Routing BFD2 drums to Sonar Tracks

Hi All!
 
I recently posted a thread asking for info on routing BFD2 drums to individual Sonar tracks.
 
I got some interesting comments, but no real suggestions on exactly how to do this.
 
There were comments comparing this process to that of Session Drummer.
Well, Here is an excerpt from the BFD2 manual that, for me, does anything but make it relative to that of Session Drummer!
 
If I could get someone to give me a "step by step" from the "Sonar" point of view, that would be awesome.
 
"In the synth properties dialog box that appears, you can choose to set up BFD2’s additional outputs in the Sonar mixer. Unfortunately, this dialog box does not include an option to create all the required stereo and mono outputs, so it is recommended to choose ‘All Synth Audio Outputs: Stereo’, and afterwards manually change the stereo channels created for BFD2’s mono 1-16 outputs to mono channels. If you do not know how to do this, please consult your Sonar documentation or contact Cakewalk support.
By default, all channels in BFD2 are routed to the Master channel in the BFD2 mixer, which is hard-wired to the first stereo output (output 1-2). In order to separate channels into discrete outputs, you must first route the relevant channels to the desired BFD2 outputs in the BFD2 mixer.
If you need to use BFD2’s MIDI Out function, remember to check the ‘Enable MIDI Out’ checkbox in the synth properties dialog.
 
This sounds a bit confusing to me.
 
Could someone simplify?
 
Harpo
 

Hi Harpo
I was one who gave one of the (hopefully) interesting replies to your first post (Session Drummer 3 -vs- BFD?? ) and I can assure you my answer was correct.

This is what I do and it works for me, there may of course be other, and even better ways so perhaps others here will give you some.

Firstly, when when loading BFD via the synth rack I will check the option,
"all synth outputs to stereo" which is indeed slightly confusing for it is a lie or at best a half truth. What is gives you in reality is, 8 stereo outs and 16 mono outs. When you select this option go to the BFD mixer page, there at the bottom of each individual channel you will see your ouputs, they wlill all say, "Master" as that is their default. BFD doesn't rout them for you, it just gives you the routing options for you to set up how you want.
Click on and of these outputs that say master and you will see your ouput options, the fisrt will say "master" and it's stereo, the next are numbered 2 to 8 these are also stereo and the following. "numbered 1 to 16" are mono.
Really you should just experiment, load up BFD, load a BFD 2 preset, (these give you, both kit and mixer setting in one preset and will often have a midi loop loaded too so you can just hit play once the kit has loaded)
You'll notice that in the sonar track (or console) view the meters will be registering but only on the first 2 channels. This is because (as it says) BFD defaults to the stereo master. Now, whilst bfd is playing a loop, go back to the BFD mixer and select a different output (remember, the bottom of the channel where it says master) you should now see whatever outputs you selected BFD's mixer will now be registering on sonars meter.

I also posted a link for you on your other thread
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0oEN3P73pk&feature=related))
It's a hard tutorial to follow because he covers so much and too quickly for those who are noobs as was I when I first watched it, but it's actually a really good tutorial for anyone mixing drums.

Next question? :)

Good luck, you will fall more in love with BFD and feel (hopefully) better for the knowledge acquired.

Steve

Thanks Twaddle, and Karyn!
 
Unfortunately, what Karyn describes was not my experience when trying to route channels with the "straight ahead" approach. (i.e. Session Drummer).
 
Now Twaddle:
 

You'll notice that in the sonar track (or console) view the meters will be registering but only on the first 2 channels. This is because (as it says) BFD defaults to the stereo master. Now, whilst bfd is playing a loop, go back to the BFD mixer and select a different output (remember, the bottom of the channel where it says master) you should now see whatever outputs you selected BFD's mixer will now be registering on sonars meter.

 
This is where I was confused!
 I experimented with the "step by step" you gave and finally figured it out.
 
I wish it was as straight ahead as some suggested, but it's not really.
 
When you look at the BFD "Stereo" track options listed in each track in Sonar it's clear that each option (Left, Right and Stereo) are part of the same track thus there all listed as "1"
 
In the "Mono" options, is  where I was confused.
 
BFD2 m01: Left (Mono), BFD2 m02: Right (Mono), for instance, are "seperate" tracks! Even though they're listed as if they could be the same (i.e. bfdm01:Left, ....02:Right, and 01:Stereo
 
Just a bit confusing to me.
 
I really appreciate the clarification everyone who chimed in!
 
Now, Let's see what other trouble I can get myself into!
 
Thanks Again!
 
Harpo 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Are you running BFD as a plug in?

