What are you guys using for drum tracks?

[weapon]

I use a couple different techniques, it depends on your budget.1. I mic a real drum set up using about 10 different mics, then run it through a Mackie 24 channel mixer, then stereo output it to my Mbox 2. (This is pretty pricey)2. I also use an Alesis DM5 drum module through my Kurzweil Keyboard and track the drums like I would track live drums only I just sample a beat and then copy and paste, I do this for electronica stuff mostly, for the price the Alesis DM5 (I think it's about $550) it has some really realistic drumsounds, if you EQ it before mix down no one will ever know the difference.Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

[Casey H]

Question: I want some VERY basic drum loops for VERY rough recordings (Cubase LE). Can you suggest something freeware or very cheap? I've looked at a few websites via Google but the info isn't very clear to me...Thanks! Casey

[ibanez468]

I haven't actually checked it out myself yet, but I've been hearing about this GrooveMonkee. That might be somethin' to look into. From what I remember reading on another post, the grooves are relatively inexpensive. Just a first thought.http://www.groovemonkee.com/home/index. ... d=34Here's another for audio loops.http://www.aussiebeats.com/classic-beat ... --Checking it out now. Yeah, I opened one of the sample folders, and those are VERY basic beats. Plus you can download 'em for free. They're MIDI files, so I would think that they would work with Cubase LE.

[Casey H]

Quote:I haven't actually checked it out myself yet, but I've been hearing about this GrooveMonkee. That might be somethin' to look into. From what I remember reading on another post, the grooves are relatively inexpensive. Just a first thought.http://www.groovemonkee.com/home/index. ... d=34Here's another for audio loops.http://www.aussiebeats.com/classic-beat ... --Checking it out now. Yeah, I opened one of the sample folders, and those are VERY basic beats. Plus you can download 'em for free. They're MIDI files, so I would think that they would work with Cubase LE.Thanks ibanezMuch appreciated! I did download some Monkey stuff but the beats sound like midi tones, not drums.... I guess you get what you pay for... All I am looking for is some samples of drum beats, even ones that don't vary much... I'm sure they are out there... Casey

[ibanez468]

I could be wrong, but did you have some sort of drum program inserted in Cubase or something? I know what you're talking about, those were probably the actual notes to trigger drum sounds, but if you didn't have a drum program or even a cheap soundcard drumset mapped up in Cubase, you probably wouldn't hear actual drum sounds, you would hear whatever your soundcard or whatever you're using through the computer, was defaulted at. I've had that happen to me many times before too. But as soon as I mapped a drum program of some sort that these midi tones were initially playing on, then I could hear the drum sounds. Then it made more sense. Those are probably the actual notes for a general MIDI drum setting. Usually channel (track) 10 is the standard channel for all MIDI drum sounds. So, they might actually work. I know when I listened to the MIDI examples on Monkee, they're playing back through my soundcard on my computer as a standard MIDI file. The BFD & EZ drummer examples probably won't sound right because they might have a slightly different piano key setup, not sure because I didn't download either of those. But regardless of which channel or track you use, you have to map a drumkit on that channel or track in order for it to work/sound right. Maybe you already know this and you're experiencing some other problem, I don't know. Just trying to help.ibanez468

[Casey H]

Quote:I could be wrong, but did you have some sort of drum program inserted in Cubase or something? I know what you're talking about, those were probably the actual notes to trigger drum sounds, but if you didn't have a drum program or even a cheap soundcard drumset mapped up in Cubase, you probably wouldn't hear actual drum sounds, you would hear whatever your soundcard or whatever you're using through the computer, was defaulted at. I've had that happen to me many times before too. But as soon as I mapped a drum program of some sort that these midi tones were initially playing on, then I could hear the drum sounds. Then it made more sense. Those are probably the actual notes for a general MIDI drum setting. Usually channel (track) 10 is the standard channel for all MIDI drum sounds. So, they might actually work. I know when I listened to the MIDI examples on Monkee, they're playing back through my soundcard on my computer as a standard GM MIDI file. The BFD & EZ drummer examples probably won't sound right because they might have a slightly different piano key setup, not sure because I didn't download either of those. But regardless of which channel or track you use, you have to map a drumkit on that channel or track in order for it to work/sound right. Maybe you already know this and you're experiencing some other problem, I don't know. Just trying to help.ibanez468My dumbness... I tried just clicking on the files outside of Cubase and they played through Quicktime that way. Now I am trying to figure out how to import them as a track to Cubase. When I do, I can see the meter showing sound but can't hear anything. So something in the setup isnt right yet... I have to figure out this midi mapping stuff... Thanks again! You HAVE been very helpful! Casey

