drumjack52
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drumjack52Found this old thread on the DUC where it talks about MIDI overdubbing which is essentially what the OP should be doing. https://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=43456 Let’s one record on to an existing MIDI track without overwriting the existing MIDI.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Briandrumjack52Just one thing – using my method of physically tapping the midi keyboard for each individual drum element in separate instances on SD3. I don’t see how this is possible using one instance of SD3 on an instrument track routed to separate aux tracks for each element. It works, obviously, using the MIDI editor, which records all three elements to the instrument track which then routes them out to the auxes. But I prefer to play along with the song, adding each element one by one. This isn’t possible using the latter method as each successive drum recording records over the previous one. Or am I totally missing something?!
I already gave you the answer on how to do it. The instrument track that has SD3 carries one kit piece – say the kick. A separate MIDI track carries the notes for say the snare. In the edit screen of PT enable instrument view and select SD3 in that MIDI track and channel 1. This routes that MIDI to the SD3 instance in the instrument track. Do the same thing for the other tracks you need. This way you’ll have one instance of SD3 being fed 3 MIDI streams. A cleaner way is to select the MIDI from the snare track and merge it with the MIDI that’s on the instrument track that has SD3. Do the same thing with any other kit pieces. You can delete those other MIDI tracks once you have all the MIDI on the one track.
This is all basic Pro Tools methodology. I’d suggest taking a look through the manual for PT and checking out some YouTube videos on PT operations. Or check out the pay-for videos on Groove 3. Another great source for PT help (which is what you really need as you don’t have an SD3 problem) is the DUC https://duc.avid.com/ I wish there was a way I could send you the track preset I use in PT that sets everything up for using SD3.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
2
Thanked by: Scott Eshleman and Bear-Faced Cowdrumjack52Jord: None of the other Arturia synths have a light gui available. Synthmaster has a changeable gui in color only but not a light/dark as the OP seems to be looking for. I would love for the OP to post what other plugins he has that do what he wants for the benefit of us all.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Bear-Faced Cowdrumjack52I’m trying to think what music plug-ins have this capability. None of the major plug-ins I have do this.
jord
ProTools has had the gui color customization for ages. Even before the last few versions from Avid. A bunch of us figured out how to make the changes before it was officially available from Avid. Digital Performer also has the gui color change ability. I think unfiltered audio has that capability. Arturia Pigments can go from a dark to light gui as well. The light one is completely unreadable.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Bear-Faced Cowdrumjack52Many programs, websites, and apps allow selecting a dark or light GUI now, but not all. A dark background is considered easier on the eyes and better for battery life and energy consumption, but of course it is subjective. Try turning up the brightness on your screen.
- This post was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by Tom Conner.
And turning down the contrast.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52Got you, thanks. Just different ways of working I guess.
Maybe but you’re causing yourself problems doing it your way. More difficult than it has to be.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Bear-Faced Cowdrumjack52It’s not as simple as you think. Ever written code? I have and if you change one thing you could screwup something else. Not doing your homework before purchasing is on you. You can’t assume anything.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52Three separate tracks so that I can have control over processing each element separately, just like miking a real drum kit.
As said before you don’t need 3 separate instances of SD3. One instance and use multiout instead of stereo (2 channel) output to Pro Tools. I do that for a full kit and have a dozen stereo outs from SD3 to the same amount of tracks in PT. That way I can treat everything just like a real physical kit like you say you want to do. If you’re only recording one kit piece at a time (say kick) record that MIDI to the instrument track SD3 is on. When you go to do the MIDI for the other kit pieces you can record them on separate MIDI tracks and route the output of those MIDI tracks to the instance of SD3 you previously used for the kick. There’s probably a way to record multiple passes of MIDI on a PT track but it’s not something I’ve ever done. Maybe playlists but again that’s not something I’ve ever used. I’m more comfortable the way I do it as I don’t have to worry about recording over the previous MIDI.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Scott Eshlemandrumjack52Ok, progress has been made! All trigger settings are fine, but after picking the basic kits with no effects or processing, it’s working correctly. So, I picked a large preset and started disabling some effects and ambient channels and got the RAM requirement down and at a point the live play and the playback of the midi sounds the same. This laptop has 8GB of RAM but it’s a pretty low tier. I’m thinking this thing probably can’t handle SD3 to it’s full potential.
