How can I record my roland hd-1 drum kit in logic pro 9? *I NEED HELP!*

Could you specify what exactly do you want to record, audio or MIDI?

If it's audio, you have to connect Roland's audio output to Tascam's audio input.

If it's MIDI, you need to create a software instrument track, and load a drum plug-in there (either an Ultrabeat or ESX sampler with drums patch or perhaps a third-party software instrument). As you mentioned, Logic does detect MIDI input signals, so you just need a source of sound (i.e. software instrument) that the incoming midi events will trigger. Alternatively, you may just monitor what you are recording through the headphones connected to HD-1's audio output. Once a MIDI track is recorded, you may load a plug-in and play back the recorded MIDI drum track. I guess the latter way would be more efficient, because due to latency monitoring your drumming with a software instrument could be complicated.

Well, guess what...

You will have to gain some knowledge.

Logic is a professional program and like any professional program it's somewhat complex so quit making excuses about "not being good with this kind of thing".. .I mean, you have a set of Electric MIDI drums, right?

You WILL have to crack the manual on both your drums and Logic, you WILL need to gain an understanding of what MIDI is and MIDI isn't. (hint: MIDI is not audio, it's like a player piano, it's simply the performance, how hard you hit the pads, what pads you hit..etc, it's not sound) Sound comes out of your drum synth, it has audio outputs, yes?

There are people here that will be glad to help but quit sitting there like a lump on log and start trying to figure some of this out yourself. How do you think the rest of us learned?

I'm somewhat stunned at the passivity of so many Mac users.

That particular model has an audio output that's separate from the headphone out, it's a mini-jack, correct...that where the actual sound will come out of if you wish to record that way. You will need a stereo cable from that output to your audio interface.

However, unless you study up on MIDI and how to record and playback that you limit your editing and understanding of what Logic is capable of. Really, start reading the manuals so you can ask questions that are pertinent to your needs.

I see. I second what Pancenter replied. Also, just to clarify, with Logic Pro you can actually record BOTH audio (the actual sound you hear when drumming in your headphones) and MIDI (just note information) at the same time. I assume you may want to record it just to listen to or evaluate the quality of your drumming. However, having a MIDI file is always a good idea 🙂

As for the Logic manual read the following:

- Working with tracks (especially Creating Tracks and Record-enabling Tracks)

- Working with Instruments and Effects (Working with Plug-ins)

- Recording in Logic Pro (both Getting to Know Audio/MIDI Recording sections)

If you are more of a visual learner, there are tons of tutorial videos on Youtube, so have a look there. Here's one link as an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiKWErWoTuw

Ok, cool... you want to dig in, your first message didn't give that indication.

One of the things I do is teach high school kids college level (AP) music theory... if I seem harsh or "snarky", it's because I'm used to dealing with slackers that think information is knowledge.. it's not! My advice on reading manuals and figuring out things for yourself is right on, I know that from years of experience and success with students. I make no apologies for my delivery. It's the only way to really "know" Logic.

You can go on Google and type What Is MIDI right?

Anyway, here's what you can do with MIDI in relation to the Roland.

MIDI is not sound, it's a very small amount of data that "represents" the physical playing of (in this case) your Roland set. Each drum is actually a MIDI note or pitch. What MIDI does is allow you to record (in time) what drum (pitch) you struck, how hard (velocity) you played it, the duration (more important with keyboards...etc) and other data that may affect the performance. Depending if you have quantization enabled.... once a MIDI performance is recorded it can play back your Roland set with the same nuance of the original performance. Plus, now the notes are on a piano roll display and you can move them in time and adjust velocity as well as draw in or step-write things you could not possibly play. And,,,, you can also change drum sounds because MIDI is just a performance playback medium.. it's data your synth understands. Once the performance is the way you want it... you can play back MIDI and record the audio out of the Roland for further sweetening.

So go record a MIDI performance.. if you want it to not sound robotic, turn Auto Quantization off, (it's in the manual)

Logic may call it "real-time" quantization.

Yes, essentially you have it correct.

Using the audio output of the Roland will get you a stereo track with waveforms which is what you want.

I kust looked at the specs...the HD-1 only has a MIDI out... (correct?)

That means you can't send MIDI back inot it to play the Roland sounds... however, you could record a MIDI drum track with one of the ESX24 sampler drum kits as your sound source.

RAYD4R wrote:

Now that I know the differences between MIDI and recording audio, I think I am going to go the audio rout. So all I need is a Stereo cable that fits into the mini-jack on the roland and connect it to one of the inputs on my interface. My interface does not have a mini jack on it anywhere so i assume i can just plug it in the same way i would plug into my interface with a 1/8-1/4 stereo jack adaptor?

That should do it, start with the output level of the Roland unit at half or less, you want the interface input levels to be around 7 (out of a 1-10 scale). The Roland output will be fairly hot so you want it's output low to start with.

After you get audio recorded and comfortable using that, you owe it to yourself to load up one of the Logic virtual instruments (EXS24 Sampler) with a drum kit and experiment playing the VI with the Roland.