How do you guys "play" Midi drums..

[Bigsnake00]

I have heard some pretty detailed drum recordings using VST drums. How is this done? I have a keyboard for my Midi controling, but it is very limiting for doing drums...I can tap out simple beats only. Do you just do multiple takes, recording bits a pieces as you go? What about thoes Yamaha drum pads? Im not talking about the kit, but the unit that has 8 pads and maybe a couple of footswitches.
Thanks Guys

 

[scrubs]

Cubase SE has a VST midi drum machine built in. You can play a section of the song (using the loop feature) and add drum beats by pointing and clicking with your mouse in the editor while the track is playing. Check the manual for your version of Cubase to see how you use the midi drum editor.

 

[Easto]

I have a Roland SPD-11 that I use for some of my input. I too was having a problem using a standard piano stlye keyboard and found the Roland to fit the bill (I'm not a drummer so I don't need anything too elaborate).

 

[Discord]

Aaaaaand, first post.

Any drum machine that's got midi out can run a software drum machine. I've got an Alesis SR-16 whose onboard sounds sound like butt... but it's easy to program and does the job well.

I also use a Yamaha DD-55 for when I want a more "natural" sounding beat... I use currently use it to control the drumkits that come with Native Instruments' Kompakt, but it works fine for the drum machine that comes with Cubase as well. The DD-55 isn't perfect by any means, but given that it costs 25% of the price of the next cheapest set of e-drums, I'll take it. I'm thinking if I just add on another set of 6 or so outboard pads it'll be getting there...

 

[robgb]

I suck at midi drums. Maybe because I suck at drumming, period. But after using loops, drum machines, etc., I finally found what -- for me -- is a great solution: BFD drums from fxpansion.

I don't work for them and I'm not a shill, but I recently did a review of them on my website and think they're pretty fantastic. I highly recommend this module to anyone and everyone -- except drummers, of course, who may be out of a job...

Rob Gregory-Browne
The Digital Diving Board
http://www.digitaldivingboard.com

 

[sonnylarsen]

I've just started using cubase, but my drum method is always the same no matter what program I'm using. I create the initial drum track by using some kind of softsynth drums like a soundfont, giving me a basic midi drum track. Then I get the nice details in by editing the midi track.

 

[spinynorman]

Check out Grooveagent from Steinberg,its great.

 

[estring]

I have a Boss Dr-5.
I set up a track for the kick and snare, and another track for cymbals.
I simply "play" along with the recording, using the kick and snare pads, two fingers!!!!! Then I will go back and fill in the cymbals and toms.
Its pretty easy, if I screw up I just punch edit.
I also use loops i create on the Dr-5 as well.

 

[Shoeman]

I use Groove Agent by itself, or use my Edirol keyboard to trigger the "kit" selected in Groove Agent or combine both methods. Pretty easy. You can then get into the Cubase editor and add or subtract stuff to your hearts desire. A new 2.0 version is shipping soon I believe.

 

[C#Dave]

Since I can't stand the 'click' metronome, I find a basic beat that's close to what style of music I'm about to record using my Casio WK-1630. Then I export the MIDI file as an audio file, import the audio file to an audio track, and play along with it. (I've found that the Casio @ 120 bpm is PERFECTLY in sync with Cubase @ 120 bpm, so I record it @ 120, and then change it in Cubase to the bpm that I want. ((Beats Per Minute, but you knew that))

Since I'm not really familiar with the drum editor yet, I'm going to buy a Yamaha DD55 to add a 'live' feel to the music.

Obviously, I'm new to this too, so I have a LONG way to go. Luckily, I found this forum, and hope to find some answers once I learn enough to actually ASK an intelligent question.

In the meantime, I'm just using the search function, and it has helped greatly!

Thanks Guys!!!

Dave

 

[L'espion Noir]

get a controlling pad your keys will appreciate it, your finger tips also

i play my midi drum with a MPD16 ( midi controller)

and sometimes when i want a particular patern on a specific spot i go into the drum editor for a click and erase session

 

[dotheface]

Without wanting to come across too much of a big head, I am well respected for my drum programming and the technique I mostly use these days is simply drawing the midi on the piano scroll in cubase (be sure snap to grid is switched off) Simple as that.

I also do similar with wav files/rx2 files.

All I can say is that if you want a decent drum track, practice, practice, practice.
And listen to the drum tracks that you think are great and try and work out why they are so great.

 

[lemerlisP]

i second the MPD16. very nice little controller. i was experiencing some latency issues with it when using my regular sound card (which kill the usefullness of it), but after i started using my firepod they vanished.

 

[Fishybob]

Groove agent and BFD are fantastic for the non drummer amoung us. I understand how drum tracks should be played but I often can't be bothered to keep going around and around inputting them myself.

You can get midi drum tracks already made that just need cutting and pasting into your arrangement. If you can't afford the above programs this is a very quick solution... you can then edit and personalise the loops as you wish.

http://www.keyfax.com/

There guys do midi tracks for all sorts of instruments and the drum ones are pretty good.

 

[therealside]

to drum

Well, I use BFD, and while drummers will never be replaced, I am a drummer and have to say that this thing comes dern close to the real thing if you gots the memory to use it (1.5 gig at least for comfort on some of the kits). Check out the song "Fits Like A Glove" (about 7 songs down) here: (mp3 page if you want to hear this plugin used like a live drumset. Basically I play a simple kick and snare pattern (I've gotten pretty good at playing live drums with the ol fingers-so most of that is live) with a solid hi-hat with my right hand and then I just go in with cubase afterwards and tighten up velocities and edit accordingly. You can get perfectly realistic rolls by zooming in to 16th note or 8th note triplets and using real volume techniques (i.e. first note of triplet loud, next 2 softer). Overall, it's a winner, can't wait to get the add-ons for BFD, but I just bought Cubase SX 3 so me bank has to build again...

Best o luck!
Terry McClain
Delvin Shade Publishing
http://www.therealside.net

 

[Fishybob]

I hear ya brother!

I've just bought Spectrasonics trilogy... just waiting for the post man.

Once the cash is flowing again I'm thinking of upgrading Groove Agent to BFD.