the best way to do drums

[davejohno]

I want to record on my computer and get decent sounding drums. When i ask for advice at the local music store it gets too complicated for me and my eyes glaze over. I have a basic undersanding of midi, can anyone recomend the best way to do this so i can understand? I'm using cakewalk sonar, should i record in midi or use wave samples, if so where's a good place to get good samples? Remember, I'm a moron. thanks

[xfinsterx]

use a drum machine with pre set beats.

[davejohno]

i'd like to have something that i can program the beat on

[xfinsterx]

boss makes some easy to use little modules that are midi adaptable.
sorry i dont have a link, just go to google, youll find somethin there.

[davejohno]

what about programs

[Bulls Hit]

How about Fruity Loops

[xfinsterx]

or REASON....

but you did say you were a moron so...
thought id give you the hand held option first.

not to be sarcastic, im just sayin.

peace.

[davejohno]

thanks i'll check it out

[davejohno]

where is the best place to get samples??

[xfinsterx]

samples for what product? or what program?
do you just mean like wav. files?

[pennylink]

If you want to program your own acoustic-sounding drum parts in Sonar, I would recommend FXpansion DR-008 drum sampler/synthesizer with the best wav drum samples you can get. Drumkit From Hell works very well for me for Rock/Pop/Jazz/Blues/R&B, although there are many other sample libraries, even free ones on the Web.

You basically insert DR-008 as a DXi in a Sonar project and load your wav samples into it, then use either a keyboard controller or the piano roll in Sonar to trigger the samples via MIDI.

A demo of DR-008 can be downloaded here http://www.fxpansion.com/product-dr008-main.php

Two other programs that I use in conjunction with DR-008 are Slicy Drummer and Fill-In Drummer. They have libraries of pre-programmed MIDI grooves and fills, which are very flexible and a great way to get started without having to program all your drums from scratch, especially if you don't have a good understanding of drums...

You may also want to look at BFD, also from FXpansion. I haven't had a chance to try it, but I hear great things about it (BTW I don't work for FXpansion )

If you want realistic sounding drums but don't want to spend the time programming, you could use loops. It's a quick and easy way, but you'd lose the flexibility of programming exactly what you want.

As far as drum machines, I find them to sound too "robotic" for my Rock/Jazz style, but that may be just what you want for dance or techno!

[davejohno]

thanks man the DR-008 sounds like it's just what i'm looking for