:D How easy is it to programme DFH ? Can you do really complex rolls that actually sound real ?
It's quite straightforward, I just do it in a MIDI piano roll view, and I've got a drum-map for SONAR so instead of notes on the keyboard I have the name of the drum (and whether it's a left or right-handed/footed hit)
The problem i have with Drum machines is that all the rolls sound unbelievable, fake. You can tell it`s a drum box a mile off.
That's usually because stuff is too precise, or that it's the same sound played repeatedly.
DFHS has several hits recorded at different strengths and with both left and right hands/feet (that's why the install is so damn huge), these are mapped to different velocity ranges. So for example if you program a snare roll with all 127 velocities, it still won't play the same sample, it'll either randomise them or loop through several different samples, so it sounds a lot more human already. Top that off with clever time-slipping and it sounds much better than normal drum machines. I also tend to subtley change the tempo of the track at certain times, for example when a song goes into a chorus I might speed it up a few clicks to mimic the way real drummers do to emphasise parts.
The sample of DFH that you gave us to listen to sounds great. Doesn`t it get abit complicated if your having to decide what kind of velocity or where a drum pad is hit ?
You don't have to worry about where the drum is hit, and for the velocities I just write the part in one velocity and then use some tools build into SONAR to randomise the velocities on specific drums (for example, you could randomise the snare one way, and the hi-hats another, etc.) between certain ranges, and then go in and tweak certain hits manually if I feel they need it.
I also concentrate on mimicing a real drummer (no, not by drooling on my desk ;)) and ensuring I don't program anything that's physically impossible, and also making sure I use the correct hand/feet hits, etc.
How do you programme it in to your PC ? Do you need a Piano style keyboard or drum pad ?
:D 8)
I have a MIDI keyboard, so I can tap in beats in real (or step) time, but usually I use the mouse/keyboard and judicious use of cut & paste. ;)
I'm also trying to build up an archive of interesting rolls and fills in MIDI format that I can import. Best way to get these is download some drum tabs for songs you like I find. :)
Muttley
