Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

[Tor]

I'm looking at this package deal - EZDrummer, DFH and a Nanopad from Korg.

How does one go about with such pads? Do one need to be good at the timing when hitting and triggering the drums, or can one "lock" them into beats so you can just hit them approximately at the right time?

I know nix and nada about pads and recording the drums, so a small rundown would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

Haven't tried them, but I'll assume you have to have good timing.

Since DFH will be the primary sound/sample source, you will, of course, have to have the Nanopad connected to the PC by whichever means it provides (USB? Firewire? MIDI?). Once there, you'll have to set up the recording app and/or EZD MIDI Input as whatever the Nanopad shows up as in the list of available Inputs.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

Real Time Programming will require good "real time" playing ability. Natch.

The other option to which you elude is Step Time Programming. In this case, all that you are doing is using the pads or buttons of a MIDI Controller to select which beats within a 16-step bar of 4/4 time will trigger a particular drum or percussion sound. e.g. The kick drum will usually be on steps 1 and 9. The snare drum will sound on 5 and 13. A closed hi-hat might tick away on 3, 7, 11 and 15. That sort of thing.

Much depends upon whether you intend to compose drum parts or physically play them. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages, depending upon what sort of feel (or lack of it) you wish to achieve.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

I'd probably do a combination of doing some loops by trying to tap out the bass and snare beat and then manually correcting them (moving them) in a midi editor window if need be (or having it auto-correct it by snapping it to a grid), or just using the pads to manually place drum hits in a midi editor window one hit at a time. but thinking about it, it seems just as easy to start with out of the box loops and just dragging or adding hits as needed with no pad thingy since the loops provided are usually nice starting points.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

Personally programing rock drums is my worst nightmare, electronic music and HipHop is a lot easier for me.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

dude...

do yourself a favor before you waste any dough.

download Beatcraft, and get handy with EQs.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

dude...

do yourself a favor before you waste any dough.

download Beatcraft, and get handy with EQs.

I've tried a ton of cheapo sequencers over the years (ramm drums, leaf drums, hotstepper, fruity loops, hammerhead, and a few I can't remember the names of) - they all suffer from the same things: often you can't use whatever WAV drum samples you want (but some you can, like beatcraft) or it wants to clip off part of the WAV you want to use, there's very little ways to humanize the loops or change velocities of hits, there's only one snare sound not multiple hits or top and bottom samples, and there's no room mics (essential). They often end up sounding very robotronic no matter how you EQ things or change the volume of individual drum pieces. MIDI drums are definitely the way to go lest ye want to feel the wrath of the internet police when you go to post song clips. I have felt that wrath - it is not fun. Of the "bad" list, Fruity loops gets the closest, but it's gotten way overshadowed by the main players listed above.

Having said that, I don't think it's necessary to spend a bunch of dough to make up and record a good tune, and if something works for ya, that's cool.

 

[Tor]

Re: Pads and drum programs, how does this work?

dude...

do yourself a favor before you waste any dough.

download Beatcraft, and get handy with EQs.

I did myself that favor a long time ago, before you were even born.

It's all right, but it's free, and the quality is thereafter.

I think I will buy the package - if the Nanopad doesn't get much use, I can sell it.



Thanks for your input, gents!