Audio Tracks
The Implementation
Each one of the following songs had a long process in creating to help discover the easiest way to add drums into projects. This was a lengthy task but a very informative one. Below are the finished tracks. I decided to use one from a given brief, and created my own visions for the rest following mixed genres. Every track used created was intended to show how a drummer can be just as creative as any other musician and actually recommend getting used to using a DAW in order to create drum tracks, music and more, getting a strong grip on the technological side will only enhance your abilities and tools as a drummer.
The Process
Track 1
Snap The Beat
Nightclub Dance Track
From the start, I wanted a track where my influences were entirely technological based. I purchased what I believed was to be a drum machine, but in retrospect it was simply a midi input. This was an interesting revelation as it then limited what I could do with it. It also had a delay when coming through the recorded DAW system on Ableton Live 12. Again, this hindered progress, and I eventually decided to create the rhythm through the pad, and change what I created and manually input this onto the DAW.
Next, I made sure to focus on the bass line first and foremost, I found the note A seemed to make me feel and dance to the repetitive nature, and upon seeking external opinions, they agreed that they could feel themselves dancing to the track.
I wanted to keep this track as simple as possible, therefore only adding in more bass implements, and small repetitive parts, keeping a through composed nature too. I did in retrospect not add enough changing and developing parts into this track but I still feel it hit the exact vibes I was going for with it.​
Track 2
Golden Sky
Video-Game Track
This track was inspired by the game Echoes Of Elysium. The reason for the inclusion of this track was to showcase how an orchestra can fit into a DAW with a mix of live sound and programmed sound. This was fun to create, but it had many challenges, including making the drums sound like they fit, I didn't manage to record the cymbal swells myself due to lack of equipment to do so, however, there are plenty of pre-recorded sounds online from free-to-use sites, where they become copyright free.
Track 3
Caves Of Despair
Rock Track
Out of all 4 tracks, this was by far the hardest to get the vision I wanted for. I started playing on the drum kit myself. and set up my phone in order to record the playing. However, the quality was not usable with anything I wanted to do. So, when back at the computer, I tested out numerous drum sounds, and eventually I got one that I was most happy with. From the experimentation, this is one genre I feel like if you could properly record professionally, then do so, or invest and save up for mics.
Doing this entire project myself limited what was able to be done, but it was worthwhile to showcase how you can be a successful drummer in a world where technology is constantly advancing. The fact you are able to go to a studio and get the drums professionally recorded with solid mics, and a fairly reasonable price. That wouldn't have been as easy to do 20 years ago. Now adays, there are more engineers and more studios where you can record music across many different genres, including classic rock.
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I discovered that changing velocity on the drum kit line on Ableton actually made it a bit quieter, then I did the same until I was happy with how it was all mixed. Using technology to create guitar parts too isn't easy, as it can sound too robotic. I took each note of the strummed chord and slightly placed it a few milliseconds later, to create a realistic strum. Being a drummer it is so easy to lock everything into the beat too tightly, but this project helps showcase that even a drummer who can't maybe afford a guitar or a drum kit can still make incredible music, all down to the new technology that is created.
Track 4
Midnight Cruise
Synth-Pop Track
This track was a personal pleasure, due to having a big interest in the synth music scene, and it helped that I was able to use the focus on the drums when creating this track. I actually laid down the drums first for this piece too, and it helped me to be able to take it in creative paths I never expected when creating this song
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This track, along with Track 2, shows that technology is sometimes faulty too, so entirely relying on using something like a drum machine isn't always going to be the safest or best decision. But there are ways to implement this into your modern styles.