[Ryan]

Here's a step by step on how to program your own drums.
This is for people using Cubase SX or Nuendo and the EZDrummer + DFH.
A lot of people are having a time getting this junk going. So here goes:

Step 1:

Install your programs. If you dont know how to install these programs on your computer, you should probably give up now. Cause Cubase isn't the most user friendly multitracking software.. hehe

Youre going to want to install EZDrummer first, and then the EZX Expansion. (assuming of course that Cubase is already installed before both of these)

Step 2:

You'll notice that there's no icon or shortcut to open EZDrummer. Thats because EZDrummer is a plugin not a free standing application. When you open Cubase it will act as a "host" for EZDrummer to run in.

Step 3:

Open Cubase.



After all the loading and junk happens, you will get to a blank interface like so:




Step 4:

Make a new Project.

Click File. -> New Project.



And empty one will do just fine.



Now select and Audio folder for your takes and junk to be stored in.
Hey! Thats private



Step 5:

Now you should have a screen that looks something like this...



So this blank project isnt gonna do you any good just blank. Youre gonna need to Add a MIDI track for your drum track to live in.

Go to Project -> Add Track -> MIDI



Now your screen should look like this...



Step 6:

So now you have a project opened, and a MIDI track ready and waiting for some drum loving...

Youre gonna have to bust out your EZDrummer VST now. Press F11 or go Devices-> VST Instruments on the top bar.



Then you'll see this little guy pop up...



Click where it says No Instrument to add ezdrummer as a VST.



Well well well. It's EZDrummer.



Now if you have the DFH Expansion toss it on by clicking EZX at top of the plugin window and selecting DRUMKIT FROM HELL.



Now you'll have ths sweetness on your screen



But unfortunately, you can work with that junk taking up your entire screen. So hit F11 again and press the little "e" button to hide that junk.



Step 7:

WOW how our little MIDI track has grown.



Now we have to prepare our MIDI track for accepting the newly assinged EZDrummer VST by adding our INs and OUTs.

Our INs can stay as ALL MIDI INPUTS.



And our OUTs should be set to EZDrummer. But Ryan, you say, I dont see this column youre playing with. Then you people should click the little button i circled in red up there.



Now, this part is different for different people. i dont use a shit load of different kit parts so i can get away with the GM Map. You probably can too. So we'll roll with that now.



Step 8:

Now we're ready to make our drum beatz! Click the little pencil at the top.



Click and drag it on the MIDI track youve set up now. It will make a little block which is a piece of your song.



Switch back to the arrow mouse pointer from the pencil and right click your block. Go MIDI -> Open Drum Editor.



And here's where you get down and dirty programming your drum beats.



Step 9:

You have to rename all the little channels on the left hand column as they arent all the right drum sounds. So click them and see what they are and rename them and move them in the order you like them. This is how i did mine:



Now you can place your hits by using the little drumstick mouse pointer at the top of the screen. And chang the velocity at the top too. Looks something like this:



Step 10:

After you'vve done all that and your screen is full of beats like this...



You highlight your finished song by dragging this little thing over the ENTIRE song, and leave some space past the end of it for the cymblas to die out too.



Then export your WAV.

File -> Export -> Audio Mixdown.

FIN YAY!

Tweaking and mixing your drum sounds in the EZDrummer Plugin interface is easy. It's also something you should do on your own, so your drum dont sound like my drums. Press F11 and click that "e" to pull up EZD again, and click the mixer next to the kit. Theres where you can play with the settings and get a basic drum sound. Hide it all again and look at the VST sub tracks under the main MIDI track. You can add curve EQs and all kinds of verbs/comps to that to make your drums own everyone elses. Enjoy! And post your friggin music when yourre done!

- Ryan

[Michael]

Nice work! This is something this forum really needed. Nice simple steps, which makes it easy to follow.

Note Step 7.

[bulb]

this should be stickied!

[Ryan]

*Ryan stickies Bulb

[Chris]

Solid. Thanks man.

[Stretchnutz]

Nice Work!!

[spkenn5]

wow man! this kicks ass!

thanks!

[Metal Ken]

Ryan = the great mighty satan \m/

[Chris]

Question: Where's the tempo at? Like I have the screen up and all my drums/etc assigned and properly named - how do I determine the actual pacing of the hits?

Edit: I think I get it. You make the beat at a default tempo, and adjust it in the actual playback editor, right?


Question 2!

I'm here:



Before I close the program out and lose my uber 4/4 kick/snare beat (hah), how do I save this drum map so I can use the pattern later?

[Rick]

Holy shit, that's fucking cool.