I think I'm finally ready to make the leap from using tweaked and chopped up drum loops to creating my own beats.
I've always had a lot of respect for people who can really program drums well and I haven't really wanted to take on yet another learning curve but..........I think it's time I started.
So, what do you use and why? I've got a couple of friends who are very adept at making some slammin' beats with Reason which they're pushing me to buy.
But I've also heard some good things about Battery, DR008 and Groove Agent. So c'mon and tell me what y'all think.
Programming Drums: What do you use and why?
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- KVRist
- 234 posts since 19 Feb, 2004
Well Machine II is my current favourite. It's approach is similar to Groove Agent, however you program the rhythms and load your own samples. Selecting the different patterns via keys on the keyboard, or i have read indivual samples can be played on channel 10. Groove Agent is nice and fluffy and has a beautiful GUI which Machine II does not, but Machine II is far more powerful for the roll your own type.
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- KVRist
- 234 posts since 19 Feb, 2004
Did i mention Jorgen rocks?
Well .. he does
Well .. he does
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
That depends on what sequencer you are using now.
I always do my drums in logic, using a combination of live playing on keyboard, quantizing techniques (logic is the bomb with those), and piano roll. All major sequencer packages will give you similar results.
My results pretty much always depend on the way I play, as I've never been a big fan of step edit.
I used to like 909/808 style programming of the *gasp* MC-303 years a go, but I prefer logic nowadays. There's just so much more more freedom like this.
You say you want to make the leap from tweaked and chopped drum loops.
To me, the most interesting sounds come from intelligent combination of drumkits and chopped loops. Mix them well, in both arrangment and sound, and you're on your way to becoming a, well, what ever.
And I can't stress this enough. Do not quantize to grid!
I always do my drums in logic, using a combination of live playing on keyboard, quantizing techniques (logic is the bomb with those), and piano roll. All major sequencer packages will give you similar results.
My results pretty much always depend on the way I play, as I've never been a big fan of step edit.
I used to like 909/808 style programming of the *gasp* MC-303 years a go, but I prefer logic nowadays. There's just so much more more freedom like this.
You say you want to make the leap from tweaked and chopped drum loops.
To me, the most interesting sounds come from intelligent combination of drumkits and chopped loops. Mix them well, in both arrangment and sound, and you're on your way to becoming a, well, what ever.
And I can't stress this enough. Do not quantize to grid!
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
Yes, cos if you do, it will sound like your drums are actually playing in time with the other instrumentsKingston wrote:And I can't stress this enough. Do not quantize to grid!
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- KVRist
- 476 posts since 28 Jun, 2002 from Vancouver, Canada
Hi ...
Don't bother with Reason if you're just looking to program beats. Far and away the BEST software available for drum programming on the market today (on any platform) is FL Studio. The ease with which you can put together a complex beat is mind-blowing. It offers FAR more flexibility for programming drums than something like ReDrum in Reason, and it also lets you SEE the beat you're programming, not just one lane at a time.
Programming drums in a drum-roll in any of the major sequencers is a huge pain, as you also have to set up the sampler/synth to play back the drums. In FL Studio, the pattern is ATTACHED to the sampler, and it's incredibly easy to load in your samples and knock out a tight rhythm. Plus it's sample-accurate, which for drums is key (at least for me, and probably for you as well). Another major benefit is that you can use FL Studio as a VSTi or DXi in any compatible host, and you can also hook it up via ReWire to your DAW software of choice. There's really nothing that comes close to touching it. There are some soft-studios that may be more fluent for people used to the "old-school" approach to music making, but FL Studio owns all comers in simple and DETAILED drum programming.
Oh yeah, and it's cheap, too -- especially compared to Reason. You HAVE to check it out. It's well worth your attention!
(stu.macQ)
Don't bother with Reason if you're just looking to program beats. Far and away the BEST software available for drum programming on the market today (on any platform) is FL Studio. The ease with which you can put together a complex beat is mind-blowing. It offers FAR more flexibility for programming drums than something like ReDrum in Reason, and it also lets you SEE the beat you're programming, not just one lane at a time.
Programming drums in a drum-roll in any of the major sequencers is a huge pain, as you also have to set up the sampler/synth to play back the drums. In FL Studio, the pattern is ATTACHED to the sampler, and it's incredibly easy to load in your samples and knock out a tight rhythm. Plus it's sample-accurate, which for drums is key (at least for me, and probably for you as well). Another major benefit is that you can use FL Studio as a VSTi or DXi in any compatible host, and you can also hook it up via ReWire to your DAW software of choice. There's really nothing that comes close to touching it. There are some soft-studios that may be more fluent for people used to the "old-school" approach to music making, but FL Studio owns all comers in simple and DETAILED drum programming.
