midi drums?
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Posted on Nov 28, 2004 12:10 am
uglyorgan
Member Since: Nov 20, 2004
hey i was wondering what the possibility is of me using all programmed midi drums for my bands cd and it actually sounding good? i have heard that it is possible to do it all by programming and having it sound like real drums. what all would i need? i have an alesis sr-16 and fruity loops 4. would this be all i need? thanks
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Nov 28, 2004 06:53 am it all depends on the drums you are talking about, some drum machines have friggin awesome drum sounds. Just don't use the crappy general MIDI drum sounds that come with most built-in type sound cards.
I used to use Velocity from Project5, and have now switched to Battery from Native Instruments for all my drums, and they sound kickin'
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Nov 28, 2004 03:58 pm I've heard some awesome programmed drums in songs, but besides great samples your ability to program them is what in the end will make or break them.
Dan
Nov 28, 2004 04:37 pm Olddog hits the correct nail on the heid here - its all about ability to program em.
I am improving over time at this and my machine (A ZoomRT123 has some good sounds onboard). However, its sometimes my programming that lets it down rather than the unit which, when I pushed/used it properly kicks ***.
I do most of my arrangements within a MIDI Sequencer then run this to the Zoom for the sound from that.
I know the issue you speak of - I couldnt get good sounds (cheaply) using just MIDI. So, I bought the machine and never looked back..best of both worlds now - programming the beats on the PC and running via the Zoom...great.
For info, yi canny whack a real drummer tho in ma opinion.
Coco.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 29, 2004 11:27 pm Gotta agree with OD here, as well as the others. But indeed programing is the key if your gonna use midi drums. I have tons of awsome sounds, and havent used real drums in almost 8 years. But it took some practice to get the programing to feel like real drums, and that is what makes the differance.
Dec 04, 2004 08:41 pm any program suggestions?
VMXMember
Since: Nov 28, 2004
Dec 05, 2004 02:10 am Sonar. If you are happy with your drum machine sounds,then midi out Sonar to the midi in of your SR-16, and audio outs of SR-16 to line ins of your soundcard(for final dub into an audio track).
The piano roll view in Sonar is very easy to use(tracker style) but you have to cut copy and paste repeating segments in the main view.
Cakewalk Home Studio would also work.
Dec 05, 2004 02:06 pm do you know if my sr-16 can load samples?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 05, 2004 02:13 pm NO, the SR-16 cannot load samples. Not much to adjust on em other then volume and pan. I beleive you might aslo have a menu for adjusting pitch and what not as well.
The SR-16 is a great little work hourse. In fact I did an entire 10 track christmass CD using all digital sounds and the SR-16 was the only drum machine I used. That was about 10 years ago though.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Dec 05, 2004 03:14 pm Fruityloops is good too, it has all the things you need, get some good samples and learn to program. I find most people forget about velocity and stuff like that. If you want it to sound real screw witht eh velocity of the hits. I personally don't try to get real drum sounds, I like mine sounding horribly processed and synthetic.