Drum Dilemma
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Posted on Dec 01, 2003 01:29 pm
BennisHahn
Ex-Wookie
Member Since: Aug 29, 2003
Ok, while considering what computer interface to get, I came across the fact that I have no way of laying down drums at this point. Looking into it, it seems I have three options.
1) Fruity Loops: Some say it shouldn't even be a contest but after using the trial version for a while now, I find it difficult and time consuming to lay down a drum track with enough fills and things of that sort to make it sound real. Plus, it is not dedicated to drums and therefore doesn’t excel in a wide variety of sounds.
2) Boss Dr. Rhythm 3: This is a little $200 drum machine that has enough options for fills and intro's/outro's and doesn't limit me to just A/B variations for the whole song. Plus, from the other drum machines I have used, it seems to me that bpm's (something I hate programming) are less of a concern then with FL.
3) Get a real drum set: I could pick up a Tama for around $380, but then there is the cost of mic's, and a larger recording system. Also there is the fact that I have never played drums, and while I keep pretty good time, it would take a while to become as proficient as I would like. Of course I could just record fills and such at the beginning and use FL for the verses.
Now, the first two options are practical and require no room at all. With these two I would get the Aardvark 24/96 and be done with it. The last option would require me to go for something like the Aardvark Q10, plus mic’s, which is far more expensive. The only thing really holding me on to the option of getting real drums is the fun factor. I have always wanted drums and while not being very good at first, I would enjoy doing it much more then programming something in Fruity. But they also take up a lot of space in my little 10'x10' bedroom, and cannot be played late at night. hmmmm... Any thoughts?
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Dec 01, 2003 01:35 pm FYI, FruityLoops IS NOT the only software sequencing option for drums. I use Project 5 from Cakewalk, the Velocity VSTi is a wonderful sequencer for drums. Plus you can edit each individual note to make it come to life more...
Ultimately there is no perfect replacement for the real deal, but I want to make you aware FruityLoops IS NOT the only game in town.
TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Dec 01, 2003 01:46 pm Option 4: buy some hand drums. Does it need to be a regular drum kit? I use primarily hand drums in my music. It's not for everyone, but I dig it.
A friend once let me borrow their Boss Dr. Rythymn Section. I thought it was a very cool and versatile little device. The sounds are great, and you can have wildly varying beats with little interface difficulty. I'd recommend that machine to anyone.
TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Dec 01, 2003 01:48 pm BTW - one of those methods named forces you to do all your rythymn composition at a computer. Another effectively limits you to your studio space. Get that Dr. Rythymn and you can take it with you wherever you want.
Dec 01, 2003 01:54 pm With "Velocity" you can tap out the rhythm on your keyboard, if snap is turned off, you can get it as far out of time or in time as you want to...it'll set the note (or drum) velocity by how hard you press the key...it's pretty cool, at least for a non-drummer like me.
Another benefit with things like FruityLoops and LVelocity is that you can also build your own kits from samples of whatever drums you want...I went to my friends house and recorded him playing his DW kit and used those for a long time.
Dec 01, 2003 02:44 pm Tincanbug, while being a good idea, I don't think hand drums would work for me that well as I do some pretty heavy rock stuff. I guess the only real way to decide is to go to guitar center and play with the boss and smack around some drums. I don't think I want to go for fruity right now, but that may change. I agree with you about the space/staying on the computer issue and would like to avoid it but I have some primal urge to hit stuff and have it sound good too. Hence drums. Db, I'm going to check out this Velocity VSTi you speak of. Is it stand-alone or part of Project 5?
Edit: Also, considering the obstacles I have already written about, would it be wise to spend the extra $500 or so for the mic’s and such for real drums?
TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Dec 01, 2003 02:58 pm You could go with electronic drums, and combine the best of both worlds... Play at any volume you want, any drum sound you want. But then you're still confined to a certain area, unless you get a highly portable setup. If you have an electronic set, you won't need to mic it.
Dec 01, 2003 02:58 pm Not sure if there is a standalone version or not...
Dec 01, 2003 03:07 pm Tincanbug, yeah, I want a set but the only one within my price range is this one service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear and I haven't heard much of anything about it so I am a little hesitent. It does cut down on the room used up though.
Dec 01, 2003 03:18 pm Noize2u has an Alesis drum module and the sounds are nothing short of incredible...we used that module when we were scoring a film a while back and I thought it sounded stellar...might be worth a listen...
Dec 01, 2003 03:30 pm Acctually, this thing looks pretty solid. It looks to be expandable and is a tad smaller then a real set.
I am assuming you didn't have to do much with the sounds in the form of compression and dynamics processing before you recorded it right, dB?
Dec 01, 2003 03:37 pm not much at all no...not like with a real drumset, the samples already had most of the work done before being put in the module...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 01, 2003 06:02 pm Indeed it is true. I have used Alesis starting with their HR-16 and on up since 1980. I would love to add the DM Pro to the arsenal as well. I use both my keyboard controller and a small drum trigger dit I have, which I plan on expanding soon. I dont think I have used real drums on any of my tunes since 1998. The DM5 has 12 trigger inputs which are all fully assignable. So you have room for expansion with that kit. I will say that is one hell of a price for that unit. I bought my DM5 when it was one year old and paid $350.00 for it. The price MF shows on that kit is well worth it if you ask my humble opinion.
If you have other questions about using digital drums feel free to ask.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 01, 2003 11:09 pm Ohhh, Get the drums.....GET THE DRUMS!!!
I mean I don't know all of the factors, but I hear you say you are interested in drumming. If you can go ahead and develop the skill. Verrrry cool and very in demand...Always! The electronic drum set is a great idea for starters. A good friend of mine has laid countless tracks with his set for me all via headphones. Tic tic tap tap is all that was heard in the room. He has since switched to acustic but he built his chops on the electric. He still keeps a couple of trigger pads around for when we get feeling wierd. Pretty cool recording too as his module let him set drums in a stereo field. I simply went direct with both channels into the board. Tooo simple!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 02, 2003 08:48 am Yes indeed, the other things I forgot to mention are the fact with the DM5 you have a huge number of differant samples to work with. Almost anykind of percusion you can think of. It also gives you the ability to as Walt said, put the drums anywhere in the stereo field you like. You can tune them and adjust the volume independant for each drum. You can build your own kits consisting of any drum you want. And as far as the trigger kit goes, you are not limited to just triggering your DM5 with them. I alos trigger my other synths as well when I need a certain sound not on the DM5 I simply set it to send the midi data out from the triggers through the DM5 and on to the sequancer and there you have it. I can trigger anything I wish with it. So as Walt said, I think the kit is a great start and it will still be usable in your arsenall well down the raod for years to come. To tell the truth, I even have some triggers left from my Roland kit from the 80s. The old triangle looking things, which are really 4 triggers in each drum. So you will never loose out with investing in something like that kit.
Dec 02, 2003 08:49 am Slackin at home today, eh Noize? Or did you suddenly become a desk-jockey like me at your job :)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 02, 2003 01:09 pm Uh,ya slackin. Mary is gettin the wisdoms out today so I figured Id take the whole day and be a good servant. but while shes sleepin I figured Id catch up here.
