Best method to create a drum track?

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KEROUAC1957

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It's me again. :) I need a bit of advice on creating drum tracks. I've been using some built in loops in Mixcraft which seems ok to get a general rhythm going but am a bit stuck as to how I can tailor make a drum track.

Is it difficult to create a specific drum track using loops? I've had real problems but I'm wondering if this is because my pool of loops is too small.

The only other options I can think of are using a program like Beatcraft or creating something on keyboard and recording via midi. The only problem with these options is that not being a drummer I'm not sure I can come up with anything sufficiently impressive other than a fairly basic beat.
 
From your description is sounds like you are working with pre recorded audio loops. Is that right?

Many of the other software options work on pre recorded individual samples, so the loops are midi loops.
That means you can choose a loop but you can alter it too, right down to individual hits and velocities.

Addictive drums is an example.

You can use a keyboard or midi drum kit with such software, but you can also just pick from lists of loops.
Basically what you're doing but with more options.
 
Yes I have been working with audio loops. It never actually occurred to me that you could get ready made midi loops. That sounds like it would be better as you said as I could edit them to suit. I'll check out Addictive Drums. Thanks
 
EZ Drummer is a very good drum program, sounds quite realistic. I like it a lot. You can use it in any DAW that supports VST plugins.
 
Not only does Addictive give you premade MIDI loops, and thousands of them, you can buy "ad-packs" with heaps more, or you can do it the hard way and actually program things a hit at a time, like I do...
 
If you're working with loop disks, most that I've seen have the same beat with variations of the same beat which work for a lot of things. intro beat, end beat, verse beat, chorus beat, fill1, fill2, cymbal smash, etc - and usually they have one shots you can add if needed in certain spots. For quick and dirty this can work pretty well - especially for certain styles of music. For the midi route - you might want to check out the free Big Mono from Analogue Drums
 
there are some very good percussion programs, addictive drums and EZ/superior drummer. they have different genres, and extra midi files, you can also download some free midi files. (just be sure and scan for virus')

here is one of many.
Instant MIDI Drum Patterns

I like to find something close, then go into a drum editor and adjust the hits/velocity, drum type to fit my needs.. I also use a yamaha DT express midi digital drum machine, with triggered kit.

something like this ,Yamaha DTXpress III electronic drum kit for sale - YouTube only mine is older and cheaper. recording the midi hits works fine though.
 
Thanks for all those suggestion. I tried those "Instant MIDI Drum Patterns" and although I got them to work in Mixcraft, when I compared them to the audio loops I've been using they sounded a bit weedy and low in volume. Is this just down to the Virtual kit I'm assigning? I'm just using the provided ones in Mixcraft. I tried a few kits but they all seemed to lack the impact of the audio loops.
 
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