How do I go about building my own beats from midi files online

Aeros Loop Studio
3

General techniques (for transcribing drums from MIDI source files to the BeatBuddy (BB))

  • The BB drums for the most part follow General MIDI standards but there are some exceptions that if you know and take into consideration as you transcribe MIDI source files into beats or songs for the BB, will save you time and frustration.
  • Download and use the Ableton user manual; focus on the MIDI section (chapter 10 of the manual at this link Credits — Ableton Reference Manual Version 11 | Ableton )
  • There are several files on the forum that can help you with proper placement of the MIDI drum notes; here’s one: GM1 & GM2 MIDI.pdf (19.6 KB)
  • The MIDI notes for the BB Latin kit are different than the default kits.
  • The premium Standard Pro drum set has a much more robust complement of drum instruments.
  • The Export to MIDI . . . in the BBM is buggy so best not to use it.
  • Download and use the latest (version 2) BB content; even then, recognize that you may have to season the velocities to taste (lowering some of the drum instruments velocities). I usually lower the velocities for the snare, toms and cymbals to avoid some of the harshness. To each his or her own.
  • If you download Guitar Pro MIDI source files from Ultimate Guitar, you can convert them from .gp format to MIDI using freeware such as TuxGuitar. Sometimes Guitar Pro may have C-2 notes—you can delete those rather than try to figure out what they correspond to in MIDI or BB.
  • Use the BeatBuddy Manager (BBM) MIDI Editor sparingly. If you use it at all, don’t use it to edit MIDI notes but rather, use it to check that there aren’t any Not supported notes and if you find any, edit them in your DAW instead of the BBM MIDI Editor.
  • Don’t use periods (.) to name songs or folders as this corrupts BBM files and you could lose your work. Which brings up a point to save often.
  • MIDI Note ID 47 should be lowered 2 semitones in your DAW (digital audio workstation) and MIDI Note ID 41 should be raised 2 semitones in your DAW. The takeaway is to transcribe a song to fit the kit as there are certain drum instruments that are not supported in the BBM. See Import MIDI changes note numbers - #6 by persist
  • You may not find GM2 notes often but when you do, you may have to be creative on either deleting them or placing them in the best fit.
  • Good idea to always scroll through the entire MIDI source file in your DAW to make sure that there are no tempo or time signature changes. When your source file has them, consider finding another one that doesn’t. You can use time stretching to tweak the MIDI source file for tempo changes but that’s the subject of much more advanced editing techniques and you can find tutorials here on the forum.

This is all I can think of for now and I’m sure that other users will chime in with more helpful tips, techniques and procedures (TTP).

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