Yup. If you have MIDI in/out on the device and MIDI in/out on your interface or bought something else to connect it to the computer it should work. However snagging a USB MIDI controller is a lot easier. What's your budget? Would you prefer a keyboard over a pad device? If so check out the M-Audio USB MIDI keyboard controllers. The two M-Audio model names to look at would be Oxygen (less expensive/not as fancy) and Axiom (more goodies and buttons and dials and whatnot but more expensive). From there decide how many keys you want and you'll have an answer or an idea of what kind of devices are available then you can look at other brands like AKAI or Korg or Roland or whatever and see what you prefer. As you know Roland is the parent company of Cakewalk so their keyboards work great with Sonar and are very high quality but they tend to cost a lot more than other brands.

BFD2 does have a demo version so you're half right Beepster, for some reason BFD Eco doesn't have one. 
 
I think I said in another post that BFD2 was the only one that did but actually there is a demo you can get for addictive drums too.
To get both demo's I think you need to create an account first.

Steve

M_Glenn_M


My Dr880 drum machine does have pads and MIDI in and out so would that work as an input device if I got a device that would go MIDI to USB to get the signal into Sonar?
Or would I be better off getting a keyboard with MIDI in out and thru so that I could expand to other MIDI instruments after I get the hang of drums?

I just checked and neither BFD Eco nor BFD2 has a key map for your DR880 but creating key maps in both is really very simple and intuitive.




Steve

I agree that SD3 is a good place to start.
 
If you then want a different program, then I strongly recommend EZDrummer - sounds fantastic, lots of usable MIDI grooves, easy to use, expandable and can crossgrade to Superior at a later date.
 
Not sure about other MIDI controllers,but the Roland ones (I have the A300 pro) have velocity responsive pads for programming beats.
 
As to using the pads on the Boss, do they respond to velocity?  It's vital if you want your parts to sound natural.
 
I'm sure I've seen a video of one of the Cake staff do some pretty good, intricate sounding "Real drummer" parts using the step sequencer, so don't dismiss it out of hand like some of the posters.  I don't use it myself, but if I remember where the video is I'll post it.

jb101


I agree that SD3 is a good place to start.
 
If you then want a different program, then I strongly recommend EZDrummer - sounds fantastic, lots of usable MIDI grooves, easy to use, expandable and can crossgrade to Superior at a later date.
 
Not sure about other MIDI controllers,but the Roland ones (I have the A300 pro) have velocity responsive pads for programming beats.
 
As to using the pads on the Boss, do they respond to velocity?  It's vital if you want your parts to sound natural.
 
I'm sure I've seen a video of one of the Cake staff do some pretty good, intricate sounding "Real drummer" parts using the step sequencer, so don't dismiss it out of hand like some of the posters.  I don't use it myself, but if I remember where the video is I'll post it.

Have you looked at the Eco deal that's on till the end of the month? It's an incredible offer and would normally retail at around $160.
I'm not trying to knock ezdrummer but in my opinion it's only marginally better than SD3 and doesn't begin to compare to BFD Eco.
You should check it out if you haven't already.


Steve

BTW:  Another cool thing about Jamstix is that it lets you load up and use drum kits from some of the other bid drum synths on the market. 

Cool, thanks guys
I'm away for a few days but hot to trot on this when I get back.
Glenn

I have to mention Battery 3, I make some of my best stuff with this....

See about purchasing a USB to midi adapter. Probably need to load some driver to get the midi signal through to Sonar(drum pads on your drum machine). Option 2, but a cheap USB drum pad, a driver install required.Then go to Sonar preferences midi devices and check the new device in that option. Essentially generating drums from pads is easier than piano keys Once a Sonar project is open, under the midi track input that device must be chosen to receive MIDI data on that track The trick to get great drum sequences takes some practice. I found that finding the right tempo is crucial when developing drums tracks same as a drum machine, so the metronome is essential to use. Normally I record a Midi skin file meaning kick snare and toms. Then do a percussion midi track later later. The snap found on the control bar divisions per bar need adjusting for certain fills that are fast ie: 1/32 from 1/16

shawn@trustmedia.tv


I have to mention Battery 3, I make some of my best stuff with this....

+1 mainly because it was the first virtual drum synth I invested in (before that I used an Alesis DM5 or a Korg 05R/W).


And since I've upgraded to X1 I have been using Step Sequencer more and more, just to get a basic beat down, and then I'll convert to MIDI and switch to PRV to add fills, grace notes etc and do my best to tweak velocity and timing to try and take away the stereotypical robotic MIDI drum feel.


Also now have BFD Eco in my arsenal, and I bought some additional kits for SD3 and, as has been mentioned many times above, it's all good stuff.


Not tried the Superior stuff yet, so can't comment on that.