Triggering DFH with edrums help!

[jupzones]

Hi guys, over the weekend i picked up a Yamaha DTXpress 4 standard which i plan to use to record drums with instead of using loops from dfh

Right now here's what im using for my budget home studio:

Line 6 UX1
Shure SM58
Gearbox for bass and guitar tones
Sony Acid Pro
Toontrack EZ drummer DFH
Guitar Pro 5
Windows XP,AMD 2.0ghz, 2GB RAM

i've decided to not use the internal module sounds but use the set as a midi trigger and use the Drumkit from Hell sounds.

However i have a couple of questions which I hope you guys can answer:

1) what's the best way I should connect my edrums to the computer? From what i've read I can either pick up another interface with a midi input or i can purchase either a usb to midi cable or usb to gameport cable, which would be the best and cheapest option? if possible i'd like to avoid buying another interface if the UX 1 is good enough.

where's the cheapest place to get these cables? sim lim?

2) also once i've connected the drumset and record the midi, is there anyway I can sync the drums in time seeing as how they are midi files?
I think the word i should use here is 'quantize' but i have no idea how i should do this.

3)is there anyway to split the EZdrummer outputs so I can individually mix the kick hat toms etc within Acid Pro or am I confined to using the mixer within DFH? or is there anyway i can split the midi coming in?

4) should i just forget midi entirely and record and the sounds from the module by recording through the line in of the ux1? if i do this how do i split the inputs so i get mixing options for the tom kick snare etc.. i doubt this would sound better than using midi to trigger DFH are there any advantages to doing this?

thanks so much for answering these questions as i have alot to learn but cant wait to get started.

 

[Cheez]

First, you'll need a DAW software with a sequencer (Cubase, Sonar, Protools etc). This will make things easier for you.

Secondly, which is not related to your questions - Superior Drummer is probably more geared towards e-drumming than the little brother EZDrummer. There's a discount for upgrade going on now (quick!).

Now for your questions:

1. Yes, you need a midi interface. They usually come in the form of a USB-midi interface. Can get from Resolution, Sinamex etc. Not expensive. Something like Midisport 1x1 is sufficient.

2. Quantization is possible within a sequencer software. You'll need to play with the metronome on, so you play according to the timing. After recording the sequence, you can quantize it within the software up to demisemiquavers if you wish. However, word of advice. Quantization may make things sound "tight", but not realistic. Because in real life, instrumentatlists (including drummers) don't play that accurate to the split millisecond. It will sound fake - like a programmed drum machine. For that reason, I seldom quantize, only in some situations. The sense of slight off-timing between instruments actually adds realism.

3. I'm not sure about Acid Pro, but within other sequencer software, you may be able to do it. You'll need to set the midi settings in your e-drum. If you can somehow send each trigger through different midi channels, you can do it. Otherwise, once sequenced as midi, you can easily manipulate each note anyway, including cut and paste. Why would you want to do it anyway? EZDrummer/Superior Drummer gives you enough flexibility to do the tweaking of the drums you'll need.

4. You should be recording directly within your computer, not through an external audio interface like UX1. DFH is a software, the computer becomes your "sound module", hence recording within the computer should be the way to go. Otherwise, you'll be recording from the sound module of your e-drums, not DFH. And I'm pretty sure DFH will sound better than your drum module.

 

[logicdroid]

When inserting EZ, select the Multi-output option instead of stereo. I've never used Acid b4 but it works the same for all DAWs.

R.

 

[jupzones]

yeah i've figured that out but everytime i do that i suddenly loose all drum sounds, its very weird

 

[logicdroid]

yeah i've figured that out but everytime i do that i suddenly loose all drum sounds, its very weird

Hi, I'm using logic.

In Logic, I have to insert a multi channel EZDrummer plug on a softwware inst track, then create sub channels for kick, snare top/ bottom etc in order to control individual channels in EZ.

There could be a step you're missing??

Cheez mentioned Superior, which is by far the way to go...

R.