Tip: If you use Logic or Garage Band, please see this post for information about an inexpensive solution: Free Mac MIDI Player

MIDI Explorer

MIDI explorer is a device that allows you to preview MIDI files directly on an instrument track, and load them as a clip into the project directly from the device using drag and drop.

It's reliable and it currently costs only $8. Considering the time it can save you, it's a good deal!

System Requirements

• Live Version: 10 / 11 / 12 with Max for Live
• Operating System: Windows and Mac

MIDI Explorer Interface

Here's an overview of the MIDI explorer interface.

To open a folder, click the folder icon (number 6 in the image below) and navigate to the folder of your choice.

To play a MIDI clip, simply click on the file (right side of the image below)

To load a clip, select the file and drag it to a slot using icon 2 in the image below.

To stop playing the file, click on the square icon (number 3)

To loop a file so it plays continuously, click on the circle icon (number 4)

The icon labeled number 5 in the image below is the MIDI controller lock. See the product manual for additional information.

MIDI Loops for Live

The second problem many users face is finding drum kits to match their drum loops. To address this issue, we have mapped our MIDI drum loops to work with the Session Drums pack from Ableton. All of our MIDI drum packs have files mapped for Session Drums. Our Percussion Packs include files mapped for the Ableton Latin Percussion Pack.

Questions?

If you have additional questions about our products, please ask! You'll find our contact info on the Contact Us page.

Native Instruments Maschine drum kits don't follow a consistent MIDI mapping scheme. This means most kits won't trigger the correct sounds making it difficult and time consuming to use commercial MIDI files. But we have a solution for you!

Getting the MIDI Files

Configuring Your Drum Kit

Moving Kit Sounds

Setting Up a Hi-Hat Choke Group

Kit Mapping

Maschine Kit Mapping PDF file

Note: Pad number 1 is in the lower left corner. Pad numbers increase as you move left to right.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions or to request the Maschine files for your purchases, you'll find our contact info on the Contact Us page. 

ALL of the following allow you to audition MIDI files easily and that saves you time!

Free Mac MIDI Player

If you're a Mac user and don't want to use a different DAW, check out this really nice, FREE app: NS MIDI Player

Reaper 

Pros: Inexpensive. Windows, Mac and Linux versions available. Free 60-day trial. License fee: $60 for non-business use.

Cons: No drum sounds included

Summary: A very popular choice that's inexpensive and easy to use. Mac and Linux versions available. 

Presonus Studio One

Note: Studio One is now Fender Studio. We have not reviewed the Fender version yet but it's very similar. 

Pros: Fender Studio has Mac and Linux versions available. Free kits, instruments and effects. Easy drum maps. Excellent ready-made effect chains.

Cons: None

Summary: It is easy to use and includes a bunch of good effects, instruments and drum kits. Currently, there are several versions so the features and price vary considerably.

Cubase

Pros: Mac version available. GrooveAgent drum app. Powerful, full-featured DAW.

Cons: None

Summary: Groove Agent is good but the kits are mapped inconsistently. Free 30-day trial.

Mixbus

Pros: Windows, Mac and Linux versions available. Mixbus 11 is currently only $49. 

Cons: Very good overall but not always the most intuitive experience.

Summary: Great value for the money. Smart editing tools, intuitive arrangement features, and high-quality virtual instruments.

NS MIDI Player is a free Mac app that makes auditioning MIDI files fast and easy. It allows you to browse and play files directly from the Mac finder window without adding them to your DAW first. It's packed with features like tempo control, adjustable reverb, and more. And maybe best of all, it actually sounds good!

Key features:

• Free version
• Play MIDI files inside Mac Finder
• Tempo control
• Adjustable reverb and level and type
• Additional SoundFonts can be added

Important Info

ALL of the MIDI files are stored in the “Other MIDI Mappings” folder of your download. You do NOT need an installer. See below for additional information.

Compatibility

You can use our MIDI files on Mac, PC and Linux.

General MIDI Files

Unless you're using a drum app we support (see below), you only need the General MIDI files. To find them, look inside the “Other MIDI Mappings” for the folder that ends with "GM".

Download General MIDI Drum Reference

Note: These are type 1 files mapped to channel 10 per the MIDI standard.

All of the other files are for specific drum apps.

File Tempo and Time Signature Info

Tempo: The first three numbers of the file name represent the recorded tempo. 

Time Signature: If there is no time signature, the beat is in 4/4 time. Otherwise, the time signature follows the tempo. 

Example: "080 6-8 Verse 1" means the tempo is 80 BPM in 6/8 time.

Finding Files for Specific Apps

1. Use this to find the files you need for a specific app:

Apps to Folders Table

2. This file links folder names to apps. Example: "AD" is for Addictive Drums.

Folder Names to Apps

Installers

Running the PC installer is not usually necessary. The installer only supports a limited number of apps and most users do NOT need it. The apps supported will be listed when the installer starts.

Important: Toontrack now recommends different installation methods for EZdrummer and Superior Drummer (please see the relevant links below).

Note: We no longer support Mac installers, sorry. 

Installation Instructions

Afro-Cuban Percussion Pack Support Page

Conga Toolbox Support Page

Here are links to our installation instructions for the most popular drum apps:

Abbey Road Drums and Studio Drummer

Addictive Drums 2 Installation Instructions

Beat Buddy Project Setup

Beat Buddy Installation with the Desktop App

Beat Buddy Installation with the Online App

BFD 3 Installation Instructions

BFD 3.5 Installation Instructions

EZdrummer 2 Installation Instructions

EZdrummer 3 Installation Instructions

Native Instruments Maschine

Steven Slate 5 Installation Instructions

Superior Drummer 3 Installation Instructions

Windows Problems

If you are using Windows, please put the zip file on your Desktop and extract it there. Then move the files to a another folder of your choice. 

Windows OneDrive can also interfere with both downloading and extracting. Please don't download or extract zip files into a folder backed up by OneDrive.

Product Guide

Our product guide has additional installation instructions, our license agreement, a glossary and more: Groove Monkee Product Guide

Downloading Your Purchases

Please see this link for more information: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/news/downloading-previous-purchases

Support

Please contact us if you need help. You'll find our contact information on our Contact Us Page

IMPORTANT: To use our Conga Toolbox pack you need at least ONE of the following:

• Ableton Live Latin Percussion pack
• Logic Pro 10+
• Toontrack Latin Cuban Percussion EZX
• Toontrack Latin Percussion EZX
• Battery 3 Afro-Cuban Percussion samples

Ableton Live Documentation

1. Open the sounds Library (press 'Y')
2. Select 'Drums and Percussion'
3. Next, select 'Percussion' then 'Performance instruments'
4. Choose either Conga Performance or Conga Bright Performance

Finding the Files

Single packs: Look for the folder ending in "GA5" in the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download.

Mega Pack: Look for the zip file named "Mega Pack GA5" in the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download.

Download Area

Customers can re-download their purchases anytime from our download area: https://edl.groovemonkee.com/login

IMPORTANT: You must create your own Download Area password. See instructions at the site.

Compatibility

The loops are compatible with the following Groove Agent kits:

• SE Studio Kits (21 kits)
• The Kit SE (11 kits)

For other add-on kits, we recommend trying our General MIDI loops. This specifically includes:

• Allen Morgan kits
• SE Kits (“Beat Agent”)
• Production Grooves
• Laser Beams
• Rock Pop Toolkit

Please note, compatibility with every Groove Agent kit cannot be guaranteed because Steinberg does not follow a consistent kit mapping scheme.

Formats Supported

This product requires at least one of the following:

• Ableton Live Latin Percussion pack
• Logic Pro Performance percussion patches
• Toontrack Latin Cuban Percussion EZX
• Toontrack Latin Percussion EZX
• Battery 3 Afro-Cuban Percussion samples

Note: the Battery 3 samples can be played using Battery 4. We provide kits (not the samples) for both Battery 3 and Battery 4.

Ableton Live Documentation

Drum Racks

• A cymbal bell sample mapped to MIDI note E2 (#52)
• A cowbell 'open' sample to MIDI note F2 (#53)
• A cowbell 'rim' sample to MIDI note F#2 (#54)

Notes

The cowbell 'open' tone is lower in pitch and often designated as 'mouth'

The cowbell 'rim' tone is higher in pitch and often sounds muted

While the Caxixi is not a perfect match for Shekere, it can serve as a substitute in some situations

Battery Documentation

To use this product with Battery, you'll need the Afro-Cuban samples from Battery 3. We provide kits (not the samples) for both Battery 3 and Battery 4.

Installation

Toontrack Documentation

We provide two sets of MIDI files for Toontrack. One for the Latin Cuban Percussion EZX and one for the Latin Percussion EZX. You'll find the files inside the 'Toontrack' folder of your download. These expansions can be used with both EZdrummer and Superior Drummer.

Note: the Toontrack expansion packs do not include a Surdo drum so the Surdo files are not included in the Toontrack versions.

Toontrack Installation

We have installation instructions for EZdrummer and Superior Drummer on our "Installation and Support" page:

https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/installation-and-support

Style Guide

For information about the various styles included plus advice on grouping the rhythms together effectively, please see our Afro-Cuban Style Guide.

