Cubase LE 4 frustrations

[bassplayer1]

Just purchased a Tascam US-144/Cubase LE 4 bundle. Managed to get the recording function working, however, I've had no luck with opening "the drum editor". I want to create a full drum track as a starting point, then add the bass, guitar, etc.......

Does Cubase LE 4 software have this ability internally, or do I have to import a drum midi file from somewhere. Is the drum editor just for editing? What is the easiest way to create a complete drum track with Cubase LE 4. I have a yamaha keyboard that has resonable drum sounds that I've hooked up via midi cables.

I'm very new to this stuff. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to forward them. I've tried the Cubase manual, which sucks.


Jerry

[uab9253]

I have been starting with midi files, so I'm not sure how you would enter midi data directly into the drum editor. I've only been in the editor once. If it came with the LM-7 drum machine vst, the easiest thing is to grab a midi. I grab whole songs, import into cubase and then rip out the tracks I don't want to keep, leaving only drums.

You could try finger drumming some stuff from the Yamaha too. I use EZdrummer software and I love it.

[bassplayer1]

Thanks for the feedback. I've heard off EZ Drummer. Would this simplifiy building drum tracks? Once you built a song with EZ drummer is it easy to import into Cubase LE 4. Once in LE 4 can you eq the kick drum sound indepentant of the other drum sounds?

Jerry

[brandondrury]

When I program drums (which isn't exactly the funnest thing in the world....I'm still waiting for the damn Alesis USBPro drum kit to come out!) I simply draw a new box in a MIDI track. This is done by pressing 8 and then dragging to the right in the MIDI track. Then I right click on that file, open the drum editor, and use my mouse to start entering the dots I want for my drums. (Note, I changed the shortcut for opening the Drum Editor to Control + ` to save time).

Does Cubase LE 4 software have this ability internally, or do I have to import a drum midi file from somewhere.

You can do either.

I have a yamaha keyboard that has resonable drum sounds that I've hooked up via midi cables.

If you are sending the MIDI out of the Yamaha, you aren't using the sounsd within the Yamaha. You are simply sending the MIDI data out which can be used to trigger synths/samples within Cubase.

I've heard off EZ Drummer. Would this simplifiy building drum tracks?

Well, that depends. The included MIDI files with EZ Drummer probably could. With that said, EZ Drummer is a collection of killer sounding samples. EZ Drummer isn't what I would call a "drum program" necessarily. I'm not even sure what a "drum program" even is. So I guess the main reason to buy EZ Drummer is for the amazing sounds inside and not exactly because it's easier.

Brandon

[uab9253]

Originally Posted by bassplayer1

Thanks for the feedback. I've heard off EZ Drummer. Would this simplifiy building drum tracks? Once you built a song with EZ drummer is it easy to import into Cubase LE 4. Once in LE 4 can you eq the kick drum sound indepentant of the other drum sounds?

Jerry

Yes, it would. You can drag and drop from EZD groove files browser into Cubase after picking some that you like. You can then use the repeat function to add say, four bars of this pattern, followed by 1 bar of that pattern. And yes, you can have all the drum voices come in on their own tracks, with 2 for snare - bottom and top mic, and another "mic" for overheads, plus a room mike. I am just starting to learn to use it more but it is very cool. Once you have it laid out, then you can edit even more by moving a drum hit or two around. It is then as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

[bassplayer1]

Originally Posted by uab9253

Yes, it would. You can drag and drop from EZD groove files browser into Cubase after picking some that you like. You can then use the repeat function to add say, four bars of this pattern, followed by 1 bar of that pattern. And yes, you can have all the drum voices come in on their own tracks, with 2 for snare - bottom and top mic, and another "mic" for overheads, plus a room mike. I am just starting to learn to use it more but it is very cool. Once you have it laid out, then you can edit even more by moving a drum hit or two around. It is then as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

Thanks so much for the info.....................

[uab9253]

No worries.

I tried Brandon's way too. I didn't know you could do that. Thanks Brandon.

[Ladderman]

I am guitarist new to recording and am trying to build around my mac. I have started off with a lexicon lambda bundled with cubase le 4. I have an old roland u20 keyboard that i can use as a midi controller and would really appreciate some advise on learning the software and some direction on the right gear to buy

[Electriclight]

Well you have prettty much aal you need for recording midi and keyboard stuff. It's mostly a matter now of reading the manual and playing with the software. You question is too general to answer. Brandon has many great articles for beginers at he bottom of the age at the Articles link.

[Batapotamus]

Originally Posted by uab9253

And yes, you can have all the drum voices come in on their own tracks, with 2 for snare - bottom and top mic, and another "mic" for overheads, plus a room mike. I am just starting to learn to use it more but it is very cool. Once you have it laid out, then you can edit even more by moving a drum hit or two around. It is then as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

How do I do this in EZ Drummer?

I go into the mixer and click on track and change it to multiple tracks and I see all drums get assigned their individual track number. I can pick a groove in EZ and drag it into a CUBASE LE4 instrument track but everything stays on the one track.

Do I set up a group track? I've tried this and when I open it up I choose 8 tracks and choose EZ as my VST Instrument but it tries to open 8 instances of EZ Drummer.

Confused???

Cheers,

Bata