Making Drum Tracks - Help w/ FX & EQ

I love P5 as a synth/keyboard player, and I think I get the hang of how to create MIDI drum track patterns on it (way easier than using my old Korg 01/W!), BUT... (you knew there was a big "but" coming)... I would like to pick a synth or sampler (say Velocity) and send my snare to one type of EQ/FX group (and maybe even modulate the delay with a knob or ribbon), and I'd like to send my kicks to another EQ/FX group. I know Velocity has multiple outs, but I want to do this all within my software, totally "in the box", and not have to send audio to an outboard FX or EQ, then back into my computer.

Currently, this is my work flow (and it's very complex, to me). I load up a drum sampler or synth (e.g., Velocity or nPulse) onto a track and either modify an existing MIDI drum pattern or create a brand new one. First I lay down the kick or hi-hats, then add snares and other bits as I progress. When I have a basic MIDI pattern I like, then I take it all apart, like so... Load up a sampler onto another track (e.g., Dim Pro), pick out the kick sound I want, add the FX and EQ I want for that kick sound, then pull the MIDI pattern up from track one and I ONLY select the kick part of that MIDI pattern. I paste the kick pattern into my new track which has been setup just for the kick sound.

I repeat this process for each part of my original drum pattern: kicks, snares, hi-hats, cymbals, claps, etc. That's a lot of work for one pattern! I may use a bunch of patterns per song, so this process can take a long time. It's daunting and makes me want to avoid using MIDI for drums and instead use Acid loops. What I want to do is simplify this work flow. It would be great if I could use a single track for MIDI drums that allowed me to tweak each portion of the drum pattern separately (kicks get different EQ/FX then snares and cymbals).

Does anyone know a better way to work with MIDI drum patterns? Help! and thanks for your contribution!

Ok you need either Velocity or Npulse,(or another drum instrument with multiple outputs).

Both of these have 5 outputs. You can tell which of the outputs you are using by either

a/ looking at the track inspector at the section that says "Active Output", or

b/ looking under your track name. You will see a number 1 there with a triangle to the left. If the triangle is ghosted then the output is "off", you can switch it on from the track inspector or by double clicking the triangle. To switch to a different output click and drag the number up or down to cycle the outputs. (you can also activate an output from the track inspector.

Project5 as default to save on CPU usage only enables the first output when it loads an instrument. Although if you save a device chain you do so with all the outputs you have setup.

On both velocity and npulse you will also see the output that each cell will be routed to. In npulse it is a dial, in velocity it is a click drag affair. These are labelled m(main),2,3,4,5. So, for example you could route the hats and cymbals to output m, then the toms to 2, then the kick to 3, the snare to 4. You can then add effects, and adjust volume and pan information for each audio output separately. If you find a particular set up you like, save it as a device chain and you can instantly recall all the effects on each output.

ORIGINAL: jfstudio1

......very complex to you?


hello Scotland
thanks

hey now,.. play nice.....

Thanks Syrath, I will investigate this and give it a try, and reply to the forum with my findings. That piece of information is worth the price of admission to this forum! <wink>

Finally had a chance to implement your solution ... and it works like a charm! Thanks so much syrath! I bought the "Cakewalk Synthesizers" book and in it there is a brief mention of the solution which you suggested. However, your solution explained it a little better and I was able to accomplish what I wanted. Thank you very much! If the 2 tutorial videos in your signature were created by you (or you were on the team), then I'll be purchasing them. You've proven your skill set to me and I want to know more of the digital wisdom that's floating around inside your brain. Thanks again!