As a guitar player I'll the first to admit that my midi skills are lacking. I usually track live drums but lately I've been doing some drum programming out of convenience. I can move midi notes around to get the right kit pieces to play but for the life of me I can't get my head around drum maps. I've done some searches, checked out some videos and read the " Drum maps the easy way" pdf by Subjacent ( Jason ). I mainly use Addictive Drums but I would like to be able to map to other programs as well. Can someone please say the right thing to turn the proverbial light on in my head? Thanks.
 
Rocky

Think of a drum map as a translator. It takes the input note and redircts it to an output note which can be the same as the input note or a different one as you see fit.

Each line in the drum map can also be assigned to a different MIDI output port, and even channel if you wish.

Although intended for making multiple drum synths available from one track they can also be used to map non-GM drum synths to GM keys and allow greater control within Sonar - such as being able to mute or solo individual drum notes within the PRV.

If you have the SWA Complete X2 video there's a chapter in there on writing drum maps with a full explanation on how they work.

Take a look at one and concentrate on one line - you'll see that they are relatively straight forward.

In Note----->Out Note----->Channel------>Synth

 Karl, I don't have the SWA X2 video or any X2 videos for that matter. I'll pick it up and check it out. Thanks for the help.

Rocky

No worries I wasn't trying to upsell my video but it's so much easier to explain in video format than a forum post. Like most things drum maps seem complicated at first but once you get the concept they're quite easy to write, use and edit.

I find them incredbly useful. In fact I don't write MIDI drum tracks without them.

I think I got it from your explaination above. I'm up and running. Thanks again Karl.

Rocky

I'm glad Karl got you sorted.  His videos are excellent.  Check them out, if you can.  And no, I do not get a commission. :)
 
I just wanted to add that I loved the word "midiot" - it made me smile.  I may have to use it myself sometime. :)

Rocky

I just got it...Midiot that is...LOL...now I feel like even more of an idiot...

mapping out drums can be a little difficult. but once you do it once or twice
you'll pick it up fast.
it would possibly take me half a page to write out everything in steps
here you go:
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0Bz8iPy9mIkNyX2dTcXRzSEVSUlNscXdETTROZTIyZw/edit?pli=1&docId=0Bz8iPy9mIkNyVThOT0VpYmdRUjZrcjUzQ2VVV18tQQ
this is how to map drums in addictive drums.
learn it, live it, enjoy it.