Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 464
2bSolo Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 464
Several people have asked about multi-channel Real Drums. I am working with a VST that may interest some of you until the real thing comes along.

All of the following is my opinion based on my live performance and recording experience.

When we hear a human drummer, we don't just hear the stick or beater hit each drum. We hear a combination of that with the room. I think this is true of any other instrument. For example, you don't really know what a guitar sounds like at the speaker. You know what it sounds like at 8 to 10 feet.

The other thing about a drum kit is that we hear the drums together. Just as we hear parts of an orchestra together.

I have used midi drums a lot in the past and I liked them. But I don't think they sound realistic, and one of the reasons is each drum is close up instead of in combination with each other and the room.

The alternative is to use a drummer, Real Drums or a VST. Drums are a pain to record. Real Drums aren't multi-channel yet although this forum has had some great tips on getting individual sounds at the end of the RD waveform and slicing/dicing.

So I have been using a couple of VST's for drums. One of them is Westwood Drums. It comes with its own mixer which breaks the drums into Kick, Snare, Cymbals, Toms, Overhead and Room. The Room sound has enough volume to use by itself. You can add in the Overhead and the Kick and Snare to your taste. Same with the Cymbals and Toms.

My guess is there are a lot of drum VST's that take this approach. Westwood is nice because it is only $35. The drums sound good for many styles of music (hip-hop or metal not included).

As most of you have figured out by my questions, I have limited experience with computer recording. I'm not trying to be an expert here. I just thought this might help some folks.

2b


i5-3210 laptop. Win 10 Home. 2.5ghz, 64 bit. 6gb RAM. Focusrite Scarlet 2i2.
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,783
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,783
My secret or not so secret drum effect is the CLA Drum VST from waves:

https://www.waves.com/plugins/cla-drums

It can add a lot of realism to individual drums as well as complete kits.


Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,055
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,055
Originally Posted By: MarioD
My secret or not so secret drum effect is the CLA Drum VST from waves:

https://www.waves.com/plugins/cla-drums

It can add a lot of realism to individual drums as well as complete kits.


Yep. My fav for most of the RD's we use is "Room - Beef" out of many, many presets. And if you are doubling the snare, etc., there are many great presets for the individual components. Also it allows you quickly adjust the, mercifully, very few parameters. I'm sure there are a lot of good competitors but the whole CLA series is IMHO outstanding.

Bud

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 547
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 547
There was a forum thread here but I can't find it now on creating a pop song using only MIDI. I found one really useful tip in the video where they use convolution reverb with IR settings to give actual room sounding reverb on the drums and some other instruments. I've played around with it a little and it seems to really help.

Also when it comes to MIDI based instruments what you get really depends on the samples or sound packs used. You can find some really good quality sounding instruments now online. Some may cost a bit of money but I guess you get what you pay for.

I have the Westwood drums VST as well but I haven't used it yet.


Samuel Davis Jr
BIAB 2018 + Cubase + Ignite
BMI

www.sammycountry.com
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,113
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,113
Most of the time I use realdrums and I mostly use CLA Drums to process them.

Sometimes I need something that realdrums can't provide, in which case I use EZDrummer2 to build the drum track.
I have the option to split the drums out to separate tracks, but I get great results by treating it more like a realdrum track. I can change the pan, sound, and volume of each individual drum within EZDrummer2.
I still use CLA Drums to process them, but I also add a send to a separate drum reverb bus because I don't like the reverb that comes with EZDrummer2. Before the reverb I use EQ (I use the one built into Neutron2), so that it mostly the cymbals and snare that get the reverb treatment, bass drum is mostly left alone.

Works for me anyway smile

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 464
2bSolo Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 464
Thanks to all for the ideas.

2b


i5-3210 laptop. Win 10 Home. 2.5ghz, 64 bit. 6gb RAM. Focusrite Scarlet 2i2.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!

The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!

Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.

This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245

The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option

Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!

Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!

For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.

Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.

Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!

Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.

Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!

With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!

Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."

"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."

"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,582
Posts734,708
Members38,500
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Tusar Sarkar, RTW, wtsy365, DerFlex, xabialonso259@gmai
38,499 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 197
DC Ron 111
dcuny 82
WaoBand 75
Today's Birthdays
AlberMaxSax, Lloyd Morris
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5