Idrum & Garageband

There have been many complaints about iDrum. From what I hear it is very unstable. pity.

Same here. I think there is a thread on it in the Logic Express forum, too.

I am using the iDrum also and i am getting the phantom Idrum pattern. it seems to be comming from nowhere. On one project I started with a track set up for the idrum and had two other tracks for vocals. When I pressed the + add new track button the phantom idrum would come on. It happens to be the default drum pattern, the pattern that is set up in idrum when you first acctivate it. I tried deleting all the idrum tracks, which doesn't work. I wanted to save the vocal tracks some how. I tried to make apple loops out of the vocal tracks but it wasn't allowed. I did manage to figure out that if i soloed the vocal tracks the idrum would turn off. I then exported the vocal tracks to itunes. Now I am going to create a new garageband project for the vocals.

I learned to avoid the phanton idrum sound by not selecting the IDrum-Default instrument in the instrument section at the top. Instead I just leave the Grand Piano instument selected and choose iDrum as the GENERATOR. Then to save on confusion inside the mixer or track window I just select the drum kit icon (picture) and relable the new track IDRUM.

Maybe there is a way to change the default IDrum pattern to one with no pattern or an empty pattern. I havent tried it yet, just an idea.

I love the Idrum it is my main instrument in Garageband, but it definintely has some bugs that need to be worked out.

I too am trying out the demo of iDrum, and I'm having a fundamental problem- I can load iDrum as a plug-in to GB, but can't get it's patterns to "record" to the track. It sounds fine when I play along or listen back, but I think GB is only playing the iDrum pattern as an instrument, ie., there's no region indicated in the track, it well play indefinitely, etc. I've tried hitting record in GB, and the track indicates the region is being recorded, but then the region disappears when I stop recording.

Am I missing something? Also, I'm on GB 1 for now, could that be the problem?

Thanks!

You have to go to the menue in Idrum and choose BOUNCE ENTIRE SONG TO AIFF, also check yes for bouce each channel to seperate track. You will be asked where to save the files. After you save the files, go and find them on your hard drive in the folder you picked. after you find the files drag each one onto a separate track. Now you can manipulate each sound individually, add effects, change instruments or whatever.

You have to go to the menue in the Idrum window (folder icon in upper left hand corner) and choose BOUNCE ENTIRE SONG TO AIFF, also check yes for bouce each channel to seperate track. You will be asked where to save the files. Be sure to name the files in a recognizable way. After you save the files, go and find them on your hard drive in the folder you picked. after you find the files drag each one onto a separate track in the garage band window. Now you can manipulate each sound individually, add effects, change instruments or whatever.

So, you cannot edit drum hits AFTER you have it in your song?

But if each track is saved as an AIFF, it's no longer editable, at least in MIDI terms- you mention changing instruments- this wouldn't be possible, right? And also, if it must be done the way you suggest, there's no real advantage to loading iDrum within GB anyhow- I might as well work exclusively in iDrum, export, then drag the files into GB. Although it seems like the long way, it would probably work around some of the stability and performance issues at the same time.

Is this the only way to do it?

I often edit my drums as I go along with a song. I don't think I'd like to have to go back to another app to change something, when I can do it right in my song now. I am always looking for a better drum kit to use, but for me, it has to be something I can edit inside the song. I have had an interest in the BFD package, but I have never heard from anyone if it works like I need or not. From all I have heard about iDrum, I am not sure it would fit my needs.