Confused as hell

[VTM Mike]

I have just recently began computer recording and it's been a pretty steep learning curve for me. My computer skills are fair at best, I have a pretty good handle on the recording part of things, I've done some studio work with past bands and have done quite a bit with 4 tracks. My problem is with drums(I figured eliminating the drummer would make things better).
I have a firepod firewire interface with Cubase LE software(PC). I just installed Drumkit From Hell 2 (actually a friend installed it). Question 1: should this program be installed as a VST instrument in Cubase? If so, how do I get it to Cubase? Do I need a midi keyboard to operate the program(it has a keyboard at the bottom of the window, but it seems to me it would be a pain to use it this way). I dont have any midi knowledge at all, so please reply in childrens terms or I'll be clueless. 2: Would I be better off with a different program, maybe something with loops? What about a regular old drum machine? I have a 1987 Casio RZ 1 but I won't even plug it in to this stuff, it's pretty bad. If anybody could walk me through this in simple terms, I would really appreciate it, I'm eager to get some stuff recorded, lots of ideas, but I need some decent drums to work with . Thanks alot





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'79 Ibanez Iceman JB/Jazz
'83 Washburn V-Floyd Invader/Dimarzio N
'05 Fender Tele SD APTL, APTR
'84 Fender P Bass
Peavey VTM 120 head
2 412ms cabs w/Celestion G12T85
Peavey Triumph PAG 60 112 combo
Peavey Heritage 130w 212 Black Widows
TC Electronic GMAJOR
BBE Sonic Maximizer

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Confused as hell

Yes, as a VSTi in Cubase. hit F11 in cubase, and load up DFH2 as a VSTi.

Then, set a midi track's output to DFH2. I assume it works of a standard GM drum map for midi programming... so then, start recording on that track, click around in DFH2 so it registers some hits and you get the bar there in cubase. Highlight that section, click midi, and click drum editor. Set the quantize to 16ths or whatever you want to program, and program the hits in there.

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: Confused as hell

Thanks for the fast reply, I'll go down to the basement and give it a try. Should I stick with this program and work with it or try something else? Thanks again

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Confused as hell

How powerful is your PC, and how much RAM do you have?

DFH2 is usually referred to as the redheaded stepchild of the DFH run... I personally hate it. I'd much rather use my own samples + DFH in Battery2, like I do now, or spring for DFHS, if your computer is powerful enough.

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: Confused as hell

My pc has 1 gig of ram and 250 gig hd, dual core processors. DFH2 was not my first choice, but the price was right. I'll see how things go. Also this program sucks up the memory- if I load a whole kit I start getting memory low pop ups. I just bought this pc 6 weeks ago and it is dedicated to only music- its not even online. If I enter individual drums and cymbals, the cpu's stay low. But with the whole kit loaded, I can max the cpu's and things start farting and popping. Is that normal?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Confused as hell

Hmm... how much mic bleed do you have turned on? Generally with something like a gig of RAM, I'd program it all out, and bounce it to disk/import it as audio files for the final mixdown.

That said, DFHS won't run that great on anything below 1.5. If you want to use plugins with it, I'd suggest upwards of 3.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Confused as hell

you have to ad a midi track--->tahn you have to highlight/,mark the track as long as you wish ,go to the drum editor in midi track settings ,go to map settings.all channels have set to "all" ant the midi source as dkfh2.you can drag every instrument up and down as you wish...your quantising is not taht important as long as you play everything with the drum editor.You have to loop into your drujm editor page to edit more notes.Keep in mind to edit the master tempo settings before you make any midi track

 

[Kev]

Re: Confused as hell

My pc has 1 gig of ram and 250 gig hd, dual core processors. DFH2 was not my first choice, but the price was right. I'll see how things go. Also this program sucks up the memory- if I load a whole kit I start getting memory low pop ups. I just bought this pc 6 weeks ago and it is dedicated to only music- its not even online. If I enter individual drums and cymbals, the cpu's stay low. But with the whole kit loaded, I can max the cpu's and things start farting and popping. Is that normal?

completely normal!! :crying:

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: Confused as hell

Thanks for the feedback. I removed the program, reinstalled it, got it in Cubase, was able to actually get some hits recorded, but I don't hear anything on playback, but the meters are working. It was late last night so I'll try some more tonight. Thanks again.