Hey, just getting stuck into mdrummer, I have it a few years but never got a feel for it, mostly because I didn't understand it fully.
I have noticed a few thing that I keep getting caught on, mostly workflow issues in the loop editor.
Can the pencil tool change to pointer when you leave the grid rather than staying as pencil, it could eliminate having to use the buttons to change from pencil to pointer.
If I double click or right click under the track name I get the same menu, could could one of these actions go straight to add new track menu?
When copying and pasting can you just highlight the hits, drag them to the next grid, press ctrl and drop to duplicate pattern?
I think the biggest one is the disconnect between the drum editor and the loop editor,
I have a drumset loaded and I am writing a rhythm and feel I need to change the snare, I have to go in to the drum editor find the track in the drum list and then change the sound, then back to the loop editor then play with the rhythm, now I want to change the hat sound, same deal, it just breaks the flow going back and over while trying write the drums.This becomes worse if a drumset is not selected, I use bought sample packs so it means extra navigation to get to them.
I think in the loop editor drum list that, 1 click on the instrument highlights the hits on the grid, double click brings up a sample browser and right click stays as is, might be a solution.
Or maybe top part of the rhythm editor can change to a sample browser, like in the drum editor where "Layers & Generators" and "Drum editor" have separate tabs and keep the loop selector visible, this would be great for writing patterns and creating drumsets in one place.
Just a few idea's I thought might improve the workflow for writing drums.
Cheers D
MDrummer workflow
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- KVRist
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122 - KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
Hi, ok, so:
- changing cursors - what OS are you using? Note that on Mac it just doesn't work as it should, except for a few host I think, and one of the things are the cursors.
- track menu - no, sorry, workflow issue.
- I don't understand, are you talking about copy & paste, or cloning, or anything else???
- That's just how it is, sorry, the rhythm engine is independent on the sound engine. And for sample packs you can just use sample analysis and import and then use the drumset designer. Double click on a track to switch to drumset editor could probably be implemented, added to to-do list, but having drumset editing in a rhythm editor is an absolute NO.
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- changing cursors - what OS are you using? Note that on Mac it just doesn't work as it should, except for a few host I think, and one of the things are the cursors.
- track menu - no, sorry, workflow issue.
- I don't understand, are you talking about copy & paste, or cloning, or anything else???
- That's just how it is, sorry, the rhythm engine is independent on the sound engine. And for sample packs you can just use sample analysis and import and then use the drumset designer. Double click on a track to switch to drumset editor could probably be implemented, added to to-do list, but having drumset editing in a rhythm editor is an absolute NO.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
I'm using win 7
Track menu, sound not a big issue.
Yea just a simple copy and paste
I wasn't looking to switch to the full drum editor just a sample browser, so you can change/write rhythms and flick through samples all in the one place, if you need to edit the sample you would go back into the drum editor.
Double click would improve things.
Track menu, sound not a big issue.
Yea just a simple copy and paste
I wasn't looking to switch to the full drum editor just a sample browser, so you can change/write rhythms and flick through samples all in the one place, if you need to edit the sample you would go back into the drum editor.
Double click would improve things.
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
Cursors - then please tell me exactly what is happening, because I probably don't understand. Which host btw? Reaper is known not to handle cursors correctly.
Copy & paste - then I really don't understand, why are you saying drag & drop. Can you be more specific?
Samples - absolutely not! As you know the engine is not a simple sampler, we do NOT use just MSampler. Having a sample browser in a rhythm editor is absolutely out of question.
Copy & paste - then I really don't understand, why are you saying drag & drop. Can you be more specific?
Samples - absolutely not! As you know the engine is not a simple sampler, we do NOT use just MSampler. Having a sample browser in a rhythm editor is absolutely out of question.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
Cursors
I knew when writing this it would be hard to explain without a visual referance.
so here goes If when in the red area the Cursor changes to pointer from pencil. Then create a new bar highlight the hits I want to copy to the next bar and drag and drop them to the position I want.
Now that I am looking at it and trying to expian my idea I am starting to see my error. I still have to change to pointer to drag them to the next bar.
Getting familar with the workflow in the loop editor might be my solution.
Copy & paste - I have a 1 bar pattern, create new bar with the arrow, with pointer highlight Hats, snare and kick hits. Click and hold on one of the hits drag them to the position on the next bar press Ctrl release mouse button and hits duplicated to the next bar.
and the sampler yea I see were your comming from,
So maybe a single click on a track to highlight track hits and Double click on a track to switch to drumset editor.
