Session Drummer: A Better way

[GrooveMonkee]

Session Drummer - Single Track Method

Here’s a simpler and much easier way to use Session Drummer. You shouldn’t have any midi data on any other track – it is best to work with just one midi track at this stage.

1. Right click in the midi track's FX bin and insert Session Drummer (Cakewalk FX -> Session Drummer).
2. Browse styles in the right window and individual patterns in the left window.
3. Audition grooves by selecting a pattern and pressing Sonar’s ‘Play’ button.
4. Build your track by double clicking on patterns to send them to the ‘Song Bin’ (bottom window).
5. Set each pattern’s number of repetitions by using the ‘Loop Count’ field.
6. Audition the whole track you’ve created by selecting one of the patterns in the Song Bin and pressing Play.
7. Insert the pattern(s) you’ve selected into Sonar via the Process -> Apply Midi Effects menu item (Alt P + Y).

Note: it’s best to leave the following box checked: ‘Delete the effects from the track inserts’ as this will remove Session Drummer and eliminate any possibility that it will be playing simultaneously with your new drum track.

[Van Greco]

This is the way I have always used session drummer. Is there another way that I've overlooked? I dont really use it too much anymore, but would find another method interesting.

[GrooveMonkee]

VG,

Depending on how you loook at it, there are three that I know of: the way posted above, the method posted at my site in the tips section and the "Audition Method" from the piano roll which brings up the SD interface with an Audition button. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else knew of a fourth method.

I was basically updating the method I've been suggesting to people for the past year or so - a method that works but is more complex than the one above.

[gullfo]

one last thing - I always save my song in session drummer before processing MIDI... this way if something happens or you change your mind later, you can readily recall the song setup (even though SD saves the last know patterns, if you decide to alter your MIDI "a few songs later" it is really helpful to have the song saved...)