KVR Audio

Rahodees · Post by **Rahodees** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:33 pm

I use a DAW (reaper). I have some drum VSTs that I can write midi tracks for. But what I haven't figured out is whether there are (ideally free or very cheap) VSTs that I can use more like a groovebox (I think? Never actually used one of those), not having to pre-write all the beats in midi first.

Right now if I'm playing a track I made, and I want to add drums, I can only figure out how to painstakingly _write_ the drum part, so to speak. I'd like to be able to just lay in the drums on the spot and edit as I go.

(Of course I could play the drums while recording so to speak, but I mean I want to do something more like a sequencer, turning beats on and off for different drums, rather than writing or playing while recording.

I of course looked up "sequencer VST"s and downloaded a couple of free ones but, I don't know, the problem is hard to describe but I got the distinct impression they just weren't made for what I'm looking for. Maybe just downloaded the wrong ones, or maybe "sequencer" is the wrong word for this. Or maybe free doesn't cut it.)

? ? ? · Post by **? ? ?** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:00 pm

greenmind72 · Post by **greenmind72** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:36 pm

You could try using midi loops for drums (like Groove Monkee for example), and then adjust in your DAW, rather than programming from scratch. They have some free ones and different styles, so you can test this method and see if it works for you.

Otherwise something like Playbeat by Audio Modern (VST), has a library of sequences, but also a lot of randomisation and variation features. You can load samples into it directly, or use midi out to trigger samples in DAW.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 10:27 pm

greenmind72 wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:36 pm Playbeat by Audio Modern (VST)

THIS ^^

Rahodees · Post by **Rahodees** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:20 am

Thank you! That reaper extension does the trick exceedingly well, and Playbeat is now goals!

Now I just need a good drum SYNTH vst and I'm golden! Have the microtonic demo but I am always hoping for free alternatives at first when I'm just figuring something out.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:51 am

The new Sitala2 drum sampler looks pretty cool ...
https://decomposer.de/sitala/

There's a thread about it here:
viewtopic.php?p=8697778

The only drum SYNTH I can think of is Drumaxx by Image Line. Quite old now ...
https://www.image-line.com/fl-studio/plugins/drumaxx/
and the free MiniSpillage: https://www.audiospillage.com/minispillage.html (MAC only)

Rahodees wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:20 am I am always hoping for free alternatives at first when I'm just figuring something out.

https://ronanfed-music.rf.gd/RF-Pads.html

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:25 am

All of Audio Damage's legacy products are free and the Tattoo drum machine exactly fits what you are looking for:

https://www.audiodamage.com/pages/free-and-legacy

zen001 · Post by **zen001** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 5:05 pm

To me (personel opinion) Sugarbytes Drumcomputer has some great features and underrated I think :
randomisation of many parameters such as patterns, kits, drumsounds ... Furthermore extensive editing and import of WAVs which can again be edited and mangled, makes it a very complete drumbox, drumsequencer, drumsound editing software package. Price is not exactly cheap, if you can wait for sales (last year in december it was 80 Dollars). There is a demo available
https://sugar-bytes.de/drumcomputer
Cheers

On the fly drum sequencing in DAW