Natural Drum loops for non-computer Analog recording?

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ocduff

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Hi folks -

I'm working with a Tascam 388 and am just doing some home recording - just throwing down ideas for fun. Right now a drum set is out of the question - I know there's nothing better than live drum sounds, but, space is tight already.

I've looked around online and all I need is the sound of natural drums just keeping basic time without any windchimes or huge reverb, no cheesy plastic sounds. Some natural acoustic drums - just a drummer hitting 4/4 time 88 bps, or whatever I need. Straight ahead, brush shuffles, whatever.

I know NOTHING about drum loops, and I don't want to know anything about them. I consider this the tackiest move I've ever made, but I figure I can always replace them with real drums later on. But not having drums is what's holding me back from recording my little ditties.

Most programs I'm finding look awesome, but I need ProTools and blah blah to get it to work, and then I'd be sitting around all day getting drum tracks (I'd rather buy a set and play if that's my option).

Anyway - anyone know of anything like this - perhaps online where I could demo? I play mostly in a alt/roots rock/country rock style. I'm all into vintage guitars, organs and tube amps and analog. I'm sure BetaMonkey and all that DrumWerks stuff is cool, but it just doesn't work for me right now.

All I need is a bank of useable, classic sounding loops. Thanks!
 
I was thinking about picking up EZDrummer. You will be able to do exactly what you said you wanted to do. But you will also be able to add fills and even change hits if you ever feel like it.

EZ Drummer is 16 bit audio files, Superior Drummer is 24 bit...but you pay for the extra bit depth.
 
Hi Outlaws -

Thanks for the response - EX drummer looks good.

But I am computer illiterate. And all that compatability stuff looks daunting - I have XP. I don't have ProTools, Cakewalk, etc.

If I could install the software (without needing additional software), create a simple drum track, then record it to my 388, that would be fine. But to me it seems like it's designed to work with other programs.

Anyway - not any one's job here to explain this to me. But I appreciate it - I just don't know any of the lingo regarding these things - and I really don't want to learn it. :)

What about these? Would these work?

http://www.naturalgrooves.com/store.html

http://www.drumwerks.com/index.html

None of it looks simple! Thanks again...

Even simpler would be a CD or interface with simple drum playing on it.
 
I looked into this extensively myself. Extensive to the point of buying a drum kit, sticking it up in my attic and learning how to play it. I bought a copy of BFD thinking that I could do something like you were thinking but without a sequencer program. Nope, can't do it. So I sold that on unopened and unused. I've also ended up with an Alesis SR18 drum machine which I'm quite surprised with. You might find that in the absence of real drums, lack of space and no computer sequencer, that kind of option is the best one. You can manipulate all sorts of drum variables and program up patterns, loops and songs without needing a computer or being computer savvy. Or you can use it's own extensive library of loops. Just plug it into the 388 with it's stereo (or mono if you want) outs and away it'll go. I've recorded it on analog and it sounds pretty good.

It has it's place in my primarily analog / real instrument world and I'm keeping it.

AlesisSR-18.jpg


As far as the drumming skills go, I'm now the drummer in a weekly jam band so some good's come out of that as well.
 
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ocduff said:
Hi Outlaws -

Thanks for the response - EX drummer looks good.

But I am computer illiterate. And all that compatability stuff looks daunting - I have XP. I don't have ProTools, Cakewalk, etc.

If I could install the software (without needing additional software), create a simple drum track, then record it to my 388, that would be fine. But to me it seems like it's designed to work with other programs.

Anyway - not any one's job here to explain this to me. But I appreciate it - I just don't know any of the lingo regarding these things - and I really don't want to learn it. :)

What about these? Would these work?

http://www.naturalgrooves.com/store.html

http://www.drumwerks.com/index.html

None of it looks simple! Thanks again...

Even simpler would be a CD or interface with simple drum playing on it.
Click to expand...
It is designed to be integrated into other recording programs, but it is also designed to work on its own. You just take the monitor out and go into your 388. It has pre-made loops, fills, breaks, etc. From what I have seen, you just grab what you want, and drag and drop them onto the included sequencer, then hit play. There are some videos online. It looks very simple...especially if you are not editing. And the best part is they drums actually sound fairly good.
 
JedBlue -

That looks great - maybe that would be the best option - a good drum machine. That would probably be ideal for my situation - seems like a no-brainer.

I guess I don't know much about them - that Alesis looks nice. I'll start looking at drum machines. Any other recommended models?
 
I don't know that there's too many of them available these days. Alesis and Boss spring immediately to mind. I think there is an Akai one as well but that's just a re-badged Alesis I think. Most music stores should have a few to muck about with. The Alesis was the best value for money for me for what I was planning when I looked at them all.

:)
 
Just a thought, but did you ever think about recording your songs and having drummers on the forum record the drum tracks? I might be willing to do this, but you need to be careful of people swiping your stuff and claiming it for themselves.
 
I'm a HUGE fan of tape loops, but this might not be what you're looking for.

The drum machine is the classic go-to tool for home recordists. Some bands actually made it a part of their sound - Big Black credited their drums to a "Roland", pretending that their Roland TR-606 was another human member of the band.
 
Without a doubt, PCDrummer is the easiest and most versatile drum software around. It's cheap, $49 US.

I used it years ago when I recorded on tape, and still use it today on my digital machine, even though my recorder has a Zoom drum machine built-in!

I just set up the song until it sounds right, then take the laptop to the recorder and take the signal from the headphone jack into my L-R inputs. PCDrummer is full stereo, and you can even adjust panning and hit strength on individual drums.

Go to pcdrummer.com and have a look & listen. I also downloaded the Studio Kit for PCDrummer (a measly 10 dollar upgrade) and it is amazing.

I have nothing to do with the company, I just really like their product.

-Mike
 
Thanks guys for all the info and options - all of these are viable and simple, and easy for me to understand!

I downloaded a trial version of PCDrummer and it's probably fine for what I need - useable sounds, simple patterns. It might be a cheaper alternative to a drum machine.

Haha - now I feel like a commercial for it. I am having a hell of a time writing a simple "Monster Mash" type boom-chick-chick, boom-chick-chick.

And don't worry, I'm not covering "Monster Mash"!! I'm not thaat corny.
 
Go to their online PDF manual...it's a lot better than the built-in help in the program.

Go to my Soundclick page (link is in my sig) and listen to "Walkin The Talk" and "One More Thing". Those both used a simple pattern in PC Drummer, with no fills or pauses.

-Mike
 
OK. This is going to show how long I've been doing this stuff but, back in the late 70's I used records called drum drops. Real drummers playing beats at different tempos. It would be cool to find one of those.
 
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