using cakewalk home studio to create drums...Help!

[hollowbox]

Just wanted to know if anybody else uses cakewalk to create drum patterns from a loop library. I recently bought Drums on Demands loop library because I liked the "real" sound they had and was tired of trying to program my drum machine only to come up with sub par sounding drums anyway........I have Cakewalk home studio 2 on my computer and have not really used it much but now I would like to use it for loop editing (creating the song on drums) so then I can import the song into my aw16g and record the rest of the instruments over top of the drum tracks.......I've been trying to read the instructions and mess with it for the last couple hours and I'm not really making it anywhere....so does anybody else use this and could you maybe give me a quck hint on how to piece the different loops together into a song. I'm sorry but I'm new to computer based recording and even newer to loop libraries and loops and whatever.....Thanx in advance for any Help....Jeff

[WFTurner]

If you're really inclined to not doing any drum programming but rather creating looped based arrangements you might want to look into Sony Acid Pro (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/acidfamily.asp) because the looping you want to do is it's strong point.

As far as drum programming in Home Studio here's a couple articles that might make it easier to understand.

I've never done too much drum looping but a search on the net might dig up some basic tutorials.

How To Create Original Drum Tracks (http://www.tweakheadz.com/midi_drum_tips.htm)

Make Midi Drums Come Alive (http://www.tweakheadz.com/midi_drum_tips.htm)

Good Luck

[hollowbox]

I guess I don't need help really on how to make the drums sound real as I do literally on how to use the program. I'm not using MIDI loops they are .wav files. The drums on demand library is a real drummer recorded in a nice studio and if I knew how to use cakewalk I think I would be able to put together a rather convincing drum track in no time. I'm just wondering if anybody has used cakewalk home studio to put together drums like this and how they did it.......As for sony acid....I wish I would have bought that instead of cakewalk, and I might still end up buying it...but I would like to not waste the hundred bucks I spent. This kinda sucks cause I know how I want to put the loops together for my songs and I just want to get them done transfer them to my recorder and get started recording the instruments I can actually play. Thanks

[WFTurner]

Even though HS isn't as strong as Acid at looping, it's still pretty easy. Take a look at the concepts in the following three pics and run through the sections about the Home Studio Loop Explorer in the help file or online manual and I bet you'll get going in no time.

http://users.zoominternet.net/~wfturnermusic/HS%20Looping%20Image%201.jpg

http://users.zoominternet.net/~wfturnermusic/HS%20Looping%20Image%202.jpg

http://users.zoominternet.net/~wfturnermusic/HS%20Looping%20Image%203.jpg

Project wise what I've illustrated here is pretty basic and simple and thus is still gonna be pretty generic sounding without the ability to slice and dice the loops, changing them and making different variations.

The most well known is probably Propellorheads Recycle (http://www.propellerheads.se/products/recycle/index.cfm?fuseaction=mainframe)

I use VSampler to load a loop and then split into the different beats/slices, 4/8/16... etc... then zone them each to an individual key on a keboard and then
in a MIDI track you can have endless variations.

You might also find help on the
Cakewalk Home Studio Forum (http://forum.cakewalk.com/tt.asp?forumid=16).

Good Luck

[hollowbox]

Thanks dude that has gotten me going enough that I think I will be able to figure it out. The loops I have have like 45 variations, fills and stuff per song set.....I may not be able to get what a real (good) drummer can do but I will be able to get enough variation and coolness to fool all but the most experienced listeners. I was not getting the drum beats that I wanted for my songs out of the drummer that was in my band so at least now the song will suck because of me and I won't feel like I shortchanged my tunes....(well they will still be shortchanged but you know what I mean)....anyways thanx I'm off to loop hell....Jeff

[WFTurner]

Cool. Well once you get one project under your belt they get easier and funner.

Good Luck

[Will Chen]

Originally posted by hollowbox
I was not getting the drum beats that I wanted for my songs out of the drummer that was in my band so at least now the song will suck because of me and I won't feel like I shortchanged my tunes....(well they will still be shortchanged but you know what I mean)....anyways thanx I'm off to loop hell....Jeff

If you are a solo artist or trying to express to your (hopfully openminded) drummer what you're looking for then ignore the rest of this post. However, since you mentioned you are in a band...if your goal is to get gigs from this demo, fire your drummer now and find one that fits your style better then record the demo. Resampling/replacing your bandmates performances is a real quick way to breakup a band.