I knew when writing this it would be hard to explain without a visual referance.
so here goes If when in the red area the Cursor changes to pointer from pencil. Then create a new bar highlight the hits I want to copy to the next bar and drag and drop them to the position I want.
Now that I am looking at it and trying to expian my idea I am starting to see my error. I still have to change to pointer to drag them to the next bar.
Getting familar with the workflow in the loop editor might be my solution.
Copy & paste - I have a 1 bar pattern, create new bar with the arrow, with pointer highlight Hats, snare and kick hits. Click and hold on one of the hits drag them to the position on the next bar press Ctrl release mouse button and hits duplicated to the next bar.
and the sampler yea I see were your comming from,
So maybe a single click on a track to highlight track hits and Double click on a track to switch to drumset editor.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
I am trying to get my head around this sample browser and loop editor in the one space. Mdrummer is a great kit but has a lot of feature which I have no real use for and I know that these features are important to others.
For my drums I would be looking for a sampler browser and a loop editor in one, this is basically how Geist works, which I have but can't stand the Gui and the sample browser is a disaster.
With MDrummer is has a great Browser but in the drum editor it is a bit restricted, I have to go about 6 folder deep to get to some files, with names like
"wasd_pluck_ms20_nylon-ceramic_m_t" in wavesalchemy samples, it can be a pain seeing what files I am selecting, unless I stretch it across the full screen, the Gui is very clear with the loop editor and loop selector, and that import sample that creates drum sets is unbelievable (only spotted it 2 days ago in a video)
I have 4 drum synth/samplers, at the moment I just drag samples form cubase's media bay into the project. Clicking through menu's and and tabs just takes me away from the rhythm I'm working on.
I wonder would a second smaller version of MDrummer might be an idea, lets say MDrummerSampler.
It would tick a lot of boxes for people wanting to write quick loops for Electronic music, with MDrummer the Daddy for those writing more complex drum tracks.
For my drums I would be looking for a sampler browser and a loop editor in one, this is basically how Geist works, which I have but can't stand the Gui and the sample browser is a disaster.
With MDrummer is has a great Browser but in the drum editor it is a bit restricted, I have to go about 6 folder deep to get to some files, with names like
"wasd_pluck_ms20_nylon-ceramic_m_t" in wavesalchemy samples, it can be a pain seeing what files I am selecting, unless I stretch it across the full screen, the Gui is very clear with the loop editor and loop selector, and that import sample that creates drum sets is unbelievable (only spotted it 2 days ago in a video)
I have 4 drum synth/samplers, at the moment I just drag samples form cubase's media bay into the project. Clicking through menu's and and tabs just takes me away from the rhythm I'm working on.
I wonder would a second smaller version of MDrummer might be an idea, lets say MDrummerSampler.
It would tick a lot of boxes for people wanting to write quick loops for Electronic music, with MDrummer the Daddy for those writing more complex drum tracks.
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- KVRAF
- 2807 posts since 8 Sep, 2009
Don't you scroll thru a sample dir and actually 'listen' to the sounds rather then reading their file names?dark-i wrote:with names like "wasd_pluck_ms20_nylon-ceramic_m_t" in wavesalchemy samples, it can be a pain seeing what files I am selecting,
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
Yes I would scroll thru sounds and listen to them, but at the same time if I know the type of sound I'm looking for, like a tight or punchy kick and the name of the file describes the sound very well , I don't want to be scrolling through 50 kicks blind when I could easily click on the 5 described as tight/punchy punchy to see if they suit. 
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
Ok, dark-i really I cannot work in this chaos. It's taking me 15 minutes just to read all this...and after every sentence I need to ask myself if it is associated to the previous sentence or not...and what are you talking about at all... sorry but it's driving me crazy 
Please next time make a separate topic for every question. I'm not sure how many questions are here, but I'll answer the ones I see:
- Cursors - they do not change on the read area, do they? It's pencil everywhere.
- Copy & paste - you can simply ctrl+click on the arrow in the title of the bar, that will duplicate the bar (I assume that's what you are trying to do).
