Programmed Drums is an Artform

Most musicians have heard of programmed drums one time or another and often times the emotions that come with it aren’t too positive. Mostly drummers who do not want to have samples replace their performance and sounds they have worked incredibly hard to achieve. Maybe you’ve heard of drum programming as the leading tool for songwriting in bands. However way you may have heard about drum programming in the past; I’m here to tell you that drum programming doesn’t have to sound dull, lifeless, and bland. You can recreate the sound of a real drummer with the right tools and thinking.

WHAT IS DRUM PROGRAMMING AT ITS CORE?

Drum programming is the art of programming sequenced rhythmic patterns. In history, it comes from the use of drum machines and electronic devices replacing the need for musicians. We, as humans; love a good beat. It’s been hardwired into us. So it’s no secret that we would find ways to create beats and rhythms regardless if we have access to an instrument.

Programming drums now day’s isn’t a way to replace the drummer entirely, but a way to get really good sounding drums for various needs in a production. Here are a list of some of these:

• Songwriting: We may need programmed drums to speed up the arrangement of a song while in the creative process. Having the ability to have programmed drums can help the Pre-Production by allowing the drummer to learn the programmed parts without having to write everything out by hand or remembering the beats.

• Not Having Time to Learn Parts : Very often we may have parts that are too complex for a drummer to learn in a short amount of time before the studio. In this case, it can be cheaper and easier to program the drums and have the recording process come to life while the drummer has time to learn the parts.

• More Music, Less Worry: In a normal drum recording day, the process can be lengthy and expensive. From having the right drum kit, heads or skins, pedals, drumsticks, and cymbals; all of these factors constitute a good drum sound. This isn’t including the studio acoustics, drummer, or equipment needed to record drums. With programmed drums, you can receive a high quality, and realistic performance in less time than it takes to get all of these expensive things and then book time to record. What’s even better is that you can save money by not having to buy expensive cymbals, drum kits, heads, and pedals right away. You can get the best sounding cymbals and drum libraries without ever needing to leave home.

• Editing or No Editing: With having programmed drums in the final masters, you minimize the need for editing in the production. You can make changes to the programmed drums at any time, change sample libraries in an instant, and you can keep the same performance from the beginning of the pre production if you choose. You can also request the person programming the drums to have a more natural feel or a more ‘on the grid’ feel. No need to reprogram parts, and no need to buy all new drum heads in case the song has changed. You can move things easily and effortlessly.

• Click Tracks: Some drummers find it very hard to play along a click track. Some don’t use one at all. In a live situation, you can get away with not using one but in the studio, you’d want to use a click track to make sure things are in time. The click track provides a steady time reference that is used when re-recording on top of previously recorded tracks, or overdubbing.

• Tempo: A big pro in having programmed drums is feeling that the track has been rushed. If for some reason, the drummer feels the song is a little too fast, the whole drum performance can be slowed down and not have to get re-recorded again. This allows for the production to run faster and smoothly while still keeping everyone happy.

WHAT MAKES FOR REALISTIC SOUNDING DRUMS?

Creating realistic drum parts is an art form. Especially when it comes to programming realistic drums for metal or any genre of music that is fast in nature. The reason for this, is that the drums are the driving force in the music. Most metal music is based around the drums. From blast beats, to punk beats, and breakdowns; the drums are always the leading role in the song. I am a drummer at heart, and I can tell you from experience how I can notice when drums are programmed, good or not. Here are some variables that make programmed drums sound realistic:

• Velocity Editing

• Kick Drum Rolls

• Drum Humanization

• Tom Rolls

• Hi Hat Humanization

• Realistic Drum Parts

• Ergonomics

• Air Drumming the Part

• Triggers or No Triggers

These are some of the variables I use in making the programmed drums sound as realistic as possible for your production. Once having your drums programmed, you’re able to tweak them as you like and even change sounds to your liking. You can speed up the song and change fills wherever you’d like.

WHAT DO I REQUIRE TO START WORKING ON YOUR SONG?

• Rough Mix With All Instruments: This can be a demo recorded through a microphone of a band playing live, guitars recorded to a metronome, or even pre production tracks from MIDI instruments.

• Drumless Track: This is the song without any drums on it. This will allow me to create my drum track on a clean slate.

• Tempo: Send over a tempo map, or a detailed description of any tempo changes and signatures.

• Notes: Please send any notes of ideas you’d like in the song. i.e. Do you want the song to start at 1:24 or do you want a quiet ending? Songs without notes will be programmed as my ears hear it and any changes will count as a revision.

When you’re ready to take your production to the next level, contact me here and let’s start working.