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How to Convert Audio Drums to MIDI

Converting drum audio into MIDI is a multi-step process that will require a basic understanding of MIDI devices and audio sampling. There are two approaches to converting drum audio to MIDI: drum triggers and audio sample conversion. The drum trigger method will require a drum kit, a computer with MIDI software, a set of drum triggers for all of the drums you wish to convert to MIDI and a drum trigger MIDI converter. The drum sample conversion method will only require a computer and a MIDI-slice enabled audio program such as ReCycle, Ableton Live, etc.

Things You'll Need

  • Drum kit
  • Computer
  • Drum triggers
  • Drum trigger MIDI converter
  • MIDI enabled audio-sampling software
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Instructions

  1. Drum Trigger Method

    • 1

      Connect MIDI drum triggers to a drum kit.

    • 2

      Connect the triggers to a MIDI drum trigger converter.

    • 3

      Open the MIDI arrangement software on the computer.

    • 4

      Connect the MIDI drum trigger converter to the computer via USB or serial connection. Set a MIDI channel to receive from the MIDI drum trigger converter.

    • 5

      Press “record” in the channel and transport.

    • 6

      Play the drums and the computer will record the trigger impulses as MIDI signals. Save the recording as a MIDI file.

    Audio Sample Conversion Method

    • 7

      Open a MIDI-enabled sampling program.

    • 8

      Open a drum loop or drum shot sample.

    • 9

      Use the program's “slice-to-MIDI” or “export to MIDI” function.

    • 10

      If you are using ReCycle or a similar program, the corresponding MIDI and audio sample(s) will be output to a user-designated folder.

    • 11

      If you are using Ableton Live or a similar program, the corresponding MIDI and audio sample(s) will be applied to a new channel within the program.

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