This raises the question of why use GM in the first place. Or not.

Why do people buy these drum programs? Obviously because they're not drummers but want to create an authentic sounding drum track.

Why do these programs have non GM drum kits? It's because many musicians can be pretty good at tapping out drum patterns with their fingers either on a keyboard or a drum pad controller. The GM drum mapping is not necessarily the best map to use for that. It places certain drums under certain keys or pads that can be awkward for a finger tapper to use. This is the reason for non GM drum mapping. Different companies develop what they think is a great drum map for a player to use with their fingers and hands.

When I refer to midi hell what I'm really saying is it's hard sometimes to keep all of this clear in your head in the middle of a project. I can get tripped up all the time because I forgot about one midi function or another.

When you're a full time studio producer then of course you become a true expert at midi and can do all kinds of wonderful stuff. The rest of us have a hard time with it because it is complex and if you're not working with it on a daily basis it just becomes impossible.

Which completes the circular question, why use GM? Because with all it's limitations, it's brain dead simple.

Bob

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