Posts Tagged ‘drums’
Video tutorial using Reaper and piano roll to create a drum track using midi.
New video created to show how to program drums in Reaper using Piano roll.
VST Drums are Session Drummer 2 available to buy from the Cakewalk store for £8.99
http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10-CPHH1.00-20E
You can download the named notes file used in the video from here:
http://www.free4allbackingtracks.com/download/useful_files/lrEYLtse.html
Kept in a couple of mistakes because I thought they were important to see and how to correct.
If you’re new to reaper you’ll need to now how to setup your vst instruments, below is a video showing you how to do that.
I suggest you watch it before you install session drummer 2
Article about installing VST plugins in windows.
Related Reading:
Video on how to import audio loop into Reaper and use tempo to stretch and shrink drum loop.
Loop used is available to download for free here www.free4allbackingtracks.com
Straight 4/4 Closed Hi Hats 8ths 100bpm – Pattern 1
To download Reaper - Click
Importing a loop into Reaper is a pretty simple thing to do.
Go to ‘Insert’ – ‘Media File’ – locate your loop.
In the video I’ve made sure that the tempo matches the loop I’m about to use – this will then allow us to speed up or slow it down.
If you are going to use more than one loop then it is best that they are all the same tempo and you import them first before you alter the tempo.
You can stretch slow down your loop as much as you want but it can start to sound a bit draggy if you go to far with lowering the tempo.
Related Reading:
When creating a backing track for your own composition getting the drums can be a difficult thing at times.
Where do you start?
There are a lot of software programs out there some stand alone and some vst.
Standalone means a program in its own right.
VST is a program that needs a host(another program)
Without getting too complicated let’s look at a couple of ideas.
1. A program that allows you to loop an audio file.
2. A program that allows you to arrange loops.
The first option could be to use a program like Audacity.
Audacity is a free, easy-to-use and multilingual audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:
- Record live audio.
- Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
- Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
- Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
- Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
Let’s look at this option first as it’s the simplest.
Download Audacity from here Click
Install software.
Now download this file: [wpfilebase tag=file id=3 tpl=filebrowser /] – Right click and save as
Make sure you download above file to somewhere you can remember.
Start up Audacity.
Below the screen you’ll see.
Look for File on the menu bar at the top.
Click File then ‘Import’ – ‘Audio’
Locate your file on your hard drive – the loop you downloaded earlier and click it.
You’ll then get the screen below.
You can choose any of the two options I’ve just used the fastest option but it may be safer for you to use the second option just in case.
Once you’ve opened the loop you’ll see the screen below.
To loop the track you can use ‘Loop Play’
Find ‘Transport’ drop and choose ‘Loop Play’ – the loop will now start to play.
Alternatively press ‘Shift and Space’ at the sametime.
This is a simple way of created a drum to play along with but it’s not ideal.
To get more creative we can add another loop.
Download [wpfilebase tag=file id=4 tpl=filebrowser /]
Right click and save as
Click File then ‘Import’ – ‘Audio’
Locate your new loop and it will load into a new track. As below.
You should now have two tracks the first track being the loop you loaded earlier, the second track the one you just loaded.
Click on the part where the red arrow is pointing.
The track will change colour, with the loop now highlighted.
Using the shortcut ‘CTRL C’ we can copy this loop. – If you’re not comfortable using shortcuts go to ‘Edit’ – ‘Copy’
Click on track one,
Now track one should be highlighted.
Find ‘k’ on your keyboard – and press it. This will take you to the end of your 1st loop.
‘CTRL P’ to paste and you should now have the new loop at the end of your 1st loop. – You can also go to ‘Edit’ and ‘Paste’.
Now click on track 2 – new loop.
Remove track.
Or press ‘Home’
Now press play – you should hear two different drum beats.
If not something went wrong.
If you do then congratulations you’ve created a simple drum beat.
You could loop play this or add more by following the instructions above.
If you need more loops then go here – More Loops
This is not a perfect solution and could be quite time-consuming but it’s a start.
My next few articles will show you how to use Reaper to create drums either using loops or midi and vst.
Related Reading:
First we need to create a new song.
Start up GarageBand if you haven’t already.
Look for the icon I have circled and tap it once.
This will create your new track.
First we’ll create our drum track.
To do this we will keep things simple and use smart drums.
On the main screen swipe the screen until you find ‘Smart Drums’
Now tap the drum to enter.
By tapping the screen where I have circled we can change the kit sounds.
For this example we are going to use ‘live rock kit’ – I’ve circled it in red.
Tap that part of the screen.
If you want to change kit you can tap the the icon circled in yellow/red.
You can if you want randomise a drum kit by tapping the Dice circled in green/red
For now though ignore these.
The parts we’re interested in are the arrows and the kit elements to the right of the screen.
The arrows point to 4 different style elements.
Loud, Quiet, Complex and Simple.
By grabbing a kit element eg the ‘Kick’ we can drag it onto the grid in the middle.
Placement on the screen will determine it’s volume and it’s complexity.
Take a listen and if your happy do the same with the snare and hi hat.
So now you should have a simple drum pattern, have a few listens.
If you want any element louder drag the icon up the grid, quieter drag it down.
If you’re happy with it’s complexity make sure you maintain it’s position.
If you want it more complex drag it to the right, simpler drag it to the left.
And there you have it, a drum beat created in GarageBand.
If you intend to keep it or add another instrument then you will need to record it.
To carry on you have a couple of other options,
Enter multitrack or add another instrument.
For the moment let’s check out multitrack.
Tap the multitrack button circled in red.
The screen above shows the multitrack view.
At the moment it shows a drum pattern in green.
If this is not then case something went wrong.
Pressing play will loop the pattern allowing continuous play, perfect for jamming chords out.
I’ve highlighted the instruments button again so that if you want to you can add another instrument or recording.
If you want to add another instrument look for the ones that have ‘smart’ in front, these will be easier to use.
I will be going deeper into this at some other point but for now that’s all folks.
Enjoy.