Drums?

Re: RE: Drums? (CreatingNoise)

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:55:41 GMT

I'm a big fan of acidized loops. They are simple to use, readily available (some free, some very cheap) and they sound good (for the most part). I have a lot of Beta Monkey loops and they have a lot of shuffles. Also the tempos run the gamut from very slow to double kick speed metal type stuff.

When I first started using GTP, I thought I needed to have my drums mapped out, intricate and well, based in reality (can a drummer do this?). I set about asking a lot of questions and got a lot of interesting opinions but nothing that got me any further in my own abilities.

Finally I just stopped worrying about all that and found as I made tunes with loops, I began to figure out how to make them work for me. I found that I could easily slip edit clips to get just the one sound I wanted. I could cut them and place them in order to create more intricate drums than the unedited loops could provide. I wasn't creating anything super complex but they worked for my tunes.

My biggest discovery was that if I wrote a tune around one or two or three loops, I could go back after the tune was substantially done and rebuild a new drum track which was way more fun that trying to manipulate them during the creation of the tune. Lots of times the end result was a much more dynamic song.

Anyway, I got a lot of good comments about my drum tracks even though they were a hodgepodge of kits.

A lot of sites like Beta Monkey, Smart Loops have free loops for download too.

Good luck to you.

RE: Drums? (SamSnead)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:17:35 GMT

I agree with you, SmartLoops are an excellent product. I hear they have some really good midi drums too.

RE: Drums? (KainThornn)

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:27:54 GMT

ORIGINAL: Frank Basile

Drag and Drop Drummer from years ago is now Smart Loops. The DDD interface is gone, but the loops that came with DDD... Dry Studio Kit and Percussion Kit, are still Smart Loops products that are now "ACIDized", which means they will conform to the tempo of your Cakewalk project (As Steve explained)

So like it or not, I'll hafta buy somethin. Pewp

RE: Drums? (Frank Basile)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:26:19 GMT

Drag and Drop Drummer from years ago is now Smart Loops. The DDD interface is gone, but the loops that came with DDD... Dry Studio Kit and Percussion Kit, are still Smart Loops products that are now "ACIDized", which means they will conform to the tempo of your Cakewalk project (As Steve explained)

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:49:19 GMT

Glad to help Tom

What you say about adding a drum track sometime in the future makes a great deal of sense.

It's highly unlikely that I'll ever get a real drummer on my tracks so at the moment, I'm completely happy with my MIDI solution for my new stuff.

However, exactly as you've said, once I get the time, I intend to go back to my older stuff and replace the drum loops with purpose done tracks with EZD.

Steve

RE: Drums? (TomN)

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:53:21 GMT

Thanks again Steve.
Now I just need to decide if that's the direction I want to go. I know my audio WAV drum loops don't sound as good as the other options. I just need to decide if that really matters, what my actual goals are with all this.
I might just stick with what I have, knowing that a better drum track could be added later. Afterall, I am not currently trying to produce Radio Quality recordings. I am just trying to get my ideas down in the best way possible. Then I could hopefully get a really drummer and real bass player to perform the parts.

But I do thank you for all your time and effort. I learned a real lot from it.

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:59:34 GMT

ORIGINAL: KainThornn

How and where? Or just a link to my MySpace?

Hi there Kain

If you want to share your music in here, you can add a link to your 'MySpace' page in your signature space - just type it in the same field on your profile page where you put "I smell real good" (nice line by the way!).

The forum software will detect it's a web address and convert it into a hyperlink so we only have to click on it to go to your page.

As well as MySpace, you might want to consider creating a free account with Soundclick - you can upload as many songs in mp3 format as you like, the only limits they impose on the free account is that the file size cannot excede 10MB. They also limit the free account to 128kbps mp3's, although you can upload a higher quality file but Soundclick will convert it to 128.

If you're interested, here's the link to the Soundclick registration page - https://www.soundclick.com/community/MemberLogin.cfm?action=register

Hope that helps

Steve

RE: Drums? (KainThornn)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:16:29 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

Kain you should post your music here.

How and where? Or just a link to my MySpace?

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:34:02 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

If we combine what we have ,you playing bass and guitar and me adding keys and guitar,the song will be ready for a final mixdown with effects ,EQ, and vocals. I'm hoping someone on the forum with experience and sonar home studio can help with that too don't you?

I'd like to hear what you come with up for lead guitar Bill - I don't mind doing the drums if you like, and possibly the mixing.

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:32:07 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

Whats a song's forum?

It's just along the corridor Bill, third on the left: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tt.asp?forumid=27

A great place to hang out, very friendly and very helpful - for posters and critics alike.

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:31:06 GMT

If we combine what we have ,you playing bass and guitar and me adding keys and guitar,the song will be ready for a final mixdown with effects ,EQ, and vocals. I'm hoping someone on the forum with experience and sonar home studio can help with that too don't you?

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:21:35 GMT

Whats a song's forum?

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:16:08 GMT

WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING SONGS FORUM!

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:13:03 GMT

Hey Bill, I can see the Songs Forum beckoning!

I think I'd better let you hang on to the Strat for a while " />

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:11:26 GMT

Yes . I want the chorus to be instrumental. the words and melody are done! just finished.

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:02:46 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

I finished the verses but the chorus hasn't come tro me yet

What's that mate, the lyrics?

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:00:41 GMT

I finished the verses but the chorus hasn't come tro me yet

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:34:21 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

Say! Does that say Bill Yari on your sonar Steve?

It certainly does mate!

'Tis the file you sent me imported into SONAR HS and ready to rock!

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:33:05 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

ok steve i'll mail it right away 1" />

Do it now Bill.

