Midi controller, drum pads or drum machine?

[Paul881]

Here's my dilema, I'm a non-drummer, I record drums at present using soundfonts to give me the sounds that I want plus either Piano roll view in Sonar (slow, laborious and boring) or tap out a rythm using my qwerty k/board (inaccurate timing). I don't know enough about drums to use Fruity Loops (which I have) and so its time to buy some new gear

What do you guys think about my choices, pro's and con's. I could buy a midi controller keyboard, that would interface with the soundfonts plus a whole heap of other stuff. But as a drum machine its not ideal. I could buy a drum machine like an Alesis SR16 or a drum pad synth like the yamaha DD55. I am not bothered about the yamaha sounding cheesy, I would only use it with natural sounding drum soundfonts. But I think I would get a more natural sounding rhythm than with a keyboard.

Any comments/feedback gratefully received.

 

[elevate]

I don't know enough about drums to use Fruity Loops

I'm not sure what you think you need to know about drums to use Fruity Loops. It's not any more difficult to use than a drum machine. You may be able to get better results with some outboard gear, but I think you need to try your hand at Fruity Loops again and see if you can save yourself from spending unnecessary money. Try using the max number of steps (64) and then try messing with the Shift option, which will let you fine tune the position of each beat. The volume editor also lets you add some character to your beats.

 

[Paul881]

I have carefully considered your reply...and I think yo are right Maybe its not so much not knowing about drums, its knowing/learning yet another complex program. But I will persevere and see what happens. Seems a waste not to use it after I have bought it. (FL3.0)

Thanks for makling me re-think!

 

[elevate]

Thanks for makling me re-think!

No problem.

If you have any questions about those Fruity Loops features I mentioned, or any other features, feel free to ask.