MDrummer Question--Saving

[edkilp]

Hi. I need some guidance when it comes to saving my work in MDrummer. If I save from within the Rhythm Generator, or the Rhythm Editor, am I saving only the current loop? How do I save all the loops, breaks, intros, etc for a single song? Is that done from the Import/Export -> Save All Loops, and the name I give it will be the name of my song? Also, if saving from within the Rhythm Generator or Rhythm Editor saves only one loop, will that just be another loop that's available along with all the preset loops? In other words, it's possible for me to create a huge library of loops, intros, breaks, etc. Am I correct? Thank you.

[edkilp]

I really don't see how or where to create a rhythm, generate all, then save everything as a single song to reload whenever I choose to. If I select Import/Export and save all loops, they don't load back in the same way. I tried to reload a set from the directory I created, but it just loads intros to the entire keyboard. I selected and loaded each type individually as well. First the intros, then the beats, then the breaks, etc, yet I had nothing but intros on all the keys. I wish there was a better explanation for how to use this program.

[goldglob]

Click the main menu button top right for options to save or load your whole song.
Apart from that you can save just about anything individually. Systematically explore each tab (rhythm generator, rhythm editor etc) , click on the main ? buttons for info (and you can hover over just about any individual button or field then press Ctrl with F1 for specific info). Click on all the save buttons to see what you are saving and where it goes in the file structure. Open up MDrummer in Program Data (it's not installed in the usual Program files) and study the file structure. As well as the main 'save' (and 'load') buttons look at the buttons that save and load individual things E.G. in Rhythm editor/ Loop editor: those buttons to the left of the record button.
Yes, coming to grips with MDrummer is very much about understanding the heirachy and terminology. Overall thing is the song, then Rhythms then loops. Another thing, when I save anything, I create my own folders to keep all my stuff separate from the factory stuff. E.G. open up save song from that main menu, highlight root, then click the create button, you'll have your own folder to put your songs in. Do the same with everything you save, create your own folders and sub folders...which are alongside Melda's folders in the structure, and so, yes, they become part of the pool from which stuff can be generated.
When you import/export multiple loops see in the window the loop type box, you choose beats or breaks etc, so no, this is not how to save the whole rhythm or song. Notice that the load multiple loops directory and the load (individual) loops directory are the same directory, it's just that the individual loop files are not shown in the multiple loop load window.
When exploring all this (in rhythm editor) it's good to click advanced (over on the left) and clear all loops, then you can see what happens better. E.G Clear all loops, now load multiple loops (choose type), see what happens...and see the many different loops that appear in the loop index panel (from which the random thing chooses).
I'm starting to think I should write a manual!

[edkilp]

Hey, thanks a lot for that. I have been making my own folders, but just wasn't sure how to go about saving things the way I want to. So I can save my whole song, but I can also add to the loops with my own beats and breaks, etc? Also, if I create a beat that includes toms and/or crashes, when I generate all the loops from that, will the toms and crashes be going on at the same time as the hats or rides in the base rhythm? This is of course not possible unless a man has 3 arms. I understand that it's better (?) to create the essential beats with no hats, rides, cymbals, etc, correct?
I'm getting a bit more comfortable with this each day, and yes, you should write a manual! The integrated help is to me more of just 'hey, you can do this, and you can do that' but not really very informative as to HOW to go about doing this or that. It's also becoming apparent that the generator, editor, and song tabs are individual entities, and one doesn't necessarily affect the other. I've noticed this when I would have the editor playing, then switch to the setup tab and inadvertently hit the play button, which causes the beats to play separately. Very deep program, and I still think I made a wise decision to buy it, but it's got more of a learning curve than I expected. Thanks for your help, and I'm sure I''ll have more questions!

[edkilp]

In fact, here's one now! I understand how the minimal setting can cause certain drums to be ignored if the level is set below a defined point. That's all well and good. Suppose I have a bar that is set to leave the snare out as it plays through 3 times. On the 4th time, I'd like the snare to be there. How do I make this happen using the MIDI command method? Can it be done? I'm not finding a way to alter the level setting while it's playing back this way. It seems that the velocity setting in my DAW (Reaper) has no effect on the level of the beats, like it does with the breaks and intro's. Maybe I could make a copy of the beat and add it to the same key, which would then allow me to trigger it with velocity level?
How long have you been using MDrummer? You seem to know your way around it very well. I appreciate you and your knowledge!

[goldglob]

... I tried to reload a set from the directory I created, but it just loads intros to the entire keyboard. I selected and loaded each type individually as well. First the intros, then the beats, then the breaks, etc, yet I had nothing but intros on all the keys. I wish there was a better explanation for how to use this program.

