I think you have to get those subtle (and not so subtle) changes in from the start, I don't get the feeling that creating tempo maps after tracking at a single tempo is going to satisfy. I really want to figure this all out!!! I have lots of songs with subtle and not so subtle changes in tempo and/or style of beat and I would like to keep those expressive elements in there. But she does do a bit of tempo shifting in that song and it really does express better with those included.
On the other hand, I created an arrangement in Studio Drummer for one of her songs that we "flatlined" to a single tempo drum track and that arrangement came out really nice. It sounds great that way but we had no good results with me trying to program the drums and having her play over them. I chose one song where she consistently was going from 117 bpm on the verses and 121 on the choruses. I did try programming beats to match what she was doing but that didn't go well, I will admit to not being very skilled at that sort of thing yet. The feel is so much better letting the artist use tempo as part of the expression. I've done some table top drumming and thigh slap drumming to the stuff we have already and I think it can be done. When we get clean takes I am planning on trying to create simple drum tracks using electronic (and MIDI) and acoustic drums/percussion and following what's been recorded. The songs are "breathing" more naturally. We've gone from trying to track to a beat at one tempo to having her play acoustic guitar and sing with no headphones on and she is much happier. She is consistent with her tempo changes, they may be subtle sometimes but they are part of the expression of the song. On the other hand, I've been working with an artist who has a solid, natural feel for tempo change. I suspect you will be able to play the beats from Addictive Drums as well. This provides a ton more choices if you mess with pre-created beats - Studio Drummer has some 3/4 time beats for one and MODO has some reggae beats for another. I've found that while it doesn't always play the MIDI patterns from NI Studio Drummer identically in terms of kit parts, it does play them and very close almost every time. I didn't spend much time with it, but it seems like the mixer should take care of any over-abundance of processing pretty easily. The drum sounds and the variety of sets available are both very good.
The organization system of beats into parts of songs is a nice touch, Studio Drummer has most of the parts but not labelled in this simple way. The interface choices seem well laid out, the sounds are really good and there are plenty of pre-fab beats in pre-fab styles. I like it, although I've really only dabbled in it. I have MODO Drum, did my usual wait until the sale thing.
0 kommentar(er)
