Hi,
I have some concerns regarding how to better understand and utilize the phenomenal capabilities of Superior 2 and MIDI Drum grooves for musicians who are not “pro-level” drummers/producers.
….first some background:
I’m a guitar player of 30+ years. I’ve studied Jazz and Classically “formally” for about 10 years total and also play some R&B/funk/blues, etc. I also play keyboards and Electric Bass very minimally and of course can read music decently and understand harmony, rhythm fundamentals, etc.
I have Superior 2 and several of the SDX/EZX add-ons as well as copious MIDI groove files in several styles from GrooveMonkee.
… not exactly sure what I’m asking for but here is my dilemma.
I’m working in a small Logic Pro-based home studio, shedding Jazz guitar and other groove-oriented forms of modern music. I want to record a variety of things in these genres. However, I’m not “pro-level” and I do not possess the depth of musical experience that many “producer-types” who use the Toontrack products have.
I’ve never been a drummer and don’t really want to become one. With Toontrack Superior samples plus 1000’s of non-quantized MIDI files/loops played by some of the best drummers in the world at my disposal, I don’t see the need for me to learn to actually play drums.
However, I do need to learn “how to think more like a drummer”. There are many great DVD’s and books available on modern drumming, yet most of these deal with stick control, technique, etc. What I really need is a set of Tutorials using real examples (ideally from MIDI files) that explain “why” a Drummer would use a certain feel within a style – like a Funky New Orleans Jazz Groove or a Mambo AND how this relates to what other instruments would play in this particular style.
It wold be great if someone could up with a set of such Tutorials, based around the Toontrack Drum Samples (EzDrummer/Superior) with an actual Bass Player, Guitarist, and Keyboard Player, demonstrating the fundamental musical conversation that various drum grooves function in. Ideally, this would include some musical history and discography of how these grooves have been utilized by great musicians.
All of this being said, it is a great “groove education” to simply bring up Toontrack Solo and listen to the MIDI files included with the various Superior /SDX/EZX products. I’m having a great time doing this!!
Brian