Questions? Need help?

If you have questions or need additional help, please contact us. You'll find our contact info on the Contact Us page.

Style Notes

Pilon: Pilon starts with congas, timbales, claves and guiro. Maracas and cowbells may be added for extra color.

Songo: Songo is a modern style that starts with congas, drum set and clave. Timbales (used as a drum set substitute), guiro, maracas and shekeres may be added for extra color. Timbale loops 1 & 2 are 3-2, loops 3 & 4 are 2-3.

Timba: Timba is a very modern style that is very open in terms of interpretation. Timbales (or drum set), congas, and claves are the basic instruments. The conga and timbale patterns from the Mambo, Cha Cha and Songo styles could also be used. Bongos, guiro, maracas, shekeres and cowbell patterns may also be added for extra color. Drum set is also now a regular instrument in Timba. Conga loops 1& 3 are 3-2, loops 2 & 4 are 2-3.

Bembe: 'Bembe' (originally meaning a Santeria ceremony) is often used as a catchall term incorporating many of salsas 6/8 rhythms. For a generic salsa 6/8 groove, combine a conga, clave and either a timbale or 6/8 cowbell pattern. Shekeres may also be added for color.

Mozambique: The Mozambique is a descendant of Cuban carnival rhythms. The Cuban version of Mozambique may be created by layering several Surdo (known as Bombos in Cuba) patterns, several cowbells and several conga patterns numbered 1-3.

The New York Salsa style Mozambique is created by combining one of the timbale patterns, one of the conga patterns numbered 4-6 and a clave. Guiro and maracas may be added if desired, but it is not common.

Note: In many of the styles you'll see “riff” loops. These loops are timekeeping variations that include slight changes in the patterns. These may be used whenever a basic pattern just isn't exciting enough!

Instrument Notes

Guiro: While the guiro is primarily used in the Cha Cha and Mambo styles, it may be added to the Songo, Timba and Pilon. It is not traditional to the Cuban Mozambique. The guiro rhythms are not clave specific.

Bongo: The basic bongo rhythms are not clave specific. They may be used in Mambo or Cha Cha.

Maracas: The Mambo maracas loops may be added to most salsa styles for extra color. The Cha Cha maracas loops are to be used for slower tempos. They are not appropriate for faster styles. The maraca rhythms are not clave specific.

Congas: The conga parts are very style-specific. They are, along with the timbales, what give each rhythm their identity. However, the conga patterns for the Cha Cha and Mambo are interchangeable. The fills in the Cha Cha style do NOT work at the faster Mambo tempos. The fills in the Mambo style will work at slower Cha Cha tempos, however.

Timbales: The typical Mambo arrangement has the timbales playing any one of the 'cascara' variations (either the single or double handed) during the verses. The cascara loops are labeled as either “2-3” or “3-2”. The Mambo bell patterns are to be used during a chorus or montuno section.

Mambo Cowbell: These patterns are typically what a bongo player would play during a chorus or montuno section. In a typical Mambo arrangement, the bongo player plays the bongos during the verses, then switches to a hand-held cowbell when the timbale player switches to the Mambo bell. These patterns may also be added to the Songo and Timba styles for extra color.

Claves: The clave rhythm makes up the rhythmic D.N.A. of salsa music. The choice of which side (3-2 or 2-3) to use depends on the melody of the music. Most of the timbale rhythms are clave specific. Some of the conga rhythms are also clave specific. Please refer to the style notes above for specifics.

As a general rule, if a tumba (lowest conga drum) note lands on the 'and' of 2, then that measure should line up with the “3” side of the clave (the bar with 3 clave hits). The maracas and guiro rhythms are not clave specific.

For a visual walkthrough, check out our Video Tutorial

Step 1: Locate Your BFD Files

First, open your Groove Monkee product folder. Then open the "Other MIDI Mappings" directory.  Inside you'll find folders labeled either "BFD2" or "BFD3." Good news: both versions are compatible with BFD 3.5, so you can use either one.

Tip: You DO NOT have to change the keymap when importing or playing our BFD 2 or BFD 3 files!

Step 2: Find the Right Folder in BFD

Now, let’s drop those grooves where BFD 3.5 expects to find them:

• Open your Documents folder.

• Navigate to the "BFD Drums" folder.

• Head into the "BFD3 Core Library" and look for the "Grooves" subfolder.

Step 3: Paste the BFD Files

Paste the Groove Monkee folder you copied (either BFD2 or BFD3) right into the Grooves folder. No edits, no re-mapping, no headaches.

Step 4: Rescan in BFD 3.5

Time to let BFD know that new content has arrived:

• In BFD, click the Menu button in the upper-left.

• Go to Tools > Set up content Locations.

• Click Rescan All.

• Once the scan finishes, click Done. 

• Click outside the gray box to return to the main interface.

Step 5: Find Your Grooves

Want to dig right into your new MIDI content? Use BFD's filter options:

• Click the Filter icon next to the search bar.

• Browse by Author, Library, or Genre to zero in on the Groove Monkee files.

That’s It!

Your Groove Monkee grooves are now ready to rock inside BFD 3.5.

Got questions or need a hand? Contact us here.

If you’re a musician or producer looking to streamline your workflow with MIDI files, Magix Samplitude offers a powerful and flexible platform to bring your ideas to life. In this quick guide, we’ll walk through a simple process to audition MIDI files using a VST instrument in Samplitude—perfect for experimenting with sounds, crafting drum tracks, or building full arrangements. For this example, we’ll use EZdrummer, but the beauty of this method is that it works with any VST instrument you prefer. Let’s dive in!

Watch the Companion Video

Step 1: Adding a VST Instrument

To get started, open your Samplitude project and select the track where you’d like to add your VST instrument. Click on "Add plug-in" in the track’s interface—this opens up a world of sonic possibilities. From there, navigate to the "Plug-in browser" and select "VST" to access your virtual instruments. Scroll through your options and pick the one that suits your vibe—whether it’s EZdrummer for punchy drum sounds or a synth for atmospheric pads. Once you’ve made your choice, hit "OK" to load it up.

Step 2: Configuring Routing Options

Before the instrument is fully integrated, you’ll need to choose your routing options. For simplicity, the "simple" routing works great for straightforward playback, as shown in the video above.

However, if you’re working on something more complex—like mixing a multi-layered drum kit—consider the "multi-channel" option. This gives you individual outputs for each drum element (kick, snare, hi-hat, etc.), making it a game-changer for detailed mixing. Select your preference and click "OK" to lock it in.

Step 3: Importing Your MIDI File

Now it’s time to bring in your MIDI file. Head to the "File" menu at the top of Samplitude, click "Import," and then click "Load MIDI File." A window will pop up prompting you to browse your computer—find the MIDI file you want to audition and click "Open." Once it’s loaded, you’ll see an option called "Single Track." Double-click this to import the MIDI data directly into your selected track, where it’ll sync up with your VST instrument.

Why This Matters for Musicians

This process is a fantastic way to quickly test out ideas or preview MIDI compositions without committing to a full arrangement. Whether you’re a drummer tweaking beats with EZdrummer, a keyboardist layering synths, or a producer experimenting with pre-made MIDI loops, Samplitude’s flexibility makes it easy to audition sounds on the fly. Plus, the ability to switch between simple and multi-channel routing gives you control over how much detail you want to dive into—perfect for both rough sketches and polished productions.

Pro Tip: Enhance Your Sound with Effects

Once your MIDI file is imported, take advantage of Samplitude’s effects capabilities to shape your sound. You can add effects like reverb to create depth and space, compression to tighten up dynamics, EQ to sculpt the tone, and more. 

Wrap-Up

Auditioning MIDI files in Magix Samplitude is a straightforward yet powerful technique that every musician should have in their toolkit. With just a few clicks, you can load up a VST instrument, import a MIDI file, and start exploring your creative potential. So grab your favorite VST, fire up Samplitude, and let your imagination fly.

Happy producing!

Check out the video below or the detailed instructions that follow.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Connect Your Beat Buddy Pedal to Your Computer

   • Option 1: USB Connection
     Plug your Beat Buddy pedal into your computer using a USB cable. 
   • Option 2: SD Card Connection
     Alternatively, power off your Beat Buddy pedal, remove the SD card, and insert it into your computer’s SD card reader. 
   • Once connected, locate your Beat Buddy project. This is the root directory of the SD card or the root directory of the USB connection to your pedal.

2. Open BeatBuddy Manager Online (BBMO)

   • Launch a web browser (Google Chrome is recommended for compatibility) and navigate to https://bbmo.singularsound.com.
   • Warning: please read the information on the app's Welcome screen!

3. Import Your Beat Buddy Project

   • Click the "Open Project" button
   • Navigate to the location of your Beat Buddy project
   • If you're connecting to your pedal with USB or your pedal's SD card, select the entire drive (not a folder or a file)
   • Confirm your selection by clicking "Select Folder".

4. Manage Your Project

   • You can now use app to edit and manage your Beat Buddy content.
   • This includes importing new PBF files, editing songs, creating new songs and more.
   • PBF file import: How Import a PBF File

Our Beat Buddy Collection

Beat Buddy Support Links

If you need assistance with your Beat Buddy or the Beat Buddy Manager, please contact Singular Sound support. For your convenience, we've posted some related links below.

