Programming a drum machine for practice, any input?

[Frederic Gelinas]

I couple of days ago, maybe weeks, I came across a post that were
refering to a free metronome program to download. I tried and my
reaction was that even a child would be able to program something
better than that. So I decided it was time for me to program something
for my own. A simple drum machine software. Here are the features
that I plan to incorporate:

- Play user's .wav files
- Adjustable tempo.
- fast interface similar to FruityLoops (not as fancy, for sure, but
easy and fast)
- Unlimited number of channels
- Be able to save patterns to a file and reload them.
- Unlmited number of measures, in 2 measure increment.
- each note can be edited in balance, volume and pitch.

Right now, I got some beats working. I still have to program the
save/open pattern and other stuff, but it is already usable.

And you guys, what feature would you like in a simple drum machine for
practicing?


--
Frederic Gelinas

[Stadium Checkers]

Frederic Gelinas wrote:

> What feature would you like in a simple drum machine for practicing?

Hi Frederic,

I've never used a drum machine, only a metronome, but there's one
feature that I would VERY MUCH much like to see: an option to
automatically increase the tempo after a certain number of measures or
after a certain amount of time. In other words, just a simple loop with
an automatically increasing tempo.

I hate having to stop playing to adjust my metronome when I'm
practicing scales & patterns, it totally ruins the groove I'm in. It
would be so much more convenient to have the tempo increase by a few
beats per minute automatically.

I've asked about this on several different forums but never got an
answer. I can't believe there's not already something like this
available, but if there is I'm not aware of it.

[ptooner]

"Stadium Checkers" <no_mail@anywhere.com> wrote in message
news:czM_h.127$SC4.43@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Frederic Gelinas wrote:
>
>> What feature would you like in a simple drum machine for practicing?
>
> Hi Frederic,
>
> I've never used a drum machine, only a metronome, but there's one feature
> that I would VERY MUCH much like to see: an option to automatically
> increase the tempo after a certain number of measures or after a certain
> amount of time. In other words, just a simple loop with an automatically
> increasing tempo.
>
> I hate having to stop playing to adjust my metronome when I'm practicing
> scales & patterns, it totally ruins the groove I'm in. It would be so
> much more convenient to have the tempo increase by a few beats per minute
> automatically.
>
> I've asked about this on several different forums but never got an answer.
> I can't believe there's not already something like this available, but if
> there is I'm not aware of it.

Why not just make a midi with the first however many measure of beats at the
first speed, then copy them behind themselves and change the tempo. Rinse
and repeat.
Gerry

[Frederic Gelinas]

Stadium Checkers wrote:

> I've never used a drum machine, only a metronome, but there's one
> feature that I would VERY MUCH much like to see: an option to
> automatically increase the tempo after a certain number of measures
> or after a certain amount of time. In other words, just a simple
> loop with an automatically increasing tempo.

That feature will be in my software! It's an easy to program and fun
to use feature!

Thanks again!

I'll post back once my first beta version is ready!

--
Frederic Gelinas

[Jim Carr]

"Stadium Checkers" <no_mail@anywhere.com> wrote in message
news:czM_h.127$SC4.43@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...

> I've never used a drum machine, only a metronome, but there's one feature
> that I would VERY MUCH much like to see: an option to automatically
> increase the tempo after a certain number of measures or after a certain
> amount of time. In other words, just a simple loop with an automatically
> increasing tempo.

Check out the Fender B-Dec combo amp. I wish I had one of these when I was
first starting out. I might still get one.
http://www.fender.com/products/bdec30/bdec30.php

Frederick : There are *lots* of drum machine programs out there already,
many freeware. I don't mean to discourage you - if you enjoy it, great.
There are links to over a hundred different ones here:

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/win95/DRUMS_PERCUSSION/

The functionality varies, and I can't say if they are designed for the
practicing musician, but you could probably get some ideas from them. I use
Sonar by Cakewalk. It's easy for me to create drum patterns with varying
tempos. My Digitech BP-200 also has a drum machine built in with a bunch of
tempos, though they don't vary automagically.

[Stadium Checkers]

ptooner wrote:

> Why not just make a midi with the first however many measure of beats at the
> first speed, then copy them behind themselves and change the tempo. Rinse
> and repeat.

I don't know how to do anything with midi, never looked into it. Even
a drum machine is more than I need. All I really want is a variable
metronome.

[Stadium Checkers]

Frederic Gelinas wrote:

> That feature will be in my software!

Great, looking forward to checking it out!


> It's an easy to program and fun to use feature!

I'm no programmer, but it sure seems like it wouldn't be that big of a
deal to include that type of functionality, but none of the software
metronomes I've ever downloaded has had it.

[Stadium Checkers]

Jim Carr wrote:

> Check out the Fender B-Dec combo amp.

That's $400 though, I already have an amp.

[Jim Carr]

"Stadium Checkers" <no_mail@anywhere.com> wrote in message
news:HyQ_h.144$SC4.44@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Jim Carr wrote:
>
>> Check out the Fender B-Dec combo amp.
>
> That's $400 though, I already have an amp.

It's really self-study amp. At 30W I wouldn't even use it for band practice.
It's got a huge set of tools. I wish they would make a version without the
amp and speaker cabinet.

[Jim Carr]

"Jim Carr" <newsgroups@azwebpages.com> wrote in message
news:RuS_h.33100$OT4.9318@newsfe19.lga...
> "Stadium Checkers" <no_mail@anywhere.com> wrote in message
> news:HyQ_h.144$SC4.44@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>> Jim Carr wrote:
>>
>>> Check out the Fender B-Dec combo amp.
>>
>> That's $400 though, I already have an amp.
>
> It's really self-study amp. At 30W I wouldn't even use it for band
> practice. It's got a huge set of tools. I wish they would make a version
> without the amp and speaker cabinet.

I forget to mention that the main reason I recommended checking out the
B-DEC is to get some ideas for what you might want out of software written
for practicing.

[Frederic Gelinas]

Jim Carr wrote:

> Frederick : There are lots of drum machine programs out there
> already, many freeware. I don't mean to discourage you - if you enjoy
> it, great. There are links to over a hundred different ones here:

I'm doing it for the fun of it. Just like when someone decides to
build his own cab, change a bridge or even bild a bass. It's for the
fun of it and the proud of saying: I did it.

I'll look at the features of those freeware though. Thanks for the
link.

--
Frederic Gelinas

[Mike Fleming]

In article <zlO_h.111956$s8.15101@newsfe21.lga>, "Jim Carr"
<newsgroups@azwebpages.com> writes:

> Check out the Fender B-Dec combo amp. I wish I had one of these when I was
> first starting out. I might still get one.
> http://www.fender.com/products/bdec30/bdec30.php

Why on earth do they want to put Flash on that page? If I can't see
the facts straight away, I'm not interested...

--
Mike Fleming