does making drum machines sound "real" make it sound even more fake?

[samal50]

any else notice this? do you use real time ot step programming? how do I make drum machines sound believable, by programming it as a drum machine and avoiding to attempt to make it sound like real drums are being played (which in turn actually sound a lot more fake)?

[Yoozer]

The Battery 3 manual has some nice notes on this:

 

- forget randomization in velocity

- forget randomization in quantizing

 

In other words, drum like an actual drummer and put accents on the notes instead of just varying the velocity, and play notes not exactly on the beat - but on/off beat should should not be completely random either.

 

Try a Roland SPD pad controller or something; things generally change for the better when you don't have to click or play keys to get things done.

[soundwave106]

 

Try a Roland SPD pad controller or something; things generally change for the better when you don't have to click or play keys to get things done.

 

 

That would also be my advice, but even *playing* keys will sound more realistic than programming a beat.

[idiotboy]

Craig Anderton FTW.

[cl516]

what do you mean believable?

 

if you want to use a drum machine, but want folks to believe it is a real drummer, then you're gonna have to layer some sounds IMO. even the most 'organic' timing in the world won't make a brilliantly programmed 808 pattern sound like a real drummer on a set.

[SoundwaveLove]

i prefer synthesized drums. I mean you got all this technology, why make it sound like a low tech drum?

 

But sampling drum sounds, that's pretty cool. One hits can be useful, but sampled loops sound better.

[Gus Lozada]

Maing drum sounds "real" is not important.

 

Making a killer drum track is what matters whereas it is electronic, acoustic samples or a real drummer with mixed technologies.

[JohnBenussi]

 

any else notice this? do you use real time ot step programming? how do I make drum machines sound believable, by programming it as a drum machine and avoiding to attempt to make it sound like real drums are being played (which in turn actually sound a lot more fake)?

 

 

This depends on what you are using for your drum machine/

how well your technique is when playing the parts?

 

The better the sample sound quality, the more believable it will sound.

Personally I'd not want to use a drum machine for this purpose because they are definitely limited in sample data...

 

Have you looked into a VSTi, such as addictive drums?

Or Steve Slate drums...

 

These kits are real kits.

 

Playing them correctly will fool most people.

[uvacom-rotatt]

 

any else notice this? do you use real time ot step programming? how do I make drum machines sound believable, by programming it as a drum machine and avoiding to attempt to make it sound like real drums are being played (which in turn actually sound a lot more fake)?

 

 

What you are asking is a contradiction. You want to know how to make drums sound more believable without using techniques to make drums sound more believable.

[samal50]

I'm actually talking about "programming" not "playing" a drum machine. The drum machine I'm using is the BOSS DR. 770. Not the ones you'd play with a stick with. LOL.