Singular Sound Support

Beat Buddy Manager Online

Beat Buddy Default Content (SD backup)

In the world of music production, creativity thrives when paired with the right tools. Enter Soundpaint, a revolutionary virtual instrument platform that’s redefining how musicians and producers interact with sound. With its free engine, Soundpaint provides a powerful entry point to explore limitless sonic textures and expressive possibilities—all without breaking the bank.

What is Soundpaint?

Soundpaint is a cutting-edge music creation platform designed for ultimate realism and expressiveness. At its core, Soundpaint uses an advanced technology called Real-Time Hybrid Sampling. This innovation allows for seamless, fluid transitions between articulations and dynamic layers, delivering an organic sound that feels as if you’re playing a live instrument.

Unlike traditional sampling methods that rely on pre-recorded segments stitched together, Soundpaint’s approach creates a deeply responsive and immersive experience. Whether you’re composing an orchestral masterpiece or experimenting with cinematic soundscapes, the platform adapts to your style, making it a versatile tool for musicians of all genres.

What Makes the Free Engine Special?

The Soundpaint Free Engine isn’t just a stripped-down version of the platform; it’s a fully functional tool that opens the doors to Soundpaint’s unique world of sound design. Here’s what makes it stand out:

1. Completely Free Access:
   Downloading and installing it is straightforward, giving you a professional-grade tool without requiring an upfront investment. You need to create a free account but no credit card is required.

2. High-Quality Free Instruments:
   Alongside the engine, Soundpaint offers 14 free instruments that showcase its capabilities. From rich pianos to lush soundscapes, these instruments are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, providing a taste of what the platform can achieve.

3. Infinite Expression:
   Thanks to Soundpaint’s real-time responsiveness, the free engine offers unprecedented control over dynamics and articulation. This makes it ideal for producers seeking to add life and movement to their tracks.

4. Expandable Library:
   The free engine acts as a gateway to a growing library of premium instruments and sound packs. While these expansions are paid, they integrate seamlessly, letting you build your collection over time.

Spotlight: The 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway

One of the standout free instruments available on Soundpaint is the 8 GB 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway, a meticulously captured recreation of a legendary piano with a rich history and unmatched tonal quality.

• A Glimpse into History:
  This Steinway piano hails from 1928, an era renowned for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The instrument embodies a warm, resonant tone that exudes vintage charm, making it perfect for classical, jazz, and cinematic compositions.

• Expressive and Dynamic:
  Leveraging Soundpaint’s Real-Time Hybrid Sampling, the 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway offers an incredibly expressive playing experience. The dynamic range is broad, capturing the subtle nuances of soft key presses and the commanding power of forte notes.

• Ideal for Any Genre:
  Whether you’re scoring an emotional scene, composing a soulful ballad, or exploring ambient soundscapes, this piano adapts beautifully, delivering a sound that feels alive.

• Completely Free:
  Yes, you read that right! This world-class instrument is available for free with the Soundpaint engine. Download it here and experience its magic for yourself.

Why Soundpaint is a Game-Changer

One of Soundpaint’s biggest strengths is its ability to break the limitations of traditional virtual instruments. With its free engine, you can experience firsthand:

• Limitless Creativity:
  The platform supports unconventional sound design, making it perfect for modern music production, film scoring, or experimental compositions.

• Ease of Use:
  Despite its advanced features, Soundpaint is intuitive and user-friendly. Both beginners and seasoned professionals can dive in and start creating.

• Ultra-Realistic Results:
  Whether you’re layering sounds or playing solo instruments, Soundpaint’s technology ensures a realism that stands out in any mix.

Getting Started with Soundpaint

Getting started with Soundpaint’s free engine is easy:

1. Visit the Soundpaint Website:
   Create a free account at the Soundpaint Free Engine page. No credit card is required.

2. Download and Install:
   Follow the simple steps to download the engine and its free instruments.

3. Explore and Create:
   Dive into the world of expressive sound design and let your creativity flow.

Conclusion

Soundpaint’s free engine is more than just a tool; it’s a creative partner that empowers you to craft music that resonates. Whether you’re looking to experiment with new sounds or enhance your productions with unparalleled realism, Soundpaint has you covered.

With no cost to get started, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities of Soundpaint. Download the free engine today and begin your journey into a world of infinite sonic expression.

You'll learn how to set up Groove Agent (a virtual instrument for drums) as your playback device and connect it to the MediaBay for seamless MIDI auditioning. The steps include adding and configuring Groove Agent, opening the MediaBay, linking the instrument to the MediaBay, and previewing MIDI files with your chosen kit.

Step 1: Add Groove Agent

Add an Instrument Track

• On the left side of Cubase’s Tracks area, right-click and select Add Instrument Track.
• In the Instrument drop-down menu, choose Groove Agent SE 5 (or another instrument you prefer).
• Optionally, enter a name for the track and click Add Track.

The Image below shows the project window and the "Tracks area" (#2)

Load a Kit

• Make sure to load a drum kit or sound library into Groove Agent so it’s ready for playback. This step ensures you can hear the MIDI file previews in action.

Step 2: Open the MediaBay Window

• Open the MediaBay by pressing F5 or selecting MediaBay from the Media menu.
• The MediaBay window will appear, showing a wide range of audio, MIDI, and instrument files stored in your library.

The image below shows the MediaBay window

Step 3: Connect Groove Agent in the MediaBay

• In the lower-right corner of the MediaBay window, select a virtual instrument for previewing MIDI files. See #5 below.
• By default, this drop-down will show Not Connected.
• Select Groove Agent from the list and set the output to Main (or the appropriate option for your setup).

Step 4: Preview MIDI Files Using the MediaBay

• Browse through the MIDI files in the MediaBay. When you find one you’d like to audition, click on it.
• With Groove Agent connected, you’ll hear the MIDI file played back using the loaded kit.
• Adjust the preview volume or settings as needed to fit your workflow.

The image below shows the controls available in the MediaBay.

Here's what the controls do:

Step 5: Drag and Drop

• When you find a loop you like, simply drag it from the Media Browser into the desired track in your project.

A note on MIDI File compatibility

Please keep in mind that your MIDI files must be compatible with the plug-in you choose. You should be able to use files that follow the General MIDI (GM) standard with most of the Groove Agent 5 SE kits. Check the documentation if the plug-in you're using doesn't sound right.

Click here to download our General MIDI Drum Map PDF

Summary

Previewing MIDI files in Cubase 14 using the MediaBay is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance your music production workflow.

By following these steps—adding Groove Agent and loading a kit, opening the MediaBay window, connecting Groove Agent within the MediaBay—you can quickly find and test the perfect MIDI patterns for your project. Master these steps, and you’ll unlock the full potential of Cubase’s MediaBay for your music production needs. 

Please be aware that the desktop version of the Beat Buddy Manager is discontinued. If you need instructions for the desktop app, please see this post: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/importing-a-pbf-file-into-beatbuddy

Find the Beat Buddy PBF File

If you purchased a Beat Buddy compatible MIDI pack from us, here's how you can find the PBF file:

1. Open the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download
2. Open the folder that ends with "BB" 
3. You'll find the PBF file inside the folder with "PBF" at the end.

Mega Pack Users

1. Open the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download
2. Extract the zip file named "Mega Pack BB" 
3. The PBF files are stored in the folder named "PBF Files"

Video

Setting Up Your Project

Important: Before you can import a PBF file, you MUST load a project into the manager app. You can import your pedal's project by connecting to your pedal via USB or by inserting your SD card into your computer.

Our blog post: How to Import a Beat Buddy Project

See the video below for a demonstration.

Tip: See "Setting Up for the First Time" in the Beat Buddy Manager Online Manual.

Once you have loaded a project, you can install PBF files using the instructions below. 

Installing a PBF file

Installing a PBF file is easy. It only takes a few clicks!

Click on "Import Song" in the upper right side of the Online Beat Buddy Manager. Please see the image below.

Select the PBF file(s) and click "Open". This will add the PBF file(s) to your project.

Next, save your project by clicking the "Save Project" button (upper right side).

If you're ready, you can now sync the project to your Beat Buddy's SD card.

Sync to your SD Card

Once you have saved your project, you can sync it to a connected SD card.

First, connect your Beat Buddy or insert the SD card into your computer.

1. Click on Sync to SD Card (upper right side - see image below)
2. Select your SD card as the location for the sync
3. Leave the browser open and keep your computer from going to
sleep or the process will slow down or stop.

If you have questions about our products, please contact us. Our support info is located on our Support menu's Contact Us page.

Beat Buddy Support Links

If you need assistance with your Beat Buddy or the Beat Buddy Manager, please contact Singular Sound support. For your convenience, we've posted some related links below.

Support page: https://www.singularsound.com/pages/support

If any of the links below are broken, please try the link above.

Beat Buddy Manager Online

Beat Buddy Default Content (SD backup)

Beat Buddy Manager Online Manual

In this post, you'll find a curated list of the top 5 free EQ plugins, complete with direct links for easy access. Additionally, we offer a concise overview of EQ basics, an introduction to the three main types of EQ, and five expert tips to help you make the most of these tools.

