Although the Zoom Micro drum machine (Zoom MRT-3 Rhythm Trak) weighs less than a pound and a half, this thing is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
With 396 Preset Patterns, 99 User Patterns, and 99 Songs, the Zoom MRT 3B Drum Machine can accompany your voice, guitar, or other instrument right out of the box!
Of course, if you like to create your own drum beats, the Zoom Rhythmtrak MRT 3B has you covered, and then some! How does 199 sound sources, 50 preset kits, and 20 user kits grab ya?
Add to that the fact that this thing is fully portable, and you’ve got a pretty outstanding beat machine at your disposal. It takes 4 AA alkaline batteries to power the Zoom MRT 3 for a full 15 continuous hours! This is great for the street musician, as well as anyone who likes to take their music on the road!
And the sound quality is quite magnificent. Very rich and realistic sounding drum voices (comparable to the Alesis SR-16), coupled with total user-friendliness make this one of the best beat machines you can buy for the money. This is especially true if you run it through the right kind of amplification. I recommend any of the Roland KC (keyboard combo) amps… these things were born to bring out the best in your drum machine!
As far as the cost for the Zoom Micro Rhythm Trak drum machine is concerned, it’s pretty reasonable for the quality you’re getting. 10 years ago this thing would have cost you several hundred dollars (had the technology existed) – but you can pick up a brand new model for under a hundred bucks today.
This is one of the easiest drum machines in the world to figure out. There’s nothing intimidating or “techy” about the the Zoom MRT3B Micro Rhythmtrak. Just plug and play – and even plugging is optional, thanks to its battery-powered capabilities!
Of course, this drum machine doesn’t boast some of the incredible instrumental capabilities of its big brother, the Zoom RT-23 RhythmTrak, such as bass guitars and human beat-box sounds… but we’re obviously looking in a different price range here! However, if you’ve got the extra 50 dollars or so to spare, you may be better off going with the “full meal deal” you get with the RT 23.
The Micro Rhythm Trak is definitely worth a look if you like great functionality coupled with true simplicity… and portability. Fantastic little drum machine and an excellent value!
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