Help Getting or Making Drum Tracks For Covers

[SavageRiffer]

There are a few Maiden, Metallica, Danzig... covers that I want to record but can't find drum tracks for them. Is there an easy way to make them, if so, what software?

 

[RaceU4her]

id start playing drums

 

[scary groove]

The way I make backing tracks is this:

1. Find a Guitar Pro version of the song that has drums. I go to Ultimate Guitar
2. Convert the Guitar Pro file to midi
3. Put the midi file into Cubase (or your recording program)
3. Use Ez Drummer to make the midi drum parts sound like drums. ( I do this for bass also with Kontact).
4. Convert the Cubase file to mp3.
Note: I always add in 2 half notes on a high hat followed by 4 quarter notes as a lead in to the song

Done. I actually change the velocities of the drums and bass to make them sound more realistic. I also ass a little bit of compression and stuff to make it sound great. I can do a song for you and let you hear what it sounds like.

 

[SavageRiffer]

The way I make backing tracks is this:

1. Find a Guitar Pro version of the song that has drums. I go to Ultimate Guitar
2. Convert the Guitar Pro file to midi
3. Put the midi file into Cubase (or your recording program)
3. Use Ez Drummer to make the midi drum parts sound like drums. ( I do this for bass also with Kontact).
4. Convert the Cubase file to mp3.
Note: I always add in 2 half notes on a high hat followed by 4 quarter notes as a lead in to the song

Done. I actually change the velocities of the drums and bass to make them sound more realistic. I also ass a little bit of compression and stuff to make it sound great. I can do a song for you and let you hear what it sounds like.

So you're saying to use 3 kinds of software (Guitar Pro, Cubase, EZ Drummer)?

 

[scary groove]

That is assuming that you have already searched for backing tracks at sites like guitarbackingtrack.com

Guitar Pro has free or demo versions. You actually do not need Cubase. I use that so that I can do bass and drums. If you can find the midi file already created then that works too.

Cubase allows me to record my guitar parts with the backing track. You can most likely use your recording software and import a midi file. Then that would be all you need. Midi drums IMO sound terrible. So you might want a program (like Ez Drummer) that can take a drum midi file and make it sound realistic.

If you just want drums, you can use the basic version of ez drummer or any program that will make a midi drum track sound more realistic than those generic midi tracks. I can send you a sample if you wish.

 

[In&OutBurger]

I've always found myself pounding out the drum parts on my MIDI keyboard.

 

[SavageRiffer]

That is assuming that you have already searched for backing tracks at sites like guitarbackingtrack.com

Guitar Pro has free or demo versions. You actually do not need Cubase. I use that so that I can do bass and drums. If you can find the midi file already created then that works too.

Cubase allows me to record my guitar parts with the backing track. You can most likely use your recording software and import a midi file. Then that would be all you need. Midi drums IMO sound terrible. So you might want a program (like Ez Drummer) that can take a drum midi file and make it sound realistic.

If you just want drums, you can use the basic version of ez drummer or any program that will make a midi drum track sound more realistic than those generic midi tracks. I can send you a sample if you wish.

I don't want the backing track, just the drums. I want to do the rhythms and leads myself. I have Sonar X3, so I assume that can be used instead of Cubase. I guess all I need to buy then is EZ Drummer. I'll check them out. I see how it's supposed to work though, so thanks for the advice.

 

[scary groove]

Check out Superior Drummer. It is the same company and is very similar. Normally $229 but on sale at Musiciansfriend.com for $99

 

[Tone Monster]

YouTube is loaded with Metallica "drum track only" songs. Not sure about Maiden or Danzig.

 

[vultures]

The way I make backing tracks is this:

1. Find a Guitar Pro version of the song that has drums. I go to Ultimate Guitar
2. Convert the Guitar Pro file to midi
3. Put the midi file into Cubase (or your recording program)
3. Use Ez Drummer to make the midi drum parts sound like drums. ( I do this for bass also with Kontact).
4. Convert the Cubase file to mp3.
Note: I always add in 2 half notes on a high hat followed by 4 quarter notes as a lead in to the song

Done. I actually change the velocities of the drums and bass to make them sound more realistic. I also ass a little bit of compression and stuff to make it sound great. I can do a song for you and let you hear what it sounds like.

