With the DR-3 Dr. Rhythm, guitarists and songwriters can add incredible-sounding drums to their music. This ultra-affordable drum machine includes some of BOSS' best acoustic and electronic drum kits and a selection of bass sounds.
BOSS' most affordable drum machine
Great for jamming or practice, the DR-3 Dr. Rhythm lets guitarists and songwriters add incredible-sounding drums to their music. This ultra-affordable drum machine includes some of BOSS's best acoustic and electronic drum kits and a selection of bass sounds. Great for jamming, the DR-3's Rhythm Progressions and multiple variations make it easy to create a realistic-sounding drum track for any style of music. And with Total Sound Control, you can tweak your kits to perfection.
Boss Dr-3 Manual Download
- Realistic drum, percussion, and bass sounds with velocity-sensitive pads
- New Rhythm Progressions with 3 variations each for Intro, Verse, Fill, and Ending
- New TSC with Sound Shape function and Ambience for professional drum sounds
- 100 Preset Styles and 100 User Styles programmable via real-time or step recording
- Footswitch input for easy live control
- Includes 6 AA batteries; or optional PSA-120 power adapter
Customer Reviews
Exceeds My Expectations
I was looking for a box to jam with, either with or without bass. As far as I was concerned, the more useable preset patterns the better. Well, the DR-3 has it and, for me, it's operation is totally intuitive right out of the box. I am a keyboard player- old school organ player. Sometimes I play my own bass lines and sometimes I prefer not to. This box gives you both capabilities. In most cases, just press the mute button and no bass. And, I have been looking for a useable surf beat for cheesy combo organ instrumentals. Wow! This thing has it. I am extremely happy with this unit and would recommend it. How about that low price! Sweetwater sent it to my PO box in 3 days. Thank you!
Nice
One thing I like about this is that you got plenty of fill in's and versus to choose from to
And for me easy to use I like the old school Techno sounds but over all it's great for beginners and pro's and easy to travel with to and the best thing is that I got a power cord with mine wow thank you all at SweetwaterPerfect
Been live giging 3 - 5 times a week for probably over 20 years with my DR3. I don't remember when I bought it, but it has been in my travelling gig box for every gig. I learned how to copy its program patterns to user patterns, edited them and have every rhythm and every tempo any musician could want - Waltz, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Samba, Rock, Funk, Classics, Country, Hip Hop. etc. It is all there. Listeners are amazed at the variety of rhythms available and how I go from song to song. Easy to shift from one pattern to another. I use to use the foot pedal, but have eliminated that because the hand use mode works well for me as a solo guitarist. I've messed with and looked at others, even new models from Boss and competitors. I no longer waste time looking at others. I chose this because it is the best for me. Maybe you too.
The next best thing to a really good drummer
I produced 6 instrumentals that I'm very satisfied with within 2 days of it's arrival....and I have high standards!...great features, easy to use and huge sound...light years beyond the DR660 I bought in 1996...and for under 200 bucks...unbeatable!
If your IQ is 140, it's a wonderful piece of equipment
This is really amazing, but you better have a PHD in audio engineering if you expect to understand everything in the manual. I highly recommend Rolland,s owner's manual DVD if you hope to operate this gear!
Wanted one for years
Yes long ago I wanted a Dr Rhythm , they have changed a bit over the years but this little machine will change your life. It is a rhythm section that will play for you any time any where , with no gripes or ego trips. My buddy and i have experimented with reggae and balads and of course the Chicago Blues setting always get a workout. It has a bunch of features I have not used yet because I have spent to much time just having fun with the programs that it comes with out of the box.
Simple to use and Great sounds
This is a very easy machine to use and, really has a lot of Great sounds and beats. I use this live in a duo with my son, I play guitar and sing and he plays bass. Dialing up a program and setting the BPM takes just seconds and were off to doing another tune. With what were doing there isn't time to twiddle knobs and tweak settings and, that's what makes this unit so sweet. You definately have to work with the machine to find the right program for the song that you want to play but, that is what rehearsal is for. When you find the right one make a notation on your song sheet and, dial it in, it's that simple. You can even change the BPM on the fly if necessary. Simplicity is the big selling point here that's why I use it. I use the Boss double footswitch to start and stop the programs and to add fills if I want, also a Boss single footswitch as a kill to stop and start the program at any time that I want or need to. It's about the closest thing to a live drummer that I have used and, the price wont break the bank either. There are more complex machines with many more sounds out there but, you will run into more complex programing and use, not to mention more cost too. This unit works Great for me and, gives me all I want. We do a large variety of songs from hard rock to bluegrass and this little unit does the job.
