n-Track Drums Commands Guide

Back to the Contents

Click for separate screenshot

Factory, Custom and User Drum Kits

n-Track Drums has three types of drum kit - Factory, Custom and User kits.

Each Factory and Custom Kit can have many styles (up to 22 are provided in the releases), and each style can have up to 24 Step Sequencer patterns (named [A] to [X]).
The Custom and User Kits have only 1 style ("internal"), and this style can contain up to 24 patterns. Each drum kit consists of the sample .wav files and the bank file ("bank.dk+"); the patterns are stored within the bank file.
Custom kits are provided by NuSofting; User Kits are created by users.

Definitions

A Kit is a set of up to 24 drum pads, each with their own sets of samples and playback parameters
A Style is a set of up to 24 Sequencer patterns (up to 128 steps and 10 tracks each)
A Factory Kit may have many external (separate) Styles, but no internal Style.
A Custom Kit may have many external (separate) Styles, and an internal Style.
A User Kit may have only 1 internal Style.
A Bank is a Kit plus its internal Style, if there is one.

Loading a Kit and External Style

-- you can use the [Menu] to load any Factory or Custom drum kit which has one or more External Styles, by selecting either a Kit then one of the available Styles, or a Style then one of the available Kits.

Click for separate screenshot
to open the Menu - click [Menu]
to load a Drum Kit and one of its available Styles (rhythms) - Styles >> by sound, then select the desired drum kit and style
to load a Style (rhythm) and one of the available Drum Kits - Styles >> by rhythm, then select the desired style and drum kit
-- once the drum kit and style are loaded, the Output Controls will be set and the loaded drum pads will be shown.
-- the Step Sequencer patterns associated with the selected kit and style are also loaded

-- note that not every drum style is available for every drum kit, because some drum styles are simply impossible to play with some limited drum kits, especially those sampled from older and cheap drum machines.
-- once the kit and style are loaded, they will be played whenever you start playback or recording in your host; the Sequencer only plays back if it is enabled.

Loading Any Library Kit or Style

-- you can load any drum kit (and subsequently any available style) from the n-Track Drums Library using the Kit Browser:

to load a drum kit - double-click it in the Kit Browser list
if you have selected a Factory drum kit (which has External Styles), then its default bank file (these are named bank.dk+) is loaded and the available styles are displayed in the Browser, but no style (that is set of patterns) is loaded until you select one,
if you have selected a Custom drum kit which has External Styles, then its default bank file (these are named bank.dk+) is loaded, this also contains its style (named "internal") loaded, and up to 24 patterns and the available styles are displayed in the Browser,,
if you have selected a Custom or User drum kit which has no External Styles, then its default bank file is loaded, this also contains its style (named "internal") loaded, and up to 24 patterns
other banks for a drum kit can be loaded using the [Menu] >> Banks >> Load feature (described below)
to load a style - click the desired style in the Style Browser
not every drum style is available for every drum kit, because some drum styles are simply impossible to play with some limited drum kits, especially those sampled from older and cheap drum machines
an asterisk before the name of the kit or style in the Browser and in the Selected Kit/Style areas indicates that the Kit or Style has been modified

Managing Banks

-- you can also load any bank for any drum kit,
-- there is a default bank (named "bank.dk+") for each drum kit in the n-Track Drums Library and you can create, save and load new banks

Loading a Bank

When a bank file (with the extension ".dk+") is selected:

if the file is inside a folder whose name starts with F (for Factory) AND this folder is inside the n-Track Drums Library folder, then the bank file is loaded with the samples and pad parameters, and any external Style (sets of patterns) are available in the Browser for loading,
if not, then the bank file, with its internal Style (set of patterns), the samples and pad parameters only are loaded.

to load a bank - click [Menu] >> Banks >> Load >> navigate to the desired folder, select the desired bank, click [Open]

-- If n-Track Drums does not find a referenced sample file in the same folder as the bank file, it will search for the file using the original path (this location where the sample file was when the bank was saved)

-- n-Track Drums can also import drum banks created for the popular Steinberg LM-4 drum machine.
to import an LM-4 bank - click [Menu] >> Banks >> Load >> navigate to the desired folder, select the desired bank, select "LM-4" as the file type, click [Open], or
click the Kit folder icon, navigate to the desired folder, select the desired bank, select "LM-4" as the file type, click [Open]
-- however, because n-Track Drums is very different from LM-4, some settings of the original sound bank cannot be imported (pan, levels).

Saving a Bank

-- you can build and save your own banks, styles and patterns for the Kits.
to save the complete instrument as a bank - click [Menu] >> Banks >> Save >> navigate to the desired folder, enter the desired bank name, click [Save]
-- this saves all the drum machine settings (the output control settings, the drum kit and ONE internal Style (one set of up to 24 sequencer patterns,) if the kit is a Custom or User Kit,
-- you can also save the patterns separately, see the Sequencer Patterns section of this Guide.

-- you can save them in the appropriate drum kit folders,
-- or you might find it useful to create a new folder, named, for example, "user banks" for example, in your n-Track Drums Library, to hold your new banks, this is particularly useful for drum kits whose samples are stored outside your n-Track Drums Library (for example, in my case, the NS Kit7 samples)

Back to the Contents

Drums

Back to the Contents

to view the Drum Pads - click [drums]

The Input Controls

-- the Input area has two controls

to select the response to incoming MIDI velocity changes - adjust the "Velocity" knob
-- this control can compress or expand MIDI velocities; every MIDI keyboard or trigger can have a different dynamic profile, so you can use this control to match your MIDI keyboard.
-- you can expand the velocity up to 100% (double) or compress it to 100% (half)
to reset the velocity response to Linear - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its centre position

to set the effective range of your Pitch Bend control - adjust the "PB Range" control
-- the range is from 0 to 7 semitones
to reset the range to 3 semitones - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its centre position

The Output Controls

-- n-Track Drums has three stereo outputs and three auxiliary outputs
to set the level for a stereo output - adjust the appropriate Volume knob
to reset the volume to 0dB gain - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its centre position

