Drum programming with Drum Samplers

Hi Guys,

I just bought my usual copy of Music tech and there is a demo version of Native Instruments Battery 3 drum program.

I personally use Redrum in Reason to create my drums as I like working with pattern and the steps it provides. I couldnt make head or tail of the drums of Session drummer. I took one look at it and thought where are the steps?

Does that sound like an extreme newbie to you.Of course it does but I would like to know.

What software drums are like Redrum in Reason.By that I mean you create patterns based on steps/ step sequencer style.

I really like Redrum but I would like to know what else is out there.

Getting back to Session drummer I just didnt get the idea behind it. I like to build drums up from scratch starting with the kick then the snare and then percussive elements etc.

However it seemed to me and I am probably wrong that the session drummer plays drums and then you deconstruct or edit it which is the exact opposite to Redrum where you start from nothing and then build up.

As you can hear from this post a bit of information about the different software drum programs and how you actually create the beats you want with them would be gratefully appreciated.

So far I can use Redrum but it has a very limited amount of drum sounds. I will have to go digging around for drums refills on the Internet to expand my choice.

Hi Herb,

Thanks for your reply.

I am doing intensive research into the following EZdrummer, BFD ,Guru ,Battery 3,Addictive Drums and Jamstix.

Certainly I do like the grid that Jamstix has for inputting your own drum pattern.
I will definitely try the demo.

I didnt like the BFD interface. It could be amazing but it just didnt appeal to me somehow on a personal level.

EZdrummer had a nice simple interface but almost too much.

Addictive drums looked good. Really liked the layout of it. However no way to create your own patterns in it. You would have to drag over a Midi Pattern to Sonar and then open up the Piano Roll. At least thats what it seems like to me.

Guru has a pattern sequencer but the interface seemed a little messy.

These are all initial observations and they could all be wrong.Its just how it seemed to me during initial research.

Steve

You can export the patterns you create in Redrum as midi and use any of the samplers you've listed to play the sounds so if you like that method of programming there's no reason not to carry on using it.

It also depends on what kind of drums you are after.

For acoustic kits I swear by RDK 2 albeit I've heavily adapted and added to it over the last few months but as well as the midi based NN-XT sampler drums it comes with Redrum versions too and as you have Reason already it works out as a real bargain at around £70 (there isn't a 24 bit multi miked, velocity layered library that comes anywhere near close to that kind of money)

I'd recommend Battery out of those above for Electronic kits as its so easy to set up different samples to make up your own different kits which could then be played easily using the midi track you can create with the Redrum step sequencer and again B3 comes with a great all-rounder of a library.

Hi Jon,


Thanks for your reply to my drum question. I am personally baffled that Redrum seems to be the only drum software soft synth that uses a Step Pattern approach. Thank God I chose Reason or I would really have been stuck for drums.

Its all very well having loads of Midi patterns that you could drag into your host sequencer.However not having the ability to program your own patterns in the drum plugin yourself is a big downer for me.

Ideally you would have the choice to do both. Have a step grid to program your own patterns as well as a library of Midi patterns that you could drag into your host sequencer if you so wished to and edit if necessary. That would be the ideal scenario.

I personally find it hard to believe that there is no such software on the market.

I cant believe there is no Redrum alternative drum program out there except perhaps Guru. I know Jamstix has a little step sequencing grid and thats a plus but it seems more like an add on than an intrinsic part of the program.

I just pray that Reason 5 when it comes maintains the Redrum and hopefully in its present format.

JonBouy

Thanks for the support because I was hoping I really was helping....I did forget to mention any time I am doing a drum track I always try to imangine if a drummer could actually play this other wise then I will try to do two seperat parts for two seperate players...........

as far as the step sequencer goes in cake..........I have no idea what and or why but it confuses the heck out of me........I know that it is suppost to be ez but the operator just is never home on this one..........so I will usually avoid it if I can......

Cliff

Steve
I am glad I was able to help you.........
but please remember JONBOUY is the expert and I would go with his opinion first............my out line to you was just the way I approach my tracks and hoping I was doing it corectly.......

Cliff

ORIGINAL: Guitarhacker

... this function is bypassable if you want a mutant drummer.

Mutant Drummer? Now that IS realism, right there...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Guitarhacker

... this function is bypassable if you want a mutant drummer.

Mutant Drummer? Now that IS realism, right there...

JouBouy

I am surprised.......Just because someone has the advantage of having one more linb than you or I does not mean we should pick on them!!!!!! We should be happy for their advantages!!!!!! LOL....................

Cliff

Overdubbing extra drums happens a lot more in recordings than people think.

Even Ringo would spontaneously sprout and extra arm or two on the Beatles records. Reality is a good thing but don't let it dictate your vision to you.

Although I usually keep my drum tracks "non mutant" I don't think there is anything wrong with doing impossible parts now and then...
Of course it depends on you goal, but recording is an illusion anyway...creating something that is not necessarily repeatable live is common.

But getting back to Steves point...

Addictive drums looked good. Really liked the layout of it. However no way to create your own patterns in it. You would have to drag over a Midi Pattern to Sonar and then open up the Piano Roll. At least thats what it seems like to me.

This is not true. You can enter hits via a midi controller.
Any of the recent drum progs, i.e. EZ, Addictive, Jamstix will give you the ability to create realistic drum tracks.

You have the option to shut off the realism mode.... so if you want a 4 armed drummer... you can do that.


as far as editing... the jamstix window has a built in "beats" window. It shows a grid like view...top line is one hand...next down is the opposite hand, next line down, one foot, 4th line down, opposite foot, and the last 2 lines at the bottom are R & L percussion (latin and special stuff like cowbell) All beats are displayed by hand, foot, and time in the measure. Edit, delete, add, drag and paste...all from this very easy to use window that shows one measure at a time. Another window beside it shows 10 measures.

If you want to edit the midi.... simply export the midi data to a midi track and edit with your favorite editing method. It is easier to edit in JS. This program is brilliantly designed for ease of use...considering how complex this program actually is and what you can do with it.

I've been using it for a while and there are so many aspects of JS that I have not even touched yet..... but I was creating track with it easily in no time at all.

mutant drummer.

Redundant!