Possibly very dum question
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Posted on Aug 08, 2009 02:16 pm
Analogue Junkie
I Don't Do Software
Member Since: Jan 26, 2009
Please don't burn on me....
I am looking at replacing my old Analogue drum machine (step programing) for a DR 880.but I have no idea how I can actually write a complete drum track which would cover the length of a song. All the demo's online show how to make a repeating 4 bar loop by adding more and more and more.
How the heck do you actually program this so you actually have a drum track. With fills and beaks and rimshots? Drummers don't just keep adding an extra drum every four bars, on top of what they're already playing .
For ref I will be recording onto a Tascam DO02 so no software answers please.
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Aug 08, 2009 03:58 pm i start with a 16 bar loop OR physically play them on my keyboard with my fingers....;to start off....then add major (sectional) changes (copy and paste some more) then i go back and do fills (last few bars of important measures).
it is quite an exaustive process and is extremely time consuming to go for realistic feel....and i'm not even gonna get into tweaking velocities and timing (not using "grid" mode)...
the end result can be quite believable if you can think like a drummer.
now i find it easy to throw a caned loop very early on and write the music first, tne come back and do the drums last....just gets the ideas out quicker.
"no software answers"
if you are just gonna use a simple drum machine, i'd say just play the drum pads with your fingers....do a run with only kick and snare first....then go back and do hi-hatride (overdubed)
sorry i completely missed the last part of your post!
Aug 08, 2009 04:18 pm NO worries
OK That gives me an overdubbed loop but how do I write the whole drum track. Surely what you said (in the last bit) is no different to the 4 bar loop you get shown with every demo - repeating over and over. If I wanted a metranome to play to I could save alot of money - ha ha
I want a drum beat/pattern which has fills and drum rolls and changes throughout the song. Surely if I use the method shown on these demo's (I'm talking "youtube" here- adding/overdubbing more and more drums) ) I'll have to take the extra drum roll/fill so as not to jhave one at the end of every four bars - or am I completly off?
Aug 08, 2009 04:22 pm you are going to need a MIDI sequencer for that.....they do make hardware sequencers....and these puppies can be fun if you have a few midi comparable audio sources....
learn all about sequencing. you'll need to sequence "patterns" and save them all
then play back the saved patterns in a certain order.
note: "patterns" can just be fills or anything really, the sequencer won't care
Aug 08, 2009 04:55 pm So are you saying that all the DR 880 can do without a midi sequencer is play 4 bars over and over again? Just so you can "jam along"?
Aug 08, 2009 06:02 pm no you sequence out and save "patterns"....then after you have all the "patterns" you want to use, you create a "song" in the dr880 the song will play your saved patterns in what ever order you like.
Aug 08, 2009 06:04 pm like an example of a "song" on a drum machine will be to playback
"pattern 1" - intro
"pattern 2" - fill
"pattern 3" - main verse
"pattern 4" - fill to bridge
thes patterns you create and save in the machine first.
Aug 09, 2009 07:28 am OK that makes sense, but you still need the sequencer to tell the drum machine to - "play pattern 1 then 2 then 3" or any order you choose etc - right (?)
Hmmm that's kind of what I am doing already with my analogue drum machine - I'm working as a sequencer by pressing in each pattern. Thing is I can't see why I need to spend money on something I can do already. And I can't see that the DR880 has anything more than 4 saving buttons for patterns (correct me if I am wrong here). I have 16 on the analogue and just press the one I want on the fly. Ultamately recording a whole song with lots of different patterns.
Let me know if I'm way off with this perseception of how it works. I mean, if I can still play "sequencer" myself and record on the fly with the DR880 the it would be worth having.
Not if I need a sequencer as well though. :-)
Aug 09, 2009 07:29 am Oh and I don't mean playing "finger drums". I mean changing from pattern to pattern on the fly. :-)
Aug 09, 2009 07:34 am hmm yes sounds like your dr 880 has a built in sequencer....and that's just plum silly it can only save 4 patterns...i used to have an older dr rhythm ( i dont remember the model) but it could save over 100 of them (midi files are extremely small in size) then you can arrange them in "song mode" any way you like...no problem...check your manual
also there are far more advanced hardware sequencers that you can "play" on the fly (check out NIN live videos) some with touch screens and all kinds of cool stuff for controlling all your midi gear....the best part about 'em is portability and the "playability" of them in a live situation.
Aug 09, 2009 01:55 pm Told youit was dum question.
I checked out the manual and it appears you can do step recording for a whole song. Appears you can save upto 100 of them so no need for a sequencer.
Thanks for wasting your time on this one
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 10, 2009 09:08 pm I think the DR 880 has a SONG mode though as well doesn't it? I'd have to see the manual but I am pretty certain it does and can run an entire piece if you want it to.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 11, 2009 07:11 pm OK, just checked it out. It does have a song mode so you can create an entire piece either using patterns or programming it. Or as staetd above using a sequencer.