Faint heart never ******* a fair lady and all that.

You know it makes sense.

He who hesitates is ......... er ......... um.... hesitating ......

I'll send you a bass by return.

Lovely fish an' all....

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:03:29 GMT

Kain you should post your music here.

RE: Drums? (KainThornn)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:58:59 GMT

I still prefer the DDD format, that way I have absolute control over the patterns. I write sick beats much of the time, I got em at my MySpace page...

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:35:43 GMT

Say! Does that say Bill Yari on your sonar Steve?

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:26:24 GMT

ok steve i'll mail it right away 1" />

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:25:14 GMT

Hi there Tom

ORIGINAL: TomN

I think I get. From that, I can understand how you a building a track from various loops. But does it allow you to alter the loops, or easily make your own 1 measure loop, like a drum machine, but with a drag and drop interface? Because I can never find a loop with accents and open high hat hits exactly where I want them.
But I will like the general idea of a loop. So instead of building every one of them from scratch with single hits, I am wondering if I can get the majority by shifting a few drums within a loop here or there, or add another bass drum hit, or a snare etc?
If that can be done, is it done in EZDrummer or in the DAW?

Also, I have no fricken clue what a PRV is ?????

There are three basic ways to get MIDI drums into a project:
1 Dragging or copying MIDI loops into your project (as in EZ Drummer)
2 Playing a MIDI keyboard using the keys that are 'mapped' to the various drum instruments
3 Inserting the single hits one at a time in the Piano Roll View - that's the PRV!

MIDI information contains no audio, this is why it's so versatile. What it does contain is information - information that tells a hardware synthesizer or a software synthesizer (also called a 'softsynth') what to play, how to play it and when to play it. The audio samples or a preset in a synth are 'triggered' by the MIDI information.

In example 1 above, the MIDI information is already written in EZ Drummer and this information will be played using the sounds in EZD when you drag it into your project.

In example 2, you can record the MIDI 'live' using a MIDI keyboard. The drum sounds in EZD (and in all MIDI synths) are directly mapped to certain keys on the hardware keyboard when they are set up to 'talk' to each other. For example pressing a certain key will 'play' the snare drum, another will play the hi-hat etc.

If you hit the record button and play the keyboard, your recording software will print the MIDI information to the track - you'll hear the drum sounds being produced by EZD, but no audio is being recorded - just the MIDI info.

To emphasise this point, if you were to keep the MIDI track but change the synth from EZD to a piano for example, the audio you'd hear on playback would be the 'notes' you originally played on your keyboard.

Using the Piano Roll View, as in 3 above, you simply enter the MIDI information onto a grid which represents a keyboard on the y-axis and time (usually measured in musical bars) along the x-axis. The same keys on this virtual keyboard are the same that are mapped out for a 'real' keyboard by EZD.

The 'notes' you write in the PRV are infinitely editable, that is why this part of the drum track equation makes the whole method so variable. You can edit anything that's in there, including data entered as a loop direct from EZD or from a hardware keyboard.

This is what it looks like Tom, the black 'blocks' represent the MIDI informartion:

Steve

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:57:28 GMT

ORIGINAL: stratmanforever

Here my stuff. I found the connector for the camera.

Very nice Bill " />

One thing though, I'm no interior designer but I can see the wallpaper clashes something horrible with that Strat.

Best send it here.

Not the wallpaper.

The Strat.

You'll thank me when the Feng Shui of your studio is back in perfect balance " />

RE: Drums? (TomN)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:55:58 GMT

HEy SteveStrummer.

That's excellent. Thanks for taking the time to post and explain that. I really appreciate it.

I think I get. From that, I can understand how you a building a track from various loops. But does it allow you to alter the loops, or easily make your own 1 measure loop, like a drum machine, but with a drag and drop interface? Because I can never find a loop with accents and open high hat hits exactly where I want them.
But I will like the general idea of a loop. So instead of building every one of them from scratch with single hits, I am wondering if I can get the majority by shifting a few drums within a loop here or there, or add another bass drum hit, or a snare etc?
If that can be done, is it done in EZDrummer or in the DAW?

Also, I have no fricken clue what a PRV is ?????

Lastly. Apparently, now I finally have all the ins and outs of GTP3 all sorted out and I can use it on the fly really well, I have to completely scrap it and learn an entirely new Midi compatable DAW. Any suggestions for what I should get? Knowing that I like GTP3.

Thanks
Tom

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:46:52 GMT

Sorry about getting away from the subject Kain.

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:34:56 GMT

Here my stuff. I found the connector for the camera.

RE: Drums? (stratmanforever)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:46:08 GMT

i know what you mean alright. One of the biggest problems with the theory books is they don't account for how the material applies in the context of time. Music is never still and you always have to conceptualize it as it appies over a period of time.
It's a holliday here in the colonies. Veterans Day

RE: Drums? (SteveStrummerUK)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:44:40 GMT

Hey Bill, what we all suffer from is called GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome!

Eventually, you have to give into it and get what you have to get - trouble is, once you've got it, you'll want something else. Luckily for us home recordists, most of the stuff is free or reasonably priced - imagine owning a real studio!

I get what you're saying about the Precision Bill, it's one of the classic sounds in all genres of music - thing is I suppose, compared to most other basses, there's not a lot you can do with the sound of a standard PB, what with only the single set of pickups, that's probably one of the reasons why the sound of one is so distinct.

I'm always ready to brush up on my theory Bill - like I said to you, I have a basic understanding but knowing how and when to apply it is often my undoing. I have books on theory which are written specifically for guitar which cover everything - trouble is they're all about 'how to' as opposed to 'why', if you see what I mean.