Volume of drum loops Session Drummer 3

A few options are available :

1. If the loop is not too long, (right click on clip) convert the clip to step sequencer, then double click to open the clip in step sequencer to edit the velocity (click on the button before the drum note name). You can also edit the hits this way.

2. Use piano roll view, and use the pen tool to draw the velocity.

3. Use piano roll view, select the range of notes you like to edit, go back to the clip, right click and select - Process effect - Midi effect - Cakewalk FX - Velocity.

Option (1) and (2) enables you to manually tweak each hits if you want a more natural playback.

Kalle Rantaaho


Velocity is NOT the way to adjust volumes in drum loops. Velocity is totally different from volume.
Different velocity triggers different sample, and it changes the whole nature of the loop.

A gentle hit on drum remains the same, gentle, if you add volume. If you raise velocity, it changes into a hard hit, which sounds totally different.

I'm a little surprised if the loops are so different volume-wise. You are only talking about Session Drummers own loops, not something you have gotten elsewhere?   One rock loop should be usable with another rock loop without volume adjusting. A jazzy loop is  then another thing.

I believe the solution, at least for the most, is adding a compressor.

I have to disagree with you.  


Since the OP is using Session Drummer 3, I surmise that he is speaking of midi loops used in a drum track to trigger samples in Session Drummer 3.  Midi volume may not give you the effect or may not make any difference with your drum sampler.  Raising the velocity value will automatically put you into a different layer of samples which bring with it the volume change you may need.  It's like telling the drummer to hit harder or softer. 


If you start grabbing midi grooves from different sources you will find that the average velocities will vary.  Sometimes you can get away with a simple velocity offset tweak on a groove but inserting a clip envelope in the groove and adjusting to taste.  Other times it may take a midi FX to more or less compress the velocities dependent on the value of the note velocity.


I have seen this when working with Groovemonkey midi grooves and Toontrack grooves.  Both excellent products but the the TT grooves seem to sound more dynamic when used with the same sampler.  Dropping a midi FX like Cakewalk's FX Velocity, into your midi clip gives you a couple of parameters to adjust that may help you make the output a closer match when you use various midi groove libraries.


My $.02

Thanx, Mod Bod. Thank u, guys. I selected all the notes & make by Cakewalk FX effects the same velocity to all track!

I agree with Kalle, when I want a gentle hit louder, I have to raise the volume of that "gentle hit". If I raise velocity, I get a different sounding hit. Which is not what I wanted. So how the OP wants to raise that would depend on what he was going for.

I have to also agree with twaddle. All the velocities at or near the same level has a un-natural sound. But that maybe what he's going for. I don't know. Seems like he's happy with the results he's gotten.