How To Turn Your Desk into MORE COWBELL in Cubase

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of drum replacement in Cubase using the hitpoint detection and hit point to MIDI features. These techniques are useful for enhancing your audio projects and can add more depth and creativity to your drum tracks. By the end of this tutorial, you'll know how to efficiently replace drums and create a more polished sound in your music production.

Step 1: Import Your Audio

• Open Cubase and create a new project.
• Import the audio track containing the drums you want to replace by dragging and dropping the file into the project window or using the "Import" option from the file menu.

Step 2: Enable Hitpoint Detection

• Select your audio track.
• Go to the "Sample Editor" by double-clicking on the audio event.
• Click on the "Hitpoints" tab in the Sample Editor. This will analyze the audio and detect transients.
• Adjust the sensitivity of hitpoint detection to ensure all desired beats are detected. You can do this by using the sensitivity slider.

Step 3: Create MIDI Notes from Hitpoints

• Once the hitpoints are detected, select all the hitpoints you wish to convert.
• Right-click on the selected hitpoints and choose "Extract MIDI."
• This will create a new MIDI track with notes corresponding to the hitpoints from your audio track.

Step 4: Replace Drums with a Virtual Instrument

• Load a virtual drum instrument onto the new MIDI track. You can use built-in instruments like Groove Agent or any third-party plugin you prefer.
• Map the MIDI notes to the sounds you want. Ensure that each MIDI note corresponds to the correct drum sound (kick, snare, hi-hat, etc.).

Step 5: Fine-Tune the MIDI Performance

• Adjust the velocity, timing, and other parameters of the MIDI notes to match the original feel of the drum track.
• You can edit the MIDI notes in the MIDI editor, adjusting their lengths and placements for a more natural sound.

Step 6: Mix and Process Your New Drum Track

• Return to the main project window and mix your new drum track alongside other elements.
• Use EQ, compression, and reverb to enhance the sound and blend it with the rest of your arrangement.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully replaced a drum track in Cubase using hitpoint detection and MIDI conversion. This technique not only improves the quality of your audio projects but also allows for greater creativity and flexibility in your music production. Experiment with different virtual instruments and settings to find the perfect sound for your project. Happy producing!