Description: i wanted to make the drum solo without using the keys as i normally wouldve done. this was quite a challenge for me and took alot longer. above all i wanted to try and get a convincing feel and show the redrum unit is a superb drum computer. also, i limited myself to only triggering the sequencers on the redrums from reason's sequencer, and not using the sequencer to edit the notes/timings as such. i wouldve used the matrix units or some other method within the rack to do the triggering but i couldnt think of a way to do this and didnt want to waste valuable time trying to find out. i ended up using 4 redrum units in order to see what i was doing with the patterns more clearly, and have put slight variations in pitch across the (same) RDK Rock patch i have used in all four of them to try to aid the realism. i also figured since i was only using the redrums, that i would only use the one patch and hopefully derive enough 'feel' from this. like i say above, i think the redrum computer is incredibly intricate for creating almost any type of drums - like alot of '70s classic tracks - onwards' relied upon. sometimes when you set a drum note with full level, it should be the same level each time. ive found that its easier at times to get steady drum levels with the redrum, where using the samplers can be appropriate in other scenarios hopefully its worked out decent-ish (heh) i dunno about you, but i sure learnt a new skill here! ;oD just wants honing! LOL

Description: For the inaugural Reason Challenge which tasks us with composing a 30 second or less drum solo, I decided now would be a good time to go ahead and try something I've been planning for a while now, namely recreating an Irish jig performed with a bodhran (an Irish drum) and doing it entirely within Reason. Here's a simple jig I recorded with a real bodhran: http://www.capesius.com/reason/bodhran_solo.mp3 The challenge I decided for myself is to try and approximate this as closely as possible using only subtractors for the sounds and matrixes for the sequencing. Now, if you listen closely, you'll notice a few things going on in the recording. Aside from the impact of the tipper (the small stick used to strike the bodhran) against the skin of the bodhran, you'll also hear the lingering hum of the skin. You'll also notice that the pitch of the hum goes up and down. This is because I'm pressing my hand against the back of the drum and moving it around, giving me a modicum of control over the pitch. Any analog bodhran I create will also have to be able to do this. In addition, about half way through the song, you'll hear some rim shots. I need to create these too. As it turns out, the Subtractor is perfectly suited to emulating all three of these sounds. In particular, I was able to take full advantage of the dual oscillators, using one sinewave to mimic the impact of the tipper against the skin, and the other to handle the hum of the vibrating skin. A second subtractor was added to handle the rimshots. Controlling the pitch of that hum is easily achieved by adjusting the semitone pitch of oscillator 2. Popping that subtractor into a combinator and assigning rotary one to Osc 2 Semi makes adjusting the pitch of the skin as simple as turning a knob. In addition, adjusting the Amp decay upwards makes the hum more pronounced, and adjusting the Amp Release upwards makes the hum linger longer. To sequence the thing, I used two matrixes. I could have used one, but I felt creating two matrixes - one to sequence the tipper hitting the skin, and the other to sequence the movement of the hum pitch - allows for more flexibility. It also has the added benefit of allowing me to view both the tipping and the skin motion side by side as the sequence plays, which is kinda cool. If you want to get to the nuts and bolts of how I tweaked the subtractors, built the combi (including the pretty spiffy skin I made for it), and sequenced everything, I would encourange you to take a look at the .rns file. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Enjoy!

Description: I'm using a redrum to trigger all the rex players... also, I have a repeat combi that tweeks entire mix. This really isn't a drum solo but I used drum methods and rhythmic phrases with other sounds besides drums... although drums samples were also used.