Problem with dividing a drum track

you are adjusting the volume where.....in the track pane or within the Motif...???

The problem is that you're using (I assume) just the one drum kit from the Motif so it can only respond to one volume command. You would need to load up a separate drum kit for each track to be able to set each one at a different volume. Sonar sends out the volume commands in track order, so if your drum tracks are #1-#5, the Motif will react to the volume setting of #5 becuase the settings from #1-#4 will have been overridden by #5.

To use just the one kit, experiment with changing the velocity of the notes instead of the volume, or perhaps it's possible to adjust the kit's mix from within the Motif. Another alternative is to record each track separately as audio, and then you'll be able to control the volumes independently.

Hi Michael-

The easiest way to do this IMO is to use a Drum Map. The "Vel+" settings allow you to apply a velocity offset to each drum. I have some Motif drum maps, but I made them for the "Classic" -- not sure if they're the same for the ES. There's quite a bit of info in the SONAR documentation, though.

HTH-

-Susan

He doesn't really need to send each drum to a different out at all. Maybe I'm wrong, but I got the impression Michael did that as a workaround so he could control the volume of the individual drums. He can easily do that using the Vel+ settings in the Drum Map manager with the whole kit going to a single output.

-Susan

Hi Mike-

I just didn't see that he actually was using the "drum map manager" ..???

No, he's not. I suggested he try it as an alternative to what he's doing currently:

Then I decided that I wanted greater control over each drum part so I copied each part to a different track. I couldn't control the individual volumes so I assigned each midi drum track to a different out port with a matching channel of the same drum on my synth.

IMO, using a Drum Map would be easier for him, so that's what I recommended.

-Susan

I use Scale velosity ok and use to do it on individual notes, but the last few times I've tried to pull up the vel I just got a new note put on the screen.

Which ES drum kit are you using? Maybe I can post a Drum Map for you. Drum Maps really aren't all that difficult to use once you get over the initial hump, and they really do come in handy for stuff like this!

-Susan

Now that you have each drum on its own track, simply use each track's "Velocity Trim" control to adjust its apparent volume. There's no need to use a Drum Map as others have mentioned. Assign all drum tracks to the same port and channel.

BTW, there's a CAL file you can use to separate the different drum parts. Look for "Notes to Tracks.CAL". Much easier and faster than separating them by hand.

Hi Tom-

Now that you have each drum on its own track, simply use each track's "Velocity Trim" control to adjust its apparent volume. There's no need to use a Drum Map as others have mentioned.

Good advice, certainly, but just so I don't think I've wasted too much of my life with Drum Maps in the past -- It makes sense to use them if all of the drums are on the same track, doesn't it (i.e., a Drum Map would have made sense for Michael before he split them to separate tracks)? Otherwise, what's the point?

Thanks-

-Susan

"Bowing to Susan"......LOL