Solo Composer Writing Drum Tracks

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62strat

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I am using cakewalk9.0 and PV Studio Mix. I am having trouble getting anything close to a real drum feel and I need something simple to use that sounds good. All my gear is good and drums are the only thing lagging.
Where do I turn?
 
What kind of answer is that? I am not interested in recording live drums, I am interested in learning how do do exactly what I asked. Please, if someone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated,
 
Ok, ok... everybody stop giving useful suggestions that aren't EXACTLY what the person asked for in the first place... we don't want to give people alternative solutions. What a terrible thing that that would be to give someone a better idea that solves their problem but it's not what they were asking for. ;)

LOL 62Strat, Doc was trying to help you out. You're the one asking the question, I would think you would appreciate ANY feedback that is even close to your topic.

For software drum programs, check out programs like Fruity Loops and PC Drummer. The website links should be obvious. If you are looking for the feel of a real drummer however, in my opinion you're better off getting the real thing. You don't have to have a drummer come to your studio necessarily. People here on the BBS have colaborated over the Internet before by sending MP3s or even wavs of tracks back and forth. I have done some long distance recording with a couple of friends and it turns out well. I have used several software drum programs just to see how they compare to live drums. Let's just say I am very glad I'm a drummer and can record them live myself. Maybe someone else has a better solution in hardware drum machines.
 
There are drum machines such as Boss and Alesis...the Boss stuff is MUCH better...I'm not thrilled with my Alesis because it's awful to program...the software programs like fruityloops are much better than the Alesis....but if you're wanting a drum sound that sounds like a drummer would produce, be prepared for lots of work using either the machines or the software...getting the snare/kick/cymbals etc to sound as close to real as possible...for me this is the most time consuming part of recording and it hasn't become fun yet...I was pretty happy to have a canned background til I heard all the great sounds coming out of the mixing clinic here so now I'm going nuts trying to get as good as these people are at programing...and I'm getting closer I think but damn it's frustrating...hopefully you'll have an easier time than I've had because I'm still pretty much an idiot with even the recording software...and ps drstawl is a good guy and one of the most knowledgable pc recording folks here...he never makes comments that are meant to mislead, only enlighten.....check out the fruityloops demo...it's free...if you like it buy it for 35 bucks....www.fruityloops.com ......gibs
 
Thanks to Jon X and gibs for clarifying my intentions re my suggestion to let a drummer handle the drum part.
And I do have one more thing to add to my answer to 62strat:
The link- in case you didn't bother to investigate it, is a global community of musical online collaborators that do both MIDI and audio based collaborations. The application they use has a GUI that looks like a cheapo version of CW and is free.
So you already have decent drum sounds and merely lack the know-how to program a sequencer so that they sound better than dog-doo. Then you add the constraint that you want to do it yourself; I can respect that, but you didn't mention that up front. Getting a real drummer to write you a MIDI file and using CW's event list view will give you an idea of how to structure the drum part you're looking to build. Use CW's powerful MIDI event filter to create a drum track for each drum sound. See for yourself what they're supposed to look like. But like gibs said- writing a drum track from scratch is an activity that demands a lot of patience.
 
You'll have to excuse my sharpness. I really do appreciate your comments. I had just finished working with a program called Acid and called a drummer friend for support and he basicly errased about 3 hours of work. That's when I got frustrated and happend upon your message. No Excuse, just an explination. I have looked at the link and it has shead much light on the matter. Please keep them coming.
 
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