-- the output levels of each of the 3 stereo channels can be shown
to display/hide the output levels - click the "Monitors" button On/Off

The Reverb Editor

to enable/disable the internal reverb - click the Reverb button On/Off
-- the n-Track Drums internal reverb is intended as a simple preview effect, and it can be useful when testing the drum kits or quickly creating a song using the internal styles
-- the Reverb output is always sent to the first main output [1+2]
-- once you start using multiple outputs for your kits it's suggested that you turn off the Reverb and use external effects

to set the room size - adjust the "size" control
to reset the room size to its minimum - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its left-most position
to set the reverb duration - adjust the "time" control
to reset the duration to its minimum - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its left-most position
to set the room reflectivity - adjust the "brite" control
to reset the reflectivity to its minimum - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its left-most position
to set the reverb level - adjust the "gain" control
to reset the level to its minimum - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its left-most position
to apply gating to the reverb signal - enable the "gating" control

The Compressor Editor

-- as with all compressors, the built-in n-Track Drums compressors reduce the volume of the signal when its loudness exceeds a certain threshold

-- each main stereo Output has a built-in Compressor
to select a Compressor - labelled tab, named, for example [1+2],
to enable/disable a Compressor - click the On/Off button to the left of its tab,
-- the Compressor is inserted AFTER the Volume control, so the Volume control is "pre-FX"

to set the volume threshold - adjust the "threshold" control
-- sound levels above the threshold are those that are compressed
to reset the threshold to its maximum (-6dB) - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its right-most position
to set the compression ratio - adjust the "ratio" control
to reset the ratio to its default (1:4) - Ctrl+click the knob
-- the ratio determines how much the volume above the threshold is compressed
-- for example, with a ratio of 1:4, a signal 12db over the threshold is reduced to 3 dB over the threshold
-- and, with a ratio of 1:6, a signal 12db over the threshold is reduced to 2 dB over the threshold

-- you can also control how fast the compression takes effect as the volume exceeds the threshold and how fast the compression is removed as the volume drops below the threshold
to set the activation speed - adjust the "attack" control
to reset the attack to its default (0ms) - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its left-most position
to set the deactivation speed - adjust the "release" control
to reset the release to its default (75ms) - Ctrl+click the knob

-- as the volume above the threshold is compressed, the output volume is reduced, you can increase this volume, effectively increasing the volume of the quieter (uncompressed) parts of the sound
to increase the volume - adjust the "gain" control
to reset the gain to its default (+6dB) - Ctrl+click the knob

-- the Compressor also has level meters showing the effect of the compression
to display/hide the output levels - click the "Monitors" button on the Compressor Editor On/Off
-- there are three pairs of meters showing:

the input level
the amount of compression applied
the output level

The Drum Pads

-- in the Drums section you can see 24 drum pads, each pad has three buttons

Click for separate screenshot

the main drum pad trigger area
the Edit button
the Mute Group selector / indicator

Loading and Managing Pads

to load a sample into a pad - drag it from your browser and drop it on the pad
-- when a sample is loaded into a pad, the pad is highlighted and its name is shown
-- if you drag several samples at one time they will be loaded into consecutive pads
to audition a pad - click it
-- if you have set the preference to send MIDI notes when clicking on a pad, then a MIDI note (with velocity 80 and length 1 tick) will be sent to n-Track Drums's MIDI output
to change a pad name - click the name, edit in the changes and press Enter
to cancel the edit - press Esc or click outside the name

Click for separate screenshot
to clear a drum pad - right-click the drum pad >> Clear
to copy one drum pad to another - right-click the drum pad >> Copy, select the destination pad
to swap over two drum pads - right-click one of the drum pads >> Swap, select the other drum pad

-- I guess you really want to trigger the pads from your host
to trigger a pad - send a MIDI note on any of MIDI channels 01 to 15
-- MIDI Channel 16 is reserved for controlling the Step Sequencer
-- a pad will be triggered by all MIDI notes within its range (from the Low to High MIDI notes, as set in the Drum Pad Editor)
-- a single note can trigger more than one pad, if the trigger ranges overlap

Real-time Sample Replacement

-- you can change the sample assigned to a pad while n-Track Drums is playing so you can try out different samples and hear the results in context

to access the sample replacer - right-click a pad >> Realtime sample replacer

-- if there is at least one sample currently assigned to the pad, the samples in its folder are displayed and the current sample will be highlighted, otherwise the main panel will show only the accessible disk drives

to select the previous or next sample for triggering - click [Prev] or [Next]
to select any sample for triggering - double-click it, or
click it, then click [Select]
-- if the pad is triggered from the n-Track Drums Step Sequencer or from your host, then you will hear the newly selected sample, so you can audition changes in real-time
to navigate up one folder level - click the folder icon above the samples
to display the accessible disk drives - click [Drives]
to open a folder - double-click it, or
click it, then click [Select]
to keep the selected sample - click [Keep]
to revert the original sample - click [Discard]

Mute Groups

-- a Mute group is simply a mechanism that allows the triggering of one pad to terminate the sound of another pad belonging to the same group
-- for example, if you have an open hi-hat sample and a closed hi-hat sample, you may want to force the sound of the open hi-hat to be interrupted when the closed hi-hat sound begins to play, just like the real instrument

-- in this screenshot you can see that the 3 hihats (pads 6, 7 and 8) are in Mute Group 1

to place the pad in a Mute group - click the [m] or [number] to the right of the pad
-- repeated clicks select the next Mute group, there are 4 groups available
-- [m] indicates that the pad is not in a Mute group

The Drum Pad Editor

to edit a drum pad - click the [e] button to the right of the pad in the Drum panel
-- the pad samples and control parameters are then shown in the Drum Pad Editor panel

Click for separate screenshot
-- the main display area enables you to load one or more wave samples (up to 10) into the drum pad
-- n-Track Drums can import wave files with 8, 16, 20, 24 and 32 bit integer resolution, and 32 or 64 bit floating point resolution, mono or stereo.

