Category: Do it yourself

As requested an attempt to explain how to convert a drum pattern from a recording into a manipulative midi sequence – as i do .. lets be creative

First of all we need a possibility to cut-out the desired passage into a loopable sample, so that we can later slice that in a midi sequencer down to its drum characteristics.

» lets simply just make that simple sample – simplified =D

To do so i recommend “Audacity” wich is free to use and capable to cutout the passage of interesst.

Download Audacity – Free, open source, cross-platform audio software

After we successfully formed our loop we do load the sample into our midi sequencer.

I assume that you have a software in use that you are familliar with – unfortunatly i don’t know about any fitable free ones.
I suggest to post your choice and or about those you know of and would fit well – in the comments.

As the technique itself is fairly simple the process will work as long as you can import and slice sound files.
I work with “maschine 2” from “Native instruments” – and think it will fit recognizable to present our example.

To slice our drums suitable we will focus on the characteristic and therefore in most cases do the hi-hats afterwards (ignore them) just go for the remarkable. You may take youre time to be precise.

If its well done we will now still have the sample in its original quality but hacked up into pieces.
Next we simply do change the timeprints with our own drumsounds available – simple as that.

Concerning this Article » prior to the request goes a dispute about using different practices to adjust the sounds quality after deformation by tempo. By this approach thats no more a problem .. but .. now you have to tune and tweak the drumkits sound – wich is sometimes very time consuming but mostly worth it considering the outcome. Use the Funky Drummer in the Tempo you want it to be played, no matter how fast or slow .. it will sound undisorted .. how close it will get to the original recording depends on your tweak-skillz and available sound-pool, -bank ..