michael_xavier1's Reviews

An incredibly versatile and intuitive instrument

The DSI Tempest is incredibly underrated. It's the best drum machine I've ever used. Though the learning curve is steep, once you jump that hurdle you'll find yourself making some incredible music, with absolutely off-kilter and bizarre percussion sounds. It's basically a polyphonic synth and drum machine combined, and though the price tag may be steep for some, it offers near-infinite sound design potential. Not only that, but the actual sequencing of new beats is incredibly fun and easy and actually reacts to pad pressure, the slider position and pressure, and velocity of your playing, which becomes particularly useful when playing live. There is even a modulation matrix for your sounds with filters and feedback and noise generators and distortion and compression and tons of different routes and destinations for your sounds. It might take a little time to make a beat in the Tempest, but the results are absolutely game-changing when you do, and to those who complain they just want to make beats on the fly, well, that's what template sounds and projects are for! I'm amazed by the range of what this small machine can do. if you get the chance and it's selling for anything $1,200, nab it while you can. It's way more worth it than a vintage set which will cost thousands more.