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How to Program Tribal Drums in Cubase

Steinberg, an audio company based in Germany, is perhaps most notable for developing the Virtual Studio Technology plug-in standard. Many audio programs feature this type of plug-in, which allows users to program virtual instruments. Steinberg also made Cubase, an audio and Musical Instrument Digital Interface editing program. Cubase comes bundled with numerous VST plug-ins for users to create virtual instrument parts. One such plug-in gives users a virtual drum pad they can use to program tribal-sounding drumbeats.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open a project in Cubase. Click the "Project" menu at the top of the screen.

    • 2

      Scroll over "Add a Track" and select to add a virtual instrument track. In the pop-up box, select the "Groove Agent 1."

    • 3

      Click the keyboard icon under the name of the track in the main window to open the user interface. Load desired sounds by clicking the square icon at the top of the interface.

    • 4

      Close the interface and hold "Alt" on the keyboard. While holding the key, click where the track will start and drag along the track until the end to create MIDI events at desired points. Double-click the newly created event to program drumbeats using selected sounds.

    • 5

      Click on a key and beat to create a note, and drag while holding the mouse button to determine length. Tribal beats are very rhythmic and feature complex rhythms. Start by marking each beat with a lower-pitched drum. You can then edit the drum sounds from the virtual instrument interface.

Digital Music

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