Using a drum machine to trigger Session drummer 3-VIDEO

In this tutorial I use an Alesis SR-16 Drum machine as an external triggering device
for use with Session drummer 3.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjZS61Wg-XY
 
Similiar to previosly released material with the exception that this is fast paced video is crammed into a 5:00 minute lesson.
 
For those that want to skip ahead to the "picture in picture" of my fingers tapping the pads and session drummers
kit pieces in motion,just go to 2:05.
 
this is 1 of 3 in a 3 part tutorial on midi machine control with its benifits to fluency in create drum parts in Sonar x2.
parts 2 and 3,soon to come.
 
Enjoy.

We need a thread to archive all the links to these great home spun instructional videos.
thanks chucke

dubdisciple


Very well done. I have been meaning to use my drum machine to program drum parts. I have an old HR-16 and i miss the simplicity

your HR-16 should most def. be a plug and go,drum map is already in sonar.
 

tomixornot


Thanks for the video. Do you have to change the Alesis pad midi number to match Session Drummer's notes ?

I shall give it a try later with my Boss DR880 (but this unit has a fixed pad/midi number).

im about 90% positive your boss DR880's drum map is already in soanar as well,have you tried it yet?
sonar ships with well over a couple hundred drum maps pre installed.so when you plug it in,its recognized right away.

mudgel


We need a thread to archive all the links to these great home spun instructional videos.
thanks chucke

Your right Mike,ive already got Danny's video in my favorites.
sounds like a good idea.
imagine the wealth of knowlege.
 
Thanks man.

auto_da_fe


Good job...glad you ended it with the save as track template step.  That is something I was not doing until recently and now I think it is the biggest time saver.  I do almost the exact same thing exceptt with Jamstix3 as my midi source (using midi output enable)

I know you can't put everythign in a 4 minute vid, but an advanced video might show how drum busses (inclding parallel compression if you are so inclined) and prochannel presets also get saved with track templates.  So if you really dialed in the complete sound you wanted on an older project, you can go back save it as track template and everything is preserved.

JR

Thanks JR,
This is part 1 of 3 so there is more :)
The focus being on midi machine control but there's a few extras in there.
 
To me when using your drum machines pattern writting ability's,or onboard memory banks can be a great alternitive to either using a keyboard or mouse to click notes in to the PRV.(though i do find both fairly easy)
i can write parts extremely fast on a drum machines memory banks; loop mode.
Then by using midi machine control all i need to do is press REC in sonar and it automatically starts and sync's the drum machine,records those parts in one shot.You can then go back and fine tune/tweak things in the PRV if you wish.
 
Thanks for your comment,  :)
 
Charlie 
 
 

i use camtasia 8.
sound is a whole other story,because camtasia wont recognize external asio soundcards.
the picture in picture is done using a digital video camera and then synching the 2 together in camtasia.

glad you liked the video,
thank you for your compliments.

M_Glenn_M


Excellent video Charlie. Thanks so much.
I have a DR880 and still love so many of the preset grooves as well as the extensive sample pads.
You videos are to the point and waste no time.
Keep 'em up.
I agree it would be nice if the forum found a place for these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjZS61Wg-XY
 
Thank you Mr.Glenn.
i happen to love the DR880 myself.i happen to be a big fan of boss.
There is something to be said about tapping on pads of a drum machine.
they are velocity sensitive,rigged and most of all,we are furmiliar with the pads configuration.
for instance,your pads are labeled :kick,snare,hihats and so on.
 
im someone who works faster on a drum machine and exspecially
the same drum machine ive had for a long time.
 
this is also the same basic princible as setting up an electronic kit.
 
Thanks again for the kind comments.
 
Charlie

M_Glenn_M


Yes I forgot to mention about the pads. They work great.
I saw a video of a drummer in a band playing one realtime thru the pads alone. 
I have not used them much due to my lack of drumming ability, but with the record- loop-overlay feature one can build up a pretty complex assembly. 
I assume you could then send that via midi but haven't tried.

One goal is to get all my favorite loop patterns from it and make a library of midi groove loops in Sonar.

see thats the thing..you just mentioned the loop overlay.
good point man,because once you go in to midi machine control sonars clock takes over controls of the drum machine.
thus setting up a loop,when ever you hit play/record in sonar,it automatically starts up the drum machine.
so building loops or whole songs in your drum machine can be triggered by pressing play in sonar.
 
youre right you can create some really cool things combining these two.

Nice video Charlie and great voice for this type of tutorial. Can you add a part where where you setup the alesis and sonar as slave and master?

I second the request for a video that includes setting up a drum machine linked to sonar, explaining slave and master.
I have been simply starting both and moving the clip after.
It would be cool if you used the example of building a midi loop realtime with the pads.