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Hey Guys and Girls from the forum,
It's me again! (who?)
As always I bask in your mighty wisdom because I'm too damn lazy to look it up myself! Just kidding, I have and I want your delicious wisdom anyways.
Here's the thing: I finally got the gear (or sorta) to record drums, miked them up at a friend's house and was happy with the results (though the snare did sound a little cardboardboxy). Told my friend I wanted to record all our buddies over at his house and he said his parents would probably not like it :0. So here I stood in my tiny cubic room thinking of how in heck am I gonna record a drumset from here, or even get one to fit. Long story short, I decided to go for an electronic drumset, sending those midi-evil vibes into the interface and into the pc. What I ask you guys and girls is two things: first: is the quality really good (I'm thinking of getting superior drummer or ez drummer)? will my drummer buddies like the idea and record with me (in other words, how normal is a studio with this sort of setup nowadays and do I risk my chances with potential costumers)? And now for the really juicy question: can electronic drums sending midi signals be tracked at the same time as audio instruments? that blows me away if it would work... I'm still operating with a 4channel interface, so four channels for anything-but drums is enough to track my band live, you get the picture. Maybe I'm trying to jam a salame into a car exhaust pipe, but you never know, you never know.
Thanks a lot,
long live recording.org!
João

Comments

anonymous Fri, 04/18/2014 - 02:56

Well, at this point, it sounds like you don't really have another option. Many studios will have a kit of electronic drums around somewhere, but it's generally a secondary option to a real kit.

Yes, you can track audio at the same time you are recording the midi data ( and sounds) from electronic drums. In fact, you should always track the midi data at the same time you are recording the sounds from the drums, because it will allow you to replace the sounds later on if you want to.

What DAW program are you using?

pcrecord Fri, 04/18/2014 - 13:26

If the band doesn't have a good drummer or their drums sound like crap. An electronic drum may be the only way to save the day.
The important thing is that the velocity of the hits are conserved while tracking. I say that because if the electronic sensivity is not well adjusted to the player, all the notes might end up to velocity 127 with no dynamics to keep it alive.

For latency reasons, I usually track the drum on a midi track only, I use direct monitoring with the audio output of the electronic drum to the drummers ears and once the track is perfect (sometime after editing) I play the midi data through a VSTI. My favorite is Addictive drums, they sound good right away but you can mix them as taste.

JoaoSpin Fri, 04/18/2014 - 16:02

pcrecord, post: 413923, member: 46460 wrote: If the band doesn't have a good drummer or their drums sound like crap. An electronic drum may be the only way to save the day.
The important thing is that the velocity of the hits are conserved while tracking. I say that because if the electronic sensivity is not well adjusted to the player, all the notes might end up to velocity 127 with no dynamics to keep it alive.

For latency reasons, I usually track the drum on a midi track only, I use direct monitoring with the audio output of the electronic drum to the drummers ears and once the track is perfect (sometime after editing) I play the midi data through a VSTI. My favorite is Addictive drums, they sound good right away but you can mix them as taste.

Do you suppose it wouldn't be possible to track multiple audio channels plus the midi inputs because of latency issues? love to hear more about this.

anonymous Fri, 04/18/2014 - 17:22

Your best bet, if your DAW suffers from latency, is to have everyone monitor the direct input mix (real time), not the mix after the DAW has processed the mix. You may need a "mult" on the audio I/O's audio output so that everyone can hear; a headphone box that allows you to split the signal into 4,5 or 6 headphone outs will work; there are many models of devices of this type available.

Set up as many audio tracks on your DAW as the number of audio signals you have, (including the stereo audio out of the electronic drums) and also set up a midi track (or multiple midi tracks for each instrument on the drum kit) and record everything at once. You can then have the option of using the sounds of the electronic drums, or replacing them with other drum sounds, because you have the midi info recorded to do so).

RemyRAD Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:24

Every computer-based recording system has some amount of latency, no matter how small. This includes a single standalone, digital recorder and even no computer. All of our digital audio is controlled by clocking. Our digital audio now is like frames of movie film. It's not like a continuous piece of mylar polyester tape anymore. And with that comes both the good and the bad.

Most folks just discover, quite by accident, usually, the bad. And when something stings you the first time, you'll avoid that again. Who wouldn't? But here's the cool part. Because everything is clocked, it's like frames. Frames can be locked together. They can also be offset but still locked. Anything clocked today, can do this. This affords you the flexibility of sliding things all over your timeline for synchronization purposes. Sometimes little bits and pieces. Other times, one hour-long tracks. This is much in the way that soundtracks for movies are assembled, in Hollywood. Specifically, Hollywood. Not the Hollywood spelled with the B. No.

While I hate PCM digital. There is no denying, I love nonlinear editing capabilities. So it's got to be in some blasted format or another. For instance, for most of my work these days, while I do primarily audio work. I also do video work. And with that, I have to put it all together ITB. I started using Sony Vegas, in its first release. It was simply an audio multi-track program. Later, in subsequent releases, they included video.

Today, Sony Vegas, is primarily a video, multi-track program. So of course, the audio goes with it. But with every audio track, there can be an accompanying video track. And it makes your brain go crazy with what you can do. And it's like watching Vince telling you about Slap Shop, only with audio and video. And WOW! It's no Sham. Though I do find Portuguese quite peculiar? It's like Portuguese and a platypus sound like they go together? Though it's a bit east from ya.

I think you guys speak Portuguese just to confuse all of the Spanish speaking people living around you? No? Ya know... like the French Canadians?
Mx. Remy Ann David