It's probably easier to first set all the hats or rides to roughly the same velocity. To do this, Cakewalk users can:
1. Go to the piano roll.
2. Highlight all the hats/rides you want to change.
3. Right click anywhere on the grid and select MIDI effects/Cakewalk FX/Velocity.
4. Use the "Set All Velocities to _____" (default at 100) and try using the "Randomize by _____" (set to 3-5 for example)
Now the hats/ride are roughly even at the velocity you selected. To change the upbeats, select each upbeat hat/ride in the piano roll and use the Cakewalk velocity effect again. This time, you can raise the upbeats by a percentage over the others by using the "Scale Velocities to _____% of their current value.
For example, you can now raise the upbeats by 20% by setting this field to 120. You should randomize a little here as well obviously.
Try the audition button first if you want to hear the result before accepting the changes. Don't be afraid to experiment as you always have the option to "undo."
Try experimenting with the same groove but accent the ride pattern:
1) Downbeats
2. Upbeats
3) No Accents - All roughly even
[drummers typically refer to both the hats and the ride as the "ride pattern."]
Happy Holidays everyone.
