Introduction to MIDI and Computer Music: DP Drum Editor

Digital Performer Drum Editor

The Drum Editor lets you create drum parts — and any other part that has a limited number of pitches — by clicking patterns onto a grid. What follows is a guide to the basic features of the Drum Editor.

Click the Drum button in the Tracks window — or choose Project > Drum Editor — to open the Drum Editor window.
A list of track names is on the far left side of the window. It's a good idea to display in the main part of the window only the track(s) you're interested in. Click on track names to hide them.
Record-enable the track you're about to work on, either in the Tracks window or in the part of the Drum Editor window shown below.
Each track contains a certain number of notes, and each note appears in its own row. Initially, tracks have no notes visible, so you must specify the notes you want to use. Here's one way to do it.
1. Click in the empty PITCH box beneath the track name.
2. Play a drum note you'd like to use on the synthesizer keyboard. After playing this note, a new empty row appears below it.
3. Repeat steps (a) and (b) to create a collection of drum notes.
Set the view resolution to a note value that's appropriate for the drum part you want to write. For example, a kick drum for a house dance track would need quarter notes, whereas a high-hat part for a rock song would need eighth notes.

This is one reason why you should be comfortable with basic rhythmic notation. If you're not, try this web page for a starting point.
Choose the Pencil Tool by clicking on it in the Tools palette or typing 'p' twice. If you can't see the Tools palette, choose Studio > Tools.
Set the default velocity for the notes you're about to create. I recommend starting with a much higher velocity than the default 64: perhaps even 127, the maximum. Otherwise, drum notes can sound too weak. You can change velocities later.
Click cells in the grid to create notes. Click an existing note to delete it. Click and drag across multiple cells to create a lot of notes at once. Change the view resolution to write different rhythms.
To select notes for moving or copying (via option-drag), use the arrow tool, which you can choose in the Tools palette, or by typing 'a' twice.
If you want more control over velocity, choose Grid with Velocity from the purple arrow pop-up menu.

The higher the note bar, the greater the velocity. Change velocity of an existing note by clicking just above the note and dragging up or down.