Recommendations for Midi Drum Patterns

adam8290 · Post by **adam8290** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:09 pm

Hi. I'm new to Ableton forums, and fairly new to Live, but love it. Live has really jump-started my song-writing, but I need more midi drum patterns. I can make some, but I also want to buy some. I know there are loads of sampled drums I can download free (I've seen a fantastic post labled "I need samples" with many links to sample-downloading sites), and am but I am looking for midi control of my drum patterns.

So, for good flexibility and convenience when using the pattern sequencer to build rhythm tracks, should I be just downloading patterns from somewhere? Does someone sell them or are they available for free? I do get Sweetwater's catalog and have seen the ads for plug-in (and stand-alone) programs such as drumcore or EZ Drummer or the like. I don't want to run a separate program as a rewire slave. Actually I have Reason for that, but I really want to use Lives pattern sequencer as my main rhythm generator. I know I could use Reason's sequencer, but I really would like to work as much as possible within the Live pattern sequencer.

Also, my primary computer (a laptop) can't hold much more sample data on its hard drive, so I need to use an external drive. Christian at Ableton tells me that Live's library shouldn't be split into two places, like one part on the main drive and one part on an external hard drive. I guess what I want is a plug-in with a huge list of midi programs that will easily map to kits already laid out in Live (like GM Patterns?) so I don't have to do a lot of work and can get down to song-writing. Am I dreaming, or are we all asleep since I've written so much.

Thanks for thinking about my question and do refer me to previous posts if this has already been covered in the past. I'm not getting useful results from the Forum search engine yet.

--adam

KB · Post by KB » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:13 pm

Try This.
http://www.groovemonkee.com/home/

adam8290 · Post by **adam8290** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:19 pm

I found midi patterns, KB, and dropped one into the pattern sequencer. Then I dropped in the acoustic backbeat Kit from my library. I get the bouncing meters on the lefthand side, indicating it is getting input, but no sound. I looked at the pattern in the midi note window and saw the drum notes (Bass drum is probably C1, etc.), but I don't know how to map the kit to the midi pattern. Suggestions for the next step?

Thanks again,

--adam[/quote]

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:53 am

The file you have downloaded probably uses some sort of General Midi drum assignment that doesn't map to Impulse at all.

You could either edit the pattern manually (select all notes on a single row and move them to the correct row) or try to find some sort of midi mapping plugin to put before Impulse.

dancerchris · Post by **dancerchris** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:44 pm

Firstly most midi drum patterns that are available are most widely GM (General Midi) drums. The GM drum mapping gives specific drum assignments to various piano roll keys. Google it. There are suppliers that provide specific midi patterns for various drum VSTi's like BFD, DFHS etc. Groovemonkee being one of them. If you don't have a VSTi (Impulse is a built in VSTi in Live) set up for GM you might have to do a mapping. Impulse would require a Rack to do a full GM mapping. I think there may be a GM Rack posted but on the forum or WIKI but you need to search.

As for a supplier I recommend http://www.prosonic-studios.com. Their midi drum phrases are an excellent value with permutation of permutations. I have purchased many of the phrases downloads and the patterns as well.

But honestly, lately I have dumped using preloaded midi patterns and just use Jamstix. Way too cool and reasonably priced.

adam8290 · Post by **adam8290** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:48 pm

Looks like I have a bit to learn, but that there are a bunch of good options out there. Thanks to all of you for suggestions. I'll do hunting before coming back with more questions. Thanks for being here.

--adam

Fidel · Post by **Fidel** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:13 pm

I would say don't look for midis of drum patterns at all. Considering all of what it takes to make a song. editing or creating drum patterns is the least time intensive. If your that concerned about having a library of good midi drum patterns; Just take a day to only make midi beats and then pull them into the browser. I.E. open a kit you like, start off with simplicity. Kick, Snare, Kick, Snare. Move them around and add hats until you are happy. Pull the midi pattern into the browser. Then you can reuse that pattern no matter what the kit. You'll be happier with it because you knew you put in the work.. even if the pattern is an old standby that everybody uses. Then if you are looking to do breakbeats on the fly, Look at instajungle, Livecut and dBlue glitch. you'll be breakin with the masters in no time.