Drum Machine for Windows?

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magritte
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Drum Machine for Windows?

Post by magritte » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:01 pm

Hey guys, I'll start out by saying I don't know much about drum machines for a PC, which is why I am here. I used to use an Alesis SR-16 when I recorded analog, but now I'm in the digital realm and sort of lost.

This is what I need:

1. Something very simple to just lay down a "framework" (i.e. proper timing/structure) where I can record other tracks. Basically a glorified metronome.

2. No learning curve. I've been overwhelmed with learning my DAW and all about drivers and sound cards and my brain can't take learning a complicated drum application right now.

Right now I'm trying to record a punk song in 4/4 time at 150bpm. So I just need something to create that backbone to lay down guitars and such. When I get all the tracks down, I'm going to remove the drum track and add other/human percussion so the track would just be a frame.

Google has been no help, and other forums have been no help--it seems what I need does not exist. But I figured I'd try one last time. If you know if a program that is easy to use and does what I need please let me know.

My setup: Xp Pro, 2GB Ram, Core Duo, Cubase LE.

Thanks!
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LazarusLong
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Post by LazarusLong » Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:45 pm

The truth of a proposition has nothing to do with its credibility. And vice versa.

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magritte
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Post by magritte » Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:51 pm

LazarusLong wrote:iZotope iDrum

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/idrum/
Thanks, that looks promising.

If I wanted to hook up my old Alesis SR 16 to my pc would that just be a midi to usb cable or would I need other cables/hardware?
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magritte
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Post by magritte » Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:12 pm

so i tried this idrum program and like it. the only issues i am having are (a) the kits all sound like dance bass and snare (any rock or punk kits?) and (b) when i create in the standalone i can't figure out how to export the creation it into cubase.

Any advice?
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Post by ashcat_lt » Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:05 pm

Doesn't Cubase come with its own VSTi drum synth? Load it into the VSTi rack, make a MIDI track with that synth as it's output, open the Piano Roll and grid the drum track out.

Don't be a luddite. Learn how to use your equipment. It's not really that hard.

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Post by CurtZHP » Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:50 pm

Drumsite.

http://www.guitar.sk/drums/drums_main.htm

I've been fooling around with the demo for a while, and I'm about to buy it.
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Post by Bill @ Irie Lab » Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:02 pm

Fruity Loop Studio.

Metronome par excellence!

A toy that became a competent beatbox that became a pretty sophisticated DAW.

Some learning curve (a very deep product) but you'll be making beats with good quality samples in minutes.

Go beyond loading samples in to the channels - there's a load of MIDI drum patterns to load in FPC (their more pro drum machine).

Nice folks over there and as fun as chronic and puppies!

Fully working (no saving) demo is available at:

http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/download.html
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Post by b3groover » Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:32 am

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Post by CedarSound » Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:34 am

EZ Drummer.

That's exactly what I use it for...glorified metronome... though sometimes it sounds pretty good in a mix. Nah, real drums are better.

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Post by kingmetal » Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:44 am

magritte wrote:
LazarusLong wrote:iZotope iDrum

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/idrum/
Thanks, that looks promising.

If I wanted to hook up my old Alesis SR 16 to my pc would that just be a midi to usb cable or would I need other cables/hardware?
to sync the SR16 with your DAW you need a MIDI cable and for audio you'll need a couple of 1/4" cables (or one if you want to just run it in mono).

man I hate that drum machine.
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Post by blackdiscoball » Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:31 am

Hammerhead
http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead/
its super easy, has different sounds but you can import your own, and its free.
myspace.com/blackdiscoballstudio/

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Post by electrofloss » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:21 am

Back when I was on Windows, I got a lot of mileage out of leafDrums http://www.leafdigital.com/software/leafdrums

Super simple and cheap. Free if you can deal with the "nag screen".

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