Question...MIDI Drums?

[BudBrain]

Hi,

Say I recorded a bass track using some software/audio interface...could I then use a MIDI keyboard to lay a simple drum pattern over the top?

Is this the usual way beginners lay down a drum track?

 

[Xdrummer]

If is very common to use a keyboard to lay down basic drum tracks - it is normally prefreable to do the first pass playing only the kick & snare. Then maybe anoth pass for the hi-hat and cymbal crashes, etc.

The trick is to anticipate if you plan to record any tom fills and then make sure you don't keep the snare, kick and hi-hat playing in those parts.

 

[Mr. June]

I would say you're in for a lot of work if you didn't record to a click. Normally, you'd want to work in the reverse order, drums then bass. This way, you can take advantage of all the MIDI tools available for drum programming (quantize, swing, etc...not to mention the world of drum and percussion loops) Good luck!

 

[YellowDwarf]

Recording and playing back MIDI is a bit different than recording audio, and how you do it depends on the DAW software you're using.

As for your original question, I don't bother recording midi drums, I just pencil them in (Sonar). You can do it either way, or both ways in the same track. It's all a matter of experimenting and learning.

Hope this helps.

 

[Armistice]

Start with drums, and don't use a keyboard, use a MIDI editor to put them in properly..

 

[Leinad]

As for your original question, I don't bother recording midi drums, I just pencil them in (Sonar). You can do it either way, or both ways in the same track. It's all a matter of experimenting and learning.

Hope this helps.

+1

I do the same in Logic sometimes, or use the step sequencer, which is another easy way to input the MIDI. Just click in the pattern you want.

There's a few ways to do it, it's just personal preference.

 

[soundchaser59]

Save yourself a bunch of time and just spend the $199 bucks to get EZ Drummer and a couple of expansion packs. Then you will have drag-n-drop drum tracks at your fingertips.

I used to make drumtracks by playing drums on my piano keyboard, works fine if you can play drum parts with your fingers. I always did a hi-hat first as a click track, then record the guitar or piano part, then add the kick and snare, then the bass. But it's much more inspiring to have real drum loops and drum tracks to jam with.