Whether you're new to EQ or looking to refine your skills, this guide provides everything you need to get started.

Here are five of the top free EQ VST plugins that are widely appreciated for their functionality and flexibility.

1. TDR Nova (Tokyo Dawn Labs)
   • Type: Dynamic EQ
   • Key Features: Combines parametric equalization with a dynamic processor. It's great for precise control over frequencies with added compression or expansion for specific bands.
   • Best Use Case: Perfect for both basic EQ tasks and more complex dynamic equalization where you're targeting problem frequencies that change over time.

   Website: https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/


2. Warmy EP1A V2
   • Type: Analog-style Pultec EQ plugin
   • Key Features: Smooth and warm EQ curves, tube emulation for vintage tone, low CPU usage, and built-in saturation control.
   • Best Use Case: Ideal for adding warmth and character to vocals, drums, and bass in both mixing and mastering contexts.

   Website: https://www.kiiveaudio.com/products/warmy-ep1a-v2


3. MEqualizer (Melda Production)
   • Type: Parametric EQ
   • Key Features: 6-band EQ with spectrum analyzer, automatic gain compensation, and MIDI learn. It's very intuitive and has some great presets for quick adjustments.
   • Best Use Case: Great for everyday EQ needs, especially for shaping tones and balancing instruments.

   Website: https://www.meldaproduction.com/MEqualizer


4. Blue Cat's Triple EQ
   • Type: Semi-parametric EQ
   • Key Features: A 3-band EQ with adjustable low, mid, and high frequencies. It’s simple but powerful for shaping the sound in a more analog fashion.
   • Best Use Case: Ideal for quick, straightforward adjustments during mixing.

   Website: https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_TripleEQ/


5. Ozone 11 Mastering EQ
   • Type: Precision digital mastering EQ plugin
   • Key Features: Dynamic EQ with real-time frequency response, mid/side processing, AI-assisted mastering tools, and highly customizable controls for detailed sound shaping.
   • Best Use Case: Perfect for mastering and final mix adjustments, especially when clarity, balance, and precision are needed across the frequency spectrum.

   Website: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/izotope/ozone-11-eq/

EQ Basics: What is Equalization?

EQ (or equalization) is a tool used in audio processing to adjust the balance of different frequencies in a sound. Imagine you're listening to a live band — the EQ is like a sound technician who controls the volume knobs for each instrument, deciding which instruments (or parts of the sound) should be louder or quieter.

Here's a simple analogy: Think of sound as a painting, and the EQ as the paintbrush. Just like you can brighten certain colors or mute others, EQ allows you to enhance or reduce certain frequency ranges in a sound.

Main Frequency Bands

• Low (20 Hz - 200 Hz): These are the deep bass sounds — think kick drums or bass guitar. Adjusting these frequencies controls the "weight" or "thump" in your track.
• Low-Mid (200 Hz - 1 kHz): This range covers many instruments' body or warmth, like guitars and vocals. Be careful, as too much here can make things sound "muddy."
• High-Mid (1 kHz - 5 kHz): This is where clarity and intelligibility of vocals sit. Boosting too much here can make things sound harsh or nasal, while cutting too much can make it dull.
• High (5 kHz - 20 kHz): This range gives the "air" or "sparkle" to your mix, like cymbals or the high-end of a vocal. Be gentle, as boosting too much can create an ear-piercing effect.

Key EQ Types

1. Parametric EQ: Gives you full control over the frequency, bandwidth (how wide the range is), and gain (how much you're boosting or cutting). This is the most flexible and powerful type of EQ.
2. Graphic EQ: Breaks the frequency spectrum into fixed bands, each with its own fader. You adjust these faders to increase or decrease certain frequencies. It’s less flexible than a parametric EQ but great for broad, quick adjustments.
3. Dynamic EQ: Combines EQ with compression. It changes its settings dynamically based on the input signal, allowing it to target and adjust problem frequencies only when they become an issue.

Pro Tips for Using EQ

1. Cut before you boost: A common beginner mistake is to boost a lot of frequencies to make things sound clearer or louder. Instead, try cutting problematic frequencies. For example, if a vocal sounds muddy, try cutting a bit around 200-400 Hz before boosting higher frequencies.
2. Use narrow cuts and wide boosts: When cutting frequencies, use a narrow bandwidth (or "Q") to remove only the problem areas. When boosting, use a wider Q to create a more natural sound.
3. High-pass and low-pass filters are your friends: A high-pass filter removes low frequencies, and a low-pass filter removes high frequencies. Use a high-pass filter on non-bass instruments (like guitars, vocals, etc.) to remove unwanted low-end rumble. Similarly, use a low-pass filter on bass-heavy instruments to remove unnecessary high-frequency noise.
4. Sweep to find problem frequencies: If you're not sure where the problem frequency is, boost the gain on a narrow band and slowly sweep across the frequency spectrum until you find the offending sound. Then, cut that frequency.
5. EQ in context: Don’t solo a track and EQ it to sound perfect in isolation. Always EQ in the context of the full mix. A snare drum that sounds great on its own may clash with the guitars or vocals, so EQ everything while listening to the whole mix.

In this post, I’ll introduce you to the five best free VST compressors that can take your mixes to the next level. Additionally, you'll find valuable mixing tips and links to YouTube videos that will help you get started with compression.

Drum Mixing Secret Weapon: Parallel Compression

Did you know know that parallel compression can significantly elevate your drum tracks? Alongside using separate tracks for each drum element (kick, snare, toms, etc.), parallel compression is one of the most effective techniques to enhance your drum sounds. Before diving into the free compressors, let's explore some essential compression tips to get you started.

3 Essential Tips for Compressing Drums

1. Use a suitably long attack time

Don't kill the transients! A good starting point is to set the attack time around 30 milliseconds (ms). This allows the initial punch of the drum hit to come through before the compression kicks in.

2. Opt for a Short Release Time

A quick release time helps the compressor recover quickly, maintaining the energy and rhythm of the drum track.

3. Find the "Sweet Spot" with the Threshold

The threshold setting determines when compression begins. Carefully listen and adjust to find that perfect balance where the compression enhances without overpowering. For more on this, check out the “Drum Compression Basics” video linked below.

The Five Best Free VST Compressors

Rough Rider 3

Rough Rider 3 is renowned for its aggressive sound, making it an excellent choice for drums and other rhythmic elements. It’s a bit more "hands-on," with various knobs that allow you to dial in the precise sound you’re after. When starting out, experiment with the threshold, release, and attack times to understand how each parameter affects the compression.

TDR Kotelnikov

A favorite among many, the TDR Kotelnikov is an extremely versatile compressor with advanced dynamics processing capabilities and a clean, transparent sound. Like Rough Rider, it offers individual controls for threshold, attack, and release, giving you detailed control over your compression.

Acustica Tan compressor

The Tan compressor is a classic analog VCA compressor that provides a wide range of sound-shaping options to meet your musical needs. It features controls for attack, release, threshold, ratio, gain, dry/wet, and more. The standout feature is the "Shmod" control, which allows you to easily shape the attack of any audio source.

DC1A by Klanghelm

Don’t be fooled by its simplicity. The DC1A compressor offers only an input and output knob, but its performance is anything but basic. It delivers from gentle, almost invisible leveling to heavy pumping with crunchy saturation, making it versatile enough for a variety of drum sounds.

ComBear Compressor

Specifically designed for parallel compression, ComBear is a powerful and dynamic plugin that brings incredible sound and feel to drums, synths, vocals, and more. The Compress knob allows you to increase the parallel compression from 0 to 100, giving you a simple yet effective way to control your mix.

Must-Watch Compression Videos

Learn the fundamentals of drum compression in this easy-to-follow guide.

Drum Compression Basics

Dive deeper into parallel compression and how it can transform your mixes.  

Advanced Mixing - Parallel Processing

Discover the hidden power of parallel processing in this insightful video.

Auditioning MIDI files in Cubase is easy. After some initial setup you can use the MediaBay window to audition MIDI files and drag them into your project.

In this post, I'll explain how to audition MIDI drum loops, provide some tips on organizing your MIDI files and discuss a few issues and solution to the problems you may encounter.

I used Cubase Elements 13 for this post but the same process appears to be the same in other versions. It seems the Media Bay window hasn't changed much over the years which is good news for Cubase users!

Organizing Your Files

This section is not mandatory but is considered "best practice".

It's a good idea to create a single folder to hold all of your MIDI files. For example, create a "MIDI Files" folder inside of your "Documents" folder.

Inside that folder, consider creating a folder for all of the files you've created yourself plus one for every other source. For example, create a folder for each company you've bought files from.

The reason for this is simple: to reduce the time it takes Cubase to find and catalog any new files you add in the future. If you organize your files this way, you can direct Cubase to scan a specific folder rather than all MIDI files or your entire hard drive. 

Previewing MIDI files using the MediaBay 

First, I'll start with the most basic instructions. If you have problems, please see the sections below.

1. Create a new Cubase Project

Unless you've got some experience with this, I suggest that you create a new Cubase project for this tutorial. It will be easier to troubleshoot potential problems if your project only has one instrument track and a single instrument. 

2. Add a drum plug-in to your project

Add a drum plug-in to your project. Load a drum kit, if necessary.

