quoted 6 lines Well, I don't have a problem programming drums in>Well, I don't have a problem programming drums in
>general, just with cubase. In fact I usually struggle
>with melodies while drum programming comes natural to
>me, which makes cubase all the more frustrating
>because I can't get my ideas out in a reasonable
>timeframe.
See, I'm the same way. In fact, I have yet to find a decent software
sequencer that's made mostly *just* for sequencing. They're nearly
always geared more towards recording (for instance, I'd imagine the
cubase drum editor would be fantastic recording the midi from a midi
drum set), or using their own sounds (like audiomulch, orion, etc.).
That's fine if you're doing everything in VSTs, but I'm using
external hardware and it's just a pain to find software for something
that should be easy.
quoted 11 lines I'd>> I'd
>> imagine there's also a way to step-record in cubase,
>> so you'd be able
>> to use that to input patterns from your keyboard and
>> record hits and
>> rests at every, say, 8th note.
>
>I think I saw something in the operation manual about
>this, I'll take a look. I guess you could sketch out
>the loop roughly and then modify it with in the editor
>manually to clean it up.
I think it's what a lot of people do, and then, like you mentioned
with trackers, just copy and paste and do slight modifications. It's
an option, arguably one that's used pretty often anyway.
quoted 14 lines So what do you use to do your drum programming? The>So what do you use to do your drum programming? The
>main problem I've found with sequencers such as cubase
>and reason is that they encourage loop based drum
>programming. I think the reason for this is because
>it's too much work to make subtle variations in each
>new bar of music so a lot of people just cut and
>paste. I know with impulse tracker (and buzz) it's
>trivially easy to copy and paste a pattern, and then
>modify that pattern to have some variations from the
>previous pattern. I've resolved to master cubase
>though, because hearing the quality of some of the
>vst's (especially kontakt!) has convinced me that this
>is the way to go, even if it is a little harder to get
>used to at first.
I use an RM1x for all of my midi sequencing, actually. Sure, I can't
see the entire track at once, and it's a little bit more difficult
for matching everything up (so you have to use your ears, not your
eyes), but it's a really fantastic sequencer. If there was a
software version of the RM1x OS, or even just the sequencer, I'd
*love* it. But everything just seems to want to ape cubase or logic
or cakewalk/sonar. The only innovation for all-software sequencers
seem to be algorithmic or highly theoretical sequencers, such as
Softstep, and nothing for simply throwin' tracks down and making a
song (one that isnt entirely loops).
Some days I wish I could program :) Then I smack myself!
I'm currently sold on hardware sequencers, simply because they're
usually made for making music, not just recording sequences that are
being played. For instance, the rm1x, MPC series, and the new emu
command stations (mp7 and xl7) are basically glorified drum machines
with a drum machine sequencing mentality. Their ability to sequence
anything really gives them an edge, and since they're made for
actually producing full tracks using just their interface, I really
like them just as sequencers.
I'm not trying to say that Cubase is bad, just that it's not for me.
I can learn Illustrator, photoshop, premiere, CSS,
wavelab/soundforge, and countless other media-oriented software over
the course of a few days. So why does cubase always made me so
frustrated when I try to put stuff together in it? I'd come back to
it every 2-3 months or so, along with the other major sequencers, to
see if I've learned anything different or if there's been a change in
the program or in my mentality, only to come away thinking "why is
this so hard? it shouldn't be hard."
So that's me. May not be you, but after struggling with these
programs for years, I've been very pleased (and productive) with
hardware sequencers. My only complaint is the smaller interface :)
derek
--
eggytoast.com
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