-- n-Track Drums will also resample the sounds automatically if they are stored at a higher or lower sample rate than the sample rate used in the host application.
to improve the resampling quality - activate the option "Use quality resampling" in the Preferences dialog
-- please have a look at the Preferences section of this Guide.
to prevent normalisation of samples when loaded - enable "Do not normalise" in the Preferences dialog
-- generally, samples loaded are normalized automatically, but note that this preference does not apply to the n-Track Drums factory samples

Assigning samples to a drum pad

Click for separate screenshot
to load a sample - click [+], navigate to the folder containing the desired sample, double-click it, or
click it, then click [Open], or
click it, click [Use sample] >> Add to pad,
-- if you click [Open] the sample is added and the dialogue window is closed,.
to load several samples -

click [+], navigate to the folder containing the desired sample(s),
click a sample, click [Use sample] >> Add to pad,
repeat for the other samples (they can be in different folders)

to audition a selected sample - click [Preview]
to audition a sample automatically when you click it - tick Auto preview
to replace an existing loaded sample by a different one -

click [+], navigate to the folder containing the desired sample,
click a sample, click [Use sample] >> Replace in pad,

Click for separate screenshot
to replace an existing loaded sample by a different one and assign a GM map note and name -

click [+], navigate to the folder containing the desired sample,
click a sample, click [Use sample] >> Replace and use GM map, select the GM instrument

Layering Samples

-- each drum pad can have up to ten cross-velocity layers; the cross velocity is a feature that allows to play different samples at different MIDI velocity.
to set the velocity threshold for a loaded sample - click the Velo value, edit it, and press Enter
-- when you change a Velocity, n-Track Drums automatically sorts the loaded samples into velocity order
to cancel the velocity edit - press Esc or click outside the value
-- for example:

say you have four snare drum samples, recorded when playing gently on the snare, then normally, strongly and very strongly
to use these four samples in n-Track Drums, load them into the first 4 sample slots,
set the MIDI velocity "threshold" that will make the pad play the sample specified in the second slot instead of the first one, by clicking on the leftmost display (set to zero) and enter the desired velocity value
repeat for the third and fourth sample

notes with velocities 0 to 39 will play al snare piano.wav
notes with velocities 40 to 79 will play al snare mezzo forte.wav
notes with velocities 80 to 109 will play al snare forte.wav
notes with velocities 110 to 127 will play al snare sforzato.wav

Random Sample Selection

to play one of several samples - set the Velo value for the samples to the same value and make sure that the "random" button is Off
-- for example:

-- samples with the same MIDI velocity "threshold" will be chosen at random for playback
-- this feature allows you to mix velocity selection with random selection of layers for maximum flexibility, in the screenshot

notes with velocities 0 to 39 will play al snare piano.wav
notes with velocities 40 to 109 will play al snare mezzo forte.wav or al snare forte.wav (selected at random)
notes with velocities 110 to 127 will play al snare sforzato.wav

to play samples depending on their probabilities - set the Velo values to the desired probabilities and set the "random" button On
-- for example, using the same snare drum pad:

-- each sample will be played depending on the total probabilities set in the Velo values
-- here, the total probability is (0 + 80 + 80 + 110) = 270
-- so the sample with a probability of 80, will be played 80/270 = 29.6% of the time
-- this feature allows you to mix velocity selection with random selection of layers for maximum flexibility.

al snare piano.wav is never played [0 / 270]
al snare mezzo forte.wav is played on ~30% of the triggers [80 / 270 ]
al snare forte.wav is played on ~30% of the triggers [80 / 270 ]
al snare sforzato.wav is played on ~41% of the triggers [110 / 270 ]

Assigning MIDI Trigger Notes

-- for each pad, you can set the key zone, the root ("Center") key and its name
-- all notes within the key zone will trigger the pad to play
-- the samples are transposed, depending on the relationship between the defined Centre note and the MIDI note received
-- for example, with a Centre note of C3, a High note of D3 and a received MIDI note of D3, the samples will be transposed upwards by 2 semitones

to set the bottom note in the key zone - click the Low value, and enter the MIDI note number, or
click [learn] beneath the Low value and press the appropriate key on your MIDI keyboard
to set the top note in the key zone - click the High value, and enter the MIDI note number, or
click [learn] beneath the High value and press the appropriate key on your MIDI keyboard
to set the root note for the pad - click the Center (or Centre) value, and enter the MIDI note number, or
click [learn] beneath the Center value and press the appropriate key on your MIDI keyboard

to rename the pad - click the name, edit in the changes and press Enter
to cancel the edit - press Esc or click outside the name

Voice controls

to set the pad volume - adjust the "level" control
-- the centre position is 0 dB and the range is +/- 24 dB
to reset the volume to 0 dB semitones - Ctrl+click the "level" control, or
set it to its centre position

to set the pad pan position - adjust the "pan" control
to reset the pan position to centre - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its centre position
to set the pad tuning amount - adjust the "tune" control
-- the centre position is no retuning, and the range is +/- 14 semitones
to reset the tuning to none - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its centre position
-- you can shift the range of the pad by changing the Center MIDI note

-- the "decay" control adjusts the duration of the pad sound (like a gate) and is activated by the "note off" switch,
to use the gate - activate the "note off" button to set the volume envelope decay time - adjust the "decay" control
to reset the decay time to none - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its leftmost position

to enable/disable modulation by your pitch bend control - click the "pitch bend" button On/Off
-- the default pitch bend range is +/- 3 semitones, this is set globally, using the Input control: Pitch Bend Range
to fade in the pad sound - activate the "smooth attack" button -- this quickly fades in the sample played, using a randomized timed envelope

The Audio Ssignal Path

The audio signal path is:
Source
--> Level/Pan/Tune
--> Decay/Smooth Attack
--> Filter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --> selected output
|
FX Send - - - + - - - --> Reverb --> [1+2]
| or
\ - - - - - - - - - - - --> [Aux 3]

-- with the Reverb set Off, the "FX Send" control on each pad controls the level of the sound sent to the [Aux 3] output (for subsequent routing to external effects)
-- with the Reverb set On, the "FX Send" control on each pad controls the level of the sound sent to the Reverb and thence to the [1+2] output.