For this post, I used Groove Agent 5 SE but you can use any plug-in you like.

A note on MIDI File compatibility

Please keep in mind that your MIDI files must be compatible with the plug-in you choose. You should be able to use files that follow the General MIDI (GM) standard with most of the Groove Agent 5 SE kits. Check the documentation if you're using another plug-in if the files don't sound right.

3. Open the MediaBay Window

Next, open the MediaBay window by pressing the F5 key or selecting "MediaBay" from the "Media" menu.

4. Play a MIDI file

Navigate to your MIDI files folder and click on a MIDI file and it should start to play. If not, you can use the controls at the bottom of the MediaBay to play and stop the file. See the image below for more information.

Hint: there's an "Auto Play" button on the right of the lower section of the MediaBay.

5. Drag the file into your project

You can drag files onto the plug-in track to build your drum track.

Problems?

Please see the sections below for answers to the most common issues you will likely face.

Common Problems

If you're having a problem, here are solutions to some of the most common issues. Even if you're not having a problem, it's a good idea to read through the Cubase MediaBay documentation.

The image below highlights some important areas of the MediaBay window. 

1. Show Media Types selector
2. Zone controls
3. Play and stop buttons
4. Preview volume control
5. Plug-in selector
6. Auto play control

No MIDI Files

There could be a few reasons why Cubase isn't finding your MIDI files.

1. Scan your files

If you cannot find your MIDI files, please scan your MIDI files folder or your entire system, if necessary. 

Right click on the drive or folder you want to scan and click "Rescan Disk" or "Quick Rescan Disk".

2. Enable "MIDI Files" in the MediaBay

The MediaBay works with all media types, not just MIDI files. Make sure that  "MIDI Files" is selected for "Show Media Types" in the MediaBay or you won't be able to access them. See item #1 in the image above.

Warning: You may have to rescan your files if you had to manually choose to show MIDI files.

Note: Cubase considers "MIDI Loops" and "MIDI Files" to be two different but related concepts. From the standpoint of Cubase, we provide "MIDI Files".  Please see their documentation for additional info.

No Sound 

There are several reasons why you may not hear any output when playing your files.

1. Speakers

Please make sure your speakers are turned on and that no other app is blocking Cubase from accessing the audio driver. 

2. Drum Kit

Make sure you've selected a drum kit within your plug-in. Some plug-ins load a drum kit by default but some do not. Groove Agent 5 does not.

3. Enable your drum plug-in

You may have to enable your drum plug-in in the lower section of the MediaBay. Look for a drop down box in the lower right of the MediaBay and select your plug-in, if necessary. See item #6 in the image above.

Wrong Tempo

Files will play at your project's tempo. Please adjust the project tempo, if necessary.

Sounds Wrong

If the beat doesn't sound right, it probably means that your drum kit's mapping doesn't match the file's mapping.

The industry standard is called "General MIDI" or "GM" but most companies don't follow it. Instead, they choose to map their drums in a random fashion causing incompatibility problems. Many Groove Agent 5 SE kits seem to follow the General MIDI standard but there's no guarantee. 

Missing Controls

The MediaBay is actually composed of several sections called "zones". You can open and close these zones individually. The controls used for this are located near the top right of the MediaBay window. See item #2 in the image above.

Conclusion

Auditioning MIDI files with the Cubase MediaBay is fairly easy after the initial setup. Once you've set up your folder structure, scanned your files and set up the MediBay correctly, you shouldn't have any problems. Hopefully, this post has given you the information needed to start working with your MIDI files today.

Need help?

If you have questions about this post or any of our products, please contact us. Click here to view our contact information

This information only applies to our paid products. For our free products, please see the documentation provided in your download.

Mac Installers Discontinued 

Unfortunately we've found it necessary to discontinue our Mac installers. While installers are not necessary, they are convenient so we hope to provide them again in the future.

Installation Information 

IF necessary, you can install the MIDI files manually. It all depends on what you're using for your drum sounds. With most software, installation of MIDI files isn't even possible. If you use Logic or Garage Band it is not possible so please see the next section.

Bottom line: Most users don't need to install MIDI files! Our installers support a small number of popular apps. You'll find installation instructions for all of them plus a few more below.

Apple Products 

At this time (early 2024), it isn't possible to install MIDI files into Logic or Garage Band. The loop browser window only auditions audio files, not MIDI files. Feel free to store your MIDI files anywhere that's convenient for you.

You should use our General MIDI files with Logic and Garage Band kits because they usually follow the General MIDI drum mapping. 

General Information

Here are the most important things for you to know:

All of the MIDI files are stored in the folder named: "Other MIDI Mappings"

Each folder inside the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder contains the same files but in a different format.

If you need General MIDI files you'll find them here:

Other MIDI Mappings/<Product Name> GM

Installation instructions can be downloaded here:
https://bonzo.groovemonkee.com/resources/docs/Read_Me.pdf

To find the files for a specific app, download the PDF linked below: https://bonzo.groovemonkee.com/resources/docs/Apps_to_Folder_Table.pdf

Installation for Popular Apps 

Here are installation instructions for the most popular drum apps:

Addictive Drums 2: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/how-to-install-midi-files-into-addictive-drums-2

Beat Buddy: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/importing-a-pbf-file-into-beatbuddy

BFD3: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/14182425-bfd3-installation

EZdrummer 2: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/ezdrummer-2-midi-installation

EZdrummer 3: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/how-to-install-midi-files-into-ezdrummer3-with-a-linked-folder

Superior Drummer 3: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/how-to-install-midi-files-into-superior-drummer-3-with-a-linked-folder

Steven Slate 5: https://groovemonkee.com/blogs/blog/steven-slate-drums-5-midi-installation

Note: The instructions above work for SSD version 5.5 also. 

Support

For additional details, please see the following file in your download: "Installation and Support Info"

If you still need assistance, please let us know. Our contact information can be found in the Contact Us section of our website.

Overview

Krimh Drums Free is available absolutely free from Borgen Digital, a producer of high quality samples and music production plugins.

The free version includes a great sounding metal drum kit with the following:

• Double kick drums (with automatic double kick feature)
• Hi-hat with 10 articulations
• 3 Crash Cymbals
• China, Ride and Splash Cymbals
• 3 Toms

To use Krimh drums, you must install Kontakt Player by Native Instruments. Good news: you can use the free version of Kontakt Player also.

MIDI Browser

The plugin includes a MIDI browser that allows you to audition MIDI files and drag and drop them into your DAW (music recording software).

Mixer

The full version includes an impressive looking mixer. Unfortunately, the mixer is disabled in the free version.

MIDI Browser

The MIDI browser window ("Grooves" window) allows you to audition MIDI loops and drag them directly into your recording software. This is a great, time saving feature because many DAWs like Apple's Garage Band and Logic don't support it.

Below: the location of the "Grooves" Window

At the time of this writing, (February of 2024), the Krimh MIDI browser window plays files mapped per the General MIDI standard and will convert them to the Krimh kit mapping when you drag them into your recording software.

Note: We include drum loops mapper per the General MIDI standard in all of our MIDI Drum Loop packs.

Proper Tom Triggering

Another nice yet overlooked feature implemented by Krimh drums is the fact that all tom hits will be triggered, even if you're using the free kit. For example, if your MIDI contains low floor tom hits (General MIDI #41), Krimh will redirect those notes to the high floor tom. Many similar products fail to do this requiring the user to move MIDI notes around. 

MIDI Loops

The free version of Krimh  drums includes 12 MIDI files. The full version includes over 100 files.

Conclusion

The free version of Krimh Drums is a great sounding metal drum kit with some interesting features such as automatic double kick drum playing and a MIDI groove browser.

Unlike many other free kits, Krimh drums includes a complete drum kit with detailed hi-hats, 5 cymbals and 3 toms. 

While it requires the Kontakt player by Native Instruments, it's definitely worth checking out!

You can download Krimh drums by visiting Borgen Digital.

MIDI Files for ML Drums

We now include MIDI drum loops for ML Drums in all of our MIDI Drum Packs. You'll find the grooves in the folder named: Other MIDI Mappings

Inside, look for the folder that ends with "ML Drums".

Example: "Blues ML Drums"

If you've made any purchases in the past, you can download the latest version here:

https://edl.groovemonkee.com/login

IMPORTANT: You will need to create a password the first time you try to login there. Your web shop password will NOT work.

Use the password reset to get a temporary password. Temporary passwords expire in 30 minutes.

Note: Our files are optimized for the paid version of ML Drums version 2. See the kit limitations of the free version below.

Drum Maps for ML Drums

We also include a set of ML Drums "drum maps" for several leading DAWs: Cubase, Magix, Reaper and Studio One.

You'll find the maps in the 'Extras' folder of your product download.  

What's a drum map?

A drum map is a visual editing tool. It adds drum names to your music software's MIDI editing screen. This makes it much easier to program and edit MIDI beats. See the image below for an example.

ML Drums Kit Summary 

ML Drums has MASSIVE kits! Here's a breakdown of what most kits include.

Cymbals

ML Drums includes a staggering 9 cymbals plus a stax and a bell.

Most kits have 3 crash cymbals, a ride, 3 china cymbals and 2 splash cymbals. Impressive! 

