[cleverest]

After making several customs now – DRUMS ONLY – (releasing 2 so far, about to release my 3rd after this post), my most hated part of it is creating the Drum Fills/Overdrive sections. As a real drummer I just want to play and share the actual drum part, but I realize some people really dig the FILLS and they are needed unless I’m wrong to get GOLD STARS?..I’m just not confident making them…I’ve only done those twice so far and it’s likely what’s slowing my released from being put out quicker.

I used to hate Tempo-mapping the most ,but now I’m getting into that more, just 4/4 time stuff, but still…

 

Is that normal? Does anyone here have tips for making DRUM FILLS/OVERDRIVE sections applied faster and easier? Maybe I could learn to have fun with it?

[cleverest]

^ in the quest to get better at this, can someone who is good with overdrive/fills let me know if this at least visually appears to be a good/proper amount of overdrive and fills for a song that is 5min28sec long (drums start immediately…song is about 144BPM 4/4 time) – I’m still confused at best placement of OVERDRIVE as I can’t find good documentation on that specifically vs. drum full lengths, positioning etc..

[Spindoctor]

^ in the quest to get better at this, can someone who is good with overdrive/fills let me know if this at least visually appears to be a good/proper amount of overdrive and fills for a song that is 5min28sec long (drums start immediately…song is about 144BPM 4/4 time) – I’m still confused at best placement of OVERDRIVE as I can’t find good documentation on that specifically vs. drum full lengths, positioning etc..

 

 

 

here is a link you should have a look at

https://web.archive.org/web/20160810084736/http://pksage.com/rbndocs/index.php/Drum_Authoring

 

General rule for me is an overdrive every 10 measures. I start with one at measure 7 or 8, then I do 16 then 25. Rarely will I do exactly every 10 measures for each one. Anywhere between 8 and 10 for me.

Any overdrive marker within 10 measures of the end is basically useless most times

 

Drum fills can be placed every 4 measures

I usually make them a full measure but even half works. I also rarely have the drum fill end on an actual green note. If you do it will kick in overdrive when maybe you don’t want it to.

 

Others authors probably do it different.

[cleverest]

Spindoctor,

Thanks, that IS helpful….looking at my image for a 5min 28sec song, does that seem like I have too many of one thing? Too many overdrives? (based on your method)? BTW I saw that documentation, but it says almost nothing about overdrives…it is mentioned only twice.

Anyone else want to chime in? Thank you.

[Alternity]

from https://web.archive.org/web/20160810085515/http://pksage.com/rbndocs/index.php/Overdrive_and_Big_Rock_Endings

 

The number of Overdrive Phrases per instrument is based on the number of beats in a song. For bass, guitar, or drums, a good estimate is 1 Overdrive Phrase for every 40 beats, though this number may be less if an instrument is not playing for a large portion of the song. (This is 1 Overdrive Phrase for every 10 measures in 4/4, but it will vary in other time signatures.) The number of Unison Phrases should be about half the number of Overdrive Phrases (so 10 Overdrive Phrases would call for 5 Unison Phrases).

[cleverest]

from https://web.archive.org/web/20160810085515/http://pksage.com/rbndocs/index.php/Overdrive_and_Big_Rock_Endings

 

The number of Overdrive Phrases per instrument is based on the number of beats in a song. For bass, guitar, or drums, a good estimate is 1 Overdrive Phrase for every 40 beats, though this number may be less if an instrument is not playing for a large portion of the song. (This is 1 Overdrive Phrase for every 10 measures in 4/4, but it will vary in other time signatures.) The number of Unison Phrases should be about half the number of Overdrive Phrases (so 10 Overdrive Phrases would call for 5 Unison Phrases).

 

I see, so every 10 measures an overdrive should be put down….my current song is 144BPM, 4/4 and 5min28sec long, and drums play from start to finish. Visually does my chart I shared above seem about right, given that?

 

I’m not worried about Unison phrases yet, since all I can do is chart drums for now, but I appreciate the info on them. Someday…

[Alternity]

BPM is not part of the formula, only beats. You want approximately 1 phrase every 40 beats, the only exception I use is whenever an instrument does not have anything going on for a significant amount of time, I simply take out these beats.

[Author]

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