well suited to spontaneous live performances:

BEAT BUDDY ON YOUTUBE

First impression: Crazy!

good crazy or bad crazy?

It does seem like a well-designed product that fills a need. Its value for any particular player might depend on whether or not it fits into their setup and way of working, and if they want to dedicate a portion of their attention to working the drum track pedals. Repetition can do wonders, and the pedal functions seem well thought-out (and customizable via their computer app) so maybe it could become second nature.

Personally I'd prefer thinking through the drum tracks ahead of time and not be responsible for them while performing. I want to bring listeners into an entrancing space, and I think giving that attention to managing the drum track would break the trance.

At $249 (and a wait until August at least) one would have to really want it -- 2,264 of the 2,500 available for pre-order are already sold, so obviously many people do. I am a sucker for cool musical toys, but I will pass on this one. But, like I say, if it fits in well to one's way of working...

I must be missing something. In looking at this, I have to admit that I'm trying to figure out why anyone would want this over a proper drum machine, or a cheap laptop with any number of free drum machine softwares loaded, etc. etc. Particularly at this price point. Another more versatile item at the same price - A Casio or Yamaha workstation keyboard. Casio WK2xx series for example.

Perhaps it's part of the "pedals-only" guitarist mindset - where the only thing that can be done as a musician is with a guitar and pedal board.

I have friends that have thousands of dollars tied up in their pedal-boards/pedal combinations - and I can match their tone in mere seconds, with my Zoom G5 (which has a drum machine built in with 40 patterns, BTW). The patterns are not really programmable - perhaps that's one small shortcoming

The G5 doesn't look as cool as a multi-colored array of pedals with cool names - that much is true, but with instant recall of patches, with no leaning down to adjust knobs constantly, and an under $300 price point, in my opinion it's a killer value.

So, again, I'm trying to figure out how this is not just a drum machine without the on-board pads, in guitar pedal form. You certainly couldn't put it into your guitar signal chain - so it's going to be a separate box somewhere. Get an Alesis SR18 for $260, and two footswitches for it for maybe another 30$, and you will run circles around this thing for live performance, for programmability, etc., unless again, I'm somehow missing what this thing does.

Pat, what was it about this device that has you intrigued?

the only thing I can think of to make somebody want this product is the mindset the "prerecorded is bad" but "spontaneous is good"

There are people who use loopers but would never consider playing along with backing tracks. This device fits into the looper schema: both offer a solo musician a way to jam with himself onstage, and it is clear to the audience that he's making it all happen in real time.

Personally, that's exactly what I want to escape from... all the pedal changing at exactly the right moment. Backing tracks plus MIDI automation give me the leeway to focus on my parts without having to manage all the changes.

The downside is that some people see that as cheating

“the only thing I can think of to make somebody want this product is the mindset the "prerecorded is bad" but "spontaneous is good"

There are people who use loopers but would never consider playing along with backing tracks.”


To me, nothing is more boring than a guy with a looper. And a looperguy who won't use tracks because he's a “purist”? Hilarious. My tech good. Your tech bad.


“This device fits into the looper schema: both offer a solo musician a way to jam with himself onstage, and it is clear to the audience that he's making it all happen in real time.”


The “audience” doesn't give a rat's. Unless it's a dedicated concert, the 'audience' just wants to have a good time. Guy with a looper? Yawn. Single/duo with great tracks? Let's dance!



“Personally, that's exactly what I want to escape from... all the pedal changing at exactly the right moment. Backing tracks plus MIDI automation give me the leeway to focus on my parts without having to manage all the changes.”


There is enough to concentrate on without stomping on a pedal every time you want a drum fill.


“The downside is that some people see that as cheating”


Next time someone accuses you of 'cheating', ask them where they're playing.

90 dB,

I generally agree with you except I think there's quite a bit of evidence that there is a type of audience that goes to hear a single solo performer, to hear them, not to dance along with them. The 'good time' to them is partially being wowed by technical prowess on a single instrument.

This may or may not be your or my particular cup of tea, but the audiences are there, as well as some pretty unique and musically talented skills needed to make it come off with panache. Tommy Emmanuel and Trace Bundy come to mind in acoustic guitar world.

With all of that said, the SR18 drum machine will do everything this thing does, can be footswitch activated, and provide tons more programmability as well as live performance options.

“...Tommy Emmanuel and Trace Bundy...”


You must have missed this disclaimer:

“Unless it's a dedicated concert, the 'audience' just wants to have a good time.”


We're playing a Cinco e Mayo party at our local pub this afternoon. I don't think they could afford Tommy.

90 dB,

Noted - I did miss your disclaimer!

I do think it's interesting to observe the fascination with things that come in the shape of a guitar pedal. People go on and on about pedal based delays and the first question I have for them is "can you tap tempo to set the delay time?". Nearly always, for units under a couple hundred bux, the answer seems to be no.

Then I ask them, "can you set the multiple of the tap time so that you can pretend you are the Edge from U2 with dotted 8th delays?" then they always answer no unless they have a $500+ delay unit.

I smile and tell them I have both in the G5, and great amp simulation, and basically 2 knobs for my foot (the 2-axis Z-pedal), and then tell them I paid $299 (Actually, I got a B-stock unit for $239 from Zzounds) and say - "You should check it out"

To all those kickstarter supporters of this thing, I just wonder if they have any idea that the SR18 is available.

If you plan to add Beat Buddy to your pedal board (guitarists, primarily) then you might check out: Pedal Boards 101

(Also good for understanding signal flow and pedal boards in general.)