DP 8 and Drumcore -- In Search of a Solution

[Babz]

Setting up my new DP 8 system and trying to integrate as much of my old software as I can, while staying all 64 bit.

I have Drumcore 2.5 and a substantial loop library for it, but it is 32 bit and was made to work with ReWire. (Yes, I know there is a paid v. 3 upgrade, that doesn't require ReWire, but it is also 32 bit.)

Even though its ca. 2007 software, I managed to get Drumcore installed, authorized and running as a stand alone app under ML.

I mainly just use it as a loop browser, for which it works great. Running the 32-bit standalone Drumcore app, I can browse for loops using its extensive loop browsing options, audition loops, fills, hits, and when I find something I like, drag it into 64 bit DP. So far so good.

The problem is monitoring, getting sound that I can monitor through my 828mk3 (through which I monitor DP).

Drumcore 2.5 can only output sound to built-in Mac audio, no preference setting to route it to the 828mk3.

Next I tried changing the sound output under Mac System Preference from Built In to 828mk3, but it doesn't work. No Mac system sound to the 828mk3.

Right now, the best solution I've come up with is to have a second pair of headphones plugged into the Mac's headphone out to monitor loops. Then I have to switch over to a another pair of headphones plugged into the 828mk3 in order to work with the loop in DP.

Any suggestions for a better solution?

Is there some trick to getting Mac built in audio into the 828mk3? Simply selecting 828mk3 under System Preferences ain't doing it.

I could maybe use JBridgeM, but Drumcore 2.5 is not a plugin and it requires ReWire, and I don't think you can bridge 32-bit ReWire into 64-bit DP.

I suppose I could resort to running a 1/4 mini cable that splits into two 1/4 inch plugs from that Mac's output to two 828mk3 inputs, but this seems hardly an elegant solution.

Is there some other software to route a standalone audio app into DP other than ReWire that might work?

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.

Best,
Babz

[Tobor]

I can't remember... is the standalone version of Drumcore 2.5 Drumcore Toolkit? If not, you might upgrade to Drumcore 3 just to get Drumcore Toolkit 3.0, which is standalone and essentially Drumcore 2.5 but not rewired. It plays through my original 828 just fine.

I had problems with Drumcore 3 crashing DP7 so went back to 2.5. I have yet to get into 64 bit world, but plan on doing it very soon.

I agree that Drumcore has a great library of loops that I would hate to lose access to. I've started trying to import some of those libraries into Stylus, but that's a large and tedious job. I'd just as soon continue to use Drumcore.

See if you can check out Drumcore Toolkit 3.0. The interface is exactly like 2.5 so you will feel right at home. It might be a solution for the time being.

[James Steele]

I do believe I can get Drumcore 3 working fine as a VST with JBridgeM in DP8 (64).

[Tobor]

And I might add, Babs, that there is some additional content in Drumcore 3. A lot of the new material is under the heading of 'basic beats', but they're very well done and sound great.

[bayswater]

No Mac system sound to the 828mk3.
....
Is there some trick to getting Mac built in audio into the 828mk3? Simply selecting 828mk3 under System Preferences ain't doing it.

The output for system sounds and the output for sounds from applications are not the same thing, so first, make sure you're not setting the system sound (or Sound Effects as they are called in recent OS X versions)

Second, look at the default ins and outs used by applications by option clicking on the small speaker icon on the right side of the menu bar. This should agree with the System Preferences, and show 828 Mk 3 for both in and out. If there is still no sound, have a look at the settings in MOTU Audio Setup and verify that the default output channels are those you are monitoring.

On the 828, with ML, I sometimes find that although it maintains the 828 as the default output device, the default output channels revert to Analog 1-2, while I'm monitoring Main Outs which are outputs 9 and 10. The newest audio driver from MOTU says it fixes this, but I haven't tried it yet.

[Babz]

OK, it's working now!

Drumcore standalone app is running in 32 bit and I can hear it through the 828! DP is also running (64 bit) and I can also hear it through the 828!

What I wrote above means to say that I went to Mac OS System Preferences->Sound, selected the Output Button and where it says "Select a device for sound output" I changed it from "Internal Speakers/Type Built In" to "MOTU 828mk3/Type Firewire".

This seems like it SHOULD be all I need to do to hear the Mac internal sound in the 828. But it didn't work.

