Drums without a drummer

[Rossl]

I have been using BFD and Session Drummer2 for my projects. I write the drum notation in Sonar and then apply it to the plug-in. Lately I have been favoring Session Drummer because the kits require a lot less tweaking

I don't mind writing the notation. It takes a good amount of time and it sounds a little "stiff". I have been improving my "technique" but I'm wondering what others, that have the same limitations, use

 

[PTravel]

I have been using BFD and Session Drummer2 for my projects. I write the drum notation in Sonar and then apply it to the plug-in. Lately I have been favoring Session Drummer because the kits require a lot less tweaking

I don't mind writing the notation. It takes a good amount of time and it sounds a little "stiff". I have been improving my "technique" but I'm wondering what others, that have the same limitations, use

A long time ago, I bought a DrumKat and some sticks and, when I need a "freer" sound, just play the part myself. To be clear, I'm not a drummer, and have to lay down the drums via MIDI a bit at a time, but it's "good enough," at least for me. However, the bottom line is that drums are a musical instrument, just like any other, and take considerable craft and talent to play well. My drum parts are, at best, "workman like," and there is no question in my mind that my music would benefit from having a real drummer play them. If you're using actual musical notation, you might try Finale or Sibelius, both of which have "humanize" functions (Finale's is actually quite good), that automatically introduce the kind of micro-variations in tempo and dynamics that make drums (and any other notated instrument) sound less like a computer and more like a musician. Bottom line, though, is this: either learn to play the drums, find a friend who can play, or marry a drummer.

 

[Jay C]

I have been using BFD and Session Drummer2 for my projects. I write the drum notation in Sonar and then apply it to the plug-in. Lately I have been favoring Session Drummer because the kits require a lot less tweaking

I don't mind writing the notation. It takes a good amount of time and it sounds a little "stiff". I have been improving my "technique" but I'm wondering what others, that have the same limitations, use

you should consider getting a midi keyboard, i think it sounds "stiff" b/c everything is "in grid". with a midi keyboard it sounds more natural b/c no one can play like a computer. also I've been using a combination of 2 drum VST's i use Steven Slate Drums for the Bass Drum , Snare and Toms. and Superior Drummer v2 for cymbals. sounds pretty deadly. again midi keyboard instead of "drawing" should give u a less "stiff" sound.