Sounds

ML Drums sounds fantastic and it comes with a large selection of kit presets. It's truly amazing how good modern drum apps sound compared to 20 years ago! 

The Mixer Page

One of the things I really like about ML Drums is the mixer page. It's got just about everything you'd need to tweak your drum sounds for the sound you need. Here's an overview of the available channel settings and effects:

• 3 band EQ
• Saturation (all instrument groups)
• Snare channel has top and bottom mic controls
• Panning for all toms (look for the yellow knobs)
• OH, Room Reverb (snare, kick, toms and room only)
• Solo/mute buttons for each track

The snare channel features a top and bottom mic setting. That's something you don't always get.

The master channel features a compressor that includes a parallel compression setting! You should definitely check that out! 

Pricing

ML Drums is very reasonably priced. Add-on packs cost just 40 euros. 

Free Version

ML Drums has a free version if you'd like to try it yourself. You can download it from their site HERE.

Note: the free version sounds great but it has some limitations. Please note that the free version does not include:

• Floor tom 2 (MIDI #41)
• Rack tom 1 (MIDI #48)
• Crash 2
• Splash cymbals
• China 2

Summary

ML Drums is now one of the best sounding, powerful drum apps on the market.  It has massive kits and an extensive mixing page that few can match. Considering all that you get, it's very reasonably priced.

Check out their web site and download the free kit (see the limitations above). 

If you have EZdrummer 3, you can click here to view our EZdrummer 3 MIDI Installation Instructions,

PC Installer

Our paid products do contain a PC installer that works with EZdrummer 2 but we had to discontinue our Mac Installers unfortunately.

If you have a Mac, please follow the instructions below.

Manual Installation

Installing MIDI files into EZdrummer 2 is surprisingly easy. It takes less than 1 minute to install a folder of MIDI files into EZdrummer 2 using the steps below.

1. Click on the main menu
2. Click on "Settings"
3. Click "MIDI Libraries"

This will open up a dialog box allowing you to manage your 3rd party MIDI options including search.

Image: see the image below for a screenshot of the menu options

4. Next, click on "Add Folder to User Libraries" This opens a window in either Windows Explorer or Mac Finder depending on your system.

5. Navigate to the folder you wish to install.

Finding the Groove Monkee MIDI Files

All of our MIDI files are stored in the folder named "Other MIDI Mappings". Look for the folder that ends with "Toontrack". Example: "Blues Classics Toontrack".

IMPORTANT: You need the folder inside the "Toontrack" folder.

Mega Pack users

If you have our Mega Pack, open the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder and look for the zip file that ends with "Toontrack". Extract that zip file to your hard drive. 

Mega Pack: you may install the entire unextracted Toontrack folder rather than installing each individual folder.

6. Select the folder you want to install and click "Select Folder" to return to the previous screen.

7. Click "Ok" to begin the installation process.

For a single pack, installation should happen almost instantaneously. It may take a minute or two to install our Mega Pack.

EZdrummer 2 Search

One benefit of this installation method is that it adds the files to EZdrummer's Search feature by default. In the image below, the Ballads pack was installed and those files will appear in search automatically.

Installed Files

Once the files are installed, you'll see them on the left side of the "Browser" window under "User Libraries".  The image below shows our "Ballads" pack after installation.

Installation Reminders

Just remember that ALL MIDI files are stored in the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download. 

Also, be sure to install the folder INSIDE our "Toontrack" folder.

If you have our Mega Pack, install the entire "Toontrack" folder (after extracting it).

Support 

We offer support 7 days a week. If you have questions about our products or need additional assistance with this installation, please reach out via our Contact Page.

In this post you'll learn how to audition and play MIDI drum loops in Cubase 12. The process should be about the same in most recent versions of Cubase.

We'll be using the following for this tutorial:

- Cubase Elements 12
- Groove Agent 5 SE (included with Cubase Elements 12)
- Our GM Freebie Pack of MIDI drum loops (optional)

To audition the MIDI files, we'll be using the "Browser" tab in Groove Agent 5.

Drum Kit

I'll be using the "Break me down" kit that comes with Groove Agent 5 SE. I've selected it because it generally follows the General MIDI (GM) mapping standard.

Feel free to use whatever kit you like but please be sure the kit and your MIDI loops follow the same mapping scheme!

Getting Started

For this tutorial, I created a 'Groove Monkee' folder in my 'Documents' folder and saved our some MIDI files there. It's a good idea to organize and store your MIDI drum loops in one location so you can find them quickly. 

Open Cubase

To get started, open Cubase. Then create a new project. Name it anything you like.

 Note: you can also launch Groove Agent in stand alone mode.

Adding Groove Agent

Next, add Groove Agent 5 SE to your Cubase project. Here's one way you can do it:

1. Right click to the left of the Cubase track area and select "Add Instrument Track"

2. Select Groove Agent for the Instrument.

 Adding Groove Agent will also create an empty MIDI track. You can drag and drop MIDI drum loops there.

Load a Kit into Groove Agent

Load the kit called "Break me down". It's categorized in Groove Agent as "Rock/Metal" with a "Sub Style" of "Alternative Rock"

Again, I chose this kit because it follows the GM mapping standard. This ensures that it will play GM mapped MIDI drum loops correctly.

Some of the other Groove Agent 5 SE kits are GM mapped also. I inspected a bunch of the kits and here's a list of those that follow the GM mapping standard:

Click here to download a PDF list of the kits

Note: It's probable that other kits follow the GM standard as well

Play a MIDI Drum Loop

While there are multiple ways to play MIDI loops in Cubase, we'll be using Groove Agent 5 here. Alternatives include the Cubase Media Bay and the Loop Browser. 

To play MIDI files in Groove Agent 5 SE, follow these steps:

• Click on the folder-shaped icon on the right side of Groove Agent to open the "Load Panel" (just above and to the right of the drum kit image)
• Click on "Browser"
• Navigate to your MIDI files folder  
• Select a file and play it

 Note: you'll find the play controls on the bottom right side of Groove Agent when the "Load Panel" is open.

Drag a Loop into Cubase

Select any MIDI drum loop and drag it into your the MIDI track assigned to Groove Agent. Be sure to adjust the tempo if necessary!

Note: we add the tempo to the beginning of each file name. The time signature is listed just after the tempo. We don't add the time signature if it's 4-4.

Example: "088 12-8 Slow Blues" has a tempo of 88 BPM and a time signature of 12-8.

No sound? Check to make sure that you've loaded a kit. If necessary, check your track and audio settings too.

Conclusion

That's it! It's very easy to browse, audition and play MIDI drum loops using Cubase and Groove Agent. Again, just be sure that the drum kit and your drum loops follow the same mapping scheme.

Questions?

If you have questions about this post or any of our products, please contact us. Click here to view our contact information

I've also provided a link to some free MIDI files for SSD5.

Finally, I created two SSD5 'IOMaps' that allow you to use MIDI files with SSD5 that are mapped according the General MIDI (GM) standard.

Note: Sometimes I'll refer to SSD5.5 as SSD5. For the purposes of this post, they are the same.

Installing the Free Version of SSD5.5 

1. If necessary, sign up for a free account at the Steven Slate Drums web site

2. Go to the 'YOUR PRODUCTS' section of your account and click on 'SSD5.5 FREE'

3. Download the installer for your operating system (Windows or Mac).

4. Follow their instructions to complete the installation.

SSSD5.5 Free Overview

The free version includes 3 kits and some MIDI files. The kits, like almost all Slate kits are fantastic. This is a serious, pro-level drum app! 

Kit Tab

This tab is actually labeled 'Create'. You can select either factory kits or user kits, if any. The kits are arranged in categories although the free version only includes rock kits.

To load a kit, just double click on it. 

Mixer Tab

The app has a professional-level mixer tab that allow you to control every aspect of each individual instrument. You can control the kick (in/out), snare (top/bottom), hi-hat, all toms individually and the ride. You also get controls for the overhead mics and the two room mics.

Here's an image of the mixer tab:

Grooves Tab

Click on the grooves tab and you'll be able to audition MIDI files and drag and drop them into your project.

At the bottom of the Grooves tab you'll find some convenient controls as shown in the image below. They are: auto-play, play and loop/repeat. You can also adjust the playback speed (1/2, 1x 2x) and dynamics.

SSD5 MIDI File Notes

Steven Slate Drums uses a proprietary mapping scheme. This means that you can't play MIDI files mapped for the General MIDI standard. The files need to be mapped for SSD5 or one of the other supported apps such as EZdrummer or Addictive Drums.

To play other MIDI files, you need to load an appropriate 'IOMap'. To do this, go to the 'Map' tab and select a map using the 'Load Preset' button on the bottom right side.

Here's a listing of the 'IOMaps' included with SSD5:

Ad2
Alesis DM10
Alesis Strike
Bfd3
EZDrummer2
Pearl Mimic Pro
Roland TD30
Studio Drummer
Superior3
Yamaha DTX900
Yamaha DTXplorer

Note: All of our MIDI drum loop packs (except our 'Freebies') include MIDI  files mapped for SSD5 (plus over 20 others).

