Switching from GarageBand to ??????

How do you use external equipment with a DAW? Do you have the signal go through it before going into the audio interface, or is USB magical and you can route stuff in and out as you like?
 
Cadorman said:
How do you use external equipment with a DAW? Do you have the signal go through it before going into the audio interface, or is USB magical and you can route stuff in and out as you like?
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I’ve got similar questions I need to get answered, just haven’t spent too much time yet on it. I’ve got 2 external mixers with USB interfaces, a new RME Fireface UFX+ with a USB 3.0 interface and a 500 series rack. From what I’ve read, but not put any effort into yet, is I’ll need an ASIO driver to take the 3 USB codec driver streams and combine them into 1 stream that goes to Reaper. I’ve been down these software driver rabbit holes before and expect to spend a whole day getting these to play together.

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I'm still trying to figure out recording drums. Got the multitrack set up for all the different drums, can play along with my guitar track and hear them on reaper. When I record the drums it does it and saves the file, but there is no sound. Like I said, I can hear the drum while recording, but no signal shows in the track and the file is just blank.
 
Cadorman said:
I'm still trying to figure out recording drums. Got the multitrack set up for all the different drums, can play along with my guitar track and hear them on reaper. When I record the drums it does it and saves the file, but there is no sound. Like I said, I can hear the drum while recording, but no signal shows in the track and the file is just blank.
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What do you have assigned as the input/record source on your drum tracks in Reaper?

If I want an audio track of an EZDrummer to work with on a project:
I usually just set up my drum track(I use a single track-they’re all handled by the audio engine as stereo anyway), get it programmed for the song at hand, set up the mix I want on the drums in EZDrummer, and render it as a stereo mixdown file.
I usually only feel the need to render a drums only audio file when I’m going to leave the platform for a portable device...like my iPad...or...maybe if I’m going to run it(or pieces of it-like a snare or kick) through some outboard gear...like a nice compressor, and/or a tube preamp. :)
Otherwise, I just mix with the VSTi running, and render it with the final mix.
Honestly, I haven’t been using EZDrummer for all that long...I’ve used other programs/apps for Mac and iOS.
There is a way to render a track with a VSTi as an audio take though...you could try to search the actions list for “render track VSTi” or something like that...I certainly will later, as I have a project going now that I could use it on.
:cheers:
But I just got in from work....gotta enjoy this iced tea I just poured...;)
 
OK @Cadorman ....Here you go....one way to get it done. Record-arm your EZDrummer track, click on the Record source button, and select from the menu "record output"...then select your desired render format "stereo" or "multichannel" or whatever...Then hit record. The track will record the VSTi in realtime.

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Damn, that iced tea was good!
 
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Cadorman said:
Not going to be able to get to it until tomorrow. Boo's probably asleep on the keyboard now anyway.
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It’s ok....I know it works...I’ve done it now....but I only did latency compensated stereo...I’m gonna hafta try multichannel, and blow them out to individual stems and tracks though...I can smell it ;)
 
Thatbastarddon said:
It’s ok....I know it works...I’ve done it now....but I only did latency compensated stereo...I’m gonna hafta try multichannel, and blow them out to individual stems and tracks though...I can smell it ;)
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Okay, I was able to record, save and import a drum track into reaper. I will go with this for now before I delve into how to actually build the track in reaper. It makes my brain hurt too much and I want to play guitar.

One thing I am noticing in reaper is that I am getting artifacts both on my directly recorded guitar parts and imported drum files. Sounds almost exactly like playing vinyl. I'm guessing I need to adjust some parameter to make this go away?
 
Yargnad said:
When creating electronic tracks stems is the best way to handle it so you can effect each drum individually for whacked out drum patterns and stuff like that. EZ Drummer is soooo awesome for a lot of different kinds of music. The electronic kit is my fav drum plugin of all time for synth based music.

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To me, the EZDrummer stuff is usually, or has been, a place-keeper/note pad for an eventual human drummer. Thus, I don’t tend to delve too deep. I just keep time, and may play around a bit, but not usually too much.
It’s been a quick and dirty writing tool. I did buy it with the knowledge that I may not be doing much live drummer stuff for long. The band thing seems to be winding down for at least one member…not the drummer though, so…we’ll see.
 
Cadorman said:
Okay, I was able to record, save and import a drum track into reaper. I will go with this for now before I delve into how to actually build the track in reaper. It makes my brain hurt too much and I want to play guitar.
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What are you looking to “actually build”? A midi performance from a control unit/electronic kit?
If so, you’ll want to set the record armed track to record midi from the device, with EZDrummer on, then edit the midi if necessary, and rout the EZDrummer out to another track(s) for rendering. It will be a pain at first, but you’ll be fine.
 
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