GROOVES FROM MARS

Groove Templates From 27 Legendary Drum Machines

Grooves From Mars is the most comprehensive collection of drum machine MIDI groove templates in existence. Created from 27 classic and modern drum machines, these templates will enable you to bring the unique feel and groove of each sequencer to your DAW. 

It's no secret that every drum machine has its own vibe - whether analog or digital, they rush, drag, swing, shuffle, and funk like no other. Some are extremely accurate, and others are completely off the grid. An MPC60 will sequence your sounds like a band is playing them, and the LM1 (responsible for the first sequencer shuffle of all time) will give you that incredible early 80s Prince feel. Whatever the machine, they all have a unique groove. 

The Process

We began by syncing each drum machine to the ERM Multiclock, one of the most sample accurate MIDI, DIN, and Pulse clocks out there (yes, it beats the Innerclock).  The ERM is extremely accurate because it's connected to your computer via *audio output from your computer, not USB, which is inherently jittery.

Once they were synced, we recorded the audio of each drum machine, programming 4 bars of rimshots, at as many quantization and shuffle settings possible for each drum machine. Finally, we analyzed the recorded audio to determine exactly where each 16th note fell relative to the grid, and converted them to 4 bar .AGR (Ableton) and MIDI groove files.  

The End Result

Ultimately we ended up with 478 MIDI groove templates from 27 legendary drum machines, that will enable you to groove between the lines of your DAW with the unique swing, shuffle and stutter of each machine. We captured the most basic and useable straight, swing and triplet settings, but also weird patterns, shuffling triplets, and more. 

Some of the included drum machines: all of the TR machines, 5 MPCs, SP1200, Elektron sequencers, and of course, the drum machine that started it all:

Like Roger Linn said, “Between 50% and around 70% are lots of wonderful little settings that, for a particular beat and tempo, can change a rigid beat into something that makes people move.” So, let's make people move!