But now I went back and tried again today and it is working! I think the difference was that yesterday when I was trying, I already had Drumcore and DP 8 running while I was making the System Preferences->Sound change. But today I started up anew, made the System Preferences->Sound change BEFORE launching Drumcore or DP and it WORKING!

We'll see if it holds, but it's looking like problem solved.

Thanks, everyone!
Babz

[Babz]

P.S. I might still consider the Drumcore 3 upgrade, but so far I've tested JBridgeM with 3 apps and it has seemed buggy and unstable -- at least for GForce's The Oddity. I probably need to do more testing, but at the moment I'm kinda wary of anything 32 bit.

For now, I mainly just need to browse and audition loops, and Drumcore 2.5 is doing that for me like it always has. (I've got not only all my Drumcore stuff in there, but I spent a lot of time moving all my old CD-ROM loops, Akai, WAV, R.A.W, etc, into the Drumcore library, Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, Bun E Carlos, Steve Gadd, Latin Groove Factory, etc. etc.).

They say a v. 4 of Drumcore is coming and that it will be 64 bit. But I'm getting tired of waiting for that and it may be time to consider something else like Stylus RMX. (The nice thing about Drumcore is that when you import content like I mention above, it just imports it into the database. It keeps the file in its original format, WAV, REX, AIFF, etc. So it would be easy to move the stuff to RMX. I would only lose native Drumcore content, the ones that are in Drumcore's proprietary .cxf format.)

Best,
Babz

[James Steele]

They say a v. 4 of Drumcore is coming and that it will be 64 bit. But I'm getting tired of waiting for that and it may be time to consider something else like Stylus RMX.

Wow! THAT would be good news. Seems Submersible (is that who they are now?) is tripping all over themselves to develop for iOS (much like IK Multimedia) and giving me the impression that they're letting their Mac OS products languish.

[Babz]

Originally Drumcore was developed by Submersible. But then they sold the product to Sonoma Wire Works, who, as you note, seem to be all about iOS and touchscreen apps and stuff.

Even the Drumcore 3 update was fully competed by Submersible before Sonoma bought it, and that was several years ago.

I will say that SWW makes some cool-looking products, and they were very helpful and quick to respond to my emails about trying to get Drumcore working on my current system. But it HAS been a long time since they bought Drumcore and, even though they are still supporting it, there hasn't been any new release for several years. The exact quote I got from them about 64 bit support was:

"We are currently working on a 64 bit version of DrumCore (v4). Unfortunately, I do not have an estimated release date at this time for DrumCore 4."

So, some cause for hope, perhaps.

Best,
Babz

[Babz]

Actually, this brings up another thought... I wish DP had a built-in Loop Browser. Cubase, Logic, GarageBand, all have one... With so many loops today, you really need a way to browse and audition loops and then drag them into your project. Seems like it would be a pretty easy feature to add to DP.

Best,
Babz

[Tobor]

They say a v. 4 of Drumcore is coming and that it will be 64 bit. But I'm getting tired of waiting for that and it may be time to consider something else like Stylus RMX. (The nice thing about Drumcore is that when you import content like I mention above, it just imports it into the database. It keeps the file in its original format, WAV, REX, AIFF, etc. So it would be easy to move the stuff to RMX. I would only lose native Drumcore content, the ones that are in Drumcore's proprietary .cxf format.)

Best,
Babz

Drumcore 4 as a distinct possibility is indeed good news. Meanwhile, if you need to get DC's proprietary format into REX2 form (or AIFF, WAV), just go into the Export preferences page and check 'export as REX when possible'.

What I've been doing is setting up a dummy DP project, then dragging Drumcore loops into that project. Depending on where you have your default Drumcore Export folder set up (Exported Content folder in the Drumcore folder, or any folder of your choosing), the dragged loops then show up there as REX files.

Make a separate folder of these REX files, drag them onto the Sage Converter, and they will now show up in Stylus.

There's probably an easier way (which is why I'd rather see Drumcore 4), but this is relatively simple and it works.

[James Steele]

Actually, this brings up another thought... I wish DP had a built-in Loop Browser. Cubase, Logic, GarageBand, all have one... With so many loops today, you really need a way to browse and audition loops and then drag them into your project. Seems like it would be a pretty easy feature to add to DP.

Best,
Babz

I think I've used UVI Workstation (free) to do this.