Can anyone help a newbie to PT9 please?

[dal007]

Hello guys n girls,
I have recently used Protools7 and am now using PT9 for recording guitar tracks etc but as I am in need of some drums and have no drummer available I thought that there may be something on PT9 to assist me.
I have looked at endless tutorial pages, videos, youtube, done searches on the AVID website and to be honest...I am wishing I hadnt bothered. Everything seems to be how to edit a drium track..and not the basics on how to create a track.

I have no idea how to get any kind of drum program up, in or working...or even how to create a drum track from scratch.
(I know there will probably be a lot of you who are laughing at this post, thinking what a doofuss I must be because I cant programme a single drum beat)....well...here I am! get laughing...lol remember...we all had to start somewhere right? :)

I would welcome any help or links guys.....

regards and thanks in advance

Dal

[bradch00]

If you have no drummer then you need to create a "virtual" drummer, using a virtual drum kit. On PT you would create an instrument track, not an audio track, not an aux track. Insert a virtual instrument (in this case a virtual drum kit) on the track. You would then trigger it using "MIDI" notes and controls (you can google "MIDI") for more info, which can be composed a number of ways. If you have a musical keyboard, make your own drum patterns (as the keys should trigger specific drums and articulations). If you have no drumming background... try NOT to make it sound like the drummer has 8 arms and 6 feet....
To simplify things you may want to look at something like EZDrummer, it's a simple drum sampler (Virtual Drummer)... that comes with some pre-programmed patterns (grooves) that you can drag and drop on the "instrument" track to get you started. Yes there are drum samplers that are much more feature packed, but IMHO if you're a newbie, EZDrummer is a good starting point.

[JKD99]

Hi, Brad is it?
I have to say, that was an extremely helpful and informative post.
I've been doing post for the past 17 years so the last time I was doing music, a 32 mb Roland sampler was the top of the line and Virtual Instruments didn't exist.
I've been wanting to dabble around in music again, for fun, and had been very confused about how these new-fangled VIs work.
I hope your post helps the OP and much as it did me!

best,

Joe

[albee1952]

+1 for ezdrummer. Check out toontracks site and youtube for tutorials on how to use it. its a great way to get good drum tracks into your session.

[HD2]

+ another for EZ drummer.
It is what it's name says it is.

[barstool719]

EZDrummer is good, Addictive Drums is similar - easy to use, great sound. Low CPU overhead too.

[necjamc]

+1 for EZ Drummer. I got that on sale at GC for like 79 bucks. Then if you like it enough they offer a crossgrade to superior Drummer which is fantastic. I was happy I got them. Not one bit of buyers remorse.

Guitar Center 79 bucks. :) Click here. ( Couldn't say what the conversion would be for ya, but you can get it electronic download here)

[dal007]

Hey there guys!

thanks so much for all of your suggestions.......I shall try and get my hands on a copy of EZdrummer and take it from there! Nice one!

cheerz again!

Regards

Dal

[lhawkins]

Originally Posted by dal007

Hey there guys!

thanks so much for all of your suggestions.......I shall try and get my hands on a copy of EZdrummer and take it from there! Nice one!

cheerz again!

Regards

Dal

Hi Dal - Have you tried the Boom plugin that comes with PT? It's no slouch, either. FYI

L :)