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Posted by: thefireball Sep 17 2011, 02:29 AM

I think I'm starting to grasp odd times, so I would like to start writing songs in this manner. Is there a way to do this in EZdrummer - I mean easily? Do you just take a 4/4 pattern and repeat it once and then take off 1 beat for 7/8 time? And then add something for 9/8? How might one do such different odd time signatures?

I've never written drums for anything in odd time, and I don't want to do it wrong.


Thanks,
Brandon

Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 17 2011, 03:54 AM

The good news is I'm not aware of a way to do it "wrong". Just start writing and "play it by ear". You probably don't even need to read the manual until you hit a snag. Your DAW of choice may end up being an issue depending on what you are doing. The time sig specified in the DAW is often used to provide a click track. If you right your own poly rythm drum parts and have everything set down to say 64th note timing, once your parts are written you can ignore the click track so the time sig becomes more about feel. Can't wait to hear your stuff! Did you get some monitors so you don't have to mix on ear buds? I was amazed how good your ear bud mix sounded BTW! But that's a lot to have to bear.

Posted by: thefireball Sep 17 2011, 04:36 AM

Okay. No, unfortunately I haven't been able to get any monitors. I am using my iHome. That's where the POD Farm sounds are coming out of anyway. Then I listen to it in my car. I mix until I think it sounds about right. I might get some with my upcoming birthday money, but I have to get a new hard drive for my laptop as well.

Now which monitors did you say I could get that would get the job done, but not too expensive?

And btw, you'll hear what I'm working on when I post the collab with Cosmin. I'll post the entire take on YouTube.

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Sep 17 2011, 06:05 AM

i don't have a clue, i generally do it "by ear", but i would love to see the theory behind this!

Posted by: The Uncreator Sep 18 2011, 06:41 AM

I basically custom make them as a midi sequence. If your using Reaper, highlight one bar or two, and when you open it up, you can drag the corners to lengthen or shorten the bar to whatever desired time signature in the piano roll.

Also, you can just change the project time signature itself, and then you can enter a bar, and alter the properties so that it doesn't follow project tempo/sig when you change it again (if need be).

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Sep 19 2011, 05:44 AM

im wondering how to do it in logic, weird signatures look so complicated

Posted by: Vairish Sep 19 2011, 04:31 PM

Here's how I do it. Hoepfully this will be of some use to you.

I'm using Cubase for this but the method will be the same in most DAWs. First things first I need to set the time signature in the transport bar. Since I'm writing a beat in 9/8 I'll set the time signature to 9/8 like so:



Now I'm going to create a midi track for EZDrummer (I'm using Superior Drummer but it's all the same for this) and draw a one bar midi section like this:



I double click on the midi section which will take me to the piano roll/midi editor. Since the time signature is setup for 9/8 you will notice each bar is now split up into 4 and a half beats instead of the usual 4. To help you visualize this here is a bar in 4/4 (notice 4 beats per bar):



There is a kick drum on every beat which sounds like this http://soundcloud.com/joekiernan/9-8-part-1ab (bar repeated 4 times)


and here is a bar in 9/8 (notice 4 and 1/2 beats per bar)



There is a kick drum on every beat which sounds like this http://soundcloud.com/joekiernan/9-8-part-1abc (bar repeated 4 times). Notice the extra half beat.


Now that we know where the beats are we can write a 9/8 drum beat like this:



Which sounds like this: http://soundcloud.com/joekiernan/9-8-part-1abcd

Heopfully that helps.

Posted by: dark dude Sep 19 2011, 04:40 PM

Great effort with the explanation Vairish - thanks!

Posted by: WeePee Sep 19 2011, 05:57 PM

Nice tutorial Vairish !!

Posted by: Vairish Sep 19 2011, 07:40 PM

Thanks guys, was in a bit of a hurry when I wrote it as I was in work. Hopefully it makes sense but I'm happy to expand on anything that's unclear.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 19 2011, 08:25 PM

Vairish explained nicely, picture says more than thousand words


When you are trying to make drums, try making kick & snare first, then draw hihat, and after that everything else. Don't use any premade 4/4 patterns, as it will only confuse you.

After you get the hang of it, you will see it's not difficult at all to program drums. And mostly you just make one portion and copy it, so it's not like you need to draw the whole song.

Posted by: thefireball Sep 19 2011, 11:38 PM

COOL! Thanks guys!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 20 2011, 02:41 AM

That's a tough spot to be in, I Hope you can get a pair of speakers. Even a standard pair of "hi fi" speakers, used from a pawn shop would be a decent start. Mixing on your ihome can't be easy. Here's to ya for working through it and getting good results with what you have on hand well done! Here is the link to my post about the monitors I use. You can get a powered pair for about $200. Don't be afraid to buy used if they sound OK.


http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=35615&view=findpost&p=488602

Posted by: Spock Mar 2 2013, 06:29 PM

I just found this thread while looking for the same exact thing on Google.

I figured out how to get the odd time signatures for EZDrummer - but it is not via EZDrummer...


First get EZDrummer, then add any kit expansion packs you wish to use, which come with a bunch of beats as it is.


Then, any preprogrammed midi drum files will work! In your DAW (I am using Logic) just set your drum track you placed the midi loop in to the EZDrummer kit of your choice and WALLAH!

I have found tons of midi drum loops at http://www.groovemonkee.com/. You can download their free samples here http://www.groovemonkee.com/en/free-midi, and give it a try, they give you a lot of free midis. I took the entire folder of free samples and dragged it to my EZDrummer folder"My Midi Files" and you will see it in your DAW EZDrummer interface just like all the other EZDrummer files, and you can audition them.

So. Logic Pro > EzDrummer > Groove Monkey

The Groove Monkey packs are typically $19.95 each.


World Beats Midi Drum Loops contains:
1100 Royalty Free MIDI Drum Loops
5 variations and fills per beat
100+ Odd-Meter Grooves (3/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/4, 12/8)




PROGRESSIVE MIDI DRUM LOOPS
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The grooves were played by prog sensation, Joe Babiak. Joe's progressive group, Parallel Mind, was signed to Unicorn Records of Canada for the release of their album, Colossus ADEA. Joe also played with Kill Hannah during a 5 month national tour in 2006. He's also had the honor of appearing in Modern Drummer magazine four times.
Arranged by tempo and time signature






FUSION MIDI DRUM LOOPS
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Played by a professional studio drummer
Fusion midi drum loops: Funk, Latin, Ballads, Shuffles and more!
Time signatures: 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 5/4, 7/4 and 7/8
Tempo: 60 to 210 bpm
180 extra drum fills




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11 Groove Monkee packs in all available formats!
Formats: Addictive Drums, BFD, BFD2, EZdrummer, Superior 2, Session Drummer, Steven Slate and more!

Hope this helps anyone new looking may find this thread.