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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2315.0. "MACdrums - toy or tool ?" by SALSA::MOELLER (I know-let's speed up the Blues!) Wed Apr 11 1990 17:06

    This is embarassing, for some reason.  Last Saturday I was browsing a
    software shop when I espied a package with the MACdrums program in it. 
    Now, my idea of MACDrums is that it's home-consumer software, and of
    course me as a wannabe professional wouldn't mess with it..
    
    Well, before you know it I had it loaded (in the store) and was 
    constructing hot latin grooves with it.  According to the manual, you
    can assign any MIDI note number to any percussion instrument, and it
    will export MIDI clock along with note number/preset velocity info.
    
    My idea is to use it to construct percussion tracks, exporting them to
    the sequencer in the EMAX, and then after loading Performer in the MAC,
    retransmitting the percussion track from the EMAX to Performer.  Any
    zits in this scenario ?  Anyone played with/bought this software ?
    
    I did do a sh key/full=MACdrums, likewise a dir/title=..
    
    thanks.  karl
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2315.1huh?LEDDEV::ROSSshiver me timbres....Wed Apr 11 1990 17:4910
    
    I havent. 
    
    Next???????
    
    
    what was the question again?
    
    rr
    
2315.2Woudln't work out for meDREGS::BLICKSTEINConliberativeWed Apr 11 1990 19:2515
    The question was : "Any zits in this scenario?"
    
    I don't know if you're looking for technical "can't do it" type zits
    or just general comments.
    
    I personally would find it very hard to produce good drums without
    being able to hear them in context with other tracks (bass, piano,
    etc.)
    
    But I may do things differently.  I don't use patterns and I probably
    don't quantize as much as other folks, thus it would be hard for me to
    synchronize unquantized "feel" parts with the other tracks if I created
    the drum tracks in isolation.
    
    	db
2315.3...well, i guess you could do it for a year.RICKS::NORCROSSThings change.Wed Apr 11 1990 19:5210
    Karl, what you propose sounds do-able to me. I wouldn't waste my time
    though. Within a year from this writing, a plethora of Macintosh MIDI
    Manager compatible programs will exist which will allow you to use the
    Mac to run many things in parallel, including drum-pattern-generators
    (like MacDrums) and sequence recorders (like Performer) (this is my
    prediction /Mitch). Check with the makers of Performer to see when
    they will be supporting the MIDI Manager. Urge them to do it asap.
    I'm looking forward to running multiple programs at once.
    
    /Mitch
2315.44GL::DICKSONWed Apr 11 1990 19:5311
    If you had the Apple "Midi Manager" you wouldn't need to involve the
    EMAX.  Under MultiFinder you just run bothg programs at once and
    logically connect their midi "ports".   But this requires a larger Mac
    than you have.
    
    I don't see why it wouldn't work.
    
    Opcode's Vision sequencer includes a drum-machine-type loop recording
    feature.  (I just got me a copy of this, $320 at Sam Ash. $495 list.
    I couldn't stand drooling over the demo any more.)  I haven't tried it
    yet, but I've read the manual.
2315.5Bust out the tracksRUGRAT::POWELLDan Powell/221-5916Wed Apr 11 1990 20:3910
    Karl,
    
    There is a package called Upbeat which allows you to develop drum 
    stuff and export/import to Mac based sequencers. But, it's about
    $250. You should be able to do the same thing with Performer by
    assigning one drum per track. I do it with Vision all the time.
    
    dan
    
    
2315.6"low bucks" is in the eye of the beholderSALSA::MOELLERI know-let's speed up the Blues!Wed Apr 11 1990 21:1314
    All, thanks so far.  I admit I'm dragging my feet on upgrading my MAC
    so I can run newer software and multiple software... I read stuff
    somewhere about Upbeat and MacDrums about the same time, so they're
    smushed together in my mind.
    
    Re drums on separate tracks and playing live to the other tracks -
    that's my method now.  However, it's sometimes a gas to just play to a
    solid, quantized groove [created by the dread point'n'grunt UI].. so
    I just might spend $60 on this.  If I wanted to edit it, using the
    'split notes' utility in Performer, I can isolate any specific
    instrument.. plus I could always add live tom rolls and crashes to add
    accents.  I tell myself..
    
    karl
2315.7ST has it nowBAHTAT::KENTpeekayThu Apr 12 1990 06:4520
    
    
    I hate to be a "look what I've got and isn't it the best" but all the
    things suggested so far here are done by CUBASE. which is about to
    become MACerised I believe.
    
    "Point and Grunt" drums you can even change drum configs and save
                      then with the song.
    "Multi tasking"
    "Logical connnection" of midi-ports
    etc etc etc.
    
    For the price of upgrading your MAC you could buy CUBASE and a decent
    ST and use the MAC for what it's really good at :-#
    
    				Paul.
    				(I get Steinberg Commission (if only))
    
    
    
2315.8See EM 2/88AQUA::ROSTBass is the placeThu Apr 12 1990 12:278
    
    EM reviewed MacDrums in Feb. 88.  At that time, there was no MIDI
    clock support, a major zit, since you couldn't run your patterns off
    to a drum machine or sequencer.  You mentioned in .0 it now *does* have
    MIDI clock support, though.  Sounds like they wised up   8^)   8^)  8^)
    Otherwise they thought it was boffo, especially at the price.
    
    							Brian
2315.9Integrated drums and sequencer ...RDGENG::MCNAUGHTONBruce, IED Process and QualityThu Apr 12 1990 14:1719
    RE: 2315.7 (Paul's note on CUBASE)..  (I wish I knew the
                capabilities of other packages ... these features
                may be ho-hum ...)
    
    I've been playing with the "quantize" features of CUBASE ...
    which allows both "match" and "groove" quantize (among others).
    I'm just starting to understand the parameters to make
    these capabilities work...
    
    These features allow other tracks to get the same "feel" as
    the drum part or a selected "groove"... 
    
    Its then easy to try various feels to the song without changing
    any of the other tracks etc....  
    
    So having an integrated drum edit with the sequencer makes
    these types of changes much easier...
    
    Bruce
2315.10SALSA::MOELLERCan you say 'filesystem' ?Thu Apr 12 1990 16:5811
    Thanks, all.  Now that I think of it, I don't remember the
    documentation specifically mentioning MIDI clock at all !  I know it
    will export note events.  Perhaps that was my wishful thinking kicking
    in.  Will check re MIDI clock, eliminate product if not there !
    
    re CUBASE, ST, and everything.. read my lips.. no more new equipment! I
    just wanta spend $60 US on this software... maybe.
    
    thanks again.  Will look for that EM issue - oughta have it.
    
    karl
2315.11Another AlternativeDISORG::WIEGLERFri Apr 13 1990 15:3911
    There is another MAC drum software package you should look into.
    It's called Different Drummer.  I was at MACworld a couple of years
    ago when MACdrums and Different Drummer were both new products.
    I demo'd them both and bought Different Drummer.  The interface
    is what sold me.  MACdrums seemed very toy-like and Different Drummer
    was much more "musical."  As a drummer, I liked the features of
    Different Drummer better.
    
    I think you can get Different Drummer for about $50 mail-order.
    
    	Willy
2315.12MACdrums availability...XERO::ARNOLDFight stress with cynicism and humorFri Apr 13 1990 18:538
    >>> I think you can get Different Drummer for about $50 mail-order.
    
    On a related bent, I noticed MACdrums in the latest MACwarehouse
    catalog for $31 (plus $3 shipping).  Just for anyone's information. 
    The blurb in the catalog didn't mention enough details to answer the
    MIDI clock question that came up a few notes back.
    
    - John -