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Question on the piano roll

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Nova16
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May 06, 16 11:41 AM (permalink)

Question on the piano roll

I'll start by saying that before using Sonar X3 (professional edition) I was using FL Studio for hip hop beats. What I would do, is get wav files/mp3 files of sounds (like a snare and a kick individually) and I could place them on a piano roll in the formation of the beat that I want. All I did was import the file into the program or something similar to that; I'm trying to do this on Sonar but every time I see something about the piano roll, it's for MIDI notes only. I clicked and dragged a kick sound from my files into Sonar and it loads up, but when I look at it in piano roll view, any note I put down in there is the default piano sound. 
 
Is there something I am missing? Is there a way to do this easily? 
 
Thanks
- Evan
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    Kalle Rantaaho
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    Re: Question on the piano roll May 06, 16 12:03 AM (permalink)
    Piano Roll is only for MIDI. Regarding that, you're not missing anything.
    If you import audio samples, like kick or snare hits, you put them on an audio track.
    What you'd need for what you describe is a step sequencer or something, not a piano roll.
    I'm on 8.5 still, so I don't know if there's something suitable in X3. 
    Someone who knows will surely chime in!

    SONAR PE 8.5.3, Asus P5B, 2,4 Ghz Dual Core, 4 Gb RAM, GF 7300, EMU 1820, Bluetube Pre  -  Kontakt4, Ozone, Addictive Drums, PSP Mixpack2, Melda Creative Pack, Melodyne Plugin etc.
    The benefit of being a middle aged amateur is the low number of years of frustration ahead of you.
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    chuckebaby
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    Re: Question on the piano roll May 06, 16 2:04 PM (permalink)
    not sure if this is what your referring to but try this...
     
    try using session drummer 3.
     
    1-load session drummer 3
    2- open up the session drummer interface
    3- drag and drop your samples (kick sample, snare sample,exc) and drop it directly on to the drum kit pieces in session drummer.
     
    now if you play a midi file, session drummer will be loaded with your samples.
    you might want to check these video out
     
    3 ways to midi-
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIu9Rlt6v8
     
    Drum editing in the PRV-
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAnAPR6-hQ
     
    and this: Basic midi-
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83UVo1OiKA
     
    post edited by chuckebaby - May 06, 16 2:25 PM

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    slartabartfast
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    Re: Question on the piano roll May 06, 16 2:16 PM (permalink)
    Well if you are dragging your files into Sonar and any notes show up at all in the Piano Roll view, then your files must contain MIDI information, so first off, what is the file extension of the the files of "drums" you are importing? If they are xxx.mid, then your problem is that you are using the wrong MIDI controlled softsynth to play them. That is to say, they are not "drum" files at all, they are just MIDI files and will only sound like a drum when played by the softsynth as drums. If you are importing rex files (xxx.rex, xxx.rx2) then they are going to be imported without the correct base pitch, and pitch and channel are what determine how a general MIDI pitch plays the drums. Channel 10 is drums and the note pitch determines which instrument sounds. Check the help on MIDI groove clips. If you are actually importing "drum sounds" (audio files) into Piano Roll, then you have discovered and undocumented Sonar feature. 
    post edited by slartabartfast - May 06, 16 3:10 PM
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    Sanderxpander
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    Re: Question on the piano roll May 06, 16 5:36 PM (permalink)
    Your best option is Session Drummer and a midi piano roll or step sequencer. That said, I think Fruityloops does this a lot better. I've worked with a bunch of hiphop guys who use it extensively and it's really, really fast and elegant for this application. There's no reason you can't use both of course. 
    #5
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