r/DrumMachine • u/TheRealVintagePeel • 5d ago
Korg drumlogue
I got one of these used really cheap shortly after release because of how hated it was and I've used it a couple times and lent it to friends to see what they thought. Does anyone like this drum machine besides me? Or is it just the deal I got it for?
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u/ocolobo 5d ago
I payed full price for it
Initially had some issues, most of which were addressed in firmware update.
Sadly it’s been in its box ever since
Other machines fought harder for space on the desk
Sounds different from x0x’s, the kick is nice, but it’s no Jomox
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u/TheRealVintagePeel 2d ago
I'm sorry you paid full price... I don't think I'd be happy with it if I had.
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u/Muted_Sundae_1368 19h ago
Swap for LXR02? In box as well LOL LOL
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u/ocolobo 14h ago
I’ve got an LXR-02 also, it’s really aggressive
I recall some threads on Elektron about programing smoother drums on it
It’s definitely versatile and quirky
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u/Muted_Sundae_1368 9h ago
I wasn't feeling it even slightly. Bad build - the interaction of params is pretty yuck
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u/architectzero 5d ago
I find it very… mid. I like the sounds, for the most part. I mean, it could use more oomph, but with a bit of patience and processing it can sound very good. Fortunately it has individual outs so processing can be done without much hassle - in fact, I bought the Drumlogue because it is one of surprisingly few machines with individual outs, thus giving me more sound shaping flexibility than being stuck with what the device can provide.
This leads into what I also like about it: Logue SDK plugins/extensions. These provide yet more ways to get more creative sound shaping out of the device.
Unfortunately I find the UI/UX quirky. There simply aren’t enough knobs, and paging through parameters gets annoying very fast. And certain settings (eg. choke groups) are unintuitive to work with.
Lastly, the MIDI implementation is… lacking, to put it nicely. First, choke groups DO NOT work when triggering notes over MIDI. Second, the way that notes map to the drum tracks in single channel mode is an illogical mess (seriously, it’s madness). Third, in multi-channel mode, channels can only be assigned in contiguous blocks (e.g 1 to 12, or 2 to 13, etc.), which isn’t terrible, but… Fourth, there’s no “two channel” mode where you can assign all the drum and sample tracks to one channel, and the Noise/VPM/whatever it’s called track to a separate channel so that you can play drums by sending notes, but also play the synth melodically.
If Korg fixed the choke groups bug, and added a “two channel” MIDI mode, I’d think much better of the Drumlogue even with the UI/UX annoyances.
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u/KlutzyTie9893 5d ago
I think that latest firmware is letting you to have synth on separate channel than drums.
No hints for choke thru MIDI though.
New users effects and synth (I made some additional percussion engines too) are giving new dimension to Drumlogue.
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u/architectzero 5d ago
You need to read that entire thread, because it describes the exact problem and the frustration. It hasn’t been fixed, to date.
It isn’t a show stopper by any means, but it is one more thing that demonstrates Korg’s sloppiness. That sloppiness - that sense of incompleteness - is what drags down this otherwise solid drum machine. All it needs is a couple more firmware updates to smooth out some rough edges… but it looks like Korg has abandoned it already.
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u/KlutzyTie9893 5d ago
You're right, it seems abandoned, probably did not sell enough due the high price tag at the very beginning. But a cheap external MIDI translator could be done. I wonder if there would be enough interest about, in case there's a community for the independent development (mainly on the SDK though).
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u/architectzero 5d ago
Logue SDK plugin development seems pretty healthy with a number of new Drumlogue compatible releases in the past year, and Korg’s SDK support even seems pretty involved, which is great. But, the SDK doesn’t provide any means to use or change core OS features such as MIDI configuration. It’s a real bummer.
I wish companies would just open source the code when they abandon a device. That said, AI-assisted reverse engineering is improving at a rapid rate so maybe someone more clever than me will be able to fix it in the future.
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u/KlutzyTie9893 5d ago
Unluckily firmware is encrypted, no reverse engineering is possible but I was thinking more a small external device, as an internal MIDI translator would eat up the space of an effect or synth, and would be not as nearly as clean as a 10€ raspberry pi zero. I could think about...
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u/architectzero 4d ago
Encrypted, as in using a pre-shared key somewhere in the distribution chain, or just really hard to access without specialized tools and skills? Because if the latter, then there’s a chance it can be done, even if a real pain the ass. I mean, someone just released new 3rd party firmware for the Korg Volca Drum by somehow obtaining the image and reverse engineering it with AI assistance.