FX and Output controls

to set the level of sound for the pad that is sent to the Reverb or [Aux 3] output - adjust the "FX send" control
to change the filter type to Hi Pass - click the Filter [LP] button
to change the filter type to Lo Pass - click the Filter [HP] button
-- the filter slope is -12dB/octave
to set the Cutoff frequency - adjust the "freq" control
to reset the Cutoff frequency to its maximum - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its rightmost position
to set the Distortion (Saturation) level - adjust the "dist" control
to reset the dist level to none - Ctrl+click the knob, or
set it to its leftmost position
to modulate the Cutoff frequency using the MIDI velocity - adjust the Filter "vel" control
-- if the velocity modulation value is set to its minimum, then the MIDI note velocity does not affect the Cutoff frequency
-- the higher the velocity modulation value the more the MIDI note velocity will affect the filter Cutoff frequency

for a Lo Pass filter, the Cutoff frequency is increased from its nominal setting
for a Hi Pass filter, the Cutoff frequency is decreased from its nominal setting

to reset the velocity modulation level to none - Ctrl+click the "vel" knob, or
set it to its leftmost position

to select the output for the pad - click the desired output
-- there are three stereo outputs [1+2], [3+4] and [5+6], and three Auxiliary mono outputs [Aux 1], [Aux 2] and [Aux 3]
-- NB: [1+2] is used by the internal Reverb, when enabled
-- and [Aux 3] is used by the Send FX, when the Reverb is not enabled to place the pad in a Mute group - click the [m] or [number] below the Output selection list
-- repeated clicks select the next Mute group, there are 4 groups available
-- a Mute group is a mechanism that allows the triggering of one pad to terminate the sound of another pad belonging to the same group

Back to the Contents

The Step Sequencer

Back to the Contents

Click for separate screenshot
n-Track Drums features a powerful 10 track step sequencer synchronized to your VST host

each pattern set can hold up to 24 drum patterns (labelled [A] to [X]).
each pattern can vary from 1 to 128 steps in length
each pattern can use up to 10 tracks
each of the 10 sequencer tracks can be routed to any one of the 24 drum pads
the steps are arranged visually in 4 pages, each with 32 steps
each step have contain a drum trigger on any of the tracks

to view the Step Sequencer - click the [steps] button

Patterns

Click for separate screenshot
to select a pattern - click the selection button [A] . . [X]
to set the pattern length - click on the page button for the multiple of 32 steps,
then click on the series of LEDs above the Drum Pad Editor area.
-- for example, for a pattern length of 40 click page [2] then the 8th LED
-- the display to the left will show the number of steps in the current pattern
-- and the LEDs will light up
to select a page (of 32 steps) within a pattern - click the Page number [1] . . [4]
to copy the content of one page to another - right click the source page button, select the destination page

Managing Patterns

-- a Style is a set of up to 24 patterns
-- a Factory or Custom kit can have many External Styles,
-- a Custom or User kit has an (internal) style

-- if you want more than 24 patterns for a kit, then you can create them in the Step Sequencer and save the bank with a different name, for example, "mybank2.dk+", for example, you will be able to see several banks in the "CZvon extra drums" folder of your Library
-- or you can save the patterns individually or a as a new Style (set of patterns), with a different name, for example "extrapats.dk+ ptn" or "extraset.dk+ seq"
-- if you save a Style (a pattern set) into a Factory or Custom Kit folder then that Style will appear in the Style Browser the next time n-Track Drums is opened

-- many handy functions for Tracks, Pages and Patterns are available in context menus
to bring up the Patterns menu - right-click the pattern's selector button, or
click the "pattern utilities" button

Click for separate screenshot
to load a pattern - right-click the pattern button >> Load, browse to the desired pattern, select it, click [Open]
to save a pattern - right-click the pattern button >> Save, browse to the desired folder, enter a pattern name, click [Save]
to copy one pattern to another - right-click the pattern button >> Copy to, select the destination pattern
to load a pattern set - right-click the pattern button >> Load all patterns, browse to the desired pattern set, select it, click [Open]
to save a pattern set - right-click the pattern button >> Save all patterns, browse to the desired folder, enter a pattern set name, click [Save]
-- the pattern set contains up to 24 patterns, some may be empty
to export a pattern to a MIDI file - right-click the pattern button >> Export MIDI file, browse to the desired folder, enter a MIDI file name, click [Save]
-- the notes in the exported MIDI file are half the length of the step size

to set the colour for the pattern button - right-click the pattern button >> Set color, choose one of the 6 available colours
-- you can use the colour coding to identify different types of patterns
to delete the pattern - right-click the pattern button >> Clear

-- when the files are saved to disk:

patterns have the file extension .dk+ ptn
pattern sets (styles) have the file extension .dk+ seq
patterns exported as MIDI have the file extension .mid

Tracks

Click for separate screenshot
to assign a drum pad to a track - click on the slot to the left of the steps, select the desired drum pad
to mute/unmute the track - click [m]
to solo/unsolo the track - click [s]
-- in some skins, the Mute and Solo buttons may be shown differently, the Mute button is the upper one, and Solo is the lower one
to open the Drum Pad (voice) editor for the pad - click [e] or

to set the pad volume - adjust the level control at the right-hand side of the track
-- the centre position is 0dB, range in +/-24 dB, this control is a mirror of the Level control in the Drum Pad (Voice) Editor

Editing the Steps

-- the steps in the pattern are visually arranged in pages of 32 steps each, so you have 4 pages of steps available
to select a page (of 32 steps) within a pattern - click the Page number [1] . . [4]

Add/Remove, Velocity, Flam and Double strokes

Click for separate screenshot
to set a step On/Off - click it
-- a new drum trigger is added with a default velocity of 100
to change the trigger velocity - drag it up or down

-- there are three types of drum trigger:

single
flam - this is a double stroke where the first hit happens a little earlier than the second one which is on tempo,
double trigger - this is a double stroke where the length of the step is evenly divided in two equal durations, so for example a 1/16 step will trigger two notes of 1/32 each; the two triggers have the same sound level (velocity); this is useful to create rolls quickly.

