Some MIDI Basics

[88fingers]

Okay, I have Cubase XL, and I have a Boss DR-110, and I have tons of nice .wav samples of drums I would like to use. However, I do not know the slightest bit about combining them all into good usage. Is there anyone that feels like taking me through step-by-step on how to use those tools to create good drumbeats? And if not, is there an easy-to-read primer on the internet? (Like a MIDI for Dummies, or something like that). Also, is it possible to use a notation program (such as Finale, or Noteworthy Composer) to design a drum beat, and then put better-sounding sounds onto it and convert it into wav?
Thanks!
-Brandon

[ssscientist]

Go here, here and here.

Those are the best primers I could find and between the three of them you'll probably get a pretty good idea of what midi is all about. Also try Amazon.com --- there IS a book called 'Midi for dummies' but I can't vouch for it's worth or lack thereof...

If your sequencer will turn notation into midi files then the answer to your question is yes, depending on what file format the notation info is stored in by the notation program that created it.

I wasn't sure if the DR110 had midi, but I did find this during my googling and had some fun with it. Since that machine was made in 1983 it has no midi, and will be useful only for audio tracks and making digital samples of the individual drums. One of the sites that I linked you to has advice to buy a low end Casio or Yamaha keyboard with midi capability. That's good advice -- you'll need it sooner rather than later.

What you need if you want to trigger drums from a drum machine is one that has a midi out - and there are plenty of choices out there. For example, the Alesis SR-16 is fully equipped with midi and can be had for under $100 both on Ebay and elsewhere. It's not the greatest machine by any means but it has both preset and user programable patterns in it and would be a way to get started.

[bh4554]

thanx sscientists they were useful -

i've got a midi interface and cables that I use with my pod v2.0 - i want to create drum tracks via midi to use as simple backing for writing songs over.

Do i need a keyboard w/ midii ins, outs and through and what kind of sequencing program will do - i have tried to use the drum map in Nuendo on a friends pc and got completely lost - is this the same kinda thing???

also by buying some acosutic drum loops and grooves can i edit them via midi to make them fit my songs???

thankS!