by GretscGuy » Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:18 pm
The first thing you have to do is program the part to sound like a 'real drummer' make sure that the part could be played on a real drummer.
Here are some quick tips that will get you started:
- Watch the highhat parts - try playing highhats on your keyboard along with the song. Be careful not to have so much going on at a time that a real drummer couldn't play the part - example - having a highhat, crash tom and snare on the same beat
- Don't quantize unless you have to. - try to get a groove going that's not exactly perfect. You want your part to have some feel to it, dance music is the one exception here.
- use swing and groove features.
- Play 'air drums' to your song before you lay down the part
- if you have several different hits of each part of the kit (snare, kick, hats, etc...) alternate between them. The subtle difference will make your kit sound more life-like.
- once you have your stereo kit recorded, add some compression and (a little) bit of reverb to the kit if you are going for a live sound. Watch the eq and ammount of verb you add!
It's a good idea to invest in some high quality drum hit cds. Some of my favs are (in no order)
Bob CLearmountain 1 &2
Heavy Hitters (keltner, White, Lee)
Steve Gadd Drum Scores (has loops and Gadd's kits - very nice)
I also have several libraries that I have made myself by sampling kits at my studio. They are in giga format and I save them with names that fit what I am doing: example - ballad kit, rock kit, dry kit etc...
Good Luck!