Custom Drum Tracks- Part Two

Well, I feel approximately six inches tall. After posting my initial screed on the lack of features ((as I then supposed it to be) on the Alesis SR-16, I sat down with the manual last night and discovered that not only was I completely wrong as far as the ability of the machine to create custom tracks, I read right past the instructions for so doing it! Needless to say, this embarrassed me to no end.

So, to rectify my mistake, I am posting this today. The SR-16 does in fact seem to contain all the requisite tools for producing such drum necessities as rolls, differing tempos and so forth. I have not yet masterd the methodology for combining them into a single track, but I am working on it. i will be posting the process here as I complete the new drum track i am creating for my arrangement of the old classsic ‘A Closer Walk With Thee’.

I am planning to commence this arrangement with a tuba lead, backed by long tones from the trombone and trumpet and a series of slow drum press rolls. The tuba plays the melody once through, then picks up the tempo into a fast two-beat, whereupon the lead transfers to the trumpet, backed by the tailgate trombone with the tuba sliding back into a walking bass-line. Solos will take place at this same up-tempo, then we will slip back into the slower original tempo for the tuba to restate the lead and close the piece with the brass calling out the ‘Amen’.

So for this to work, I will need to create both the slow press rolls, and the segueway into the faster tempo for the main melody and solos, then drop back into the original tempo for the closing refrain. I will be working on this today and hopefully over the weekend somewhat. Once I succeed in creating this pattern and master it, I will post a first draft on my MySpace music site for your listening pleasure.