[Dave1968]

Yeah thats what i do. Perhaps I’m being picky but its a mundane task looking for the bass drum which could be at the end of the piano roll e.g. C1. Without a usb keyboard its tricky with just a laptop mouse. Gets frustrating.

As far as I can workout Mixcraft doesn’t have a 16 piece grid as Reaper etc. I am familiar with Reaper and Cubase, Mixcraft is the Windows alternative to MAcs Garageband.

Whitten: I’m looking into a free step sequencer, Tr X0X looks a simple alternative. I think a usb midi keyboard will solve two problems; I can play freely my drum patterns and quantize and have a keyboard to play CS-80 and Moog sounds to my hearts content.

Thanks for all you replies!! Appreciate it!!

[Dave1968]

ORIGINAL: Scott

I don’t mind ‘Grooves’ but i do prefer to use a step sequencer such as the Dr Rythyms of the ’80s and ’90s etc, simple to do!
I’m running Mixcraft 5.2. I am aware of taking a groove, dragging it to a track and then rearranging it on the virtual piano keyboard, but TBH that is quite annoying if i want to use a laptop to progarmme beats. Is this my only way?

Why would it be annoying to program beats on a laptop using Mixcraft, EZD, and a laptop? I have a mobile rig consisting of Reaper, EZD, laptop, and a Korg PadKontrol and have no issues. What problems do you expect to encounter?

The main reason for no piano roll sequencer is redundancy. EZD needs to run in a host DAW (sequencer) so there is already a step sequencer at your fingertips.

I’ve never heard of Beatcraft so I’m not sure if it can load VST instruments (I don’t think so though).

It is annoying because firstly the piano roll on Mixcraft 5.2 as most other DAW’s is a full scale piano keyboard. With EZD in another window is fine trying to locate bass drum, sn drum etc as long as it shows on the current piano octave e.g. C4.

Perhaps you can assign the vst to your custom piano key, I’ll have to see.

I lose the inspiration to input notes (drum voice/samples) needing to look at the EZD kit to make sure it is the right ‘Tom’ HT, MT, LT etc and having to grab EZD and move the window in order to navigate up and down the piano keyboard to find the desired ‘Tom’. Its driving me mad!

I’m a guitarist who will be buying a midi keyboard to assist but to just programme beats seems hard work on any DAW it appears.

Why EZD does’nt give this ‘Old’ simple ‘Step sequence’ to make your own patterns option is financially obvious. Gotta admit, it was easier with the 16 dot grid.

Any help welcomed! 🙂

[Author]

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