If this is the case, would getting an audio interface help? Or would a more powerful laptop be needed?
A more powerful computer will definitely help as will as an audio interface. 8 gig of ram will only allow you to have SD3 in streaming mode which is bad enough but if your SD3 samples are on the system drive that adds to your problems. SD3 minimum specs are just that – a bare minimum to get you functional but that’s it. You’re going to want at least 16 gig of ram, samples on a separate drive and a separate audio interface. You don’t need a full-on studio setup. Keep in mind that commercial off-the-shelf computers have a bunch of crud running on them (especially Winboxes) that sucks the life out of doing anything much other than email or surfing the net.
You haven’t given us your system specs but it’s safe to say your machine is struggling.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Babunessdrumjack52Sorry for not being clear, the issue isn’t latency. The issue is the sound “quality?”
It’s like everything is somewhat muffled, like there’s no attack, when playing live. Lots of ambience, not really clear and punchy. And overall quieter as compared to replaying the midi I just recorded. Perhaps like it’s compressed with 0 attack, or more maybe more accurately like a couple initial milliseconds are gone from the samples.
I just watched a recent video from Toontrack’s youtube saying that for live playing the sample rate should be set to 44100Hz, and I’ve pretty sure mine’s at 48000Hz. Perhaps changing that will help.
There’s precious little difference between the 2 rates you mention. What will make a difference is 16 bit versus 24 bit bit depth. SD3 can operate with either with 24 bit taking more ram space. What you have to pay attention to is whether your drum brain supports 16 or 24 bit audio. Really if you want decent audio you need to have a separate audio interface connected to your computer and listen through that. Also decent headphones and/or powered monitor speakers and not some little computer speakers driven off a computer’s audio output.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52Actually I like the gui as it is. Not a huge fan of light gui’s – they give me a literal headache and eye strain.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52Do you use the same keyboard to record the midi for bass, snare and hi hats? If you do then that can’t be it. Do you hear the delay when you monitor while recording the midi? If not then again it’s something else. I don’t use pro tools but are you sure you haven’t got anything different on the kick track?
Mark: Read my reply. That the op was able to manually enter notes and the problem went away kind of puts a nail in the coffin if you will.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52Hammer action, yes (M-Audio Keystation88 Mk3).
There’s your problem. Hammer action will NEVER give you perfect timing for drum work. I’ve played both types of keyboards so it’s a been there/done that deal. And don’t get me started on the quality (or lack thereof) of the Keystation keyboards. If you’re at all serious about using a keyboard for drums get a synth action one.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52So….as you suggested, I recorded the kick track in Midi Editor rather than on midi keyboard, and all seems good. But when I try to record with the keyboard, the issue continues, so I guess there is a sink issue with my keyboard…more research needed.
Many thanks for your very helpful suggestion…Now I just have to “humanize” the midi kick track as it’s aligned to the grid!
cheers,
BB
We all know there is audio latency depending on the amount of buffers, etc. What is less known is MIDI latency and there’s no real way to fix that. That latter might be part of the issue. Glad to hear that the method I outlined is working for you. Like I said I’m just trying to remove any possible variables and get back to basics. If you had still had the problem using my method then yeah – gremlins do abound. Your MIDI keyboard – synth action or hammer action (like a piano would have)?
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
drumjack52When you save the session are the tracks still MIDI or have you rendered them to audio? Do you record the snare and hats using the click track like you do the kick? What’s your audio buffer setting? I have never seen what you’re describing even on a relatively low-powered system like in my sig file. Try this: manually enter using PT’s MIDI editor a string of notes for the kick – something like 4 notes per measure at whatever tempo you like. Then do a second line for snare and a third line for the hats. Then hit play and see what happens. Do this first with everything MIDI and if that’s okay then render the MIDI to audio and try again. If this passes then the problem is not specifically with SD3. What I’m trying to do here is take the human (you) out of the loop and give SD3 the best possible input.
Are you using any effects in SD3? Multi-out or 2 channel stereo? What SDX? Do you have the problem with every kick drum in the library?
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
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