I like the punchy sound of the drum machine. Does anyone know which one he used? Thanks.

 

Case Study: Robert Miles - Children
https://xavierblogsblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/case-study-robert-miles-children/

Instrumentation:
Kick: The kick is quite punchy, with a short decay. It’s fundamental frequency appears to be around 60 Hz and it reaches up to just over 1 kHz, where it drops off almost entirely, likely due to a low pass filter. It is a synthesized kick, with some saturation applied. The pattern is mostly consistent, playing on every beat, with the the occasional eighth note thrown in.

Bass: The bass seems to consist of low passed saw waves. The lowest fundamental sits between 80 Hz and 90 Hz, corresponding with F1, and the other frequencies drop off rapidly below this point. There is also some mild distortion present. The kick and bass do not have to struggle for frequencies very much as the bass plays on the eighth notes between the kick hits.

Bass Hum: Most of the sub in the track comes from a low humming bass which is present throughout the song. It sounds like detuned saw waves, low passed somewhere around 200-300 Hz and distorted. The sub frequencies drop below 20 Hz, with the lowest fundamental sitting around 42-45 Hz, which is F0. There is a light amount of sidechain compression applied to the hum, which allows the kick to come through clearly.

Piano: The piano is a real, recorded piano, not a synthesizer. It has very few or no frequencies below 200 Hz. It also has quite a large amount reverb and delay. The piano is certainly the hook of the song, with the riff being highly recognisable and very catchy. It also epitomizes the sound of dream house.

M1 Organ: Throughout the song there is a percussive organ which sits between 200 Hz and 1 kHz. The sound used is a preset from the Korg M1 keyboard that was used often in 90s dance music, easily recognisable in songs such as ‘Show Me Love’ by Robin S. It plays a single note at the start of each bar, throughout most of the song.

other Links:
909 drum machine emulator snare sound. The first shew shew shew sounds might be the snare roll sampled, played in reverse and then pitched down as it goes on. www.reddit.com/r/Reaper/comments/egco60/drum_build_up_in_robert_miles_children/

The song, composed in four-four time and in F minor, has a tempo of 138 beats per minute. The song includes a characteristic calm piano theme as well as a 4x4 bassline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_(composition)

 

Last edited: Aug 14, 2021

So, it's a 909?