-- single hits are shown in red, flams are yellow and doubles are blue

to change the trigger type right-click it
-- each right-click changes the trigger to the next type: single to flam to double to single to flam and so on

to undo the previous edit - right-click the pad name >> Undo
-- the step and track to be undone are listed in the drop-down menu

Advanced Steps Editing

-- there are several editing functions that you can use to change the steps on a track

to bring up the Tracks menu - right-click the pad name for the track

Click for separate screenshot
to shift the steps one step to the right - right-click the pad name >> Shift right
to shift the steps one step to the left - right-click the pad name >> Shift left
to rotate the steps one step to the right - right-click the pad name >> Rotate right
-- the step at the end of the pattern is moved to step position 1
to rotate the steps one step to the left - right-click the pad name >> Rotate left
-- the step at step position 1 is moved to the end of the pattern
to clear all track steps - right-click the pad name >> Erase

to create a one track pattern suited for kick drum - right-click the pad name >> Random >> random 4/4 kick
to create a one track pattern suited for snare drum - right-click the pad name >> Random >> random 4/4 snare
to change the velocities by a maximum of +/-5 - right-click the pad name >> Velocity >> Variate by +/-5
to change the velocities by a maximum of +/-10 - right-click the pad name >> Velocity >> Variate by +/-10
to change the velocities up or down by 5 or 10 - right-click the pad name >> Velocity, select the desired change
to set all the velocities to a fixed value right-click the pad name >> Velocity >> Fixed, select the desired velocity
-- the available velocities are 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120

Click for separate screenshot
- to insert a fill for the track right-click the pad name >> Fill, select one of the 9 available patterns
-- these fills are suitable for Hi Hats or similar percussion parts: ride cymbal, tambourine, maracas, shaker
to insert a humanised fill for the track - right-click the pad name >> Human Fill, select one of the 9 available patterns
-- this applies small random variations to the velocity values
to copy one track to another - right-click the pad name >> select the destination track

to undo the previous edit - right-click the pad name >> Undo
-- the action to be undone is listed at the end of the drop-down menu

Click for separate screenshot
-- many of these features are available on the track toolbar: Shift, Rotate, Random, Velocity, Fill, Copy, Erase and Undo.

Step Lengths and Swing

to set the step length - select the desired length
-- the step length is the duration of one step relative to the n-Track tempo
-- the available step resolutions are 32, 16T, 8T or 16
-- for example, setting 32 means that 32 steps will fit a 4/4 bar as measured in n-Track
-- at 120 bpm, the intervals between steps are: 32 is 120 ticks, 16T is 160 ticks 16 is 240 ticks and 8T is 320 ticks

the Swing knob in the bottom right corner provides the typical swing/shuffle groove control
it shifts the timing of every even-numbered step (first step is step 1)
the swing control is enabled only for 16 and 32 step resolutions
the maximum swing is 1 step length
this screenshot, for a 1/16th sequence shows the effect of swing levels ranging from minimum to (almost) maximum, each vertical division is 1/64th

to set the swing level - adjust the "swing" control

Additional controls

-- there are three more controls in the Step Sequencer:

Click for separate screenshot
to switch the sequencer On/Off - click the Power button On/Off
-- when On, the n-Track Drums Sequencer plays the current pattern in sync with the host transport

to display each page of the pattern as it is played - click the Follow button On/Off
to export the current pattern to your host - drag the [Export] button onto a track or slot in your host
-- the exported file is given the default name "DKplus_export.mid", saved in the last-opened kit folder, then loaded into the host
-- you can also drag the button into Windows Explorer, creating a MIDI file
-- the notes in the exported MIDI file are half the length of the step size
-- the MIDI notes are half the length of the step size

Making your own Style

-- Here's a tip from liqih:
First of all, have a look at a typical samba.dk+ seq in the library, there is one samba.dk+ seq for each kit in the library, so a Style is made of many *.dk+ seq files.
Each .dk+ seq file contains the patterns for one style in one drum kit

So, pick a drum kit and create the patterns for that kit,
As an example pattern set:

start with pattern A: standard rhythm long version, 2 or 4 or 8 bars
make pattern B: variation rhythm long version, 2 or 4 or 8 bars
make pattern C: standard rhythm short version, 1 bar
make pattern D: variation rhythm short version, 1 bar
make pattern E: fill 1, 1 bar, A to B
make pattern F: fill 2, 1 bar, B to A
make pattern G: intro, one bar
make pattern H: ending, one bar

Save all patterns in one *.dk+ seq file, named, for example, mystyle.n-Track Drums seq
By adopting a convention for the patterns in a Style, it will be easier to remember which is which; for example, pattern D is always the 1-bar variation rhythm,
Once you have composed the patterns for one kit you should make a version for each kit, since each kit has different sounds to map to the tracks; copy the file into the other kit folders
Select each kit in turn and make any changes to the patterns for that kit, and save them

Back to the Contents

Instrument Control

n-Track Drums Installation and Configuration

Back to the Contents

Using n-Track Drums for the first-time

Launch n-Track, select Add channel -> Add new instrument channel -> n-Track Drums to open the n-Track Drums instrument.

to select the n-Track Drums Library path - click [Menu] >> Preferences >> then the [...] button, navigate to the folder where you installed the Library, click [OK]

to load a Drum kit - double-click a kit in the Kit Browser

to load a Style - click it in the Style Browser

Now you're ready to play!

