This is an advanced system for generating electronic dance music (EDM) drum loops based on the concept of style. The system has embedded statistical knowledge on how drum patterns in different EDM styles are programmed, making this software very useful for generating new coherent and stylysh drum patterns automatically. I see this software as a tool to amplify the creativity of beat makers helping them get a really fast kickstart and as a straightforward tool for exploring how a drum pattern composed of different styles can be realized. As the system is based on statistical data, there are no fixed or preset patterns, a style is now a seen as a region in a highly dimensional space and a pattern as a vector in that space, so virtually endless pattern possibilities can be generated. As an enhancement for real-time generation and manipulation of drumming, I have introduced some elastic editing tools that allow each instrument's pattern (i.e the pattern of the claps or the rimshot) to be dramatically transformed by increasing or decreasing its density (density = the amount of onsets) but with a reversible effect so that found sweet spots can always be recovered.
The main features:
- There is drumming knowledge on House, Techno, Breakbeat, Garage, Soul and Hip-Hop styles.
- Two styles can be mixed using a crossfade slider. In this way, one can go, for example, from straight House style loops to straight Breakbeat loops continously. Finding a "pure" style at each end of the slider and new "hybrid" styles all over the slider range.
- Up to demo 10.1 drum loops are composed of 32 step (2 bar) patterns. From demo 10.2 on loops are limited to 16 step (1 bar) loops. Using demo 10.2 is recommended.
- So far, the patterns are limited to 8 instruments: kick, snare, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat, clap, rimshot, low conga and hi conga.
- Each instrument has a smart "Density" slider which adds or subtracts onsets, allowing real time editing of the pattern in a continuous fashion. This slider adds or subtracts onsets without distorting the main characteristics of the pattern, respecting main syncopations and reinforcements that make the character of the pattern.
- A "new" button can be clicked ad-infinitum to generate new patterns based on the two styles selected and the position of the Crossfade slider. For example, if the styles selected are Techno and Garage and the slider is right in its middle (50% Techno 50% Garage)a new Techno-Garage pattern will emerge every time the "New" button is pressed.
- Each instrument can be muted.
- Each instrument can also be transformation-disabled so that dynamic transformations only affect certain instruments of the pattern.
- Presets can be saved, saving the pattern and the settings of all parameters for further sessions.
In each .zip file there are two puredata (pd) patches. One patch called “stand alone" lets you generate patterns and listen to them when opening it in pd. The other pd patch called "DAW" does not reproduce audio but syncs to MIDI clock tempo and sends MIDI note on messages for every instrument that is to be played. Therefore if you want to integrate this software with your virtual or analog beat station you only need to send a local MIDI time clock message to pd.
- Download and install Puredata 'vanilla' from http://puredata.info/downloads.
- Download Demo_10.2.zip from this link: https://github.com/danielgomezmarin/mididrums/raw/master/demo10.2.zip.
- Uncompress the zip file.
- Open DrDrumsV10.2_Standalone.pd
If you have come here it's most likely because I have invited you. As this is an experimental software produced as a proof of concept during my PhD thesis, I would love to hear from you and get some feedback on some specific aspects of this software. It would be great if you could take your time and send me an email with your comments regarding the conceptual aspects that have been considered for its conception. Some useful questions could be: how do you find the patterns created? do they fulfill your stylistic conceptions? Do you find it useful for production, for real time interaction or for both? Would you use it on a day to day basis? Would you like to add a specific feature?
Very importantly, keep in mind that the style knowledge is based on real life examples and it can be expanded on demand. This inevitably leads to the possibility of loading this software with YOUR style. Or with the style of your previous record. Or to create knowledge on any other drumming style outside EDM that you are interested in. So, if you feel like customizing this software to learn a specific style which you have at hand (preferably as MIDI files from your DAW) get in touch.