Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Johnny Mac on November 08, 2010, 09:20:56 AM

Title: Programming Drums
Post by: Johnny Mac on November 08, 2010, 09:20:56 AM
What's the best way to program drums? Clicking in the grid on midi piano roll? I've got loads of midi files for drums but they never give you exactly what your after, you have to fit things around them.
I'm using superior drummer 2 and battery.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: _tom_ on November 08, 2010, 09:53:25 AM
Yep I do mine by clicking in the individual fills in the piano roll. Takes a while but when you get used to it you can put good drum tracks together quite quickly :)
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Johnny Mac on November 08, 2010, 03:41:33 PM
Thanks Tom. I'll have to have a practise as I'm not getting the best out of the drum programs I've got.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Transcend on November 08, 2010, 04:51:39 PM
If you have tabbed the song in gutiar pro then it is far quicker to do the drum programming in guitar pro as then you have the exact time signatures/tempo switches etc to work along with.

I then tweak the midi in the piano roll for velocities grace notes etc.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Keven on November 08, 2010, 06:05:19 PM
i do pretty much the same as toe-knee except i use sonar's built in staff editor instead of GP.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: nfe on November 08, 2010, 06:41:07 PM
I just use BFD2 and bash away. It's intuitive and easy as hell to put stuff together extremely quickly.

Sounds the best, too.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: MDV on November 08, 2010, 07:58:13 PM
Beat by beat in the MIDI grid. Superior 2.

With C&P where apropriate, obviously.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Johnny Mac on November 09, 2010, 06:58:32 PM
Thanks for all the tips!  :D
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Deadstar on November 11, 2010, 08:55:51 PM
Best way is using an electronic kit to trigger your drum program as you're getting a more natural performance eg:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/833131/Jazz%20drum%20test%20bounce4.wav

That's a example of the Jazz brush kit in Addictive drums.
Failing that a soft pad trig device or even midi keyboard would do for the basic loops and fills just editing them to make them tighter.

If you can play drums and can't afford the electronic route try something like Protrig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4T-cTz0xA4

That's a bit silly but gives an impression of what you can do.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: _tom_ on November 11, 2010, 10:59:01 PM
That Protrig video has to be fake? Seems way too good for such a minimal setup!
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Deadstar on November 11, 2010, 11:56:44 PM
Yeah it most likely is considering how ridiculous the video is but you you would be surprised what you can do with simple little setups, like cheap piezo mics attached to jacks.

Personally I program them manually and add groove patterns and randomisation subtleties using the humanize function in Logic to get it feeling a little more natural. I'm currently making my own presets of the small parts of the premade beats that contain things that are are little harder to program in like snare rolls, flams and such.

Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Davey on November 14, 2010, 07:39:40 PM
Question ..

anyone familiar with Fruity Loops and EZ Drummer?
we're writing a song that we split in 12 individual patterns.. i'd like to know, is it possible to assign a different tempo to each individual pattern, or is that linked to the song as a whole?
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Transcend on November 14, 2010, 08:22:17 PM
erm im not sure how to do it in fuirty loops

but you should be able to set the project tempo

then set the tempo changes where they need to be along the ruler.

If you were using reaper i would be able to guide you better
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Davey on November 15, 2010, 02:35:02 PM
found out... you have to set an automation clip at the desired timeline..

tempo -> edit events -> check where you want the different tempo -> click on the desired tempo -> save as automation clip and then just move it around :)
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Frank on November 19, 2010, 01:49:41 PM
Steinberg Groove Agent is pretty good when you get your head round it. Lets you automate fills and patterns then either use the built-in kits (which aren't bad) or output MIDI to a part in Cubase and send it to another drum sampler. Groove Agent patterns triggering Battery kits sound pretty good.
Title: Re: Programming Drums
Post by: Davey on November 19, 2010, 05:12:03 PM
allrighty.. we found an even easier way to set the tempo of individual patterns in FL, using EZ drummer ..
make a new pattern, right click Tempo and Edit Events. then find your desired tempo along the vertical line, click and close the event window.. now your tempo is set for the whole duration of the pattern