n-Track Drums Guides

to open the n-Track Drums User Manual - click [Menu] >> Help >> click the link for the User Manual
to open the n-Track Drums Library Description - click [Menu] >> Help >> click the link for the Library
-- the Library is also described below, so you can click here to read it

to check the current version of n-Track Drums - click [Menu] >> About n-Track Drums
to access the n-Track Drums home page - click [Menu] >> About n-Track Drums >> n-Track Drums Web page

Preferences

to open the Preferences window - click [Menu] >> Preferences

to apply the selected preference settings - click [Apply]

Sounds Preferences

to select the n-Track Drums Library path - click the first [...] button, navigate to the folder where you installed the Library, select it and click [OK]
to select the n-Track Drums User Library path - click the second [...] button, navigate to the desired folder, select it and click [OK]
to set the polyphony (number of voices) - select the number from the Polyphony drop-down list
to prevent normalisation of samples when loaded - tick "Do not normalise . . ."
-- this preference does not apply to the n-Track Drums factory samples
to improve the resampling quality - tick "Use quality resampling . . ."
-- if the samples are stored at a higher or lower sample rate than the sample rate used in the host application, n-Track Drums will resample them automatically.

Other Preferences

to prevent MIDI being sent to the host when a pad is clicked - tick "Do not send MIDI events . . ."
-- note that this will disable the MIDI note generation, but this function is very useful to preview or edit drum kits.
to set the rotary controls to respond to circular movements - tick "Knobs respond to circular mouse movements"
to switch patterns only at the end the current pattern - tick "Sequencer Live mode . . "
-- this is valuable if you are using n-Track Drums in a live performance and would like to trigger the patterns via your MIDI keyboard

n-Track Drums outputs

n-Track Drums has three stereo outputs [1+2], [3+4] and [5+6], and three Auxiliary mono outputs [Aux 1], [Aux 2] and [Aux 3].

-- when you load n-Track Drums in your host, only the first stereo output may be automatically connected, you may need to connect/route the other outputs too

Reset Instrument

to reset the entire drum machine - click [Menu] >> Reset >> Full Reset
--- note, this does not reset the Step Sequencer patterns
to reset the MIDI controllers - click [Menu] >> Reset >> MIDI controllers

n-Track Drums Skins

-- n-Track Drums skins are stored in WinRAR Self-Extracting Archives files
-- when you run the WinRAR file the GUI elements are extracted into the folder "dk+ skin" alongside the .exe file
-- during installation, WinRAR files for other skins are placed in the "n-Track Drums" folder
-- if you download or create any other n-Track Drums skins, their WinRAR .exe files should be placed in the same folder

to change the n-Track Drums skin -

in Explorer, navigate to your "n-Track Drums" VST plugin folder
double-click on one of the skin files, for example "Cool Wood skin.exe"

-- when you next open n-Track Drums the new skin will be used
-- the screenshots in this Guide use a slightly modified versions of branis' Anaemic skin

Back to the Contents

n-Track Drums Sounds Library 1.1

Back to the Contents

What is it?

The n-Track Drums Library is a great tool for the creation of songs and compositions, amusement and to discover new exciting rhythms. It is a collection of drum kits and a rhythmic patterns.
The collection is organized in 3 sections:

Factory Library: with a pattern collection arranged per musical style.
Custom Library: with an internal pattern set per kit
User Library: the section the user may fill with his creations.

-- NOTE each section is user editable, but to retain compatibility with the n-Track Drums Library updates we suggest that you modify only the User section.

Factory Library

The Factory Library in version 1.1 features 27 drum kits and 22 styles, for a total of over 4000 different patterns. More will be added at each n-Track Drums update. Each rhythmic Style features a set of 8 patterns which can be exchanged with any other style, as they are all consistent with the same logic.

A = standard rhythm long version, 2 or 4 or 8 bars
B = variation rhythm long version, 2 or 4 or 8 bars
C = standard rhythm short version, 1 bar
D = variation rhythm short version, 1 bar
E = fill 1, 1 bar
F = fill 2, 1 bar
G = intro, 1 bar
H = ending, 1 bar

Using the above organization structure will let you build a song, by using a track of MIDI note messages, one note per pattern, and then switching the Style while keeping the song structure as you arranged it in your VST sequencer.

Moreover each drum kit in the Factory Library features a unique version of the style, this means that by switching the Drum Kit you get also a variation of the rhythmic patterns to musically match the sound of the kit.

So a great deal of musical content is available at your finger tips immediately

The table below shows the styles available in version 1.1 of the Library and a short description is given

Of course, sometimes a particular style could be useful for different musical genres just by changing the tempo (the speed at which it's played), so we suggest that you listen to each style with all drum kits and various BPM settings.

n-Track Drums Factory Library Kit Styles
Style	Description	Indicative Tempo Range
Ballad	Slow 4/4 pop-ballad	40 to 100
Ballad 3	Slow triplet ballad	40 to 120
Blues Shuffle	Vintage Groove, you may need this to jam.	40 to 180
Bossa Nova	Vintage Groove acidized for modern music.	40 to 145
Breakbeat	Dance rhythm with many variations.	80 to 145
Cha-Cha	As Latin rock style, suitable to many genres.	80 to 165 = Ska!
Drums'n'bass1	Dance rhythm with many rolls for fast tempo.	80 to 145
Electro	Kind of New Wave rock rhythm, suitable to many genres.	80 to 120
Funk rock	Modern rock rhythm, suitable for Metal style too.	90 to 165
Funk	Vintage Groove, the way it comes from a drum machine, suitable to many genres.	80 to 145
Funk Equipment	Kit1a LE (15 pads, 10 layers each), a reduced version of the big FE Set One	80 to 160
Fusion	World fusion groove with a feel for Africa.	80 to 145
New Hip Hop	An hybrid funk and ragamuffin beat, very twisted, like the new rap is.	90 to 145
Old Hip Hop	The typical "tum tum cha" rhythm for rappers, suitable to many genres.	80 to 145
Pop 80	Typical 80's pop rhythm	90 to 130
Pop 90	Pop rhythm with little shuffle on 16th.	40 to 165
Reggae1	"One drop" reggae rhythm.	90 to 180
Rock	Classic rock rhythm	60 to 160
Samba	Vintage Groove acidized for modern music.	80 to 145
Swing	Do some old jazz swing mate.	80 to 190
House	Basic house rhythm (kick, snare, hihat)	90 to 140
Hard rock	60 Hard Rock rhythm	90 to 140

Custom Library

The Custom Library in version 1.1 features 9 drum kits with an internal style.

