FLStudio & Drum Notes Faster Than 16ths

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Hoodoo

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I've been using the FLStudio Producer demo for a few weeks now with sampled drum wave files. So far, I like this software and its potential power, but have not yet found a way to create drum notes (rolls, fills, etc.) with anything shorter than 16th notes.

Anyone using FLStudio know how to create, say, a drum roll of 32nd notes or faster-- WITHOUT a workaround such as doubling the song tempo?

Or, if there's other software that can create better, sample-based drum tracks, please recommend (Acid? BFD?). I am NOT creating techno/dance/trance music, but modern rock songs with guitar/bass/vocals/piano and acoustic-sounding drums. Think Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), not Moby.

BTW- I was able to "fake" a snare flam in FLStudio by creating a second snare channel, and offsetting the corresponding note.

See jpeg.
 

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Get to know the Piano Roll: this is the technique used to program MIDI in all other major sequencers (Cubase, Logic, etc). Whether you're doing electronic music or trying to reproduce acoustic drums makes no difference- the Piano Roll is the way to go. Check out the help file for instructions.

If you search for FruityLoops+piano roll, etc, on this site, you'll find plenty of discussion of the topic already.
 
Chrisjob-

Thanks for the reply. I have already been working with the piano roll, but have still not found a way to get those very quick 32nd or faster notes. It seems that the piano roll still defaults to 16th notes.

Any suggestions?
 
Change the snap setting. The default is Line. Set it to step to get 16th notes, 1/2 step to get 32nd notes, and 1/4 step to get 64th notes. Also, if you turn the snap setting to none, you can snap notes down to the timebase you set the song to (e.g. 92 PPQ or 192 PPQ). Drag the little square in the upper right corner of the Piano Roll UP to make the piano roll wider.
 
Cool, Charger. Thanks.

I just discovered this after I posted my question. My one complaint is that I cannot zoom in close enough to really set the note "just right" (using the 'no snap' setting). The 'close' zoom doesn't seem to get me in close enough... ;^)

Would you happen to have any drum tracks or midi files you could post that demonstrate some off-beat patterns or quick fills? Or, know of any sites/links to such?
 
I don't really have much off-beat stuff I can think of. I do love the randomize function for creating quick drum patterns in FL, but I don't think you can randomize on the piano roll.
 
Hoodoo said:
Cool, Charger. Thanks.

I just discovered this after I posted my question. My one complaint is that I cannot zoom in close enough to really set the note "just right" (using the 'no snap' setting). The 'close' zoom doesn't seem to get me in close enough... ;^)

Would you happen to have any drum tracks or midi files you could post that demonstrate some off-beat patterns or quick fills? Or, know of any sites/links to such?
Click to expand...

I agree... My monitor is set to 1280x1024, and I wish the piano roll could zoom in a bit farther. I think you should be alright for 1/32 notes, but I'd like to get down to the tiny little timebase slices for groove programming.

What's "offbeat" patterns... like reggae/ska music?
 
What I mean by off-beat is not your standard 4/4 time beat, like one-and-two-and-three-and-four. I'm talking about beats where the snare and bass drum are not always on the downbeat, or the snare has a fill on the up (or offbeat).

Like, punk rock is usually a fast one-two-three-four beat. I'm trying to create drum patterns more like what you'd hear from Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), stuff like that. Drum patterns where the snare isn't always on the downbeat. Hence, my interest in quick fills, flams, etc that aren't necessarily 16th notes.

Make sense? (Easier to hear it than explain it... :^)
 
No sure how that software works but in acid you can just zoom in to the "resolution" you wanna snap stuff to. Then I'll create a few copies of a drum one shot and "stagger" them. Say I'm doing 4 32nd notes on a particular drum. I'll make 4 copies of the one shot and have it go down all 4 in rapid succession....The idea being each one shot can ring out a bit so it doesn't sound quite as fake. Then I'll adjust the volume of each one individually and maybe even put a volume envelope on them to make it sound more like a real drumer would when doing double shots or rolls. Still dunno if I'm really getting it truly realistic, but it sounds alot better than any drum machine I've tired to program...
 
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