How To Program Drums FAQ

Welcome to the How To Program Drums FAQ!

Here’s a Glossary of confusing terms and Frequently Asked Questions.

It’s not intended to replace Wikipedia, but I will post some “techie” terminology here to aid the digestion!

I’ll update and expand this page periodically if it proves to be useful.

Combinator
– A bunch of Reason virtual Instruments and effects saved in a unique combination.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) – software for multitrack recording for midi and audio data.

MP3 File – Popular audio file format for music downloads.

MP4 File – Popular video file format for music and film downloads.

Rack Extensions – A recent development by Propellerhead that allows third party developers to integrate their products into Reason and offer them for sale at the Propellerhead Shop (The “Prop Shop”).

Rebirth – A  twin bass synth and drum machine based on the legendary Roland TB-303 “Bass Line”, and the TR-808 and TR-909 Drum machines. Rebirth.One was followed up by the RB-338, which added the TR-909. The RB-338 is available as a FREE download from the Rebirth Museum for the PC and the Mac. It has recently been “reborn” as an iPad and iPhone Application.

DATA BECKER (Propellerhead) Rebirth One
Propellerhead Rebirth RB-338

Refill – A special kind of zipped file full of preset synth sounds, drum noises, instrument samples and other goodies to use with Reason. Free refills are available at the Propellerhead website for registered users. You can make your own and share with others as long as you don’t infringe copyright. It’s Propellerhead’s method of expanding the sounds available without using third party plugins or VST Instruments and effects.

Remaker – a clever utility to convert Rebirth song files into midi files and vice versa.

Reaper
– a DAW developed by Cockos Incorporated that uses VST plug-ins and records midi and audio.
http://www.reaper.fm/

Rewire – a technology developed by Propellerhead Software to enable different DAWs to communicate with each other and to stay synchronised. e.g. You can use Reaper and Reason together via Rewire and therefore use a VST plug-in that would otherwise not be allowed in Reason.

Soundfont – a method of grouping sound files such as samples of piano notes and drums  in a specific sequence. A soundfont file has the designation .sf2 after its name.

Synthfont – A utility for playing midi files through a soundfont (see Viena)

Viena – A soundfont player editor by the maker of Synthfont.

Wav file – standard (uncompressed) audio file format used by windows, e.g. filename.wav

Wmv file – standard format used by Windows Media Player, e.g. filename.wmv

VST Plug-in – a technology developed by Steinberg (Makers of Cubase) to enable third party “plug-ins” (i.e. virtual instruments and effects) to be used in a DAW.