In the 'Save multiple loops' window, the loop type box chooses what type of loops you want to save from the keyboard (beats or breaks etc). You then put them in the directory somewhere.
In the 'Load multiple loops' window you choose from the directory what folder of loops you want to load, then use the loop type box below to specify where on the keyboard you want them to go (beats or breaks etc).
Normally you would save (for instance) beat type loops (on the keyboard) to a folder in the beats (grooves) part of the directory and breaks (on the keyboard) to a breaks folder and so on, but actually there's nothing stopping you (say) saving your beats to a breaks folder or your intros to a beats folder...or whatever! And likewise, you could (say) load all the loops in an intro folder onto your breaks part of the keyboard, and then load those same loops onto your outros part of the keyboard etc. It looks like you did something like that.

Do this:
Rhythm editor/Advanced/Clear
Choose a key in the beats part of the keyboard. Create a loop (just pen something in). Choose another key (in the beats part again), write another loop (but different). Now 'save multiple loops', choose beats in the loop type box (cos that's the part of the keyboard where you have something) and put them in a new folder. Now to see the actual files you've saved open up load loop back on the main window (near the record button) and navigate to the folder you saved them in (or have a look in Program Data).
Now clear all keyboard loops again. 'Load multiple loops'...highlight the folder you saved into, then in the loop type box choose where you want them to go on the keyboard.
And so on.
Just noticed that you have made further posts while I was writing this but will submit this anyway and get back to you, but it's 2.30 am here in London so prob not till same time tomorrow. Keep experimenting with it, once it clicks it's incredible.

[edkilp]

Thanks again. I definitely believe you. I did try to copy the beat and edited the copy, then I was able to have a slight variation of the beat using the velocity level in Reaper. Amazing! I think once I get going with this, it's going to be extremely fast to get these songs recorded, and the level of control I have seems to be limitless. I could actually just play my guitar to a click track, put markers where my verses, chorus, etc, then just draw the notes in on the MDrummer track and that's it! Thanks for your patience! have a good night.

[MeldaProduction]

And I need to thank goldglob for providing high-quality help again .

[edkilp]

He's a valuable guy to have here. Knows this program very well.

[goldglob]

My pleasure Vojtech and thanks edkilp. I've had MDrummer for about two years, but what with other commitments haven't spent as much time with it as I would like and have to say that there are still things I need to explore. Actually, part of the reason I enjoy participating is that by doing so I consolidate my own understanding of how this complex program works. To be continued...

[goldglob]

So I can save my whole song, but I can also add to the loops with my own beats and breaks, etc?

Yes, add your own folders of stuff to Melda's directory.You can save the song, various Rhythms, loops, settings, drumsets, individual tweaked drums, layers...etc, it all goes in with Melda's stuff to be loaded later or indeed if relevant to be included in generating.

Also, if I create a beat that includes toms and/or crashes, when I generate all the loops from that, will the toms and crashes be going on at the same time as the hats or rides in the base rhythm?

The essential beat can actually be anything. You can either just write it into the grid, or load a specific loop, or generate it ( see buttons half way down). Re the wording 'Generate from template' , my understanding is that a folder containing more than one loop is indeed a template from which a new loop can be generated. Note that MDrummers loop files also contain metadata (or something)...shuffle or straight loop, minimal level info etc (hey Vojtech, it would be interesting to know more about that (metadata?)), and these extra things are part of the 'template' and as such are taken into account when generating. After you have your essential beat set, you can then generate just beats, or generate all (beats, breaks, long breaks etc), but see the advanced settings. Up the top you have the option of merging base rhythms or not.

It's also becoming apparent that the generator, editor, and song tabs are individual entities, and one doesn't necessarily affect the other.

Yes, not necessarily, but they do relate. E.G. when you generate a rhythm in generator it appears in editor, when you 'play' in song or in quick setup it plays in editor, when you load a rhythm in quick setup it appears in editor, but yes, be careful with the various play buttons, E.G. The preview button in generator does not mirror the play button elsewhere (but they'll play together). The way song mode and editor interact is sometimes puzzling...but as you're using midi command, you don't need song mode...I clear it (right click in the big panel); you can still save your overall 'song'.

BTW, I'm not sure how to do this quoting thing.

[edkilp]

Thank you once again, kind sir!
I'm now having an issue where maybe my beats don't always fall right on the "1". Like it may fall on the "and", such as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 AND. I'm having trouble figuring out how to make that happen. I think if I have a beat playing, it seems that it will continue playing for it's entire length, regardless of where the next note on the piano roll is. That's beats I'm talking about. Breaks seem to trigger fine and will interrupt the beat, but it seems beats won't interrupt other beats until they play to the end. I'm sure that there will always be some editing and tweaking involved, but it's cool to get the majority of the song done in one nice easy package! Thanks again

[goldglob]

This rings a bell. Are you rewinding and starting playback sort of anywhere (not on one)? Do this: Rhythm editor/additional/perfect sync (enable it). Now when you start playback (anywhere) MD will sync properly after a quarter note or two. It will still start it's pattern at the cursor (anywhere) but get back in time quickly. Without perfect sync it will do as you describe I think.
Search this forum for 'perfect sync', you'll find a couple of threads where I discuss this issue. Let me know how it goes. Cheers.