- Sampler - well, it's extremely versatile, so it needs to be hidden. But actually I don't see the layers you are talking about. If you click in the drumset editor, it shows the drum source right away. So if you are using MSampler, then you see the files right away. If that doesn't suit you, you can drag & drop the samples from system explorer into the drumset editor. Or you can just use analyzer/import to create components from all your sample libraries and then use drumset designer. Quite frankly I don't see how the workflow could be faster. Of course it assumes that when you are creating your rhythm, you are not changing the sound at the same time. These are 2 distinct things to do obviously.
Please next time make a separate topic for every question. I'm not sure how many questions are here, but I'll answer the ones I see:- Cursors - they do not change on the read area, do they? It's pencil everywhere.
- Copy & paste - you can simply ctrl+click on the arrow in the title of the bar, that will duplicate the bar (I assume that's what you are trying to do).
- Sampler - well, it's extremely versatile, so it needs to be hidden. But actually I don't see the layers you are talking about. If you click in the drumset editor, it shows the drum source right away. So if you are using MSampler, then you see the files right away. If that doesn't suit you, you can drag & drop the samples from system explorer into the drumset editor. Or you can just use analyzer/import to create components from all your sample libraries and then use drumset designer. Quite frankly I don't see how the workflow could be faster. Of course it assumes that when you are creating your rhythm, you are not changing the sound at the same time. These are 2 distinct things to do obviously.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
Sorry about the confusion, that's how I feel when Im using it, everything is a bit all over the place.
I have been using it a bit more and found, if I want to do or change anything I have to go to a different page/tab, then find the track, find the control, change it and back to loop, it just goes on like this while making a loop. It's painfull.
Is it possible to control basic things like mute, solo, volume, change samples, pan, click drum pads and edit loop all on one Page. Nearly all other drum loop samplers work like this and it would speed up things considerably and make it much easier to use.
Thats is what I was trying to figure out and say.
Cursors - ok
copy& paste - yea thats what I was trying to do
I have been using it a bit more and found, if I want to do or change anything I have to go to a different page/tab, then find the track, find the control, change it and back to loop, it just goes on like this while making a loop. It's painfull.
Is it possible to control basic things like mute, solo, volume, change samples, pan, click drum pads and edit loop all on one Page. Nearly all other drum loop samplers work like this and it would speed up things considerably and make it much easier to use.
Thats is what I was trying to figure out and say.
Cursors - ok
copy& paste - yea thats what I was trying to do
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
I'm afraid you cannot do that. MDrummer is way too deep to have everything available from one place. Personally I'm surprised you are saying what you are saying, because there's basically no other AI drum machine (except for Jamstix and that's not a relevant competition imho). So saying that every other drum machine has the layout like you say seems a little "out of the box" here. What you want is just not possible. It's like you'd want to draw pictures from a movie editor - both programs are just different, you may want to use images in the movie editor, but you will probably have to paint them elsewhere... Personally I think MDrummer is probably too deep for you - you probably want just a simple sampler (you don't seem to be interested in other modules) and use MIDI with it. You probably need a very specific workflow and MDrummer with all these features just cannot be used like that.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 148 posts since 8 Aug, 2011
Sorry if you feel I have put your software down, it wasn't what I intended.
Yea I think Mdrummer is to much for what I want to do. Could you consider building a samller Drum loop sampler in the future that would focus and ease of use, to add to your drum line up. Mdrummer is class, something smaller just focusing on samples and loops could be deadly.
Yea I think Mdrummer is to much for what I want to do. Could you consider building a samller Drum loop sampler in the future that would focus and ease of use, to add to your drum line up. Mdrummer is class, something smaller just focusing on samples and loops could be deadly.
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
I was thinking about it, but then it would probably be just the sampler. Adding the whole rhythm system is an overkill again. It may fit your workflow, but I think your workflow is very very specific. Most people wouldn't buy the "smaller" thing just because it doesn't have the synthesizers etc. I was thinking about just rhythm plugin, quite some people suggested it, but the problem is that connecting it to another plugin is a problem. It can either route MIDI, which is a problem in many hosts, or open a "drum plugin", which is something I just want to avoid for sake of compatibility. Opening other plugins is always problematic...
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14339 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
I was thinking though, that it wouldn't be a big problem to drag & drop samples from system explorer to a track in the loop editor, basically the same way you can drag & drop samples to drumset editor. Not sure if it would solve your workflow issue. For me it is hard to understand, because you wish to edit rhythm and drumset at the same time seems very illogical to me, so it is hard to come up with a reasonable solution.