Oh yeah, and it's cheap, too -- especially compared to Reason. You HAVE to check it out. It's well worth your attention!
(stu.macQ)
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Oh heck,
I totally neglected this whole school of step programmers. I take it most of kvr is probably doing it?
Yes, it's tried and truly easy to approach to beats, but what if you're a capable keyboardist/drummer/guitarist? Oh yes, a traditional musician.. Well, you're pretty much f**ked.
I totally neglected this whole school of step programmers. I take it most of kvr is probably doing it?
Yes, it's tried and truly easy to approach to beats, but what if you're a capable keyboardist/drummer/guitarist? Oh yes, a traditional musician.. Well, you're pretty much f**ked.
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
You just tap in the beats and record, simple.Kingston wrote:Oh heck,
I totally neglected this whole school of step programmers. I take it most of kvr is probably doing it?
Yes, it's tried and truly easy to approach to beats, but what if you're a capable keyboardist/drummer/guitarist? Oh yes, a traditional musician.. Well, you're pretty much f**ked.
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- KVRAF
- 3139 posts since 6 Sep, 2002 from United Kingdom & Opinions Will Travel :O)
Piano rollKingston wrote:Oh heck,
I totally neglected this whole school of step programmers. I take it most of kvr is probably doing it?
Yes, it's tried and truly easy to approach to beats, but what if you're a capable keyboardist/drummer/guitarist? Oh yes, a traditional musician.. Well, you're pretty much f**ked.
Record via – keyboard or midi drum pads
Best regards,
Spe3d
:O)
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Oh, here's one enlightened individual then. I never bothered getting into FL, or other pattern based stuff that much.
So there *is* piano roll? And even realtime record?
Uuuh, the times they're a changin'
So there *is* piano roll? And even realtime record?
Uuuh, the times they're a changin'
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- KVRAF
- 6740 posts since 25 Mar, 2002 from sheffield, england
I like MicroTonic 
I bought it a couple of weeks ago after reading the SOS review: so far it has reliably provided me with the "perfect" kick sound for every tune I've dropped it in.
Nice to have the step sequencer option too..
I bought it a couple of weeks ago after reading the SOS review: so far it has reliably provided me with the "perfect" kick sound for every tune I've dropped it in.
Nice to have the step sequencer option too..
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- KVRAF
- 3139 posts since 6 Sep, 2002 from United Kingdom & Opinions Will Travel :O)
Oh! YesKingston wrote:Oh, here's one enlightened individual then. I never bothered getting into FL, or other pattern based stuff that much.
So there *is* piano roll? And even realtime record?
Uuuh, the times they're a changin'
I think things have moved on very quickly since you last looked at FL then
, I do all of my programming in the Piano Roll (I actually never use the step edit at all)Best regards,
Spe3d
:O)
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- KVRAF
- 2696 posts since 3 Aug, 2003 from Narnia
From my experience, you can't program a "human" feel with a Reason or FL type of interface.
While they're great for getting basic patterns together quickly, just try putting ghost notes in. Or having different quantize values for different sounds. Or just a triplet roll over a 4/4 beat.
My advice; unless you want to have a repeating one or two bar, machine-like pattern with no variation, steer clear of Reason and FL.
For me, the best way is to use the Matrix editor in Logic, or just play the parts in real-time then edit where necessary.
Cubase used to have a good drum editor as far as I remember. Don't know about the newer versions.
I don't mean to upset FL or Reason users (I use Reason myself from time to time). I think they're both very good programs, but they focus on a particular musical style and are simply NOT very good for drum programming other than dance beats - IMO.
While they're great for getting basic patterns together quickly, just try putting ghost notes in. Or having different quantize values for different sounds. Or just a triplet roll over a 4/4 beat.
My advice; unless you want to have a repeating one or two bar, machine-like pattern with no variation, steer clear of Reason and FL.
For me, the best way is to use the Matrix editor in Logic, or just play the parts in real-time then edit where necessary.
Cubase used to have a good drum editor as far as I remember. Don't know about the newer versions.
I don't mean to upset FL or Reason users (I use Reason myself from time to time). I think they're both very good programs, but they focus on a particular musical style and are simply NOT very good for drum programming other than dance beats - IMO.
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- KVRAF
- 3139 posts since 6 Sep, 2002 from United Kingdom & Opinions Will Travel :O)
I will bite my lip and resist
Best regards,
Spe3d = one heck of a drummer in FL
:O)