MIDI drum files/loops/etc?

[manthe]

This will come off as a noob question, but I NEVER use or work with this stuff, so I need a little advice. I need some quality MIDI drum tracks/loops/files...whatever...tio feed in to Battery 3. This won't be for final production. This will be used to (very quickly) build some drum tracks for a (HUGE) upcoming session. I want to use them in lieu of a metronome. I would also like to use them for this purpose going forward, as well as for rehearsing and other, various uses.

I've done some Google searching and I get a ton of hits, but I have no idea what is good and what is Shit. I also do not know who is reputable or whether I can just find what I'm looking for free/public domain/etc.

I'm happy to pay for a quality product. I just need some advice.

PS - the upcoming session is all blues. But I also record (mostly) rock (all styles), country, bluegrass, AC, Christian AC and rock, etc. I don't have much use for dane, pop, hip-hop, etc. But, it might be nice to have some of that laying around as well.

Thanks!

[Kiwiburger]

Midi files are just notes - so quality is pretty hard to rate. You either like the drum pattern or you don't. The sounds you trigger determine the sound quality. There are plenty of people willing to sell you midi files - and possibly there is some value in have a professional drummer give you some human feel - but most of that feel is lost in a midi loop.

You might be better to learn how to quantise midi parts, and then apply the groove you want with swing percentage, sliding tracks backwards or forwards, or applying groove templates.

IF - you are going to use any of those tricks, then basically anyone can create midi loops. It wouldn't matter if the notes were created with a mouse, or played in from keyboard or drum pad, or a$10,000 drumit with triggers. A midi note is a midi note.

You can download midifiles of songs you know, and cut and paste the drum patterns and fills from them.

In my experience, I don't have the patience to fool around with somebody elses drum patterns. When you have the basics of a song started, the kick and snare pretty much have to fit around the song. I much prefer to play the parts in myself. A midi drumpad is a good way to get the notes in. It's good fun - why deny yourself the pleasure.

A real drumkit is even more fun.

[Kiwiburger]

Or consider Jammer Pro or Band-In-A-Box - or Steinberg Groove Agent.

[gsilbers]

google: ez player free

thats it.

[manthe]

Thanks folks. Once again, to reiterate, I AM NOT GOING TO USE THESE IN SONGS. They are strictly to use instead of metronomes. I ALWAYS record 'real' drums in my studio. I want these files for rehearsing and time keeping ONLY. I also do not really want to put any effort in to building them myself. I could, for all intents and purposes. I have Battery, I have plenty of MIDI triggering devices (even pads), but I am not interested (nor do I have a lot of time for that). I am looking to buy (or download) and library of ready-made grooves to drop in to projects.

Thanks!

[manthe]

Originally Posted by gsilbers

google: ez player free

thats it.

This looks to be the ticket. You rock!

[Kiwiburger]

No need to SHOUT. And you might want to look up the meaning of 'reiterate' - because nothing in your original thread said "I AM NOT GOING TO USE THESE IN SONGS."

I'm just saying that - in my experience - you can waste a *lot* of time auditioning thousands of grooves. I start most of my projects with a midi drum pattern - and then replace later if necessary. I too once got excited about the idea of using a library of existing grooves, but quickly came to realise I can build exactly what I need a helluva lot faster. YMMV.

[aeonsound]

a midi metronome pattern can be yours for four mouse-clicks

[manthe]

I meant no disrespect or anything similar. i was simply restating it in different words. If you read the 1st paragraph of my initial post, I said I had no intention of using them in production, I only want to use them as a metronome and possibly for rehearsing.

I have a great metronome feature in my DAW that can use samples, but at the end of the day, it is just CLICK, click, click click. I was just looking for some pre-made, drop in beats for 'standard' styles to load or quickly loop in a throw-away track in a given project so that the musicians can play along to something vaguely resembling real drums, in stead of CLICK, click, click click.

Once again, I wasn't yelling or saying anything out of frustration. But, for the record, i did actually say that I wasn't going to use them in a final product

and thank you for your help!

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

No need to SHOUT. And you might want to look up the meaning of 'reiterate' - because nothing in your original thread said "I AM NOT GOING TO USE THESE IN SONGS."

I'm just saying that - in my experience - you can waste a *lot* of time auditioning thousands of grooves. I start most of my projects with a midi drum pattern - and then replace later if necessary. I too once got excited about the idea of using a library of existing grooves, but quickly came to realise I can build exactly what I need a helluva lot faster. YMMV.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by aeonsound

a midi metronome pattern can be yours for four mouse-clicks

4, eh? I'm all eyes (ears )

[isham]

I tried the keyfax midi when I had a rm1x and was quite amazed by the quality.
It's a good start to compose your own patterns.

KeyFax.com/Store