Drum sampling

[xekushnr]

I'm starting to write some stuff, and I want to be able to fool around with some drum sounds in the songs before actually bothering some of my drummer friends to record. Has anyone used any drum sampling programs with success? Can anyone point me in the right direction? As long as I can sample a tom, floor tom, crash and ride cymbals, hi-hat, snare and bass drum, I should be set.

[thekage]

What kind of sampler do you have?

[xekushnr]

I don't have one. I'm either looking to pick one up, or even better, just see if there is a program I can download on the computer that will let me write a drum track to play over myself on guitar. I want to write the drum parts since most of my drummer buddies are not metal drummers, save for one.

[thekage]

Fruity loops comes to mind. Any sequencer like cubase, pro tools, ect will have a sampler that you can add to it. Fruit loops comes equiped out of the box like that. Just add your own samples or use the ones that come with it. Or get your self a sampler like the Boss DR-303 or 404 ect.. use the mic to record each sample and start kickin it.

Or even easier.. just get a drum machine. I have a DR-303 drum machine.. and I love it. A sampler would be a bit more flexible, but if you are just looking for some beats to jam with, you can't beat a drum machine.

[xekushnr]

Nah, a drum machine wont work. I like working with off beats and atypical rhythms, so a consistent "bom-bom-bom" wont work. I want the drums as technical as the guitarwork, so it will need to be completely programmed by me as it will be constantly changing. I'll have to check into some of these programs. I remember working with Fruity Loops on a friends computer YEARS ago, maybe I'll check into that. It must have been around 2000 so I'm sure they've made loads of improvements since then.

[thekage]

Swing by your local music store and mess with a good drum machine... they are not the old "boom boom boom" anymore.. Today the offer complete programmability.

[xekushnr]

Hmm... I'll have to do that then. I should have looked outside of the guitar department when I was at Guitar Center last Monday.

[Papi Chulo]

How much money are you willing to spend?

[xekushnr]

Not a whole lot, for right now at least. Maybe $100 max. I have a bunch of friends who can actually record the real drum tracks, I just need this for writing.