Ezdrummer Kits
Mallory Chowansky
This is the only way to change kit, and feels like a step backwards from EZD1. I think it would be better (and less confusing) if you selected drum kit from the top menu, and then a mixer preset from the Mixer tab.
One question remains: I rely on MIDI program change messages to switch kits. Would I be right in thinking I have to select a kit with whichever mixer preset I want, then save that as a user preset in order to be able to select it via MIDI? Seems a bit of a painful way of having the add the 33 (or however many) kits there are into the preset list.
Essentially what I"m trying to do is take a midi file recorded with EZDrummer, pull it into Cakewalk for editing - eg. copy and paste sections played well, delete stuff not played well, and then render out to a final audio track using the EZDrummer kits (unless there is a better sound drum kit in Cakewalk).
When I play the track, I see some lights flicker suggesting the track has content but no sound is playing. At some point I solved this in another project but I have no idea. I think I have to assign the track to use the Ezdrummer instrument, but I don't know how to do this. If you have recommendations please provide step by step.
Sorry for all the questions. I have a ton of experience with software and media editing in apps like ACID and VEGAS, but just can't wrap my head around these DAWs. I have tried several. Thanks in advance
The MIDI track that you dragged the data to must point to the EZDrummer Audio Track(s).
Using SI Drummer as n example, look for the O drop down list and select SI Drums (Or EZDrummer in your case);.
With all due respect, you are going about this the wrong way around. There are no need to split/separate your midi into different tracks, the best way is to use the Multichannel output option with Ezdrummer.
To do this, simply insert Ez-Drummer from the Browser Instrument tab. Double click on Ez-Drummer, and from the "Insert Soft Synth Options. Check the following boxes: Midi Source, Synth Track Folder and All Synth Audio Outputs: Stereo". and click the OK Button.
This will insert a Track Folder, 16 Instrument tracks and a Midi Track. Double click on the first Instrument Track to bring up the EzDrummer interface and select the Mixer tab. From the MIXER tab, you can select the Multichannel option by clicking on one of the Selection pull-down box (for example: right above where it says 'Kick' which is an orange colour). Selecting the Multichannel option will output each Drum part to its own Instrument Track.
Drag and drop your Midi file (No need to split it) on to the Midi track which is inside the EzDrummer Track Folder. When you press play on Cakewalk, you should notice that the kick, snare and hi-hats etc play through their own instrument track. Doing it this way, you can treat the drums as you normally would if they were live. You can even freeze each part.
sorry @zaquria for my last post... I'm making some progress.. didn't see I had my instrument list filtered for "t" which you can see in the screen shot. I do have ezdrummer in my list and was able to follow your instructions. Giving this a try. Next I need to figure out how to switch kits or drum sounds - assuming this is done through the EZD interface... still learning. Thanks
You can switch Drum Kits via the EzDrummer interface. Just click on the little Piano Icon next to the Track Number and that will open the EzDrummer Interface. When the EzDrummer interface is open, there is a big orange box (Next to where it says Menu), Click on that Orange box, and it should give you an option to select aonther Drum Kit.
Question - the main mixer track/bus (?) for the synth doesn't seem to adjust the volume of the drums. Is there any way to turn the volume of the entire kit up or down without adjusting every track in the kit? Do you have to use the gain?
If the audio track for the VST is not reacting to the volume changes then it is not assigned from the midi tracks. There is a MIXER you can use and it will have a master volume but the VST instrument track has the last say in level. Mute that track and if you still here the drums then you have something wrong.
Mute works, because muting the main midi track mutes all the above related tracks. Just to better explain my issue I've included a screen shot. Adjusting the Console mixer volume or adding a Volume Automation envelope to track 53 does nothing. The volume slider on the console is even different than most - instead of -infinity to +6 it runs from 0 to 127 (second screenshot)... I'm sure there's something basic I'm not understanding. I have figured out a way around this which is assign all the EZDrummer tracks to it's own "Drum" master bus, then I can adjust volume on the master bus (or apply volume automation). But is that the right way?
Track 52 is a midi track. That is not the audio track for the EZ drummer VST so changing it's level might not do anything. . Midi tracks generally do not seem to change the volume of the VST unless your track 53 contains CC 10 ( or 11) for that VST. I just tried this just to double check. Volume changes in my drum kits are made in the GUI mixer for each drum part and by the Audio track of the VST. But I don't use simple instrument tracks, I use a dedicated midi track for each part and they are all assigned to the VST.
I LOVE the sound of Drummer's samples. I equally love creating drum tracks using Ezdrummer 2. We know the midi flavors of the 2 are different. Is there a way to accurately convert Toontrack midi files into Drummer midi?
Hi all, I'm reviving this thread (I actually did a search instead of starting a new thread, hey look at that!!) And perhaps a slightly more accurate title for this thread is "Make EZDrummer MIDI work with Drum Kit Designer kits."
Now that we're almost a year later, is anyone aware of any mapping tool to make EZDrummer 2's MIDI files play nice with DKD kits? I love the workflow in EZD2 as far as quickly finding the beats I'm looking for. I then want to take those beats, drag the MIDI into Logic onto a track with Drum Kit Designer and use those kits. The kick, snare, and toms seem to map one-for-one but everything else is off.
Everything I've read is that the way to go about this would be either to use Chord Trigger to map it, or the Scripter. Chord Trigger seems to be the quickest easiest way. Is anyone familiar with this mapping already being out there anywhere?
Yes, I actually checked that subforum before posting. Nothing there related to this. I've posted the same question on other sites and haven't gotten any feedback. Looks like I may need to start working on this myself. I already wrote one Scripter to properly translate hi-hats openness from Steven Slate Drums to DKD. So I could probably build off that to make the EZD2 map.
It's a blessing/curse this whole thing - when Drummer first came out I loved what it did and it's all I needed. Then it seems Toontrack took that idea and made it better and released EZD2 - I wouldn't necessarily say they stole the idea (lol) but in any case it doesn't matter, the fact is I can get the beat I'm going for way faster in EZD2, but still like DKD kits' sounds way better. Part of me wishes I never found out about EZD2!
The mapped instrument object is a good choice if you don't feel like writing a script, but there's no need to go through IAC for that to work: You connect the mapped instrument to the DKD software instrument channel strip, then create a track for the mapped instrument and place your EZD2 regions there.
So would you know the differences between the mapped instrument object (I've never used this) and say, the Chord Trigger MIDI FX? If you put the Chord Trigger MIDI FX in "Multi" mode, then you can then simply map one note to one note from the top keyboard to the bottom keyboard. Is this essentially what the mapped instrument object does?
I haven't really messed much with that particular MIDI FX so can't say much about its multi mode (although I remember reading something about it working the opposite of how it should...but that was a while back). The mapped instrument is basically a note remapper with some extra features (check the manual for details), but it was conceived specifically for drum instruments.
Clicking the triangle button in the corner of a MIDI item brings up an Edit Play Style overlay that allows you to set how each item in the current MIDI selection is played; for example, a ride can be set for Mute Hit, Edge, Bell, or Bow. Also, the number of hits per loop can be set for each individual item. These two features are particularly nice for adding variations of the same MIDI item to capture different feels without tons of MIDI editing.
Also included is a Song Creator. Pick a song pattern such as 12-Bar Basic or ABAB, then drop in a MIDI item to get suggestions on other patterns to use. Hitting Load Structure Onto Track populates the multi-pattern structure into the MIDI window, which can then be further customized and dropped into your DAW. This functionality provides access to numerous backing tracks with easy one-click operation.
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