Playing General MIDI Files

If you look at the list of IOMaps above you'll notice one glaring omission: General MIDI. While the 'Roland TD30' IOMap is very close, it's far from perfect. The same can be said for the EZdrummer and Superior Drummer maps. 

To ensure that you can play all GM (General MIDI) files correctly, I've created two SSD5 IOMaps. You can download them using the link below:

Download SSD5 General MIDI IOMaps

About the IOMaps

One map uses the standard hi-hat and ride articulations (tips). Use this when you need a lighter feel.

The other map ('Shanks') can be used for rock, hard rock, etc.

Installing the IOMaps

To install the IOMaps, unzip (extract) the file you downloaded (link above). Then copy the two files into your SSD5 'IOMaps' folder.

Finding the IOMaps folder

The 'IOMaps' folder is in your SSD5 'Library' folder. It's very easy to get the location of your Library folder.

1. Open SSD5 if necessary

2. Click on the 'Settings' tab

3. Near the top, you'll see a folder path as shown in the image below: 

4. Open that location using Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows)

5. Paste the two IOMaps into the 'IOMaps' folder

Note: You may have to restart SSD5 to see the newly installed IOMaps.

Using the General MIDI IOMaps

Open the SSD5 'Map' tab. Select a map using the 'Load Preset' button on the bottom right side. 

That's it! You should now be able to play MIDI files mapped per the General MIDI (GM) standard.

Free General MIDI Files

I created a small sample of GM files you can use to test the SSD5 GM IOMaps. You can download the files using the link below:

Download GM Mapped MIDI Files

Installing MIDI Files into SSD5

Installing MIDI files into SSD5 is also very easy. 

1. Open your SSD5 'Library' folder. See the instructions above ('Finding the IOMaps folder').

2. Open the 'Grooves' folder.

3. Paste the folder into your SSD5 'Grooves' folder.

Specially Formatted SSD5 Folders

To view MIDI files in the SSD5 'Grooves' tab, the files must be stored in folders that are formatted correctly. Check out the image below to see the correct way to name folders for SSD5.

Note: The free files linked above are formatted correctly.

SSD5 looks for 'song' folders with one or more 'parts' folders inside. Each parts folder can hold grooves, fills, intros or anything else you like. It's really up to you.

Note: if you buy one of our MIDI Drum Loop packs, we have done all of this work for you. The files are also mapped to work with default SSD5 drum mapping so you don't need to change the IOMap.

Renaming Folders for SSD5

Here's what you need to do if your folders are not ready for SSD5.

1. add '.lib' to the top-level folder. For example, if you have a folder of MIDI files called 'Cool MIDI' change it to 'Cool MIDI.lib'.

2. For each 'song' folder inside of the top-level folder, add '.sng' to it. For example, if you have a folder called 'Jazz Beats' change it to 'Jazz Beats.sng'. 

3. For each folder inside a song folder, add '.prt' which makes it a parts folder.

Here's a summary of the instructions above.

1. Add .lib to the top-level folder 

2. Add .sng to each song folder in the top-level folder

3. Add .prt to each part folder inside every song folders

Warning: Each song needs at least one parts folder and you cannot have parts folders inside other parts folders!

Wrap Up

In this post I explained how to download and install the Free version of Steven Slate Drums 5.5 aka SSD5.5 Free. 

After describing some of the more important features of SSD5.5 like the kits, the kit and mix tabs, I explained how to play MIDI files in SSD5.5.

After that I covered the topic of IOMaps, how to load them and the fact that there's no way to accurately play all General MIDI files without an IOMap.

Then I explained how to download and install two custom General MIDI IOMaps. A discussion of General MIDI files followed along with a link to download some free GM files to test the IOMaps in SSD5.

Finally, I discussed the folder structure needed for SSD5 MIDI files and explained how to rename your folders so you'll be able to play them in SSD5.5 using the IOMaps.

Support

Feel free to contact us with questions about using our files with Steven Slate Drums. Our contact info can be found on our Contact Us page.

This kit will be compatible with the General MIDI (GM) standard. This will allow you to play any MIDI drum loops that follow the GM standard and share your grooves and projects with others easily. 

Building a kit is actually easy - you just have to drag and drop drum samples onto pads in Impact XT. 

Free Template: I've included a link below to download a GM compatible preset to get you started. You can use it each time you make a preset for Impact XT.

Pro Tips: I also included a couple of tips at the end to help you get more realistic sounding drum tracks.

Let's get started! 

General MIDI (GM) Compatibility

If you want to play MIDI drum loops produced by others you need a kit that follows the same layout or "mapping". The industry standard is called "General MIDI" or just "GM" for short. 

Without a common standard, you have to rearrange some or most of the notes in every single file or rearrange your kit mapping (if possible). Having a standard avoids all of this unnecessary work and allows you to start making music immediately.  

All of our MIDI Drum Loop packs include files mapped per the GM standard. Click here to Browse our MIDI Drum Loop Collection

Note: As of early 2023, only ONE of the kits provided with Impact XT follow the GM standard. You can view this blog post on Studio One 6 to learn more.

Download the GM Template

First, download our Free Impact XT GM Template. The pads in this preset are already named with all of the drum kit pieces needed for a complete GM drum kit . You can reuse it as many times as necessary. 

Save the preset in your Studio One "presets" folder for Impact. You should be able to find the "presets" folder here:

Documents\Studio One\Presets\PreSonus\Impact

PC: C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Studio One\Presets\PreSonus\Impact

Mac: /Users/<username>/Documents/Studio One/Presets/PreSonus/Impact

The image below shows our GM_Drums template.

Drum Samples Needed

You'll need some drum samples to build a kit. Bedroomproducersblog has a list of 10+ sites with good, free drum samples. Read more here.

Building a Drum Kit

Building a kit with our GM preset is very easy. Here are the steps needed to make your own kit.

1. Add Impact XT into Studio One

Open the Studio One 'Instruments' view (F6) and then click on 'PreSonus'.

Drag Impact into an empty area and Studio One will create an instrument track loaded Impact as shown in the video below.

Tip: Anytime you need to view the Impact interface, click on the piano-like icon in the upper right corner of your Impact instrument track as shown in the image below.

2. Import our GM Drums preset into Impact XT

Depending on where you stored our GM preset, you may have to import it first. 

To import a preset, click on the Impact preset menu (upper left side, next to the two arrow icons). Then click on 'Import Preset'.

Select to the preset you wish to import and click 'Ok'.

To check for our preset, scroll through the list of available Impact kits and look for GM_DRUMS.  

Rename the preset!

To rename the preset, select the Impact preset menu (upper left side next to the two arrow icons) and select 'Store Preset'. On this page you can rename the preset, add an optional description and save the preset to a specific subfolder (optional).

3. Open the Studio One 'Files' view

Studio One makes it easy to drag samples into Impact pads using their 'Files' view. You can audition audio files, MIDI files and more in this view.

To open the Files view, select 'Browser' from the View menu. The browser window should open on the right-hand side of Studio One.

Note: The short cut is F9 on both Mac and PC. 

Then select the 'Files' tab to open the Files view. In this window, you can browse for files that are stored anywhere on your computer.

4. Adding a sample to a pad

Navigate to your drum samples using the File view window. Select a drum sample and drag it onto a pad in Impact. Rename the pad if necessary.

You can also assign a choke group, assign an output channel and tweak the sample's sound in many different ways.

Note: See below for additional information about choke groups and channel assignments. We've already created a choke group for the hi-hats and we are using 6 mixing channels for the kit.

Continue building your drum kit like this until you're satisfied with it. Don't forget to save your work occasionally!

Cymbals

The GM standard has 4 cymbals (not counting the 2 rides): crash 1, china, splash and crash 2.

Our GM template works as expected even if you only have 2 crash cymbals.  That's because Crash 1 is routed to the Splash cymbal and Crash 2 is routed to the China cymbal.

If you have samples for the splash and/or the china, you can add those in bank 'B'. Impact has a total of 7 banks (A through H). You can select a bank along the left edge of Impact.

Pad Routing 

The image below shows the default instrument routing for Crash 1. You can change or remove the alternative instrument. To change it, type in a new value. It will accept either a note like 'C2' or a number like 52. To delete it, just click and delete the value.

Toms

Our preset covers all 6 toms specified in the GM mapping because two of the slots handle two toms each.

The High Rack Tom covers MIDI notes 50 and 48 while the Floor Tom covers MIDI notes 43 and 41, the high and low floor toms respectively.

Pro Tip 1: Choke Groups

To silence a sound you need to 'choke' it. A 'choke group' allows you to define a set of sounds that will silence each other automatically.

The most common and useful example involves hi-hats. To be realistic, you need to silence an open hi-hat whenever a hi-hat 'pedal' or 'closed' hi-hat is triggered.

Note: our GM Drums preset includes a choke group for the hi-hats.

How to Create a Choke Group 

Click on one of the pads. On the upper right side of Impact you'll see information about the pad including a 'Choke' setting. Select a number for the choke group. 

Next, assign each of the related pads to the same choke group. Finally, update your preset. On the upper left side of Impact, there's a an icon to the left of the two arrow icons. Click that icon and select 'Update preset'.

Pro Tip 2: Multi-Channel Mixing

Separating your drum sounds into many different channels can dramatically improve the quality of your sound.

