MIDI Drums are making me crazy

[spkguitar]

I'm not sure really what the plan is for Pro Tools; I'm only repeating what some of the Pro Tools employees have said publicly on this forum.

I would certainly hope that it would function similarly to Melodyne. (a great program, by the way).


I'm imagining a "Pitch View" for each track that would be very similar to a MIDI or Instrument track in that it has horizontal note markers, and when you switch to pitch view, it analyzes the track (much like elastic time does now) and separates the waveform on the note grid (much like melodyne does now, yes).

[mandal]

Yes, you're missing the RX2 files !!!

Drag'n drop a RX2 file from menu Windows -> Workspace into a PT audio track. MIDI is old fasion....hehe

Download free RX2 files 1
Download free RX2 files 2

...do you know of other free RX2 files, spkguitar ?

[spkguitar]

I honestly have a few sets that I have purchased, so I don't bother with the free stuff anymore.

Doing a Google search for "free REX files" or "free ACID files" should turn up quite a few results. I have found that only about 10% (or less) of the free ones are good/useful though.

[asiabackpacker]

So, I'm now (very) happily running Pro Tools 7.3.1

And, spkguitar, you're right. RX2 files kick ass. They seem to save a lot of headaches.

But I'm having some trouble working with them. Maybe you can help...

They don't seem to match up right to the tempo of my session. For example, I've placed an RX2 file that's originally 60 bpm on a track in a session that is 64 bpm, but the groove is playing at what sounds like twice its recorded tempo. I have to change the session tempo to 32 bpm for the loop to play at its correct tempo.

Also when I preview the RX2 files in Pro Tools import window, they sound a lot better than when I drag them directly into a tick-based track and play them there.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
Elliott

[spkguitar]

You don't have to change the tempo of the session to get the file to match, just use the TCE tool to compress the loop into half of it's time.

What is the reported tempo of the files in the workspace browser? If you are drastically changing the tempo of the file (say 125BPM reported in the Workspace to 60BPM in your session) then they are probably going to sound like <expletive deleted > regardless.

Proper tempo matching is important. Digital artifacts will be more apparent the farther away from it's original tempo you have to stretch. (and that's any file, REX or otherwise).

Another thing that will help is to upgrade to 7.4, which has tempo matching in the workspace. When you have tempo matching turned on in the workspace in 7.4 and you audition the files, they conform to your session's tempo for the audition. You can get a much better idea of what is going to fit with this method.

Also, if you are auditioning loops at a higher BPM and they seem to fit during the audition, and they are super slow when you import them, then you might reconsider what your session tempo really is. Some people make the mistake of wanting the click only on certain beats so they decrease the session tempo to achieve it when it isn't necessary to do so. Choosing the right meter at the proper tempo might be the solution.

[asiabackpacker]

No...something weird is going on....

The tempo in my session is 65 BPM, but when I drag an RX2 file (originally recorded at 60bpm) into a Tic based track in this session, it plays like it is playing at 130 bpm....twice as fast as it should. I have to change my session tempo to 32.5 BPM for it to sound right....it also plays at the correct tempo when I preview it, but then plays twice as fast once I place it on a track in PT. Does this make sense? Any ideas??

Thanks

[spkguitar]

What tempo is reported on the Pro Tools Workspace?

Could you post the REX file in question somewhere, and then post a link to it?

[mandal]

Verify that you use 1/4 note in the Transport window....