how do u add a drumbeat in half way through a song

[JOE R1]

how do you add a drumbeat in half way through a song

[64Guitars]

Set step 1 of your arrangement to preset pattern P327 (BREAK). Then set the starting measure of step 2 to the measure where you want the drums to start.

For more on drum programming, see:

https://songcrafters.org/community/micro-br-b56/create-a-simple-drum-sequence/0/

https://songcrafters.org/64guitars/BR/Tutorials/Rhythm_Guide_Intro.html

https://songcrafters.org/64guitars/BR/Tutorials/Arrangement_Example.html

https://songcrafters.org/community/micro-br-b56/new-micro-br-dvd-video-tutorial-manual-now-available/msg27659/#msg27659

[Ted]

how do you add a drumbeat in half way through a song

What 64Guitars said.  What I'm about to tell you will make no sense unless you understand the basics of drum arranging.

If the first half of your song has no drums at all, you have a couple of choices:

Option 1 - Your Song has a Steady Meter Throughout: Create a drum arrangement where the first part is for timekeeping (a metronome or a simple beat), followed by the real drum beats you want in your song in their own arrangement parts.  After you have everything recorded, you can replace the patterns in your timekeeping parts with preset pattern P327 (BREAK).

I've done this where the drums don't come in for a few measures, but not when the entire first half of a song is void of drums.  But the principle is the same--unless the first half of your song is a different tempo, or needs to be played with varying tempo.  If that's the case...

Option 2 -  Your Song Tempo Varies Before the Drums Come In:  Record the first part of your song, no click track, etc.  When you are done, add a drum arrangement at the tempo of the part with drums, and figure out approximately where your drums need to come in.

Let's say that the drums need to come in on measure 25, here's what I'd do:

           Drumless section  |  Expando-Measure  |  Count - in  |  Drums
Pattern          327                 327               314          002*
Measure            1                  23                24           25
Part               1                   2                 3            4

Drum arrangement part 2 is important, because you want the second half of your song to begin naturally.  So I'd put an expandable part--"expando-measure"--there at measure 23.  Decreasing or increasing the tempo of this silent measure makes that pause longer or shorter, so the following parts of your arrangement come in when you want them.

So if your measure 25 comes a tad early, decrease the tempo of the expando-measure (part 2) until measures 24 and 25 (parts 3 and 4) get pushed out to where they belong.  Likewise, if measure 25 comes later than you need it, increase the tempo of the expando-measure until the following parts get pulled in to where they belong.

I would also record an entire "scratch track" of the song and get the drum arrangement to work with the scratch track.  Then I'd record the final tracks while playing along with the scratch track.  This would hopefully give a more natural performance, and not sound like you recorded the two halves of the song separately.

Before mastering, in arrangement part 3, replace pattern 314 with pattern 327, eliminating the audible count-in clicks.

*For example.  Your drum arrangement may vary.

[JOE R1]

thanks very much this has helped alot

[Ted]

thanks very much this has helped alot

I hope you will upload your song when you are done.  Good luck.