Collaborative Music via internet Pt 3: The Drums

There should be little difference in recording digital drums and any other midi instrument such as a keyboard but because of its fundamental importance, and that it is always at least the 2nd instrument to be recorded, this article will treat the percussion as a special case.

The equipment

• Digital drum kit with drum "brain"
• USB or firewire Audio Interface with midi connection
• audio cable
• midi cable
• Software to record (DAW)

Software

Many Audio Interfaces come with a lite version of an audio software (Cubase, Ableton etc) for iMac or PC. It does not matter if you are collaborating with someone who is using a different software or hardware. Interchange can be done with WAV files - although you can happily play along with an MP3 - the mixing will be done with WAV files.
The limitations of the lite version should not restrict laying down a rhythm track. There are also some freeware softwares that can do the job such as 

• Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net

(but as a Logic user, I have not tested them yet).
These notes will cover recording both audio and the midi signal at the same time. The midi track is in the most simple terms a recording of the hit of each drum/cymbal as data and can be edited later including re-assigning the sounds for each instrument and moving notes.

Installation

• Install your recording software (DAW), install the driver for your Audio interface and then connect your Audio Interface. Usually in that order but of course read the instructions.
• Connect 2 jack cables from the drum brain to the audio interface. Most audio interfaces accept both jack and XLR cables. Some cheaper drum brains (eg Roland DD1) will only have a mini-jack/headphone out and you will have to use some adapters
• Connect a 5 pin din midi cable from the drum brain to the midi connection of the audio interface.

Setting up the recording

This is a very generic description but most softwares operate in a similar way.

• Create a new song. You may have to specify whether this is audio or midi or both. You need both. Some/most softwares do not ask this setup question
• Create a new track as stereo audio. Happily most softwares will automatically default to using input 1/2, and if you have a simple audio interface with 2 inputs these will also be outputs 1/2.
• Create a new track as midi. Again happily most softwares will automatically default to using all midi channels as input and so should already match your audio interface
• Create a 3rd track as audio and import the MP3 to that track. Make sure the beginning of the MP3 is right at the beginning of the track (at position 1,1,1,1)

Set tracks 1 and 2 to record. When you hit any instrument you should see the signal bar on each track jump appropriately,
You can also choose to listen to the track via headphones plugged directly into the audio interface.

Audio Interface

Focusrite Saffire 6 is a simple audio interface that connects both audio and midi signals and connects to your computer via a USB cable (about £139)
Alesis iO2 Express (£79)

Still to be wrtten
Saving as a WAV file
Some photos ...