Drum programming ghost notes etc

  • Thread starter Thread starter TorbjornP
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T

TorbjornP

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Hi,

Anyone have any prctical suggestions on drum programming, especially progrmming ghost notes. I know the rudimentary principles of drum programming but the flow always gets too static and doesn´t swing. I normally use DFH Superior 2.0. If I put the snare on 2 and 4, where do I normally put the ghost notes? And - if I copy a two bar beat, how can I easily make the copy differ from the original? Thanks for any suggestions.

TorbjornP
 
Ghost notes are most commonly placed on the fourth sixteenth note of beats 2 and four.

Make sure you adjust your velocity layers on the ghost notes to make them differ from the regular snare hits.
 
I agree with solaris

If counting - 1 da and da 2 da and da 3 da and da 4 da and da
the ghost notes would tend to fall on the underlined 16th notes.
 
I just stumbled on to this post but I have to say, that is some very helpful info. For me anyways.
 
Feedback

Thanks for your replies. One two more question before I dive into programming hell - 1) what´s your trick to make the programmed loops more lively and less static? 2) are there any sites where I can find really good programmed loops to work from - I assume this is a common problem?

My own programming tricks? - I never program with the mouse, only the keyboard. I have also stopped quantizising all other drums but the bass drum, which I may quantizise 1/32 at a 75 per cent level (apart from the obvious of beat mistakes).

Thanks again!

T :)
 
The more notes you can try to play in real time the more realistic the "performance" will be and as you have already discovered, avoiding too much quantizing can help avoid sounding too "static"

Since I'm a drummer, I rarely program (I use a set of Roland V-Drums - which allows me to actually perform vs. program) - but when I do "program" I try to actually tap out a groove (maybe a 4 bar or 4 bar section) and then copy that.

I never really liked trying to "play" drum parts on a keyboard - so I've used various percussion controllers since the 80's- I currently have a Roland SPD6, which has 6 pads that can be played with fingers or with sticks (I find this much more liberating to play than tapping out notes on a keyboard).
 
Drum pads

Mike,

what would be your suggestion for a good, solid drum pad, as opposed to writing loops on the keyboard? / T
 
Both Roland and Hart made multi pad controllers that could be played with hands or sticks (although I have not seen any current models, so I don't know if they still manufacture them) and there used to be multi pads by DrumKat (but I don't think they are around anymore).

While I'm not a big fan of buying gear on Ebay - you may find something by one of the referenced companies used.
 
solaris1982 said:
Ghost notes are most commonly placed on the fourth sixteenth note of beats 2 and four.

Make sure you adjust your velocity layers on the ghost notes to make them differ from the regular snare hits.
Click to expand...

Perfect. Exactly what he said. I will add that, if you want a "drag" (a quick, double ghost note), we're now talking two 32nd notes still starting on the last 16th note of the 4th beat.

And like Solaris said, velocity is your ticket to sounding more human.
 
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