Get a DR-3 and Fire Your Drummer & Bass Player!
Sounds cruel, right? I am a solo artist and I do mean SOLO. What if your drummer and bass player are late or just didn't show? That's happened to me before. Not anymore guys.
The drums and bass are realistic especially if you use a powerful sound system with enough bottom end. I use it with the Roland SA-300 (350 amps) and have even tried it with the Fender Passport PD-500, (500 amps). Both systems allow the bass to shine and really carry the rhythm.
100 presets cover nearly every style and then some. Great for writing and composing too. Just fill in your melody line and lyrics. Super easy to use and adjust to the tempo and key you want to play in. So much for so little money. Definitely buy one and relax. You can stop worrying if your other gig-mates will show.Richard G.
Great investment, performed beyond my wildest expectations. Strongly recommend it!
using the Boss DR-3
If you're looking for a affordable unit that is easy to operate and sounds good this is the ticket. I'm just and average guitar picker and this machine keeps you in time plus it sounds good. I just use the pre- programed settings which are easy to set.
Boss DR-3 Dr. Rhythm
This machine is a fine product but it was too complicated for what i wanted and my skill level. I wanted a drum machine that could provide me with basic rhythm patterns to use for practice. It didn't need it to be so comprehensive. Having said that, it was obvious that it was a top quality piece. I would recommend it for serious musicians with a competency in electronics.
'The Boss'
The DR-3 has slipped right into our rehearsal sessions pretty easily. The variety of styles and patterns, not to mention the sound, is surprising. We're still having some issues with the 'Ending/Stop' function. Knowing exactly when to press the button so the ending rhythm pattern terminates at the same time the rest of the band expects to end a song has been a challenge in some cases. Overall, we're quite pleased with the unit and use it in place of a live drummer for small venues.
An excellent Piece of equitment
The video is very good, except the guy giving it goes a little fast, so I had to keep going over it several times.
And I haven't figured out how to mute the bass on the fly yet. Not sure if you can.The complicity of the unit.
If your looking for a machine thats easy and not alot of programs you don't need if your doing somthing easy and just need a beat.
Great sounds period & great for guitarists, etc.
I had two of these. The sounds on this are very good esp the high hat and kick. They sound better than my Performance Pad. If you want great kick and hi hat get this. This IS more suited for a guitar or bass player and is competent. My Yamaha DD-65, Akai XR20 and Performance Pad are not.
Boss Dr. 3
haven't had time to really get into it...sounds really good too...The Blues Hopman
Boss
Just bought the DR-3 Boss, lots of drum patterns which is nice. Battery life is horrible! they should make the power supply standard with the DR-3. for sound I had it going through my guitar amp and sounded muffled, So I talked to a sweetwater agent and he recommend M-Audo 40 speakers. speakers are nice but Boss DR-3 doesn't deliver everything sounds the same and seems to be too digitally in my opinion.
Boss DR-3 isn't too user friendly and display is just too small
I would recommend this to a nerd but not an average joeNot for a novice
After reading the other reviews I've come to the realization that my IQ of 130 isn't high enough to figure this machine out. I even had a solo friend come over and we spent a couple hours trying to work things out but to no avail. I've had it about 15 years or more and I'm going to tackle it again today to see if I'm able to overcome my ignorance.
Difficult to program
I bought this a couple years ago thinking I could create some very simple drum patterns. I play a mountain dulcimer and would like t add some drums to it. Since I'm not used to playing with drum accompaniment I need a very simple 1 2 3 4 beat with accent on 1 to get me started. For the last two years I've been trying to make that simple pattern work. No luck.
Impossible
As in many things, this machine is made for the person with a PhD in electronics. It's got many different styles for the heavy R$R person but nothing for the old time music player. It is next to impossible to program yourself. The manual uses words that have no reference so it is impossible to figure out.
amazin vaule for money!
Ok , I got this in the post this morning and 7 hours later , I am still using it, u do get a hell of alot for your money here your able to use the 100 presets! which are very helpful, i play allot of muse and placebo and in a band at the moment i can see my timing and overall drumin knowledge building up. like i said i play placebo tons and the main thing about placebo is the drumming i found allot of presets very usefull eg (16th beats) and lots of useful fill in rolls , as for makeing your own drumming beat thats sort of easy i ve still yet to master in but i am sure i will! anyhoo i run this in 2 a boss me 50 and it works amazinly well!
take care all
oliver morton stimpson
Boss Dr Rhythm
- Boss DR-3 Dr. Rhythm Drum Machine Item ID: DR3Dr. Rhythm Drum Machine with BassMore Info...List Price: $299.99+Free 2-year WarrantyOr $5/month*** for 48 months
