hi, so I just purchased the guiter tracks pro version 4, so far I have done some simple recordings using my acoustic and singing. but now that I am composing a song with bass, drums and the rest using gp4. I have found that the drums sound very mechanical compared to the sample included. The one thing that I would like to do is a simple drum or cymbal roll. I have found an icon that seems as though it would complete the action but I have yet to get it to work? Also is there a comprehensive manual available? It would be nice to look up certain functions that I have found that have no directions on how they function or are used, as the included manual and readme file are insufficient at best and cover nothing more than how to do a elementry recording..
 
Please, any advice on this or where to obtain or purchase a comprehensive user manual (not the one given) will be appreciated.
 
Thanks gary.
Keygrip lighting and productions

Welcome, Gary,
On the drum/cymbal roll question, we just had this discussion in the Music Creator forum:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2462866

Due to characteristics of the sound samples used in Studio Instruments Drums (the drums you have in GTP4), it is difficult if not impossible to get a good roll, particularly with the cymbals.
I highly recommend downloading Session Drummer2. It is cheap($10 download), and offers much more flexibility.
To give you an idea, the looser sounding snare in this song is from SD2:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11243952


As for a comprehensive manual, the help files are your best bet.
They don't explain techniques, but tell you what's what.
Also check the Sonar Home Studio and Music Creator forums. Home Studio 7 and Music Creator 5 are functionally very similar to GTP4. Most questions/answers would apply. Plus, these forums are a bit more active.
if you have questions on particular functions, post them. We can provide fairly concise answers if the question is more focused.

 
Hi there Gary, welcome to the forum.
 
I'd echo what Bob says about Session Drummer 2 - it's in a different league to Studio Instruments Drums as far as the kits and samples go. Check it out HERE if you're interested.
 
As far as the manual goes, I believe that there is a comprehensive PDF Users Guide on your installation disc - just copy it onto your PC and you can open it up anytime. The Help Files are also accessible by clicking on Help on GTP4's menu bar.
 
You can also access specific help for certain functions in GTP4 by pressing F1 on your PC keyboard. To show you what I mean, try this: open the Studio Instruments Drums interface and left click on an 'empty' area of the window (just above the 'Pattern Grid' will do) and hit F1 - a separate help file will open titled Drum Kit Overview.
 
Steve

thanks robert, I will check out session drummer 2 this weekend,,, listened to some of your music, sounds great! keep up the good work

thanks steve... listend to your tunes,,, good stuff yo.. rock on