Recording e.drums on PC = mixer/interface vs. ordinary mixer

[bulog]

Hi to all,

May query lang po ako sa mga e.drums owner.

I have a generic e.drums, and Im doing a home recording.

Di po gumana sa e.drums ko using usb to PC via EZ drummer or any drum vst software. Di ko po ma-adjust yung mga sensitivity etc.

So at first ginawa ko po is yung line out nung e.drums ko direct sa mixer (powered/generic), konting EQ (bass, mid, tre + 7 band EQ onboard) then yung main out nung mixer direct sa line in nung PC.  As a result, maganda naman ang kinalabasan at powerful yung tunog nung e.drums ko, tight bass & toms plus yung snare with the right crack naman.

Now I bought a mixer/usb interface (Behringer Xenyx Q502 usb), so ginawa ko po yung line out nung e.drums direct dito sa mixer/interface, EQ'd na rin (bass & treble only) then usb to PC.  Pero ang result very weak ang drum sounds. Weak bass, weak toms, weak & trebly snare.

Try ko to tweak in any way, like dagdag gain, or more bass para punchy, but di po effective.

Why po kaya ganito?  Is it because mas lamang yung generic mixer ko sa EQ (bass, mid & treble + the onboard 7-band EQ)?

Should I return to my old setup & not use the mixer/interface?

thanks po.

Eto po sample ng strong drums (using just a generic mixer)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=595980330438287&set=vb.100000789755557&type=3&theater

Eto naman po sample ng weak drums (using an interface)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=659309074105412&set=vb.100000789755557&type=3&theater

[Ralph_Petrucci]

Hi to all,

May query lang po ako sa mga e.drums owner.

I have a generic e.drums, and Im doing a home recording.

Di po gumana sa e.drums ko using usb to PC via EZ drummer or any drum vst software. Di ko po ma-adjust yung mga sensitivity etc.

So at first ginawa ko po is yung line out nung e.drums ko direct sa mixer (powered/generic), konting EQ (bass, mid, tre + 7 band EQ onboard) then yung main out nung mixer direct sa line in nung PC.  As a result, maganda naman ang kinalabasan at powerful yung tunog nung e.drums ko, tight bass & toms plus yung snare with the right crack naman.

Now I bought a mixer/usb interface (Behringer Xenyx Q502 usb), so ginawa ko po yung line out nung e.drums direct dito sa mixer/interface, EQ'd na rin (bass & treble only) then usb to PC.  Pero ang result very weak ang drum sounds. Weak bass, weak toms, weak & trebly snare.

Try ko to tweak in any way, like dagdag gain, or more bass para punchy, but di po effective.

Why po kaya ganito?  Is it because mas lamang yung generic mixer ko sa EQ (bass, mid & treble + the onboard 7-band EQ)?

Should I return to my old setup & not use the mixer/interface?

thanks po.

Eto po sample ng strong drums (using just a generic mixer)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=595980330438287&set=vb.100000789755557&type=3&theater

Eto naman po sample ng weak drums (using an interface)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=659309074105412&set=vb.100000789755557&type=3&theater

iba ang characteristics ng preamp nung gma mixers mo most probably.

Just because same ang settings ng mixers mo, does not mean parehas lalabas ang tunog. tenga tenga pa din bro.

ano nangyari sa VSTi? ayaw gumana?

[sonicassault]

Malamang sa weak yung mga drum sounds mo hindi dahil sa kulang ang EQ pero dahil talagang mahina at muddy yung dating ng mga default sounds sa mga generic digital drums, i.e. mas lamang lang ng konti yung sound nya sa mga drum sequencer tulad ng TR909.

Since Line Out ang gamit mo, ang nagagalaw ng EQ mo yung mala-drum machine, unmixed, muddy stereo output ng module mismo. Crap in crap out yan, at kung 3 band EQ lang, masyado maraming madadamay na frequencies. Baka nakatulong yung 7 band EQ sa old setup mo kasi konti lang ang damay na unwanted frequencies. Tama rin si Ralph na baka inferior yung preamps nung Behringer.

May MIDI out ba yung module mo, o talagang USB to USB ang connection sa computer? Kung may MIDI port yung module mismo, I suggest you try using that instead of the USB port. Try some other drum VSTi, baka lang din hindi sya naglalaro sa mga generic modules ng mahusay.

[dreddurius]

Curious lang ako... kumusta ang latency?

[garylamanilao]

Bago lang ako sa electric drums, pero it would be interesting kung yung USB connection ng drums mo is para sa MIDI out. Check mo yung manual/documentation ng drums mo - find out kung for MIDI signal out purpose sya or solely for module reprogramming. If para sa MIDI signal out sya, I would suspect na you have to tinker with MIDI Trigger Mapping and probably MIDI Channel Settings ng software na napili mo.

Sa Alesis DM8Pro kasi may USB port sya at walang MIDI out - that's why I'm suspecting na yung USB port mo might be a MIDI signal out parang sa drums ko. Tumutunog naman sya when I use Addictive Drums 2. Try mo isaksak sya sa PC, tapos if promted na New Hardware Detected na MIDI control device ang lumabas, chances are baka pwede sya. Goodluck.

[Ralph_Petrucci]

Mga bros, hindi ata midi ang problema ni sir TS. ang problema niya is bakit magkaiba ang level and quality of output ng recordings niya when using different mixers kahit parehas ang settings.

[sonicassault]

Question sir TS, natry nyo na ba idiretso sa line in/mic in ng sound card nyo yung output ng edrums nyo?

[garylamanilao]

Oo nga raLpH_pEtRucCi, medyo na pa off topic yung reply ko - na-intriga lang ako sa USB port nung drum module nya, since if it carries MIDI out signal he can explore another route in recording his Electric Drums.  I agree with your advise to him na not all mixers are created equal, same with sonicassault pointing out that the prior mixer had 7 channels (compared to his current 3 channel).

[Ralph_Petrucci]

Oo nga raLpH_pEtRucCi, medyo na pa off topic yung reply ko - na-intriga lang ako sa USB port nung drum module nya, since if it carries MIDI out signal he can explore another route in recording his Electric Drums.  I agree with your advise to him na not all mixers are created equal, same with sonicassault pointing out that the prior mixer had 7 channels (compared to his current 3 channel).

well, bottom line naman talaga the modules default sounds are crap hahaha nothing beats triggering VSTi via MIDI Notes.

[sonicassault]

well, bottom line naman talaga the modules default sounds are crap hahaha nothing beats triggering VSTi via MIDI Notes.

Even better, when your gear isn't agreeing with you at all, just program it from scratch like I always do )

[bulog]

I've made a quick fix dito sa prob ko.

Since di ko na talaga mapagana yung usb out ng e.drums ko to PC para sana makagamit ng VST, what I've done

Yung audio out nung e.drums ko direct to my old mixer (for more settings sa EQ), then yung main out nung old mixer ko naka input naman sa Behringer ko. 

That way I still had that strong drum sound, in a way na mas maayos ko pa yung EQ nya if I want a more pronounce snare, more boomy sound bass or a more trebly hats...etc.

I'm happy na sa setup ko hehe.

Here's a sample ng settings ko now

UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING cover
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=694330717269914&set=vb.100000789755557&type=2&theater

DRIVE cover
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=684077558295230&saved


thanks 

[Ralph_Petrucci]

^^^ Was gonna suggest that nalang din as well sir. hahaha but if you had the option bro, triggering a VST Instrument via your MIDI Cable or USB would be a better option to get better drum sounds and sound control. hahahaha