Use PC Keyboard to Trigger VI Drums

[19 frets]

I am using Addictive Drums inserted as a VI on an Instrument Channel in Pro Tools 11. I want to use a key on my laptop keyboard to trigger a piece of the kit (like the bass drum for example) to record it along with previously recorded tracks.

It works fine if I use the mouse to click on the picture of the drum kit and trigger one of the pieces of the kit with the mouse. But this is not easy to do with a mouse and produce accurately timed hits. I would like to be able to do the same thing with a designated key on the laptop keyboard. I can't seem to figure out how to get the keyboard to work as a trigger for AD.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[albee1952]

I am not aware of any way to do this. Your best bet is to use a midi controller of some kind. even an older second hand synth can work, or one of the small trigger units like the M-Audio Trigger Finger or the Korg Nano-pad.

[19 frets]

Albee - Thanks for the suggestions. I did some searching and found a procedure on Youtube that involves a couple of freeware apps that will supposedly do this. But I didn't want to clutter up my system with anymore apps. I ended up using my Motif XS and gave up on the idea of using the PC keyboard. I may eventually spring for a controller, but for now, this is working fine.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. Cheers!!

[mesaone]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vmpk/

[adam79]

Originally Posted by mesaone

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vmpk/

You aren't able to load vmpk into PT as a VI. I'm trying to do the same thing as the OP, and having similar problems. I found another VI drum kit, Soundplant 43, that works with the computer keyboard.. but I haven't figured out if it can be loaded into PT, yet.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by adam79

You aren't able to load vmpk into PT as a VI. I'm trying to do the same thing as the OP, and having similar problems. I found another VI drum kit, Soundplant 43, that works with the computer keyboard.. but I haven't figured out if it can be loaded into PT, yet.

This is a long way around when there are great tools to give you great drums inside your DAW. Kudos for trying, but it may just be best to use the right tool for the job

[Terry Wetzel]

I'm jumping in here so please excuse me, I may be able to help. I worked out my own way of doing this and though it may not suit everyone, it works for me. I use ezdrummer with Pt's 12.7. I instantiate a stereo instrument track and select the drum I want.(I.E.), Kick, Snare, etc. I don't know if the following is necessary but I mute all drum parts in the mixer except the one I want to record. I click on search, as the tempo plays I play the drum,(Just one hit). I then click and drag that one hit,(midi), to the selected track in PT's. From there I build the entire track with repeat or copy and paste. Once you get used to doing it this way it moves along pretty quickly! with the new way to transpose midi to audio it's even faster and then it's up to you as far as plugins.
I hope this helps.

[Terry Wetzel]

Albee. My keyboard is old and probably not up to spec as far as newer keyboards. (Yamaha DGX 500). If I use mini grand as an insert on a stereo instrument track playing the Yamaha has no effect at all on the mini grand. I've set up MIDI as per instructions but I still can't use the keyboard.

[Terry Wetzel]

Please excuse my confusion with my responses to this thread. I was thinking drums as a virtual instrument not piano. Sorry.

[adam79]

Originally Posted by Terry Wetzel

I'm jumping in here so please excuse me, I may be able to help. I worked out my own way of doing this and though it may not suit everyone, it works for me. I use ezdrummer with Pt's 12.7. I instantiate a stereo instrument track and select the drum I want.(I.E.), Kick, Snare, etc. I don't know if the following is necessary but I mute all drum parts in the mixer except the one I want to record. I click on search, as the tempo plays I play the drum,(Just one hit). I then click and drag that one hit,(midi), to the selected track in PT's. From there I build the entire track with repeat or copy and paste. Once you get used to doing it this way it moves along pretty quickly! with the new way to transpose midi to audio it's even faster and then it's up to you as far as plugins.
I hope this helps.

How's the latency with your midi controller and the PT VI insert? I'm using VMPK to trigger the drum samples in XPand! 2 and it seems a bit slow, especially when doing quick hi hat hits. The musical typing option on Garageband seems to respond quicker to the computer keyboard strokes.
Do u think it's the VMPK software that's slowing it down? Slower vs using a real keyboard as the MIDI controller. It just seems odd to me that Garageband has better latency (for MIDI) than PT.