Drum Programming in

Electronic Music
Eli Stine | University of Virginia | 10/29/18
 Some 21st Century Masters (absolutely subjective)

J Dilla Nujabes Kaytranada DJ Rashad

Venetian Snares Holly Herndon Aphex Twin SOPHIE

 My Own Work

digital dada lasergiggle’s kin

revenge
 History: Some Important Gear

Roland TR-808 (1980) Akai MPC60 (1988)

Pete Rock Playing MPC
LaunchPad + MIDIFighter: Shawn Wasabi’s Marble Soda
 History: Some Important Gear

Roland TR-808 (1980) Akai MPC60 (1988)

 Drum Programming Terminology
Drum Synths vs. Drum Machines vs. Software Drum Kits?

Synth Drums = No Samples, Synthesized (Ex.: Korg Electribe)

Drum Machines = Synthetic or Sampled, Includes Sequencer (Ex.: TR-808)
Software Drum Kits = Emulates an Acoustic Drummer, Always Sampled (Ex.: Logic’s “Drummer”)

The Sequencer

Electronic / Physical
Drum Programming Terminology

Digital / Virtual
 Drum Programming Terminology

The Piano Roll

Acoustic / Physical Digital / Virtual

 Drum Programming Notation

Notated Sequenced
 Drum Programming Elements

Basics:
Tempo
Different Samples/Synth. Drums
Patterns
 Drum Programming Elements

Basics:
Tempo
Different Samples/Synth. Drums
Patterns

More Advanced:
Shaping Velocity
Getting Off The Grid - De-Quantization or Recording Performance
Variation + Development
 Drum Programming Elements

Basics:
Tempo
Different Samples/Synth. Drums
Patterns

More Advanced:
Shaping Velocity
Getting Off The Grid - De-Quantization or Recording Performance
Variation + Development

Post-Production:
Using Genre-Related samples
MIDI Effects, Randomization, etc.
Post-Effects
But First, a Transcription Assignment…
 It’s Your Turn!

Some Jumping Off Points:

Program your own rhythms

Explore different drum samples/synthetic drum settings

Play around with velocity

Get off the grid:
•add “groove” to a pattern you programmed
•perform and record a pattern you notate

Create a 4 bar loop that contains 3 variations of a 1 bar loop

Create a short drum piece that adds and subtracts different instruments over time

Explore MIDI Effects

Explore Post-Programming Drum Effects