[ibanez468]

CaseyYou're almost there. If you can see something registering on the meters, then that's a good sign! Now you just have to figure out how to get the sound going through your speakers, and then map a drumkit to the track (that's if it's not already mapped). That might involve messing around with mixer in Cubase. It could be a number of little things that might not be set as to the reason you're not hearing anything. But if the meters are showing a signal, somethin's definitely playing. Keep at it, you'll figure it out eventually.ibanez468PS--Tell ya' what. I'll download some of the free MIDI files and see what the deal is. I have Cubase LE too. I'll get back to ya' when I find out what's goin' on. Cool?

[ibanez468]

Casey,Yeah, I just downloaded some GrooveMonkee MIDI files, and imported into Cubase LE. And now I can see the files on a MIDI track. I imported them straight to a MIDI track upon opening Cubase, so there's only 2 tracks (channels) showing right now. As I look at the track that actually has the MIDI information on it, I see the MIDI channel to the left, and I see I need to assign an OUTPUT or an Out. Mine reads: out: Not Connected. As soon as I click on the little 'down' arrow, an assign one (one of my choices is: Microsoft MIDI Mapper, which I chose) then I can hear the MIDI file. So try that. I think the MIDI mapper is standard among all PC's. But I can hear the MIDI file now, no problem. And I hear DRUMS!! Hope this helps.ibanez468

[twilsbach]

Casey, Check out the Beta Monkey Music loops. Each Sample library is $30. Pick up any of the "Drum Works" titles and there will be plenty of simple grooves, fills and single shots for you to work with.They're actual drums, played by a real person in an actual studio, I think they sound great.I'm not familiar with Cubase and the workflow when using loops, but they come as .wav files, so at the very least with a few quick copy/pastes you could have a very basic groove to work to.On my taxi page: Get Real, I Walk Alone, Things To Do While You're Alive are all Beta Monkey Music loops.

[Casey H]

Quote:Casey,Yeah, I just downloaded some GrooveMonkee MIDI files, and imported into Cubase LE. And now I can see the files on a MIDI track. I imported them straight to a MIDI track upon opening Cubase, so there's only 2 tracks (channels) showing right now. As I look at the track that actually has the MIDI information on it, I see the MIDI channel to the left, and I see I need to assign an OUTPUT or an Out. Mine reads: out: Not Connected. As soon as I click on the little 'down' arrow, an assign one (one of my choices is: Microsoft MIDI Mapper, which I chose) then I can hear the MIDI file. So try that. I think the MIDI mapper is standard among all PC's. But I can hear the MIDI file now, no problem. And I hear DRUMS!! Hope this helps.ibanez468Ibanez Thanks!!! I'm getting closer. I can hear the drums when I set my midi output to the synth on my sound-card (but no other place such as Windows MIDI mapper). That's the good news. I have a problem with my set up that may still be an issue but it's nothing to do with this and your advice was perfect. Unfortunately my sound-card only samples at 48K, not 44.1K and my Tascam recorder does 44.1K. So, when setting up Cubase I had to set my drivers to be the Tascam drivers, not the sound-card's as usually recommended. If I didn't do this, anything I mixed down came out like Alvin and the Chipmunks. The result, however, was I could only monitor while recording if I listened using the audio output of the Tascam unit via headphone or separate speakers. I'm OK with that- I'm set up for that now.But when I set the midi output to the Tascam instead of the sound-card's synth, I can't hear any drums anywhere, despite seeing the meter moving. What I don't know yet is if I leave it set to output to the sound-card synth while everything else is driven to the tascam, will the speeds be in sync... More experimenting is needed...I may breakdown and just buy a new sound card that supports 44.1K... I can't believe the manufacturer of this card (not a low end one at all!) didn't include that option... Did someone say this was fun? I think I should take Arkjack out for a few stiff drinks... Thanks again Ibanez! Casey