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Creating a synth drum preset on quad cortex guitar pedalboard
I have made a preset that functions as a synth drum on the quad cortex. This can also function as a kick-drum stompbox.
Introduction
Ever since the mono synth block came out on the quad cortex, I have been trying to teach my quad cortex to play drums.
When using the synth block, impulse response, EQ, and looper I managed to create a synth drum preset that enables quad cortex to play (basic) drum sounds.
This preset includes drums sounds: kick, snare, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat.
Create your own drum loop, and jam against that in another preset that also has a looper block.
The mono synth block is used in a drum synthesis approach, to generate drum sounds: kick, snare, hi-hat by using the right waveform, in combination with white noise for the 2 oscillators. Typically, we combine two different waveforms, and also apply filtering in the synth block to filter in the right frequencies.
This preset includes impulse responses that come from Landr's (free) royalty free samples.
The combination of the mono synth block, together with the impulse response gets us quite far with drum sounds.
The impulse response applies impulse samples for the drum sounds. This helps a lot in tweaking the signal in the direction of drum sounds.
Next we use an EQ block to filter the right frequencies.
Let me know what you think of the preset.
Feel free to improve upon the preset.
I am interested in what better configurations you may come up with.
Step 1: get samples for drums: kick, snare hi-hat (open and closed).
For this example, we are using royalty free samples.
You could get these from any other source.
For example, I used these: https://samples.landr.com/category/free
https://samples.landr.com/collections/best-free-kick-samples
https://samples.landr.com/collections/bonus-beats
https://samples.landr.com/collections/free-snare-samples
Save your samples as .wav files.
Maybe do a bit of editing, where you fade out the last bit of the sample.
Cut them so they do not contain too much trailing silence.
Cut your samples so that they start without leading silence.
Step 2: upload samples into cortex cloud
We want to use our samples as impulse responses.
To use our samples on the quad cortex, we first need to upload our samples to cortex cloud.
Upload your .wav files at https://cloud.neuraldsp.com/cloud/profile/impulses
Step 3: download the impulse responses to your quad cortex
Now that the impulse responses are in the cloud, we have to download them to our quad cortex.
Connect your quad cortex with usb to your computer, open up Cortex control.
In the menu, go to: Directory / IR
Cloud IRs / select your uploaded samples from the list / download
Step 4: Create a synth preset
We will create 4 scenes per sample: kick, snare, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat.
Add a mono synth block, impulse response block, eq block and maybe some reverb/delay.
In the mono synth block, we need to adjust settings so that the signal matches our samples as best as we can.
We set the correct waveforms, filters in the parameters view. Adjust decay etc in the Global & amp view.
Check out the preset for the specific settings.
Step 5: Use our drum samples as impulse responses.
In the impulse response block, select a sample per scene: kick, snare, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat.
Step 6: Add a looper block at the end of the chain.
Record a loop with closed hi-hat, overdub with open hi-hat, kick and snare.
To avoid mistakes, switch between play and overdub between each take, so that you can undo the last step.
I use the hybrid scene (top) stomp (bottom) mode, to be able to switch scene (sample) and record (stomp button).
Create a drum loop.
Step 7: Switch to a next preset.
Also add a looper at the end of the chain.
Now you can jam against your drum loop.
I have used inspiration from the following sources for drum sound synthesis with the mono synth block:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ3wWi4j_A8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvfXDaFzVjo
To improve upon this preset:
- better configuration of the synth block
- use better impulse responses
- improve EQ
- include other sounds such as toms, cymbal, crash
Some issues with the preset:
- When playing notes on the lower strings, sometimes a bubbly pop sound is created. Whereas I am looking for a dry kick sound.
- The kick can be a bit loud. Volume level is set mainly in the impulse response block, but may need more adjusting.
- The snare is Ok, but could use improvement.
Please check out the preset:
Link to free preset at neural DSP cloud (under Neural DSP account jenkins): Jenkins Synth Drums https://cloud.neuraldsp.com/cloud/profile/preset/preset/view/e10cbf9b-bb80-430a-b568-8b2e057f2737
Link to video with explanation: Jenkins Synth Drums on Quad Cortex
Note that, when you use this preset, I really recommend you use some kind of samples for kick/snare/etc as impulse responses.
You could use this free sample pack:
Link to sample pack to use as impulse responses: Jenkins_synthdrum_Sample_pack.zip
(based on Landr's (free) royalty free samples).
Enjoy and post your comments!
Contact me on Neural DSP discord: seymourjenkins
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