Just curious - I've been checking out everybody's stuff, and the drum programming (AND live drums) all sound good.

I'm just curious - how do you go about programming your drum track? Do you start with the bass drum, then build up? Do you re-use the same track on lots of songs?

No matter how often I program a drum track, I'm always frustrated that it's NOT what I'm hearing in my head. Just curious if you go through the same thing. And what kind of drum machine do you use? loops?

Lately, just for kicks, I've been using Fruity Loops and downloaded a lot of Linn Drum samples - HEY! I'm 80s PRINCE!

Start by just putting the kick drum on the 1 and the 3 and the snare on the 2 and the 4. Put 16th note high hats through the whole bar.

Copy and paste that measure for the duration of the song.
Add a splash on the 1 every four or eight bars if you want.


Then...

just go through the song and add, delete, and/or substitute other sounds where you want them.

As long as your on the beat, you can't go wrong.


That's how I do it...

If you don't have the pacience to do it by hand (programming) then your probably best downloading drum tracks.

1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4

yamomma said:

I do it differently, depending on what I'm after... sometimes I do the basics like that, and sometimes, I start with the snare.

Take a common beat, like FUNKY DRUMMER.

How would you program that? I would start with the hihat... I'm just interested in how folks approach drum programming. When they're doing original material, and they hear a song in their head, what's the process from brain to tape... or disk.

www.blindslim.com/1g4d

I would start with the kick and snare so I know where the 1 and 3 and the 2 and 4 are when adding more to it as i move on.

Also, You can delete/ or replace your original tracks after your finished.

That's how I do it. Just helps in counting I guess.

most modern drum machines are a breeze to program, for instance anything Alesis or Roland/Boss makes. A good way to program beats is to think about what you're hearing in your head and break it down: If something's tricky, lay down that part of the track that is solid or easy to hit; for instance, snares on the 2 and 4. Work one drum at a time. Put down the stuff that lands on a beat, and then u can fill in the spots later (hi hats, double kick drums, etc.) Most drum machines also have a quantize feature, which can make up for sloppy programming. Another trick for complicated/speedy rhythms is to slow the machine way down to tap in the notes.