Stuck with one drumkit?

[Farmjazz]

I'd like to use more than one drumkit sound in a rhythm arrangement. Without recording any drums onto a Vtrack, (the sound seems to degrade quite a bit), is that possible?

[64Guitars]

No, it's not possible. The Micro BR doesn't have custom drum kits like the other BRs. And you can only use one drum kit per arrangement.

So, the only way is to record the additional drum sounds to a v-track in bounce mode. Even that is pretty hard to do with a Micro BR since there's no way to trigger individual drum sounds. All you could do is create a second arrangement with the other drum kit and bounce it to a pair of v-tracks. This would allow you to have one drum kit for the verses and a different drum kit for the chorus or bridge, for example. Of course, you probably don't want both kits playing at the same time, so you'd have to use pattern PT327:BREAK a lot to silence one arrangement while the other is playing. Each song can have up to 5 arrangements and each arrangement can use a different drum kit.

The drum sound quality shouldn't degrade when it's recorded. Are you recording to a single v-track or a pair? The drums are stereo and should always be recorded to a pair of v-tracks to maintain the stereo positioning. If you record the drums to a single v-track, they won't sound as good because they'll be in mono rather than stereo.

[Farmjazz]

     I thought that was the case since there are no windows that give that option. I was hoping there was a work around but, oh well.
     I'm working up a version of the song Apache for one of my students. Using the HipHop drumkit does well with the 'indian' sounding A part. I was hoping to slam into the monster/surf B section with a clean kit sound. I'll just use the HipHop kit throughout I guess. Its not like its a demo or anything.
     Thank you, 64Guitars. You are a big help. I need to post a bunch so that little 'newbie' icon goes away, so I'll be posting about anything that comes up, or maybe uploading some work.
     When I recorded the Rhythm 'tracks' before, each time I included it with the other material during the bounce. Maybe that's why the sound took on some kind of chorus effect or something. It was unacceptable. I made sure the effects were set to off and it sounded the same. Perhaps I should try bouncing only the rhythm and add the other material after.

[64Guitars]

When I recorded the Rhythm 'tracks' before, each time I included it with the other material during the bounce. Maybe that's why the sound took on some kind of chorus effect or something. It was unacceptable. I made sure the effects were set to off and it sounded the same. Perhaps I should try bouncing only the rhythm and add the other material after.

Yes, you should bounce the rhythm tracks without the other tracks (just lower the other track levels to zero). And you should only bounce the rhythm tracks once. Also, you should check the reverb settings. I'm not sure about the Micro BR but in other BRs the reverb send is set to 10 by default. If you don't want any reverb to be applied to your drum tracks during the bounce, you have to set the reverb send to zero. Switching effects off doesn't affect the reverb because it is a loop effect rather than an insert effect. And remember that you will be bouncing the drum tracks twice since you have to bounce them again for your final mixdown to two tracks. That means any reverb that's applied will be compounded unless you turn it off in one of the bounces.

[guitarron]

hope to hear Apache when your done-you can post it to "post your work" if you like

[Farmjazz]

I'd be happy to post this or any other work, but I'm still using Win98 and, so far, I haven't seen software that will accommodate both the MBR and my old OS, (as opposed to my old SO). If anybody knows of one, let me know.   

[guitarron]

Yah that 98 was a good os, but unfortunately not well supported anymore

[64Guitars]

I'd be happy to post this or any other work, but I'm still using Win98 and, so far, I haven't seen software that will accommodate both the MBR and my old OS, (as opposed to my old SO). If anybody knows of one, let me know. 

What sort of software are you referring to? I was under the impression that the PC version of the BR Wave Converter worked in Windows 98, although I could be wrong. What BR-related programs have you tried that didn't work in Win 98? Are you using Windows 98SE? (second edition).

Posting your songs here doesn't require any special software. Just attach an MP3 to a message and link it to the MP3 player tool.

[Farmjazz]

     Something that will allow my computer to see the MBR when I plug it into my USB port. I downloaded this from this website because it didn't specify OS:
       
http://microrecorders.org/articles/converting_tracks_to_wav_microbr.html

     Negative. It didn't work. The manual clearly states the Windows OSes (?) that are compatible; (pg. 96), and 98, (or 98SE) ain't one of them. I just thought some one may have come up with something, or found something out there.
     My point is that I can't get a MP3 into my computer in the first place. Directly from the MBR, that is. I could always load it into my mandolin player's work computer and then have him email it back to me I suppose, but ... sheesh, what a hassle. We're on a dial up too.
Hey, I live out in the sticks, man. Wouldn't have it any other way. I am so done with population centers. But, I digress.

[64Guitars]

Okay. I did some experimenting with this tonight and I see the problem. Windows 98 lacks generic USB mass storage device drivers. Fortunately, you can download a free driver here:

http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

I installed this free driver on my old Pentium II with Win98SE and was able to access my BR-864 via USB. This allowed me to use the BR Wave Converter without any trouble. BR Explorer and Micro BR Patch Documenter also work well under Win98 with this USB driver installed.