Drum Software Question

[MarineDrummer]

I currently have a Simmons SD9K and the module is behind what I need now. I am trying to create my own sounds and because I am the auxiliary drummer in my band. I play a lot of bongo and other percussion sounds. I would like to know if there is a software program I can use that will let me make or upload my own sounds so that I can use the Alesis Trigger IO and my laptop. Please let me know if I am missing something. Also I would like to know how and why the presonus firebox is used. Thanks in advance.

[perceval]

For extra sounds, percussion and small music bits, wouldn't you be better with a pad? Most of the big companies carry different kinds of percussion pads. Check out offerings from Roland, Yamaha, Alesis or TrapKat.

The Firebox is to connect your instrument and bring it into a DAW using Firewire. Used to record or apply effects live (needs a fast computer to battle latency for that).

[hairmetal-81]

On my part a warm 'Welcome to the Forum, MarineDrummer'!

You want to load your own samples, and you've got some options, depending on your demands:


1. Computer/Software combination
A good software sampler would be your first thought.
Native Instruments Battery:
Very drumming-friendly GUI with rows of 'pads' and lots of effects-choices.

Native Instruments Kontakt:
The big guy, lots of possibilities and routing options, a nice way to search and classify sounds by using 'Tags'.

Steinberg HALion:
Another big one, targeted more towards keyboard-players, but features an easy way to map samples across the key-range.

EMU Emulator X3:
One of the inventors of sampling have ported their hardware machines into software.
This is/was a proprietary system I believe, only to be used with EMU's own interfaces.

Logic EXS:
Mac-only, I believe. Comes with Apple Logic.

MOTU MachFive:
Another contender that jumped on the bandwagon.


Or, if you want to trigger sample-loops...
FXpansion Geist:
Can automatically slice incoming audio and maps it to different note-numbers. Has even a built-in sequencer.

Cakewalk BeatScape:
The same as above, not as dedicated, without the seq.

....there is lots (...and lots!) of other software out there!



2. Sampling-Multipad with Sounds
Alesis Samplepad:
Nowhere near as powerful as dedicated software. Useful for 'the small Snack inbetween', meaning short percussions like tambourins, cowbells, windchimes, or your own sample of an old car-horn going 'A-woooo-gaaaa'....

Yamaha DTX M12 / Roland SPD-SX / used Roland SPD-S:
The bigger guys. Capable of firing loops and all sorts of sounds, larger memory-capacity, built-in sequencers or 'pattern generators'.


3. Multipads without built-in sounds
These must be used in combination with any sound-source capable of sampling, mostly either a computer/software-tandem, listed above under 1), or one of the bigger drum modules listed below under 4).
Products include the likes of:

Alesis Control Pad
KAT DrumKat
KAT TrapKat
Roland older Octapads and others


4. Module with Sample-loading capability
2box Drumit 5:
A full-fledged drum-module with up to 32 gigabytes of sampling memory. Can be used via MIDI, drumpads, or any auxiliary triggers. It's unique selling point is it's own editor to help with loading samples, and generous third-party software programs with support from 2boxers themselves!

Yamaha DTX 502:
Yamaha's little guy offers the ability to load samples at an unbeatable pricepoint in the lower mid-range segment.

Yamaha DTX 700 & DTX 900:
Again, the bigger guys. The 900 is Yamaha's top-of-the-shelf product, a full-on drum module, though it's sampling-capacity of 512 megabytes is fairly limited compared to the competition.



In which direction you want to go is up to you. Maybe give a more-detailed idea of what exactly you want to trigger - there are lots of friendly members here that are able to help!


For very in-depth comparison on different products, check out the following issues of 'Digital Drummer' magazine:
The November 2012-issue features a detailed-comparison article on multipads (with/without sampling capacity or dedicated sounds).
http://issuu.com/digitaldrummer/docs..._nov12_low_res

The August 2012-issue has a review of the SPD-SX.
http://issuu.com/digitaldrummer/docs..._aug12_low_res

The May 2011-issue features the 2box Drumit 5 module.
http://issuu.com/digitaldrummer/docs...r_may2011issuu

The January 2010-issue has a review of Yamaha's DTX-M12.
http://issuu.com/digitaldrummer/docs...rummer_jan2010




Hope this is helpful.

[perceval]

HTH, that was an amazing post!

[MarineDrummer]

Thanks so much I will be looking into this even more now that I have a better understanding of what's out there.