drum machine

American  

noun

1. a device that simulates percussion sounds in various combinations and rhythms, and can alter digitally stored drum sounds or make digital recordings of drum sounds.

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drum machine British  

noun

1. a synthesizer specially programmed to reproduce the sound of drums and other percussion instruments in variable rhythms and combinations selected by the musician; the resulting beat is produced continually until stopped or changed

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Example Sentences

"And if you flick this 'rumba' button," he says, prodding at a Roland CR-78 drum machine, "you'll get the start to Blondie's Heart of Glass."

From BBC • May 14, 2026

“Tonic” is one of several tracks in which the hurdy-gurdy is processed to resemble a snarling guitar, and a drum machine implies a relationship to experimental rock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Hip-hop was a product of necessity, meaning they took the music program out of schools and in my generation, you had to get a drum machine or a turntable.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2024

Adjuah mixes in the odd SPD-SX drum machine or other synthesized percussion, but the album features almost nothing but acoustic percussion, vocals and the occasional sound of trees rustling or birds cawing.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2023

I told myself to stay calm, but my heart thrummed like a drum machine.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs