EZDrummer/velocity question
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Posted on Apr 06, 2009 11:37 pm
Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007
what do you metalers out there have the velocity knob set at in EZDrummer?
i havent really ever changed it for a song, but am thinking, and by looking at some of the hits, maybe i could turn it up, especially for double kick.
hoping you might see this Cynic and give me an idea on what you have yours on.
which leads me to another annoyance.
now ive pretty much done the drums, i dont spose there's anyway of changing what i already have there, velocity wise?
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olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Apr 07, 2009 12:54 am You should be able to edit the Velocity on the midi track(s). I don't have EZD, so I can't help you far as the setting in EZD, but if you do change the velocity, you should do it by percentage, rather than absolute so that you maintain the relative variations in the velocity of the hits.
Dan
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 07, 2009 02:05 am Velocity is a parameter for each and every MIDI note. It's not something to turn up and down or on and off for an entire song/project unless EZD uses the term "velocity" for something different than its traditional MIDI meaning. Each note has its own velocity.
Here's a pic of a piano roll editor (I think this is from Fruity Loops, but its generic enough that it should look similar to what we've all seen).
Look at the 16th note run that's programmed in on the D# key. Below each of the 16th notes is a vertical line that represents the velocity of each note. In this example, the velocity will get louder with each hit, resulting in a crescendo type of effect. That's what I know velocity to mean in the realm of MIDI.
The best type of sample banks have different samples associated with different velocities of a certain sound, creating a velocity layer. Think of what a snare drum sounds like when you barely tap it with the stick. Then think of what it sounds like when you hit it with a normal force, and also what it sounds like when you really pound the hell out of it. Good sample banks will sample each of these sounds individually instead of just playing the same sample at a different volume. This is how you get really convincing sequenced drum parts, by using velocity layers to mimic the way a real drum kit reacts to being played with different amounts of force.
You should be able to go back and adjust velocity for MIDI notes after they're recorded, provided that you still have them in MIDI format. If you've converted it to audio then you won't be able to adjust the velocity as far as I know.
With velocity, you'll want to try to mimic how a person varies the velocity of his or her drum hits. The most obvious thing is to put a slight accent on the down beat. Also drum rolls can benefit greatly from accents to keep them from sounding like the traditional "machine gun" that fake drums tend to take on.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Apr 07, 2009 06:37 am ok ive since found out that with ez it seems the kicks dont change a hell of alot if i turn the velocity up.
and yep EZ has a velocity nob. harder and softer hits.
the hats and other stuff change though.
which is kinda what i was looking for but i woulldve liked to have found a way to change the power or loudness of certain hits after the fact ive already brought in the loops from EZ.
what i found myself doing was using current loops in my project for other "handmade" drum parts, but they dont really always reflect the feel (hittin power) they should do. hence why i wanted to find a way to do it in Cubase.
i guess i just have to run thru it and hope there's not too much to change.
if my bloody drummer didnt have a busted up knee i could just get him to play it and record the drums. but oh well. im impatient, i cant wait.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 07, 2009 11:40 am A MIDI controller with velocity-sensitive pads/keys is a great investment for this purpose. My XBoard has changed my whole world when it comes to programming drum parts. It's so hard to assign velocity and accents afterwards. Its so much easier to add the feel of the drum pattern as you're entering it.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 07, 2009 05:49 pm I think the velocity knob he is using is for setting EZ's overall reaction to velocity. Like setting a velocity curve. Steeper or shallower I would assume.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 07, 2009 11:40 pm Aaah, I see. Velocity curve, makes sense. With my setup, I adjust that via a special control panel application for my MIDI controller. So I always associated that with my controller instead of my VSTi or host software. Good catch!
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Apr 08, 2009 08:46 am fixed it all by hand. was hardly much needed.
i traded auth codes of my EZDrummer for the auth codeds of my mates BDF2 today. so now i got both those progs which im happy about. layering the two together in a song sounds really, really good.
man, now i gotta figure out how to use BFD2. the amount of stuff on there is ridiculous.
how many gig is the prog i hear you ask???
wait for it......55GIG!
5 discs.
gawd.
rather than start a new thread. could i get a quick heads up on how to change a drum map?? i mean the allocation of the hits.
basicly as i guess you'd expect the BFD2 drumhits arent in the same place as the EZ
i just did a direct duplicate of the original EZ midi, and chucked in on the new BFD midi track.
dont really know how to change the BFD map, to mimick the EZ midi map.
i thought theyd have just been the same.
help'd be appreciated.
cheers.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 08, 2009 09:49 pm Ya, that's why it kind of caught me. I started wondering if it could be something like that. I know my hardware has settings like that so thought maybe his software does as well.
Deon, 55 gig. That's nothing compared to a couple of the libraries I have for NI stuff.
