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Question for those who use software to create drum tracks
| Message Board > General Chitchat > Question for those who use software to create drum tracks |
| Rawb User Info... | Hey there, I am interested in creating drum tracks--pop/punk/rock type tracks--and am curoius for opinions on which software is anyone's favorite and why. I have Cubase SX and a good sound card (m-audio delta 10/10) I don't really want to set up a keyboard in order to trigger midi, I was hoping to just use my computer keyboard to do it, though I realise the sensitivity won't be there so the tracks will sound less "real". Thanks in advance... - Thu, 6 Sep 2007 11:09am | ||
| Tyler User Info... | there are a variety of decent plugins and sample banks out there for drums. I remember this one where it simulated, quite well, a real drum kit, with choices for simulated mic choice and placement, complete with the nuances of frequency cutoff and a "human error" randomizer relating to inflection and attack. I really wish I remember what it was called now. I'm sorry I can't be of more help with specifics. I should add that it's always a good idea to add a reverb effect to some degree to avoid sounding too dry and mechanical. as for midi, a keyboard is never necessary, a person can sequence the drum tracks using midi and have them play back through a plugin/software source. some familiarity and practice with a piano roll view will result in more options than trying to record sequenced drum tracks using a computer keyboard and "playing them out". you can edit things like velocity yourself afterwards if you have specific tastes, that way some sensitivity will be there to make it sound slightly more human. I suggested this in another thread but on a bit torrent site like torrentspy.com, look for keywords like "drum plugin", drum vst plugin, that kind of stuff. I'm pretty sure Cubase can use vst plugins, since most digital audio workstations do. one final thought, many people may use different software to sequence their drum tracks, but that doesn't really change the final product. what does change it is the quality of the plugin / sample banks. I'm not sure if you knew that, or if you were implying plugins when you said software. I hope you got something out of that, I know a lot of it was really dumb stuff and common knowledge, and I didn't even name any specific plugins. I personally find sequencing drum tracks to be very boring and annoying, but a necessary evil when I don't own a drum kit and can't play drums. - Fri, 7 Sep 2007 2:16am | ||
| Rawb User Info... | Thanks tyler-- Informative stuff. I'm not very good at phrasing my questions when it comes to stuff like this, aso all you advicew is appreciated. I have a decent (giant) keyboard in my attic and I've decided to spend less money and hook this behemoth up via midi cables and use it to drive whatever sound/patches I get. I like Reason (I got a trial version w/ Cubase when I bought it) and may use that to create these tracks then import them into Cubase. I just can't seem to put my go-to drummer guy through the hell of my nit-picky wants to get exactly what I want. I know doing this all by hand is going to take a ton of time and will suck but when you are an anal control freak like me it may be the only option. Now if I lived in Vancouver and had a bunch of different studio musician choices... Thanks again - Sat, 8 Sep 2007 9:39am | ||
| Captain Cooke User Info... | Hey Rawb - Reason could work pretty well as long as you don't mind getting nitpicky with your sequencing. I've had pretty good "live feel" by putting effort into a couple of things: - use a couple of different samples that are very similar for the snare and hats so you can switch it up - in Reason you can right-click on something and then automate it, so what you do is take your kick, for example, and open an automation for the level knob on the kick sample in redrum. now you can use the pen tool on that auto-track to draw subtle differences in amplitude - you can use that trick on a number of things to make it sound more real - e.g. the gate knob on the hat can make it sound like a drummer using finesse with the sticks and clutch - try not to use the same cymbal sample a lot. there's something really obvious to the ear about crashes - heck, just grab a cymbal and overdub a few key crashes when the shells are done - oh yeah, or just do a shitty sounding but accurate job and find a drummer who you can take that to as a guide - but mebbe you've already tried that... good luck - Sat, 8 Sep 2007 10:07am Edited: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 10:08am | ||
| Rawb User Info... | Thanks Captain! Good ideas about the switching out sounds and using the different amplitude automations... A guy can get pretty deep (and lost) in this kinda stuff, huh? Man, if I can get something just fairly decent I'll be happy. Thanks again, guys. - Sat, 8 Sep 2007 10:41pm | ||
| Meantime Mike User Info... | I like Drumkit From Hell http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp - Sun, 9 Sep 2007 7:07pm | ||
| Tyler User Info... | I've wanted to use drumkit from hell in the past but never wanted to pay and usually there aren't enough people seeding it on bit torrent. well, I remembered it based on your post and downloaded it. it seems to be a huge library of drum samples and also have some convenient midi drum loops, compatible with a few different major programs like cubase and such. sounds like something rawb could use, although I haven't tried it out much yet. - Tue, 11 Sep 2007 6:21pm | ||
| denver User Info... | I'm trying to install reason on my ibook, it's in three separate files on one dvd disc, so apparently I need an image drive to be able to install it. This guy gave me nero but that doesen't work on macs I guess, does anyone know what I can do? It's frustrating having this amazing and expensive program there but not being able to use it, thanks, Denver - Sun, 23 Sep 2007 9:48pm | ||
| BBJones User Info... | Not sure if this is what you need but check our Daemon tools. Awesome app to mount ISO's as virtual DVD/CD drives. http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/announcements.php - Mon, 24 Sep 2007 8:27am | ||
| drustanos User Info... |  | ||
| Rawb User Info... | Cool drustanos, that looks and sounds really cool. I have Reason loded but cannot--because I sir, am an idiot--get it to find my keyboard as a midi controller. I'll work it out... But maybe Grooce Agent is a great solution to my main problem. Thanks r - Fri, 12 Oct 2007 7:35am | ||
| Tyler User Info... | rawb, here's a step by step way to make sure it works as a midi controller 1) What are you connecting it to? Your external midi device is likely a USB/firewire interface, an internal sound card, or a game port slot. most of the cases will involve you needing to download the proper drivers. look on the manufacturer's website for drivers and download the latest. 2) make sure MIDI OUT on the keyboard connects to MIDI IN on your computer's interface 3) make sure in "start -> settings -> control panel -> sound/audio devices" in windows, the MIDI device is set to whatever one you're using. for input, it should be called something along the lines of ___(brand)__ External. 4) when you're in reason, go to the settings, and make sure the midi input is still set to an external device 5) make sure your keyboard is transmitting MIDI data. it might have a menu or something. go through the menus and set it to transmit on channel 1. 6) set your program to be able to record MIDI. arm the recording device or whatever. 7) make sure you select an active track and make sure it's something that can be heard. 8) plunk some keys on the keyboard. if it's monitoring, you SHOULD be able to hear it. if not, at least try recording and plunk more keys. you should be able to see them change in the track view. if none of this is working, you should look into a program that lists all the incoming and outgoing midi data to see if the problem is with the keyboard itself. hope this helps! I like ak47 a lot by the way. edit: I should add since you're talking about using percussion that you should, after getting this to work, transmit on channel 10. that's generally used as the midi percussion/drumkit channel. - Fri, 12 Oct 2007 5:41pm Edited: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 5:43pm | ||
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