By default, Impact has 9 channels you can use. You can group related sounds together into separate channels for better mixes. Then you can control each group separately. You can apply different effects to each group and adjust the panning, volume, etc. 

Our GM Drums preset is configured to use six channels. 

1. Kick
2. Snares
3. Hi-Hats
4. Toms
5. Cymbals
6. Percussion

For convenience, you can rename the channels in the Studio One 'Mix' view as shown at the bottom of the image below.

Changing a Pad's Channel

A pad's channel assignment is visible in the lower right side of the pad. To change the pad's channel, click on the number and select another channel. Then save (update) your kit when finished.

Studio One Effects for Drums

Studio One includes a very generous amount of effects and effect groups. You'll find effect groups designed for your entire kit along with those made for specific drum sounds like kick and snare. 

Open the Studio One 'Mix' tab, select a channel's 'Insert' drop down and then click 'Drums' to see what's available. You'll find some really cool, easy to use effects here! 

Support

Feel free to contact us with questions about using our files with Studio One. Our contact info can be found on our Contact Us page.

Note: These instructions should also work for Studio One version 5 and possibly later versions as well.

In this post, I'll discuss how to play MIDI drum loops in version 6 of Studio One by PreSonus. Studio One is one of the best DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation) for those wishing to use MIDI loops in their musical productions. 

It allows you to audition MIDI loops BEFORE importing them and has lots of other nice features as well.

Adding Impact XT to Studio One

To add Impact to Studio One 6 follow these steps:

1) Click on the 'Browse' tab (lower right corner)

2) Click on the 'Instruments' tab (top right side)

3) Click on 'PreSonus' to view all available instruments

4) Drag Impact into your project as shown in the video below

Note: a track will be created for you if necessary.

Video: Adding Impact XT to Studio One

The Best Studio One Kit for MIDI Drum Loops

The best Impact XT kit is the "Tom Brechtlein Kit". That's because it sounds good and because it follows the General MIDI mapping standard. The other Impact kits I tried do not. As a result, they're only good for programming your own beats.

Changing Kits in Impact XT

The video above shows how to change kits in Impact. Here's how you do it:

Look for the drop down box just above 'Impact XT' near the top left side of Impact XT. It reads 'default' . Click that box and select a kit.

Build your own kits

You can actually build your own Impact kits using any drum samples you have. You can even edit the each pad's parameters to dial in the sound you're looking for.

The Studio One 'Files' Window

You can audition MIDI files using the 'Files' window. This window allows you to browse through the MIDI files on your hard drive and play them using any instrument you've loaded into your project.

In the video below, I open the Files window and play a MIDI file.

File Window Controls 

The image below shows the controls available in the Files window. 

Here's a summary of the controls.

1. Play button
2. Stop
3. Play file in a loop
4. Play at your song's tempo
5. Displays the active instrument (what you'll hear)
6. File length in beats

Warning: You must select an instrument such as Impact XT when auditioning MIDI files in Files window. You won't hear anything unless you select an instrument! 

You can also build a drum track by adding MIDI files into your Studio One project. I'll cover that in the next section.

Adding MIDI Files into Studio One

To build a drum track in Studio One, you can drag MIDI files from the Files window as shown in the video below. Select a file and drag it onto to an existing drum track.

Looping 

As show in the video above, you can also turn on the 'looping' feature allowing the file to play continuously. To set the loop's end points, place your mouse on the upper left of the MIDI clip until your cursor changes shape and then drag to the right, stopping at the end of the file.

The image below shows the most commonly used controls such as play, loop, etc.

Tip: You can also start and stop play using the spacebar.

To view the actual MIDI data, double click on the loop. This should open the Editor window. When using Impact, you'll be able to see the drum names on the left side of the window with the MIDI data to the right. as shown in the image below. 

You can edit the MIDI data in this view. For example, you could select all of the ride hits and drag them to the hi-hat. You can also edit individual hits (velocity, timing, drum type).

Summary

PreSonus Studio One 6 is a good choice if you're looking for recording software that allows you to audition MIDI files easily. You can browse and audition MIDI files from anywhere on your hard drive and then drag them into Studio One to arrange a drum track very quickly. You can also change tempo, loop sections and edit the files easily.

The best Impact kit I've found is the "Tom Brechtlein Kit" but you can always build your own or use any other VST instrument.

PreSonus offers a free trial that includes Impact XT so you can test it out yourself.

Need Help?

Feel free to contact us with questions about using our files with Studio One. Our contact info can be found on our Contact Us page.

All Groove Monkee MIDI Drum packs are compatible with Addictive Drums 1 and 2. If you make a purchase you’ll find that our files are mapped correctly, have categories, tempo, time signature and will appear in searches.

Note: Our Free MIDI packs do not have files for Addictive Drums.

The installation process is just 4 easy steps so let's get started!

Step 1: Find the Groove Monkee files

Our Addictive Drums loops are stored in the "Other MIDI Mappings" folder of your download. The AD folder will end with "AD".

Note: The Mega Pack has a zip file named 'Mega Pack AD'. Decompress that file and install the folder inside.

Copy the folder so you can paste it into your AD2 External MIDI folder.

The video below demonstrates this step.

Step 2: Open the AD External MIDI Folder

Open Addictive Drums and click on the "?" menu in the upper right corner.

Select 'Open External MIDI Folder' as shown in the video below.

Step 3: Paste our AD folder into your External MIDI Folder

Paste our folder into your External MIDI Folder as shown in the video clip below.

Step 4: Refresh your AD Library

The files won't appear inside Addictive Drums until you refresh your library.

To refresh, click on the "?" menu in the upper right corner and select 'Refresh MIDI Library'.

That's all there is to it! But if you need assistance, please contact us. You'll find our contact info on our Contact Us page.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the grooves! 

Instructions

First, store the folder you want to install in a permanent location on your computer.

Finding Our Toontrack Files

To find our Toontrack files, open your product folder and then open the 'Other MIDI Mappings' folder.

Look for the folder that ends with 'Toontrack'. Example: 'Blues Toontrack'

• For individual packs, install the folder inside of our 'Toontrack' folder.
• For our Mega Pack, install the folder named 'Mega Pack Toontrack'. This is stored as a zip file so you'll have to extract it first. 

Next, open Superior Drummer 3 and install the files per the instructions below.

1. click on the 'Grooves' tab
2. click on 'Options' (upper left side)
3. click on 'User MIDI and Linked folders'
4. click on 'Add linked folder'
5. select the folder you wish to install and click 'open'

IMPORTANT: Make sure you activate the following setting:

Grooves > Options > User MIDI and Linked Folders > Show MIDI files from Subfolders

The video below demonstrates the process of adding a linked folder.

Warning: As stated above, you cannot move the linked folder. If you do, the files will no longer be available and you'll have to install the folder again.

Superior Drummer 3 Compatibility

All Groove Monkee MIDI Drum packs are compatible with all versions of Toontrack Superior Drummer. We've been supporting their products since 2006!

Questions? Need Help?

Find the Files

You can install our BFD2 files - they are 100% compatible with BFD3. 

You'll find the BFD2 folder in the 'Other MIDI Mappings' folder of your download. Look for the folder with 'BFD2' at the end. Some of our products have BFD3 files that you can use. There's really no difference.

Note: This does NOT apply to our free downloads. 

Video: the video below shows the location of the BFD2 or BFD3 files in your download

Install the Files

To install the files, you simply copy and paste our BFD2 or BFD3 folder into your BFD3 'Grooves' folder.

Find your BFD3 Grooves Folder

Important: There are usually two BFD3 'Grooves' folders. Do NOT use the one inside the folder named "BFD3 Core Library"! 

BFD3 is usually installed into a folder called 'BFD Drums' inside the 'Documents' folder. You may have chosen a different location during installation. Here is the location of the user 'Grooves' folder on my computers.

PC: C:\Users\[username]\Documents\BFD Drums\BFD3\Grooves

Mac: Users/[username]/Documents/BFD Drums/BFD3/Grooves

Copy our BFD2 folder and paste it into your BFD Drums/Grooves folder.

Tip: you can easily find the location of your BFD3 installation by clicking on the 'Tools' menu and then selecting 'Set up content locations'.

The image below shows the BFD3 install location on my Mac

Rescan user Content Paths

Finally, rescan your User Content to add the files into BFD3.  

1. Click on the 'Tools' menu
2. Select 'Set up content locations'
3. Click on 'Rescan User Content Paths'

That's it! You should now be ready to jam!

Video: Add new content by scanning your BFD3 user content

Play the Files

To find and play the new grooves, go to the 'Grooves' tab. Then click on the 'Library' button. You'll see a drop down list of products including ours. Select the product you want to explore and the grooves will appear in the section below.

To see all of the files in a specific bundle, double click on it. The individual files will appear at the very bottom of the left hand side.

Note: the numbers listed next to the products are the total number of BUNDLES included in the product, not the total number of files. A bundle may contain up to 36 individual MIDI files. 

In the video below, I select our 'Big Easy' pack and play a couple of grooves.

video: Find and play grooves from a specific product

Need help?

If you have questions or need support, please contact us. Our contact information can be found on our Contact Us page.