40. Can I get the patterns from my drum machine into PowerTracks?

If your drum machine is General MIDI compatible and has drum patterns, you can record them with PowerTracks Pro Audio and save them as *.DP files.

  1. Select Options | Sync Source and set PowerTracks to clock MIDI.
  2. Press record on PowerTracks and then start your synth pattern playing.
  3. Record the drum pattern (usually only 2 measures).
  4. Save file as a *.DP file.
  5. Remember to turn sync source back to internal.

You can now use this drum pattern in any song you create by using Edit | Fill Track with Drum Pattern. Notice that the drum patterns in the 'Drums' folder that come with PowerTracks are of two types: *.dp, and *.dg files. *.dp files are essentially just small MIDI files, whereas the *.dg files are made using the Drum Grid Editor (Action | Drum Grid Editor...). One advantage to using the Drum Grid Editor to make a drum pattern, is that you can 'randomize' some of the drum sounds so that the drum track sounds more realistic. Unfortunately, you cannot automatically convert *.dp to *.dg files; the .dg files must be made using the Drum Grid Editor. See the PowerTracks Pro Audio Help Files for detailed information on how to use the Drum Grid Editor.


Alyssa - PG Music