Dave G

Thank you for your extensive knowledge and wealth of information! This is pretty much what I've been looking for. After I posted this, I watched several YouTube videos of the hi-hat in action. Although I found some answers there on the mechanical aspect of the equipment, I also realize that it partially depends on the drummer's preference in setup and intended use. I know I could've visited a music equipment retailer and spent time at a drum kit to familiarize myself in a more real scenario, but that's far beyond means and necessity. If we may take this discussion back a few decades... When I first began composing MIDI music in the 90's, all I knew to work with was the General MIDI universal drum map. Although this drum map is laid out without rhyme or reason -- various drum piece articulations jumbled in no particular order -- I conformed with it and grew accustomed to it. But now with Addictive Drums, my options have become greater...and unfortunately, much more challenging and complicated. For somebody with OCD, it's a painstaking process to make decisions and commit to them. One being, of course, creating a custom drum map tailored to preference. In this case, I want to integrate every vital drum piece articulation but exclude any that I feel are redundant or unnecessary. Once this drum map is complete, it'll be the basis of all my projects and maybe I can finally get them off the ground. I'm overthinking and obsessing too much over the fact that I may not like it later. I guess that's why it's taking so long...I want it to be right. Anyway, I appreciate everything I've learned here. It just feels complicated assembling a custom AD2 drum map that's not too busy or difficult to work with. I'm not looking to create a commercial product...it's just a personal hobby I'm trying to remind myself to keep it simple. For now, my questions have been answered. Thanks for your help!

[Please pardon my reviving this topic so long after originally posting. I abandoned the project for a while, but still seek answers.] Thanks for all of your input! As a newbie/amateur, I have remaining questions on hi-hat articulations. These simply aren't elaborated on in the Addictive Drums 2 Manual PDF. Typically, I don't have a need to utilize every specific Hi-Hat articulation that AD2 offers. I'm looking to finalize my basic drum map that includes every articulation I'm likely to use. Before integrating my AD2 drum map into all my projects, I wish to familiarize myself with how these articulations work in a real-life scenario -- to tell them apart and understand how to utilize them properly on the PRV. The image attached is my updated drum map's "Hi-Hat" section (keys 53 - 59). Here are my observations; please comment accordingly: I assume that the hi-hat is open by default, not closed. Does the foot pedal typically push down to close the hi-hat, or to open it? I assume that "HH Open" is the default action of pushing the pedal to open the hi-hat. The four "HH Open A, B, C, and D" seem to all sound similar, just gradually a harder attack with each key. How does "HH Foot Splash" differ from "HH Open"? I assume that "HH Closed" is the articulation of hitting the bell, tip, or shaft while the hi-hat is closed. I've observed that each "HH Open" and "HH Foot Splash" are muted/choked by the "HH Closed" and "HH Foot Close" keys. Simply looking for explanations on exactly how these functions work. I worded these questions as clearly as I could. Any further insight and/or explanation is appreciated. Thank you again!

Thank you for your responses, everyone! 😄

Awesome. Thanks for the information! Would you please elaborate on clip gain automation, and how that is done? EDIT: Now, experimenting with how to do this, I'm running into issues. MIDI CC #92 is listed as "Tremolo level", but it's technically undefined and doesn't do anything. I tried using an Expression controller, but Cakewalk doesn't allow me to draw a Sine pattern (or any of the other patterns below it) in the Controller Pane or Automation to create the effect. Then I noticed, in the Cakewalk 30th Anniversary FX Chain add-on, Tremolo is there and works perfectly. (However, I wouldn't mind finding other ways). Any other ideas, and what might I be missing? Thanks again!

As opposed to the modulation effect (where the audio rapidly fluctuates in pitch), how do I create that "fluttering" effect (where the audio rapidly fluctuates in volume, similar to vibrato)? Examples from which I'm trying to replicate the effect are: "Crimson and Clover" (guitar at 2:56 and vocals at 4:25) "Spinning Wheel" (vocal fade out at 1:15) Is there a process to this, or is it a simple vibrato controller? Please advise. Thanks in advance!

I concur. A few days ago, they indicated there was an issue with the download servers. They followed up this morning with the status of the issue. It's confirmed that all the aforementioned add-ons are now once again downloadable via the Cakewalk Command Center, and working properly. SOLVED. Thank you for your help, everyone!

I'm sorry, I believe I was misunderstood. The apps are all listed in Cakewalk Command Center. However, I'm unable to download them or obtain them anywhere. I'm kind of frustrated that I may never have these again. Mr. Craig Anderton, are you able to help with this at all -- a link or anything? Or suggestions from anyone are welcome and needed. Either way, I'll contact Cakewalk and see if they could help. Thanks!

