Midi or WAV

[theojkett]

Hey Kids,

I’ve been using EZ Drummer for a couple of years now and I’m not sure I’m doing it right or the best way.

I’m a guitarist, singer/songwriter. I play guitar, of course, dobro, mandolin and dabble on the keys.

I’ve been laying down tracks for songs and while they are coming out great with EZ Drummer, I’m not sure the way I’m doing it is the best way. What I have been doing is writing my song on guitar. I establish the format: Intro, verse, Pre-chorus, verse, etc. Then I go into EZ Drummer and build the song by selecting the drum set, using the browser, dragging the blocks I want into the song block at the bottom of the interface. This will include all aspects of the song including fills. Once I have the song created to the tempo I want and structure, I play and sing to it to be sure it is to my liking. If satisfied, I click on “Track Options” pull-down on the upper right of the block window and select “Track” at the top and then export song as WAV file. Once that is exported to the location I have set up, I will import that into my recording software on the appropriate track as an audio track. From there I will build the rest of the song.

What this gives me is the drum sound I like. I have yet to import the MIDI into my software simply because my sources for drum sounds from an old Alesis drum machine and my old keyboard are not really that good at all.

In watching the demo for EZ Bass, I see that by using MIDI, I can better match up the bass lines to the drum track and this has me wondering if I shouldn’t be doing the drum tracks the way I am. Don’t get me wrong, the way I do it works for me and sounds great, I just wonder how everyone else is doing it and/or if I’m using the software incorrectly.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and input.

Play lots.

Ted

Topic

[Scott]

I’ve never used the bounce to wav feature in EZD2 or S3 or EZbass. I create in my DAW. Usually I start with the guitar, being a guitar player. Or, I’ll start with EZkeys for a different type of “inspiration”. So, at that point I know the chord progression and song form.

Then, depending on arrangement of course, I’ll start to create the drum part. I’ll use the S3 Song Track and drag MIDI from the browser. I’ll use the Tap2Find to narrow the search because I’ll have an idea of what I want. Then I can edit using the Edit Play Style or grid editor to tweak.

Then I’ll move on to EZbass. I’ll either drag the EZkeys progression that I created to EZbass or I’ll write the progression by hand if I didn’t use EZkeys and just a guitar part. Sometimes I’ll drag the progression in from EZkeys and then also drag the drum MIDI into EZbass and use the rhythm feature while keeping the progression intact. That way the bass and drums sound more like they are playing together. It’s trial and error to find what works

The reason I never render to .wav is that I want to tweak until the song is finished. Rendering means that’s it and if I decide I want to change the bridge or I want some tight syncopated hits with drums/bass/keys and everything is rendered, I can’t. It’s about being able to tweak and be creative if I want.

Also, I’m a mixing engineer. When the song needs to be mixed,  I stem out my drums from the S3 mixer into my DAW. I want to be able to mix the drums while referencing the arrangement and other instruments. If I was given a stereo drum track that sounds awesome solo’d and was bounced in a vacuum (not mixed while referencing any other instruments) I’d feel handcuffed at mixdown. I ain’t havin it lol.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[theojkett]

Okay…. so then what is generating you sounds for your drums and your bass? That is my dilemma, that’s why I’m not using the midi feature…. yet. I don’t like the Drum and bass sounds that I have available. I like the sounds EZD and ESB has and I want to use those.

What’s the recommendation then?  I appreciate your input. Very informative. Thank you.

 

Ted

[Scott]

Not sure what you mean. I’m getting drum and bass sounds from the Song Tracks in S3 and EZbass. I have everything running together in Cubase.

Actually my songwriting template has S3, EZbass, and EZkeys loaded and setup as well as a few audio tracks for guitars and vocals.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[theojkett]

So let me see if I understand correctly.

When you are in Cubase and you import your midi tracks from EZD, EZB & EZK (I don’t know what S3 is), Cubase pulls the sounds from those three things? Not some other external source like a keyboard, Module or drum machine? I’ll have to look into the tutorial on how that’s done. I’ve imported sounds from other sources but never EZD.

I’m using Sonar Artist software and while the software has internal keyboard sounds and drums sounds, they too are just “okay”. If I can pull the drum sounds from EZD I’ll go back to the midi method and do it that way. That will certainly make it easier for me to use my index finger on the “add to cart” purchase of EZ Bass.

Thanks for your input and help.

Ted

[Scott]

Actually, I don’t pull anything into Cubase. I use the Song Tracks in S3, EZbass and EZkeys and almost never drag and drop the MIDI into Cubase. There are sometimes I do but it’s less and less as I love the editors in S3 and EZbass. I will edit MIDI for EZkeys but most of the time I don’t.

And yes, when I do drag and drop MIDI from S3/EZD2/EZbass/EZkeys, they play back those sounds and not some other generic sound. I have the MIDI track output routed to those instruments. Not sure why you can’t do the same in your DAW.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[theojkett]

Well thank you Scott. I will have to give it a try and see how that turns out. I’ve never done it so this will be a new experience for me. Though I have worked with midi plenty of times before, I have never done it with external software such as Toontracks. I look forward to the new challenge.

Thank you graciously.

Ted

[Author]

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