Yamaha RX11 samples, appreciating their punchy sound and using them in synthwave compositions alongside gear like the Roland SE-02.
Source
Value and pricing
User experience
Comparisons
4.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 14 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Listed in the Syro "gear list", and used entirely in the japanese bonus track of the album "MARCHROMT30A edit 2b 96 [104.98]"
The live Erasure set-up - excluding the human beings - runs to an Oberheim Xpander module, a Yamaha TX rack with three modules (equivalent to DX9s in a small box, reckons Vince), a Sequential Pro-One synth, plus two Casios, the CZ1000 and CZ101, all driven by a BBC computer using the almost universally praised UMI-2B MIDI sequencer. A Yamaha RX11 and Roland TR727 (latin) supply the drums.
Used on Village Life, as specified in Herbie Hancock’s Electronic Instrument Glossary from September 14, 2016.
Yamaha RX11 Digital Drum Machine – Released in the early 1980s, this programmable drum machine featured 29 real drum samples and 12 audio outputs. Herbie used this instrument on his 1984 album Herbie Hancock And Foday Musa Suso: Village Life.
In this response to a fan's question, Morris identifies an RX-11.
In this transcription of a Sound on Sound article, former New Order tech Michael Johnson states that during the making of the Brotherhood album, the band utilized "a Yamaha QX1 Sequencer with dedicated software [and a] Yamaha RX11 drum machine." In this live performance from 1985, we can see both mounted atop Gillian's keyboard rack at the 5:36 mark.
"I've been using the Roland JP8 linked with the TR808 and recently with the Yamaha RX11 drum machine and getting to grips with linking that with a DX7 via MIDI. The RX11 is a very comprehensive drum machine, though we did get ours in Japan when we were on tour and that didn't have a manual. We've been working it out as we go along."
The original drum parts for the track, which John recorded to set the song's tempo and give himself and other players a guide structure to work with, were programmed into a Yamaha RX11 drum machine that John owns.
"When I get into the studio I usually start with an RX11 to provide a basic rhythm. On a couple of the tracks, I even ended up keeping the RX bass drum and hi-hat this time, but I usually replace it all. The bass drum's fine but the hi-hat doesn't sound anything like a hi-hat. That didn't really matter because I wanted something that just kept on going through the track."
Esta fue la caja ritmica que se uso en el Album Pateando piedras y probablemente La Cultura de la basura
Larissa Iceglass uses the Yamaha RX11 drum machine in her studio, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.
Georgi Guryanov used a Yamaha RX11 drum machine in the recordings of KINO's album "Blood Type" and in collaboration with the electronic duet "New Composers" alongside Yuri Kasparyan on the album "Start," as confirmed by the exclusive video "Виктор Цой. Как это было на самом деле," which details the production of the "Blood Type" album.
Album Usage
The Yamaha RX11 has been featured on the following albums:
МОЛНИИ ИНДРЫ
Kino & KINO (2025)
Pateando Piedras
Los Prisioneros (2016)
MARCHROMT30a Edit 2b 96
Aphex Twin (2015)
Syro
Aphex Twin (2014)
Manzana
Los Prisioneros (2004)
Группа крови
Kino & KINO (1988)
Brotherhood (Collector's Edition)
New Order (1986)
Village Life
Herbie Hancock (1985)
Feargal Sharkey
Feargal Sharkey (1985)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha RX11, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursMore Yamaha Drum Machines
Accessories & Related Items
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Drum Machines
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
z0mb0tGear IQ 103
-