I know there are quite a few good tutorials out for Sonar X1 and X2.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend any that really dig deep into drum programming?
 
My specific interests would be for plugins such as Session Drummer 3 or BFD Eco (running on X2 Producer), but probably just about any tutorial that focuses on drum programming (techniques, tricks of the trade, etc.) would be helpful. Musical interests along the lines of classic rock, classical, etc. , if that would be of any help.
 
Info geared towards us "novice" drum programmers (non-drummers!) would probably be the most beneficial...
 
Thanks!
 
Randy

below are a couple of links to a videos that shows how to start from scratch. Sonar comes with many midi loops that you can preview and if you like them you can drag them into the midi track. What I like to do is find one that is simlar to what I need, drag it over, edit it (similar to creating in the video) and loop that beat as needed, find other midi loops with fills and resize or edit as needed. there are lots of places to get the loops. Does take a while to get a midi drum track to sound human like.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OpA2Rm_4OQ
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIUcgbGYk5M
 
checkebaby just posted this good video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAnAPR6-hQ

One way to learn would be to download some free MIDI drum patterns (Groove Monkee has some great free ones), pick some of the simple beats and just observe what's going on with the kick, snare and hats. 

Go to Sonar University...Master Class...several very good video tutorials!

Groove 3 has an excellent tutorial (actually on drum programming, but labeled as "Drumming Explained")
http://www.groove3.com/str/drumming-explained.html

I learned how to set up SD3 and BFD by watching the Sonar University Drum Production vids that Seth made. Extremely useful. The show how to program drums with the Step Sequencer but I find the PRV is better for more intricate drum parts so check out the tutorial section in the X2 manual on using the PRV and then the more in depth chapters later on in the manual that those tuts link to. 

One thing to keep in mind about the Sonar University Drum vids though is that he is using a pre X series version of Sonar so some of the stuff he does is accessed differently. If he is doing something that you can't find in X2 look at the bottom of the screen and there will be a little text window describing where to find the feature being used in X1. Most of those things are in the same place in X2. Kind of a pain but if you pay attention you'll figure it out.

This is something that annoys me about Cakewalk letting him go. I would have like to see him update those vids for X2. He is very good at explaining things.

There are hundreds of Midi grooves inside BFD2 - not sure if Eco has the same range, but they are definitely worth checking out.

What I like with them is that for a given "groove", they have variations of the mian pattern, and a selection of variations for fills.

I usually drag the whole lot into Sonar to a dummy Midi track, right below my BFD midi track and then copy & paste as desired.

Then I add a few of my own fills, tweak some of the copied ones and start mixing the sucker!

Don't forget that with any MIDI pattern, you can quantize it with different settings to totally change the feel. For instance, take a straight ahead beat and quantize it to 8th or 16th triplets. I like dropping the odd triplet-quantized bar into a straight drum track just to shake things up a bit. 

Randy,tell me a little bit more about what you want to learn?
i have just posted a new video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAnAPR6-hQ

its a fast paced but you can always rewind and check things out a second time.
this video uses the Piano roll view in Sonar x2 to write Drum parts for songs.

let me know what you think.

Appreciate all the feedback, guys -
Great ideas, great references!

(Note to self - Need to pay more attention to the Cakewalk University videos!!! )

Charlie Roy -
Thank you for the link to your video!
Direct to the point, easy to follow.
 
Exactly what I was looking for!!
Thanks for sharing!! 

Randy