The drum kits in the Custom Library section do not use the Style list, but they include a variable number of custom patterns inside the kit itself. In the Style selector, you will see "- Internal- " as a reminder.

The patterns are both examples for the use of the specific kit and a useful start point for compositions in musical styles which usually feature those kind of sounds or instrument, e.g. the Tabla kit features two Bhangra style patterns.

User Library

When you install the User Library it features only one kit as example.

It is simple to add your own kits:

put your kit (made of WAV files and its bank.dk+ file) in a new folder inside the Dk+ "library" folder, for example D:\NuSofting\DK plus\library
put a "U" at the beginning of the new folder name and your kit will be available from the n-Track Drums Kit selector in the "User Kits" section next time you open it.

-- NOTE the bank.dk+ file saved by the main [MENU] will hold both the pads and pattern settings. Also, you can save and export the pattern in many other ways, please refer to Kits, Styles and Banks section.
-- User kits with samples outside the n-Track Drums Library folder are not supported.

How to use the n-Track Drums Library

The n-Track Drums Library is a quick tool for the creation of the rhythmic part of songs and compositions, it's also easy to edit the kit and the patterns as you wish.
You may use it in many ways as the 3 sections suggest: Factory, Custom and User.

The "Factory" collection will let you arrange a song using the standard parts such as intro, chorus, variation, fill, ending and then experiment swapping different styles or kits. You can do that while listening.
"Custom" collection provides some special kits like percussions or kits we created with original sounds. Example patterns are loaded in the n-Track Drums sequencer automatically when you choose a "Custom" kit from the "Kit" menu. Then you can save, edit and export anything as you wish.
The "User" collection is your space in the library, where you can put kits with patterns that you have created, the ones you want to keep handy as you may use them often.

Using Kits created in n-Track Drums v1.5

Kits from the n-Track Drums v1.5 Library in v2.0 (including the expansion packs) can be used in n-Track Drums v2.0
-- you just need to set FX send, Reverb and Dist manually for each kit, since those are new parameters,
--if you don't set them usually they are at zero, but they may have random values sometimes., so it is better to set them when you load a 1.5 kit

Back to the Contents

n-Track Drums Expansion Packs

Back to the Contents

-- these Kits are NOT provided as part of n-Track Drums itself
-- you can purchase them separately from the NUSofting and DASHSignature product catalogue.

Ethno Set 1234 Expansion Pack

African - Arabic funky grooves

This first Expansion Pack for the n-Track Drums Virtual Drums is mainly dedicated to Doumbek and Djembe, two similar hand drums from the North Africa culture.

"Ethno Set 1234" includes also some conga, timbale and tambourine samples, edited and programmed to get the sound closer to those from some native African percussion instruments.

Even though you may see the similarities between Doumbek (also called Darbouka or Darabukka) and Djembe in shape and origin, the sounds of them and even more the style of music of their respective contexts is quite different:

the Djembe is vastly used in Senegal culture,
while the Doumbek is one of the main percussion instruments in use throughout the Arabic world of music, Turkish too.

Here are some links so you can explore the subject in detail:

How to install "Ethno Set 1234"

Simply copy the four folders:

CEthno Set 1
CEthno Set 2
CEthno Set 3
CEthno Set 4

into your n-Track Drums "library" folder. You may keep the extra bank: afro_shaker_Ethno_Set_1234.dk+ where you like.

How to get the most from the "Ethno Set 1234" patterns

Our Expansion Pack features many rhythmic patterns built into the kits themselves, there are 24 patterns in each of the 4 kits you install in the n-Track Drums Library. Plus an extra bank afro_shaker_Ethno_Set_1234.dk+ similar to Kit1 but here a shaker accompaniment is featured.

The patterns for the n-Track Drums sequencer are rigidly quantized as the step sequencer offers the Swing parameter rather than fine groove tuning. A few pattern may benefit from a very slight swing amount but if you want to get closer to a real percussionist feel our suggestion is to export the patterns you intend to use in your composition. as MIDI files.

Once exported, the MIDI files can be processed by your VST host features: you may use groove quantizing to add those small variations in the position of the hits so that the rhythm would sound more natural, or use some sort of randomizing function applied both to position and velocity. That randomizing function is often called "humanize" as it try to get rid of the "mechanical" feel that the perfect quantization at 1/16 or 1/32 gives.

The "Ethno Set 1234" patterns are just a starting point for your rhythmic exploration. Some of the patterns are simple one bar figures, but many of them are complex enough so that you may need to listen to many consecutive loops to get the groove. During this listening process you may wish to mute some tracks when many instruments are playing at the same time, to better focus on each instrument pattern.

Also listening at different tempo speed (BPM) changes the feel of the groove a lot.

Ethno Set Patterns Lists

Here are descriptions of all the patterns in the Kits. The patterns were programmed using the internal Small Room Reverb and a tempo range from 90 to 129 as reference. You can adjust the Reverb effect and BPM to your taste and needs.

Ethno Set 1	Conga, Doumbek and Timbale
Patterns	Steps	Notes
A B C	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	3 variations on a single Doumbek rhythm
D E F	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps each	3 different Doumbek rhythmic figures
G H I	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps each	3 variations on a reggaeish rhythm
J K L	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps each	6 variations on 2 rhythmic figures
M N O	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	3 variations on and hybrid Afro-Arab groove
P Q R	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	ayyuub Some say that Ayyuub is supposed to sound like a camel walking.
T	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	bayou Bayou is a rhythm with the same time pattern as Ayyuub but has a double DUM and is usually played more slowly; it is often used in belly dance drum solos.
U V	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	maqsuum The simple Maqsuum is the basis of many rhythms and is especially important in modern and folk Egyptian rhythm.
X W	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	sayyidii It is traditionally used for the Tahtib (a man's ritual "stick dance") as well as belly dance (especially the cane dance -- which is partially a parody of the man's version).
Ethno Set 2	Random Conga, Doumbek, Timbale and Tambourine
Patterns	Steps	Notes
A B	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	2 variations on a cool afro groove using Random Conga
C D E F	16 and 32 steps	2 intros + 2 variations on a fusion Afro-Arab groove
G H	1 x 6/4 bars = 24 steps each	2 variations on a Sufi like rhythm
I J	16 and 32 steps	funky tambourine!
K L	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	kind of African march rhythm
M N	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	camel dance with Doumbek
O P	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	2 variations on a steady Doumbek rhythm
Q R S	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	3 variations on a complex and modern rhythm
T U	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	2 variations on a modern rhythm with African accent
V X W	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	3 different single patterns
Ethno Set 3	Random Conga, Doumbek, Timbale and Tambourine same as Set 2 but with lower pitch and deeper sound
Patterns	Steps	Notes
A B	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	2 variations on a cool Afro groove using Random Conga
C D E F	16 and 32 steps	2 intros + 2 variations on a fusion Afro-Arab groove
G H	1 x 6/4 bars = 24 steps each	2 variations on a Sufi like rhythm
I J	16 and 32 steps	variation on funky tambourine!
K L	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	2 variations on a "World" rhythm
M N	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	2 variations on a filled up groove
O P	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps	2 variations on a western groove
Q R	1 x 9/8 bars = 18 steps each	2 different complex odd grooves
S T U V	1 x 11/16 bars = 11 steps	4 variations on a complex odd grooves
X W	2 x 3/4 bars = 24 steps	2 different single patterns, one simple and the other complex
Ethno Set 4	Djembe, Doumbek and Timbale
Patterns	Steps	Notes
A B C	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	3 variations on a very Afro rhythm
D E F	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	3 patterns Djembe + Doumbek
G H I	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	1 intro and 2 variation patterns Djembe + Doumbek
J K L	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	3 patterns Djembe + Doumbek + Timbales variations
M N O	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps each	3 variations on a "World" rhythm with incremental complexity
P Q R	2 x 4/4 bars = 32 steps	1 intro and 2 variation patterns Djembe + Doumbek + Timbales variations
S T U	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	3 patterns Djembe + Doumbek + Timbales, hypnotic groove
V X W	1 x 4/4 bars = 16 steps	3 patterns Djembe + Doumbek + Timbales, down tempo dancing groove

Funk Equipment Set 1

The samples in this Set were created by Christian Eisenach, for FunkEquipment
and the n-Track Drums banks by Luigi Felici, for NUSofting

This kit uses many of the n-Track Drums configuration features; here is the drum map:

Note:

all the kit pieces have 10 layers, except the Rides, which have 3,
the Hi Hats are in a Mute Group, and the Snares are in another Mute Group,
each snare is triggered by 2 keys, so you can get some tonal difference,
the HiHat01-3 on G#1 is tuned upwards by 5 semitones,
"Random" is enabled for some kit pieces (indicated by an '*', so their velocity values are used as probabilities.

Back to the Contents

Drum Pad MIDI CC Messages
Parameter	CC #	CC name	Notes
Velocity Profile	16	General Purpose 1	applies to all pads
Pitch Bend Range	18	General Purpose 3	applies to all pads

Filter Cutoff frequency	71	Cutoff
Level	09	none	64 = 0dB
Pan	12	Effect Control 1	64 = Centre
Filter Velocity	17	General Purpose 2	0 = Off
Tune	19	General Purpose 4	64 = no change

VST Automation parameters
Area	Parameters
Input	PB Range, Velocity Profile
Output, for each Stereo Channel	Level
Output, for each Compressor	Enable (On/Off), Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Gain
Drums, for each of the 24 pads	Level, Pan position, Cutoff Frequency, Filter Velocity Depth, Tuning

Introduction

Preamble

Contents

Credits

Web Links

Comments

Main View

Host Dependencies

Kits, Styles & Banks

Factory, Custom and User Drum Kits

Definitions

Loading a Kit and External Style

Loading Any Library Kit or Style

Managing Banks

Loading a Bank

Saving a Bank

Drums

The Input Controls

The Output Controls

The Reverb Editor

The Compressor Editor

The Drum Pads

Loading and Managing Pads

Real-time Sample Replacement

Mute Groups

The Drum Pad Editor

Assigning samples to a drum pad

Layering Samples

Random Sample Selection

Assigning MIDI Trigger Notes

Voice controls

The Audio Ssignal Path

FX and Output controls

The Step Sequencer

Patterns

Managing Patterns

Tracks

Editing the Steps

Add/Remove, Velocity, Flam and Double strokes

Advanced Steps Editing

Step Lengths and Swing

Additional controls

Making your own Style

Instrument Control

Relative Advantages of MIDI CC and VST Parameter control

Sequencer Control by MIDI

Drum Pad Control by MIDI

VST Automation

n-Track Drums Installation and Configuration

Using n-Track Drums for the first-time

n-Track Drums Guides

Preferences

Sounds Preferences

Other Preferences

n-Track Drums outputs

Reset Instrument

n-Track Drums Skins

n-Track Drums Sounds Library 1.1

What is it?

Factory Library

Custom Library

User Library

How to use the n-Track Drums Library

Using Kits created in n-Track Drums v1.5

n-Track Drums Expansion Packs

Ethno Set 1234 Expansion Pack

African - Arabic funky grooves

How to install "Ethno Set 1234"

How to get the most from the "Ethno Set 1234" patterns

Ethno Set Patterns Lists

Funk Equipment Set 1

End-User Licence

LICENSE TERMS FOR n-Track SOFTWARE