Dave
I just responded to your post on the bfd forum and it took me ages,
(so many questions) and I see you have some new ones for me :)

Number 1, yes you can, when you have set up a basic mix and routing config
in bfd's mixer page just hit, "save bfd preset" (Note saving bfd preset will save both the kit and mixer settings, if you want just the mixer settings you have save as "mixer" but, if you want to have your mixer setting load as bfd;s default start up you will have to save as "bfd preset" and then load a different kit afterwards. Then just give it what ever name you like.
By default it will save it in your preset folder which is in,
C:\Users\YOUr\Documents\FXpansion\BFD2\Presets

If you go to the last page, (preference and data) in bfd  and you'll see "start up preset" with a little drop down, there you can set it to load your preset as the default start up, so now when you insert bfd in to a new project it will load it just as you saved it. Very cool indeed.

Question 2, As I said I have given the best I can on that one but just to say again, "Bounce To tracks"
If however you are using the loops inside bfd you can export them as audio but that's the long way round and will only confuse you more :)

Steve

twaddle

Also with regards to mixing, use the bfd mixer and effects, they are seriously top notch and much better than sonars.

Hmm... I'm a huge BFD fan, but I think this is a bit of a bold claim.

Just my 0.02 for the OP, once you've got everything the way you want in terms of the kit itself, the routing wthin BFD and the routing within Sonar, save the preset in BFD as Steve suggests but also  SAVE it immediately as a template  in Sonar, then you can recall it in the future and not waste valuable time re-inventing the wheel.

I'm sorry, but it's not clear to me. After choosing "All Synth Audio Outputs: Stereo", i should go to BFD2's mixer, and change the Master from each track to one of the options (Stereo from 1 to 8 and Mono from 1 to 16). But there's 18 tracks on BFD mixer, and only 16 on Sonar. Does that mean that i should route more than one track from BFD to a Sonar track ? And if so, what would be a good setting ? Another question: when i first open BFD (or even Ezdrummer) and i play it, it always clips, like at 8,1 dB. So i find myself always having to lower down the master volume. Is this normal ? If not, what could i do to fix it ?

  When you say there are 18 tracks (channels) on the BFD mixer you are right but you won't need to output them all separately. I'm wondering if perhaps you are counting things like there are three channels for the snare, two channels for the top and one for the bottom? You don't have to route them to individual outputs, most commonly you would send them all to one output.
When I say "all", I mean the three snare channels you would rout them all to the same output. If you look at the template (link at the bottom) I uploaded on th fxpansion forum you can see I have routed the three snare channels to an axillary bus, and that bus is then routed out to sonar.
 
I think also, unless you have some third party effects that you can't find in BFD 2's bundled effects or you think your third party effects are better (if they are the ones that come with sonar that probably wouldn't be the case) then there is no need to use sonars mixer.
 
You could just having BFD routed to the master out and then learn to use BFD's very excellent mixer which I think in many ways is better than sonars. If you decide to try using BFD's mixer and just using the one master out I would still recommend using the "all synth audio outputs stereo" The reason being if you try the above method and decide you'd rather be using effects that aren't in BFD then those tracks will be there for you and you'll just have to change the outputs in BFD's mixer. You can hide all of the other 17 of sonars tracks using the "track manager"
 
Have you watched any of the tutorials for BFD 2? Like this one (http://www.youtube.com/wa...P73pk&feature=related)
 
 
Also, did you see I uploaded a sonar/BFD template that has a drum loop loaded and is pre-routed so you can have a look to see how it can be set up?
You can find that one here
(http://www.fxpansion.com/...pic.php?p=72050#72050)
 
You don't have to have it set up that way but once you get to see how it's done you can make your own and save them as templates. BFD and sonar together give you very flexible routing options but they don't have to be complicated, that's up to you.
 
Good luck
 
 
Steve

Hey Steve, have you upgraded BFD2 to 64 bit yet?

I noticed there was a download available over at the Fxpansion board

Just noticed the link I posted on the fxpansion forum for the other template doesn't work so I put that on up on mediafire too.  
 Get them here http://tiny.cc/3vn0y 
 
Just updated the above templates although judging by the lack of response I don't think anyone has downloaded them yet. They weren't very good so I have improved them.
I made two of each, one routed solely to the master out and the others are routed via axillary buses in to the 8 stereo outs from BFD whilst the ambience channel is routed to a mono out that I have forced to stereo.
I hope these will go some way to answering some, or even all of your questions concerning routing but it's all about choice at the end of the day and there is choice in abundance :)
 
Steve

I'm a little late on reading this post, however I just purchased BFD2 and searching this forum found your post. I thought I'd check with you to see if you still have that routing template you made for matching BFD with sonar. Thanks in advance.

Thanks so much, Steve!!! I've downloaded the masters and hopefully I'll get a handle on this. -Red

Hi All - I wanted to record each audio track out of BFD 2 to bring into another DAW. the only way to get the recorded audio files out was to render each track separately. A BIG PITA. Any way to record the tracks in Sonar? G

Another way to achieve this would be just to Freeze BFD (the synth, not the track)

You'd still have to what Steve said regarding your Midi tracks.

Another thing you might want to do, just before you freeze (or bounce) is to open the BFD GUI, see the little legend at the bottom labelled "offline"? Click it so that it turns red. Now freeze.