It seems as though I'm missing the installer downloads for the Cakewalk 30th Anniversary collection. Even worse...I'm unable to obtain them via Cakewalk Command Center. (I have their serial numbers in my Cakewalk account, so I had them at some point.) The apps in question are: Drum Replacer Kicks, Modulator FX Chains, but most importantly, CA-X Amps! I hope these apps aren't gone for good. Is there anybody who might be able to come to the rescue and locate a source for me so I can get them back? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I'm enjoying Addictive Drums 2 so far! However, I'm overwhelmed by the default AD2 drum map. It's adequate but jumbled and more than I need. Before using the map on my projects, I'd like to create a custom map that has what I need but missing nothing useful. Surely, I want to avoid the risk of discovering I'm missing a drum articulation from my map later on down the road... I wish to use a simple, easy to navigate "minimalist" drum map for AD2. I'm simply seeking the most common and basic articulations of all the drum parts without any redundant and extra hits. I'm okay with the sticks, kick, snare, and four toms. I have three cymbal + choke combinations assigned. (I'm considering removing the ride + choke combinations, as I've never heard that used.) I think my biggest confusion is the several hi-hat articulations available...just too many and more than I'd like to have. So I'd like to minimize these articulations to the common basics. I feel sometimes my OCD for simplicity gets the best of me. Please let me know your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions on the above. Thank you! I've attached a screenshot of my current AD2 drum map so far. (I'm embarrassed to have to point out that this attachment isn't showing in Firefox.)

Thank you all for your insightful information! It's been a few days since I posted this, so I don't want you all to think that I've forgotten it. I appreciate the useful nuggets of information in the process of doing my work more efficiently.

Throughout my MIDI composition experience, I've noticed various ways to create simple effects like Reverb, Chorus, and Pan. For example: TTS-1 allows you to set these via dials in the synth. There are also VST plugin effects (i.e. Sonitus Reverb) that do this effectively. But of course, these simple effects can also be drawn in the PRV Controller Pane. My question is: Out of these different methods, what is the best (and most resource-friendly) way to integrate Reverb, Chorus, and Pan, and other effects that can be drawn in the Controller Pane? Synth-level, plugin-level, or controller-level? Bonus question: How do I decide whether to include these effects before/after I bounce to audio during the final mixing process? I just want to do it the right way. I hope I've explained this well enough. Thanks in advance.

Is it in any way possible to enable Portamento work in a Cakewalk Sound Center instrument track? I load a sustained instrument (i.e. synth lead) and slightly overlap the notes. Then I create MIDI events for CC #65 (Portamento On/Off), CC #5 (Portamento Time), and CC #84 (Amount of Portamento). This works in TTS-1 -- however, not in Cakewalk Sound Center. I'm not able to get the notes to slide as they should. Is this possible? Are there any "hidden options" to enable Portamento there? Any insight or pointers are appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Thank you for all of the advise and insight! I truly appreciate it. Even after doing this for quite a while (on/off), it's hard to know that my routine is efficient and know my way around, let alone having to second guess everything I do during the workflow. One can never be sure whether they're doing something right or could be doing it better. ☺️

Workspaces, screensets, templates, lenses...I sometimes get confused by all these functions, and wonder why there are so many! (shrug) Sometimes it feels like Cakewalk doesn't have proprietary names for some of its windows. Anyhow -- It's difficult to explain in a visual sense. But this is my current "Basic" project template & Lenses configuration (program auto-starts into this template): LENS #1: Console (Full-screen console view: 11 Strips + Master, Metronome, Preview strips) LENS #2: Track + PRV (Track window above, PRV (3" high) and Controller Pane (1.5" high) on bottom, collapsed Inspector and Browser -- Browser set in Instruments tab) LENS #3: PRV (full screen PRV, collapsed Browser, with collapsible quick-track selection on the right) TEMPLATE: ~ Custom set of Modules in menu ~ Default Draw Duration and Time Snap set to 1/16 (Last Touched disabled) ~ Nothing changed in [View v][Options v][Tracks v]... menu bar ~ Track window shows Track Control button set to [All] (auto-sets to [Lens], per above Lens #2) ~ PRV vertical gridlines on If anyone can recommend a more sensible way to do this that can be applied to new projects and existing projects, please do.

Doing this creates two new MIDI tracks: "Track #" and "Matrix Data Track". I'm afraid this isn't what I'm looking for... (shrug) Thank you, I will look into that. However, it seems as though, when I open one of those existing projects, the layout/settings I have in place for that particular project don't seem too different from my existing template. It may not be a necessary routine (after all, it's my OCD), but I will look at Track Templates just the same. I wasn't sure what word to use, so I chose "wrapper". Guess I was hungry for candy at the time. I guess I could take the manual route and copy individual tracks from the project into the blank template and do it that way. Thanks for all your responses!