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Topic: A drum machine for dummies. |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 12:46 pm |
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| Any recommendations for an easy to use drum machine for our real basic laptop recording setup. We have the cheapest PreSonus 2 channel interface into a dedicated laptop, and several consumer-grade Shure mics. Don't need to sound like Gene Krupa or the latest hip-hop, just want to lay down an easy country or blues shuffle with a brushed snare, high-hat, and perhaps a kick drum and ride cymbal now and then. Want something simple. Like a real drummer. And easy. Unlike a real drummer. |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 5:06 pm Get a usb or midi keyboard controller
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If you can get yourself an inexpensive usb or midi keyboard controller, you should be able to get yourself a program like Steven Slate drums, Addictive drums, or Native Instruments Abbey Road drums, etc.
Open up the software within your DAW and from there you could simply hit the record button and tap out the beat that you want. It doesn't get any easier than that, IMO.
Your Presonus unit should have come with Studio One Artist, but I'm not sure if the Artist version will recognize VST plugins. The Professional version definitely does. Presonus might still be offering up some very good deals on upgrading from the Artist version if you want to do that.
The Professional version comes with an entry level version of Native Instruments Kontakt player which contains all kinds of virtual instruments.
Including a scaled down version of Abbey Road 60's drummer. I really like it.
Cakewalk's Sonar X3 Producer version also comes with all kinds of virtual instruments, including drums.
You should be able to make some very nice recordings with that Presonus unit and a laptop.
Good luck.
Rick |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 7:45 pm
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If you want to keep it all on your laptop you could use EZDrummer from ToonTrack. Regularly about $150 -$180 now on sale at many places for $79.99. The add on modules which are probably not necessary for what you need are on sale also:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EZdrummer/ |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 9:42 am
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Thanks Rick and Greg for your suggestions. I should have explained that the rig belongs to my roommate; he's the one who operates it. That is probably for the best, because he's much more computer savvy than I ever will be.
Rick, my roommate is a keyboardist. I'm fairly certain that his Yamaha piano unit is MIDI equipped. The Presonus unit does indeed use the Studio One software. It has some drum simulations, but he's found it difficult to produce anything simple; it's all too busy.
Greg, we will definitely check out EZDrummer. Looks promising.
Thanks again to both of you for your help! |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 10:38 am
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I have EZ Drummer, but I keep going back to my Alesis SR-16 in my studio. I also have an Alesis SR-18 (and it has 3/4 programs that the SR-16 does not have), but the SR-16, 31A program, is my "go to" drum machine for most traditional country.
With the Alesis SR-16 or SR-18, there is no programming needed. Just select the drum style program you want and then set the tempo. (It can be programmed if needed). |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 12:25 pm
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| Jack Hanson wrote: |
Rick, my roommate is a keyboardist. I'm fairly certain that his Yamaha piano unit is MIDI equipped. The Presonus unit does indeed use the Studio One software. It has some drum simulations, but he's found it difficult to produce anything simple; it's all too busy.
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This sounds like you're using the drum loops that might come with Studio One. Is that what you're talking about?
If so, that's different from what Greg and I are trying to describe to you.
If your keyboard player has a keyboard with a midi out, he should be able to connect his keyboard to the midi in on your Presonus unit.
Once you get Studio One to recognize his keyboard, you can then use software like EZ Drummer or any of the software that I told you about and simply tap out whatever beat you'd like to use. It's that simple.
The reason I like using the drum sample software is because in Studio One, you can do something called exploding tracks. This enables you to have each drum voice (kick, snare, etc) on it's own track.
That gives you so much more control over your final mix. Being able to edit the midi tracks is very handy.
The quantize feature in Studio One for example, is the very best one I've ever used.
I hope this helps.
Rick |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2014 9:38 pm
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I got my kid a copy of EZDrummer for $29 when it was on sale before Christmas. Guess I should have bought a few extras to resell on eBay.
Check out something like the Ion IED04 drum module for actually playing the sounds (by hand.)
_________________
Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10 & Peavey Nashville 1000
www.16tracks.com |
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