Practical Tips For REALISTIC Drum Programming

Does your drum programming always sound fake and robotic? In this video, platinum producer Joey Sturgis gives you some vital tips for achieving realistic drum programming in your own productions.

Looking for a drum sampler that sounds realistic? Check out Drumforge Matt Greiner. Matt of August Burns Red alongside Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio created this Drum Sampler in collaboration with Drumforge to give you the most realistic drum samples and the most robust control possible all in a simple easy to use virtual instrument plugin.

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[drdandalf]

Using the Humanize feature on Reaper is my go-to. I also like to make some downbeat hits (for all instruments) pursposely not hit perfectly in time. I also like to purposely make some fast drum fills seem rushed in parts, as that gives the impression that its a burst of movement at the moment. And for that spicy touch, I sometimes throw in a rim-hit in the tom fills to make it sound like there was a slight mistake there, but it was kept in because its not worth "re-recording" 😉

[colinduckworth-hoto]

Great advice -- I think it's worth adding that a real drummer playing "off grid" is more than just an accident. Good drummers will intentionally play ahead or behind the beat in certain situations, especially in genres like jazz, funk and hip-hop. It's worth doing some research on how/why a drummer might intentionally leave the grid.

[idleprepress]

It's a way easier just to sit and play the pattern you want on an electronic drumset and then just slice, align, whatever.