How to Correct different volume levels when using patterns from different kits in Song Creator?

[Neil]

Ok so I’ve created my song in song creator using tap to find and such. I’ve selected patterns from the numerous kits I have ie. Nashville, Pop, Rock…. Copy the song into my DAW, Sonar X3 Producer (up to date on the version). I find that some of the patterns have different velocities and volumes in the piano roll. I can go thru each and every note and correct them but is there an easier way? Like one pattern will have the kick at velocity 121, volume at 118 the next pattern is velocity 90 volume 92 because the patterns were selected from different libraries. Within the context of a song it’s really noticeable. 2 bars are at one volume and the next 2 are way louder or softer. Any ideas?

Thanks

Topic

[John]

Hi,

you should be able to select whole parts to raise or lower those parts’ overall velocity, instead of individual notes. I do that in Pro Tools and Logic all the time.

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Ames Alch]

I know this isn’t an exact fix, but couldn’t this also be (nearly) achieved by adding some compression in the mix? I suggest this as I tend to leave my EZD tracks in EZD rather than drag the tracks to Logic so I can always go in and quickly change/add things.
Does anyone else do this or does everyone eventually drag their EZD patterns into their DAW?

[Henrik Ekblom]

I am sure that you can raise the overall velocity in Sonar X3 to an entire block. In Cubase you can do it by double clicking the block, selecting all notes and just drag up the velocity points (all velocities will move with a drag when all notes are selected).

You can also do this in EZdrummer 2. Select the block(s) you want to alter, right click one of the selected blocks, select Edit Play Style. In the “Selected” drop down menu on the lower left side, select “All Playing Drums” and then adjust the velocity with the velocity knob on the lower right side in Edit Play Style

Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack

[Ames Alch]

Nice! Didn’t even think of that, even though I’ve actually done it before! Go figure.

As for the question of whether or not to leave my EZD patterns in EZD or drag them into DAW track(s), is there a preferred way? Is it okay to just leave things in EZD and have it follow the host DAW?

[Henrik Ekblom]

It is absolutely possible to leave the drum MIDI blocks in EZdrummer 2. This will make it easier for you if you in the future would like to edit your MIDI, for example, add a shaker to your second verse or change the power hand in your choruses. If you leave them inside EZdrummer 2, you won’t have to drag them back and forth between your host and EZdrummer 2.

If you in the future need to alter the MIDI blocks in a detailed way, for example, increase the velocity of the second kick in the verse, you can always then just drag it into your host and keep on working with the MIDI from there, or just put it back into EZdrummer 2 when you are done editing it in Sonar.

Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack

[Neil]

Thanks, all very good replies. I have since changed the velocities in EZdrummer2 because that was way easier for me than to do it in Sonar.
I must add that EZdrummer 2 makes it so easy to create a drum track and to edit all the elements of that drum track from single notes to “power hand” it’s incredible. You can actually just use one patterns and tweek it endlessly. All within EZdrummer Wow.

[Henrik Ekblom]

Glad that you enjoy it and thanks for the kind words 😎

Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack

[Author]

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