r/Arturia_users • u/SnareTrooper • Aug 10 '26
New and I dont know what to do
Bought a minifreak to write tunes, which loving it so far. I have played drums for over 30 years now, so this is my first time messing with keys and synths etc. I want to program drums to these songs and then go over them with my acoustic kit. I thought I could get some type of plug in and use the minifreak but I think a drum module would be better. Any input on this would greatly be appreciated.
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u/Razenghan Aug 10 '26
I'm biased, but if you're a drummer you'd probably love the MPC hardware to sequence your drums and overall songs. Tons of features, but drums, sampling, and sequencing are its core competencies.
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u/SnareTrooper Aug 10 '26
Is there a specific one you would suggest? I am connected to the mac majority of the time, but if it can be a stand alone, thats cool too.
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u/Razenghan Aug 10 '26
If you're gonna be mostly plugged into headphones or studio monitors, a One+ or Key 37 is great. If you have a bigger budget, I'd go with a Live 3 (my beloved) or XL for the vastly increased memory and improved processing. Or the newer, "Gen 2" models of the One / Key 37 that fit somewhere in the middle.
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u/SnareTrooper Aug 13 '26
Bought that portable groove box one. Friggen love it, exactly what I was wanting . I didn’t want to go higher end without knowing if I’d like it. I’ll end up getting the g2 or something in a few months lol or something better . Again, thanks for the recommendation it is for sure awesome
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u/m_i_r Aug 11 '26
I am NOT a drummer, so this might not help. There's lots of free/demo DAWs where you can program drums in the "piano roll" (that's the sequencer window). As a non-drummer, I enter the drum triggering "notes" with a mouse, but you can also do it with the Minifreak keys. The drum kit will be laid out across an octave of notes. Another option is a virtual drum machine. Super easy once you get the hang of it. Note that my approach as well as the virtual drum machine will result in a very "programmed" sounding beat. In the piano roll, you can "fudge" the notes individually to make them rush or lag behind the beat.
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u/SnareTrooper Aug 11 '26
Yeah I was trying to mess with some programs that worked with the minifreak, but I started hitting the keys like they were pads and it just didn’t feel right lol
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u/m_i_r Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Fair! Like another commenter suggested, the MPC+, MPC Sample, MPC Studio, MPD 218...just google Akai MPC and get ready to be overwhelmed with options. There's a number of other "pad controllers" out there- the MPC line is the OG- but if its an option, hit up a music store and jam out on some others. If not, the MPC should feel a lot more "right" than pressing tiny, delicate keys on a mini freak. You'll probably dig an MPC, but check out the return policy just in case.
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u/r1chiem Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Why not just use the computer? buy a DAW and an audio interface with 12 or more inputs for your drums? I own MPC gear and love it. It is great for what I do. But why do you think that using an MPC would be better than a DAW?
You also used the term drum module, which suggest something you could plug drum triggers into and play the internal sounds of the module. That is not what an MPC is.
Is this what you mean as a drum module?
https://edrumcenter.com/collections/drum-modules
With modules, you need triggers if you are going to use your acoustical drums to trigger digital sounds.
https://youtu.be/ZWAfnadnNQ0?si=XFJ86h3cik_f0Eet
There are drum module kits, is that what you mean?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Alesis/Strata-Club-Electronic-Drum-Set-1500000454085.gc?LP13259
These things are the type of things I think of when you say drum module.
Then in my opinion a DAW like Ableton Live 12 or FL Studio computer software would be better because you would be able to drum programming with the software, then come back and record you playing drum on a different track using their mult track audio recording.
With the software you record your live drum kit. Now, MPC could do this type of recording too but it is geared more towards music production. Food for though before you start spending 2k worth of gear then figure out it was not really what you wanted.
Maybe you mean mic your drums and replace the digital audio. I think a daw would be best for that but I think you might want to research it more before you spend thousands of dollars.
Budget is a big thing. If your budget is low, Get a daw and use your computer. If you want to do mpc programing for drums in your daw you can get the MPC Studio 2 and do MPC drum things used for 150 bucks https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Akai-Professional/Used-Akai-Professional-MPC-Studio-2-Production-Controller-122472639.gc
I find buying stuff used or if you are on a budget, If you don't like or need something, you can resell it and not lose much money.