I've been doing this for years, probably the best way to get back tracks for less popular songs. I use Guitar Pro Export Midi > Reaper > Trilian Bass for Bass > EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer for Drums (I've been looking at getting GetGood Drums). I agree Guitar Pro maxes out the velocity on the midi, so I take it down quite a bit as well.

Comes out like this
https://soundcloud.com/inlightyears/tak ... track-test

 

[scary groove]

@SavageRiffer: Just an FYI - The velocities are kind of like the sound levels for each strike on a drum or cymbal. Randomizing the velocities of the entire drum track really gives it a bit of a realistic sound.

Thanks vultures for posting a clip. I love this way of making backing tracks.

 

[dfrattaroli]

I would look at EZ Drummer 2. I have Superior Drummer and EZ Drummer 2. Sounds like you would do better with EZD2. Superior Drummer will let you tweak till the day is done. The EZD2 interface is way easier to use and can use any of the midi packs available for EZD or SD. Assuming you eventually go that way. It's cheaper too.

 

[JerEvil]

What I do USUALLY is use midi loops that are similar and edit from there OR just draw them out myself in the piano roll in Logic.

The GuitarPro way works but you are at the mercy of whoever did the tab and still may end up having to edit it heavily if you want it to sound good. I have been asked to make a vid on my process on a few forums and I have promised for a while I would.

It definitely helps IF you are going to create your own to have a good understanding of drum playing mechanics so you don;t program a bunch of impossible physics. Like I remember when i first started I'd just go buck-wild and have huge fills that had hit hats, cymbals and multiple toms being hit at the same time which couldn't happen in real life.

The other big challenge (potentially) with using GuitarPro files is that they will come in with every drum at the same velocity so hopefully your DAW has a "Humanize" function, which most seem to these days. And you may have some hits that don't register as drum mappings differ from plug-in to plug-in. Like some cymbals, toms and kicks are different notes in Slate vs Toontrack stuff.

 

[scary groove]

@ JerEvil: You are so right about the Guitar Pro files. I have found a few to be in error. But I have zero knowledge as to how to make a drum midi track using a keyboard. PLEASE make a video as to how to do that. Making my own would be most beneficial. Thanks

 

[JerEvil]

@ JerEvil: You are so right about the Guitar Pro files. I have found a few to be in error. But I have zero knowledge as to how to make a drum midi track using a keyboard. PLEASE make a video as to how to do that. Making my own would be most beneficial. Thanks

Ok will do. I am editing a fuzz pedal demo the next few days but I will start on the midi drum one this week for sure.

 

[scary groove]

Awesome. Thank you

 

[errrrrl]

Ok will do. I am editing a fuzz pedal demo the next few days but I will start on the midi drum one this week for sure.

That would be a cool video to watch, looking forward to it!

 

[Hung Huy Tran]

If you don't want to bother with making drum tracks and are willing to pay for them, I recommend Munro Audio. Just search for Munro Audio on facebook.

 

[Crunchity]

I would look at EZ Drummer 2. I have Superior Drummer and EZ Drummer 2. Sounds like you would do better with EZD2. Superior Drummer will let you tweak till the day is done. The EZD2 interface is way easier to use and can use any of the midi packs available for EZD or SD. Assuming you eventually go that way. It's cheaper too.

Agree! I've been doing a lot of covers lately as well and EZD2 is great, loaded with plenty of preset patterns, fills, etc. It's been very easy to find a groove that if not already a dead match with the tune I'm covering, it's easily tweakable to get extremely close. I also love being able to alter the aggressiveness for each separate pattern within a tune, really adds a human/natural feel. Oh, and they SOUND great too...I especially like blending the best sounding kits pieces from two different sets and as mentioned, it's all laid out in Cubase in a fairly user friendly setting.

 

[Bronco]

Ok will do. I am editing a fuzz pedal demo the next few days but I will start on the midi drum one this week for sure.

That would be a cool video to watch, looking forward to it!

Hell yeah, I've been wanting to tackle this for a while now...looking forward to it also!