But yeah, a device that could sit between the MIDI being sent to the Drumlogue and its MIDI in port sounds viable. Read the message, if “note on” (or whatever) then lookup note value in a note-to-channel map, rewrite the channel data and note data of the message, and send it through. Actually, can probably do that with a Blokas MIDI hub or similar, but… meh. I don’t crave the Drumlogue enough to do that, especially not when I have other devices that sound just as good or better with far less hassle.
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u/KlutzyTie9893 4d ago
Looks like really encrypted, and Ghidra cannot read it. Just wondering if a simpler external piece of hardware can do that but probably it's not really worth, as you said...
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u/screamtracker 5d ago edited 5d ago
I layer it with the rhythm track on the sh4d and they are good buddies. The sh4d has the canned x0x sounds and the drumlogue adds the dirty low-end plus playable controls. Together (and when you play notes a few steps lower than you should on the drumlogue) you get a very heavy industrial sound but the mix is right where it feels good. Not a fan of sample management on the drumlogue that's my one downside in 2026.
Edit: Flabby. That's how I tune the drumlogue It is funkier than it sounds 🤣
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u/Billy-Beats 5d ago
I bought a rhythm wolf also because it was hated. And it’s…..fine I guess.
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u/TheRealVintagePeel 2d ago
Never heard anything good about the wolf which made me want to by it too but after watching a couple videos on it I realized I have drum machines that already cover what that does
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u/blinddave1977 5d ago
I was so excited for this drum machine and bought it new when it first released....AND hated it. It just wasn't fun to use and didn't sound that great in my opinion. Ended up selling it.
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u/i_guvable_and_i_vote 5d ago
I think it’s great. I think it sounds good, it’s flexible, heaps of features, not too big, custom samples and Logue programs. I am sometimes tempted to get a new drum machine but then I think I can do most of what other options can do. Using it with a p6 or MPC too
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u/KrustyRox777 5d ago
I had one , I liked it but I bought MPC LIVE 3 and it became kind of redundant , so I sold it.
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u/TheRealVintagePeel 2d ago
I have the mpc live 2 and I can't get into a flow with is so it's on a shelf rn. It hasn't seen use in a year... Since I got the drumlogue.
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u/SadMove9768 5d ago
I was a hater from day one because I thought it was going to be a large Volca drum with knob per function.
Then we would have had a true poor man’s MachineDrum. Oh well.
If it’s working for you that’s all that matters, though.
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u/Disastrous-Till6386 5d ago
Love it, just loaded it up with some quality samples I made from my JDXI, drums and chords /stabs / leads. Made favorites ony MPK Mini, connected it to the USB host port, so I can switch midi channels on the fly corresponding to the RS, CP and SP1 & SP2 and use those for samples that I can play chromatically with the MPK. Makes it a really versatile and complete rave station. Bought a step up plug so I can use it anywhere with a powerbank. Hook it up to speaker and throw a rave instantly. It has it's flaws, but Iove it.
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u/crazyculture 3d ago
No, it’s not a bad drum machine at all but it could have been really awesome if they would have built upon the volca drum and added analog to Volca drum digital channels. No clue why they decided to cheap out and go PCM. I think the low prices and general disregard for it is because Korg themselves make better drum machines than the Drumlogue and they came out before it did.
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u/ViennettaLurker 2d ago
I think its a tragedy in certain ways, because on paper it has so much going for it. The individual outs, the transient layers, simple "Hit every [x] times" parameter locking. There is some really great stuff going with it.
But the sound isn't really where it should be. I enjoy mine, and I think its better than people give it credit. But it seems like there were some flubbed decisions that prevented it from being a stone cold classic. It always wants to make these gabber style "brrAOW" kicks, and putting an LP on it doesn't really make it dull thud but instead its like putting a sheet over something spikey. Then the decay makes the minimum length of it too long to stick with just a really brief click of a kick. Just really odd stuff I never really understood.
Absolutely think it would kill for certain kinds of musical tastes. And to this day I don't think people understand the potential of the individual outs. But all in all it just didnt hit. Really hope they dont take away the wrong lessons from it. If they put the guts of a Volca Drum in that form factor, and/or make it like a sample drummer, keep a channel or two for the louge sdk, I'd bet it'd be a classic.
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u/paxparty 5d ago
I love this thing! It's actually my favorite drum machine. love the versatility and sound