UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
Drum Tracks / Original Backing Tracks
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I used to write loads of original songs and I have dozens of tapes full of songs and compositions. I was aided by a brilliant keyboard which allowed me to write the drum and bass parts really quickly
from scratch. I could create a backing track from nothing literally in 10 minutes. It had seven different 'layers' for instruments, and six different 'loops' you could programme - and the parts could all be recorded in 'real time'. All these were assigned on specific buttons, and it made making a track really simple - you could just get on with the playing without all the programming.
That meant the creative process wasn't stopped by the need for a great sounding drum track. Unfortunately the keyboard is now decades old, and the sounds are really not up to scratch.
I've tried quite a few more modern solutions, but am really finding it difficult to find a simple way to create drum tracks for new compositions. With drum machines I find I lose the creative impetus because they're often quite long-winded to get a result. By that time, the moment of inspiration has gone.
I've tried other more modern arranger workstation keyboards, and they're so complicated, it's not very simple to create something. Whether it's a standalone solution, or one that can be used on a PC (I use Reaper) I really don't mind, but it MUST be fairly simple and intuitive.
I'm looking for the Holy Grail, really - but any suggestions very much welcome.
I've been looking for a decent option for many years!
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You can usually just drag the groove from the browser straight to your DAW and arrange your track there.
There are lots of programs available. Some examples are EZ/Superior Drummer, BFD 3, Steven Slate Drums. The sounds from any of those programs will be miles better than what you'd get from an old keyboard.
I'd recommend watching some youtube tutorials on some drum programs to get an idea of which one would suit you best.
@ChrisMusic - I really wish that were possible! I can program a whole drum backing track so quickly, it would just make my life so easy!! My old keyboard is a Yamaha PSR500, and according to Yamaha, whilst it says it is Midi, it isn't (apparently) completely 100% Midi compatible (whatever that actually means!) Having said all that, I know nothing about MIDI.. for those who know more about these things, this is the Yamaha manual for the PSR 400/500:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/PSR500E.PDF
All the midi details are on page 33 - quite brief so I suspect it's not possible. Perhaps it will make sense to someone!! Otherwise, that would really have been a great way of doing it.
Mind you, the whole setting up Midi channels baffles me. I've never been able to work out Midi. Like I said above - I may be thick.
I suppose that's the problem... but then we all have our own ways and habits for writing...
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You can buy loads of extra kits:
http://www.thelooploft.com/collections/maschine-drum-kits/products/maschine-kit-blues-drums-1
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I've got a Rhythmtrak 234, and that baffles me enough!
Try an Ableton Live demo
Thanks for all the suggestions, chaps.
Basically on the keyboard it was dead easy. No LCD display, so dedicated buttons...
Rhythm - For your drum / percussion (but you could do this on any track)
Bass - Self explanatory
1 - a single instrument track
2 - 2 tracks (press the button twice to get to the second track)
3 - 2 further tracks (same as above)
So basically 7 tracks you could record onto.
The song itself had five buttons you could edit: Intro, Fill 1, Verse, Fill 2, Bridge, Ending. They had a set number of bars (2 for Intro, 1 for the Fills, and 4 for the verse, bridge and ending). That was the standard number for 'Accompaniment Style 1, but other styles (99 of them!) often had different lengths.
Although that looked limiting, it you were clever, you'd put other bass / rhythm tracks on the other instrument tracks and you'd be able to double the tracks. And all the instrument buttons could be turned on or off 'on the fly'.
All you had to do was choose the song you wanted to edit; delete the sounds from it, and then press 'record', where the track would loop while you played on whichever track you liked. It meant you could tweak as you went along. It literally took seconds to start playing along to a blank canvas.
Bloody brilliant.
Can you really convert audio to midi like that? Blimey.
However, while looking for a tutorial, there's a tutorial for Reaper, and apparently it has a 'Stillwell Drum Trigger' which converts audio drums to midi - so I'll give that a go later on.
If it works, I will be a very happy bunny indeed. I may be able to get back to being prolifically crap.
If anyone else uses Reaper, the one thing that drives me mental is that finding plugins can be a bloody nightmare. For example, looking for EZ Drummer? It isn't in the plugins as EZ Drummer. It's listed as dfh sampler 16 out - took me ages to find it when I first installed the bloody thing!